Fresno-Yosemite

[Jonathan]

I'm going to be in Fresno in early March for a day on business and am thinking of extending for a day trip to Yosemite. Do any of you folks with knowledge know of a good hike or something really fun to do I could plan as an excursion? I Just want to have out-door fun.

[steve garro]

Depends on snow level at the time


- Garro.

[maunahaole]

JG, I'll talk to Mrs Haole when I get home tonight, she grew up in Fresno and can likely give you some guidance. I think there was a big rockslide on the primary access, so Yosemite may be tricky. Kings Canyon is also closeby.

[steve garro]

JG, I'll talk to Mrs Haole when I get home tonight, she grew up in Fresno and can likely give you some guidance. I think there was a big rockslide on the primary access, so Yosemite may be tricky. Kings Canyon is also closeby.

I have a damn good friend who has done all the illustration for Rock & Ice magazine who lives in Portal - likes fly fishing, too.

I can ask him for suggestions when you go, but on his 1/2 dome cam it's damn snowy right now.

- Garro.

[BSUdude]

Depends on snow level at the time


- Garro.

The snow will limit your hiking but I'm quite certain you can get into the valley year round. If all you have is a day and you just hang around the valley it would still be worth it.

[maunahaole]

You could probably XC ski in the park as well.

[Jonathan]

Ah, I figured March would be tough. I'm just trying to make sitting on a plane for that long worth it.

[davids]

I was there once in March and we had a foot of snow. So we went to Hetch Hetchy reservoir. Beautiful long flat hike.

[ron l edmiston]

-- been there in march with snow up the ----, but beautiful..
been in late april & still snow..
so plan for/on snow & enjoy..

ronnie

[BSUdude]

Ah, I figured March would be tough. I'm just trying to make sitting on a plane for that long worth it.

Even if you couldn't get any hiking in and all you did was drive around the valley, go to the visitor's center, go to the lodge, etc, it would be worth it. It's a unesco world heritage site...it is worth it...but don't be surprised if you wish you had more time if you're only there for a day. It's beautiful in all 4 seasons...and there will be less people since it is not may-sept.

[joosttx]

I was there this weekend but in Sequoia NP. Incredibly nice. We stayed at the Wuksachi Lodge. There is plenty of snow shoeing and XC skiing there. Plus the sequoias to see. If you want to bypass Yosemite and head to Kings Canyon I know an epic bike loop which features a climb on a one lane road with over a 1000 ft straight drop.

https://www.strava.com/routes/2283570

[pdmtong]

if you have never been, go, no matter the weather. no matter the amount of time you have to be there. go.

I am not a religious person, but this is one of the places on earth that upon first sight, every one must think for a moment that there must certainly be a higher being to create something so beautiful and awe inspiring.

do not be put off that the path to Yosemite falls is paved, and japanese tourists in high heels are walking it. The NPS made it possible for anyone, young or old, to enjoy this beauty.

being so close, I wish I was a big wall climber., but I am not. My wife and I did spend the night on half dome once. as my brother and I did as well. there is nothing like waking up to dawns first light up there.

Nature's cathedral.

Go.

[liv2bike]

Snow will limit your access and some roads will be closed such as Tioga Pass and Glacier Point. Mariposa grove was closed when we were there this summer for restoration. I am pretty sure it will still be closed. If u a driving up from Fresno you will probably taking 41 north and enter from the west side of the park. 41/Wawona should be open. Check road conditions and be prepared. Either way, it will be stunning. I may have some maps for you I can drop by. Let me poke around.

[spopepro]

You will definitely have options. My in-laws live in Fresno, and it is frequently a starting point for our rock climbing, backpacking, hiking adventures. The big thing will be making a couple of plans, since early March weather is unpredictable, and a mountain storm is serious.

Yes, it's typically a straight shot right up 41 from Fresno all the way into Yosemite Valley. It's also the way I always try and take people into the park for their first visit. The expression they get on their face as we exit Wawona tunnel is amazing. The trouble with 41 in the winter is that it frequently is subject to chain controls. Might be rough in a rental car. The caltrans road conditions webpage is accurate just about to the minute, just type in the highway number. For inside of the park you would need to call 209-372-0200 to get the recorded message with road conditions. An alternate route that keeps you much, much lower (the valley floor is right around 4000ft, but everything around it is a couple thousand feet higher. 140 into the park is the only route that stays below the valley) is to go 41 into oakhurst, 49 to mariposa, and then 140 into the park. If there is any snow up high, then this route is frequently faster just because you aren't stuck behind a bus going 20mph for 30 miles. It appears that the rockfall that had blocked 140 is now clear.

