Ever since we made our return reservations almost a year ago; I've been looking forward to this…read moreroad being open! Usually it's open from late May to October or November directly depending on the amount of snowfall. Once we turned onto the Glacier Point road it was roughly 16 miles until we reached the spectacular viewpoint area. There are numerous places to pull over. Some are viewpoints, other's are hiking trails. Plan on bringing your own food & water. Can't beat the views for a nice bag lunch! It has been many moons since I first laid eyes on the beautiful snow flower. Imagine my surprise and delight in spotting the snow flower (sarcodes sanguinea) along the edges of the roadway! For those of you unfamiliar these plants are located in montane areas of the California Floristic Province, above 5,000 feet. Since I don't live in elevations above 5,000 feet it's rare that I see them. A large parking lot, some port a potties, a gift shop plus numerous hiking trails await you at the viewpoint area.

Ice cream at the top! We hiked this from Yosemite Valley floor and was genuinely surprised that…read morethere was a convenience store at the top along with great views of Half Dome. Our group had ice cream at the top and I had two! We found that this is a drivable viewpoint and there were full amenities at the top. We came from Union Point and after hitting Glacier, we went up to Sentinal Dome, which is less than 2 miles, a bit steep but worth the picture opportunities! Our hike was amazing except for the bugs. Please come and create your own adventure.

Super fun hike to these little hot springs located along the mountainside.read more

Always beautiful since I've been going over here!! The water level this year is high so can only go…read morethrough the bridge path..

One of the most beautiful views around. Everyone should try to make it here at some point their…read morelife. What an amazing viewpoint to take in some of God's most beautiful creations. Early spring or fall are the best times to visit, late spring & summer gets extremely crowded & parking can be a night with all the bus tours. I try to come at least a few times a year & I'm always blown away of the view at the end of the tunnel.

This place is just STUNNING. It's a spot right along the road to take pics so no hiking is involved…read more- you just park and take your pic! The first day I went the drive up to here (and the area itself) was covered in a thick fog so you couldn't see anything initially (a bit cleared right before I left so I got a partial view), but when I came back the second day there was no fog - just the perfect view of several mountains, the valley, and a waterfall. Really it's a spiritual thing to see it - really makes you feel small in an incredible creation. You MUST stop by here while in Yosemite!

Would not recommend. There is no shortage of great attractions in Yosemite Valley that are easily…read moreaccessible... this is not one of them. Tenaya Canyon is probably the most dangerous part of the park. There are no trails, lots of loose and slippery rocks. It's easy to get lost. No cell reception. The falls are often completely dry. Also watch out for human feces / tp in this area due to the popularity of the mirror lake trail. Always use leave no trace wilderness ethics while hiking! Pack it in/ pack it out

Okay look, the first thing you need to know about this area is that it is NOT a hiking trail…read more Tenaya Creek runs down Tenaya Canyon, which makes this a canyoneering route. Canyoneering routes have more similarities with climbing routes than with hiking trails. What you are actually hiking on is the decent trail for Tenaya Canyon, which highly experienced canyoneers will come down from Olmstead Point by Tenaya Lake. There is no signage, no marked trail. There is also dangerous terrain like loose talus fields, creek crossings over fallen logs. Rock falls and flash floods can occur without warning, especially in the spring when the snowpack is thawing. This route requires technical gear like ropes and harnesses and belay devices, and an understanding of how to use all that gear. I know that people have put reviews of this place as being beautiful, and it is, but it is NOT a casual hike. If you are a first time visitor, if you have not hiked the other trails in the valley, if you don't have experience canyoneering, using ropes, traversing slick rocks, reading water levels or even just hiking in general, DO NOT GO HERE. The simple fact of the matter is that there are places that not everyone can get to safely. Know your own limitations. This is an article on from the NPS website about 2 day-hikers who went into Tenaya Canyon and got lost: https://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/lost-and-unprepared-in-tenaya-canyon.htm This is a report on a major rockfall that fell into the canyon from Rock and Ice Magazine: https://rockandice.com/climbing-news/massive-rockfall-in-yosemites-tenaya-canyon/ People die in Tenaya Canyon fairly often. If you read the book "Off the Wall, Death in Yosemite" you'll find several other stories of people who have died there. Because of this, the National Park Service has made it illegal to camp in this area, and strongly discourages people from going here unless highly experienced. So if you have the know how and experience then proceed at your own risk. But if you are looking for a casual, fun hike in the park, look elsewhere. If you're looking for something with less crowds, look outside of Yosemite Valley, to the other 99% of the park.

Columbia CA is a find in and of itself, and this gold panning activity is just one of the reasons I…read moresay that so confidently. The attractions here are super affordable and, in some cases, free, and they're truly captivating. For about $20 you get a bag of dirt to pan with guaranteed gold in it, a panning lesson, and access to the panning area for the whole day. That's right. This isn't one and done. It's for the entire day. The lesson is fast and furious, but you get the idea by the end. If you don't, just wait for someone else to get theirs and listen in for a refresher. The speed of the lesson and the fact there's no one there to ask questions after is the only reason I'm taking a star off. That said, you can go inside and ask for help, but that takes you away. The man who taught us was kind and gentle with the lesson, and he made sure the kids found their gold. The look on their faces was priceless! I truly thought they'd be done after that one pan but they were so captivated by the idea of finding treasure that I'm sure we spent at least an hour sifting through the sand for gems. This was money well spent, and if you're vacationing in the area, I would highly recommend this be in your plans.

A good time for all. Grab a pan and start panning. Left with garnets and citrine gemstones (panned…read morereally hard for them). Kid friendly activity, there is a park nearby, a small old town to walk through and plenty of public restrooms and parking available.

I can't believe that I'm the first to write a review of the Talking Bear. It's been an Oakhurst…read moreattraction since I was a little dude! I thought that the speaker used to be in the bear's mouth. If it was, it's not any more. It used to warn little listeners that "Bears like me have been spotted recently in the area, so keep an eye out." I heard that as a boy and immediately crouched down, looking left and right for prowling bears. I've concluded that the danger has now passed. It's probably safe to walk the streets of Oakhusrt unfettered by the fear of imminent ursine attack. But it's a fun thing to check out with the kiddos. The audio quality is pretty rough though. Static churns from the speaker day and night. It makes listening to the bear a little tough but it's a fun stop and it was a chance for me to recall some cool memories.

It would've been a better attraction if the vocals came from the bear vs a speaker behind it…read more The script was loaded with information but it did not keep my interest.

3.5 Stars I have to…read morerevisit this place as our first time visit didn't satisfy my curiosity. After reading more about it there was more to this historic place than the old buildings and ruins on Main Street! Hubby and I enjoy visiting ghost towns and seeing ruins. This is a semi ghost town as is the town of Goldfield in Nevada (along U.S. Route 95) with a population of 268. Chinese Camp has a population of 150 on the town sign but 2010 census showed a population of 126 and not a single Chinese person or person of Asian descent for that matter living in town. We walked along Main Street, the part of the street where old unoccupied buildings remain standing. Clearly they look like buildings not fit for living space but many of them say Private Property or No Trespassing so I'm not sure if we were invading people's privacy. We walked up to the State Historical Marker No. 423 located on Highway 120 and read the inscription. The old ruins were fascinating to see (if you're into this stuff). My favorite ghost town thus far was Bodie! Interesting history. It's obvious how the town came by its name as it is estimated as many as five thousand Chinese populated the town at one time. In 1856 a disagreement among Chinese miners ended up in a battle challenge between two local secret Chinese-American societies (these are called tongs). 2,500 Chinese fought using just knives and pitchforks, four were killed before one side retreated. No Chinese person has lived in this city since 1930. This semi ghost town is a remnant of the California Gold Rush mining town and located at the junction of Highway 49 north and Highway 120 west. Review #0596

Mark Twain Bret Harte Trail California Landmark 423…read moreChinese Camp "Reportedly founded about 1849 by group of Englishmen who employed Chinese as miners. Much surface gold found on hills and flats. Headquarters for stage lines in early 1850's, and for several California Chinese Mining Companies. First Chinese Tong War in state fought near here between Sam yap and Yan Woo Tongs. Present stone and brick post office built 1854, still standing. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church built 1855, restored 1949, First Pastor, Father Henry Aleric."