The best winter hikes around Yosemite are:

When in the valley, drop your car at one of the day parking lots (by the village store or by curry village) and ride the shuttle. It will go places you can't in the car and help with congestion.
(Red Route) Get off the valley shuttle at the mirror lake stop. Hike along the clearly marked, but now pedestrian/bike only, road out towards mirror lake. It's worth going out past mirror lake a ways, and you can go all the way to the wilderness boundry (which is cool, it's at the T intersection just past where I stopped the highlight), but know that while this looks like you could make a loop around the lake, the southern side is still closed, and under a pile of talus. On the way out, stay to the right to take the more rugged trail that is further from the lake and hike along the edge of the park. End up at the awhanee, and get a firefall at the bar, but have them make it with bourbon instead of tequila, and take it out to the great hall and sit by the fire.
(Green route) This is an out and back that might make you question your life choices. The upper falls trail is 4 miles and gains over 2k feet of elevation. Switchback stairs cut into the granite for at least half the trip. However, it's not too hard to do in a day, and it's fun being at all those different elevations and seeing the park. The lookout is quite a bit beyond the top of the trail, and in winter could be challenging to get to with deep snow.
(Blue route) there are a variety of loops around the valley floor. They are just about all worth doing, but beware that if you miss turning at the el cap bridge, you're in for a 12 or so mile loop going all the way to then end, and then your wife will never let you forget about the time you suggested a 5 or 6 mile hike that ended up taking the entire day...

Alternately, if driving up 41 sounds good, and snow is no problem, the nordic center at badger pass rents backcountry xc skis and snowshoes. The trip out to dewey point is a lovely hike that is well traveled (so unless it's dawn after a snow, you aren't finding and breaking trail)

Alternately, depending on weather, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are both beautiful and accessible from Fresno, but most of my time in these places are in the high country in summer, so I don't have particular recommendations for the winter. If the weather/snow block out the mountains, there is good riding both on the road and on the MTB in the foothills. If you're a rock climber there's some good granite slab sport routes at lower elevations in the area.

[davids]

I did something like that red route on snowshoes w/a 12 year old. It was a beautiful slog.

Still advocating for Hetch Hetchy if there's a lot of snow. Here's Crane Flats (the pass) vs. HH Reservoir on the same March day:

[liv2bike]

HH is beautiful but...it used to be even more beautiful. Damn dam.

[bcm119]

My inlaws live between Mariposa and Oakhurst, just south of the Park, and I spend a lot of time in the area. Spopepro covered the specifics well. I'm not sure if you've spent much time in Yosemite before, but assuming you have not, I would only add that Yosemite is such a unique place that it's perfectly okay to do very little. If you only have one day, you don't have to snowshoe, xc ski, rock climb, or do a serious hike. You can drive around, or ride the shuttle, take pictures, be a tourist. Sometimes planning a specific activity will fill your day with logistics and planning, and you'll miss the downtime you may need to simply relax and feel the vastness of that valley. So make big plans if that's your thing, but if you feel differently when you get there, don't be afraid to ditch your plan and just chill. Walk the paved paths up to the waterfalls, or stroll out to Mirror lake, or drive up to the Tunnel overlook and eat a sandwich, and have a drink at the Ahwahnee. Leave time to sit and think and feel a sense of place and history. For some context, read John Muir's "My first summer in the Sierra" before your trip.

All of that said, if you need to have an invigorating activity planned, snowshoe out to Dewey point. The view on endorphins is worth it.

[Jonathan]

Thanks guys. I have never been. If I want I can have one full day. I don't mind doing one thing because ultimately I'd like to bring the family back some day.

[MarkC]

https://jancurran.smugmug.com/Nature/Yosemite/

Most of our half-dozen or so Yosemite trips are on slides but that gallery has a few digital images. Used to go to the park a couple times a year.

Yosemite really is an amazing place. To state the obvious :-)

-Mark