Grateful that during this intra covid era, I managed to get seats at the busy breweries and…read morerestaurants. This area is such a success, whether hot or snowy. Bring your dog, boat, bike, sticks, family and/or self for some nature fun. Hiking trails almost every corner one turns. Make reservations early. It does get congested with adventure seekers.

Just the ride up to and through Mammoth Lakes is amazing. If you want hiking boating fishing…read moreswimming and just a beautiful day sitting by the water Kama then this is the place for us. Around every corner it's an astounding picturesque view and with the nice strong winds that are blowing today it just gives you that nice breath of fresh air while hiking. Get a cabin and just relax. It's a good getaway from the big city. You won't regret it. You get to see all the wild animals. Some even come down to your cabin. Just have your camera or cell phone ready to take pictures. Watch out that some of the animals don't use you as food. I wonder if there's Bears out here??? Definitely a place I would come back to

Between 2007 and 2023, there were 173 recorded deaths in Yosemite, making it one of the parks with…read morea higher number of fatalities in the national park system. AMERICA! A few visitors rest in the Pioneer Cemetery, like Sadie Schaeffer, a young tourist who drowned in the Merced River, and laborers like Henry Eddy, who was found deceased in his tent. Many graves are marked with simple wooden boards or rough-hewn stones, some bearing only the inscription "A Boy," their identities lost to time. If they buried Adam Yauch here, he could have been "B Boy." Notable burials include preservationist Galen Clark (1814-1910), who planted the very sequoias that tower over his gravesite. Promoter James Mason Hutchings (1820-1902), who organized the first tourist parties. George Anderson (1835-1884), the first person to summit Half Dome. James Chenowith Lamon (1817-1875), the first non-native to settle here. Pioneering landscape photographer George Fiske (1835-1918). Florence Hutchings (1864-1881), the first non-native born in the valley. Forest Sanford Townsley (1882-1943), destined by name to be the chief ranger for 27 years.

Not spooky if thats what you're looking for. Its a great place to stroll around when you want to…read moreget away from getting away. The cemetery is filled with people who settled (by settled I mean non Ahwahneechees natives) in to the valley in the mid 1800's. People both young and old who perished by drowning, disease or good ol ripe old age have been laid to rest here. Check it out next time you're here.

Pulled into the RV park late one night, exhausted. Office was closed. Slept for awhile, then hit…read morethe road at sunrise. Cute little town

Love the town of Lee Vining. After driving thru Yosemite on Tioga Road 120 , continue on hwy 395…read morethen BOOM!!! , the town appears. About 10 miles after passing thru the East Gate ( of Yosemite). Cute little resort town , love the fact that there are no chain restaurants/ coffee shops in the whole entire town. No McDonald's or Starbucks in sight. We stopped at this cute little old school diner called Nicely's for BLT sandwich and fries ... and a huge Mono Lake size ice cream sundae:) All delicious and friendly service. After our tummies are full , we drove to see Mono Lake. To me , this lake is just okay. Not spectacularly pretty because no trees or vegetation around the lake , looking dried. Not much water in the lake. However , wait till night time. We went to see the Tufas in the dark . OMG!!!!!!!!!!! We could see the Milky Way and gazillion stars in the dark sky. I had NEVER seen that many stars in my life. Simply AMAZING!!!!!! No words can describe. Well worth the 10 hour ( round trip ) drive. Next morning we drive up to Convict Lake, Virginia Lake and June Lake. Snow capped mountains towering over the crystal clear lakes ... the changing colors of the leaves , cool crisp autumn air ... breathtakingly beautiful.