I am thinking of a trip to Yosemite in late September and wondered if anyone has any tips. -How long to allow, where to go, camping, accomodation, park fees, anything people can think of.

I am reading Ansel Adams autobiography and its getting me interested.
Thanks
Chris

My last visit to Yosemite N.P was in 1990 but I hope I can help a little.
The absolute minimum for a visit is 2 days, a week should be enough. Yosemite is a big park with large distances to drive. You should make an advanced reservation for a campground in Yosemite valley since many of the parks attractions are located in this area: http://reservations.nps.gov
"Yosemite National Park contains 13 popular campgrounds, of which up to 7 are on a reservation system. From April through September, reservations are essential and even the first-come, first-served sites often fill each morning from May through September. The Conditions Update may contain opening or closing dates, if they are currently available." (from http://www.nps.gov/yose/trip/camping.htm)
For places to see you should check http://www.nps.gov/yose/trip/inyose.htm and for other informations http://www.nps.gov/yose/home.htm.
The Ansel Adams gallery offers workshops: http://www.anseladams.com
There are also guided photography walks, some of them free of charge: http://www.yosemiteparktours.com/winter/activities_photography.htm
Other helpful links:
http://jrabold.net/yosemite
http://www.yosemite.ca.us - contains a list of selected links

I recommend the following places to visit in Yosemite:
- Mariposa grove to see the giant sequoias
- Glacier Point with a spectacular view of the valley. Very popular at sunset so be early for a space in the parking lot and for a good spot to take pictures.
- Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall to name only two of the many waterfalls.
- You should also visit mono lake outside the park (over the tioga pass).
- Wildlife can be seen throughout the park.
The above list can easily be extended but I suggest that you first check the links I listed above and then plan your trip according to your own preferences.

The best time of year to see the waterfalls is spring (late may) because of the additional water from melting snow.

The park fee is 20$ for seven days. If you plan to stay longer or want to visit other National Parks too you should purchase the Golden Eagle Passport that is valid for one year (50$). See also http://www.nps.gov/yose/pphtml/feespermits.html.

Greetings from Frankfurt/Germany
Hans-Guenter (new Nikonian since march 26th, user name HGK)

Have a nice day

Hans-Günter - Nikonian from Rodgau, Germany

The east side of the park, Tioga pass, is very beatiful and often ignored. The vast majority of the visitors to Yosemite go into the valley where Bridalveil falls is and never go anywhere else. The rest of the park is spectacular too! Plan a week. If you get bored, you can always cruise over to Mammoth Lakes, about 1 - 2 hours away. There are spectacular lakes there as well as Devil's Postpile national monument, a very unique place! Mono lake is a popular photo destination as well.

My family goes to mammoth at least once a year for a week or so, and we find plenty to do in the surrounding areas. We use Yosemite for day trips (from mammoth) because it's close enough. Great place!

Joel

Nikonian in the High Desert of Southern California.

The Manzanar Project: http://www.renewingmind.com/photography/manzanar/manzanar.html

Check out my blog: http://transformingrenewal.blogspot.com

I know this post is old but I thought I would let you know that I am a Park Ranger in Yosemite. Although Yosemite is a great place to shoot you will not be very please with the waterfalls especially during September. Light in the park starts to get better in the fall after the long bright summer days but the best time to shoot in the park are in Spring. Waterfalls and flowers are at there peak and there is still plenty of snow in the high country (if it is open yet.) Don't get me wrong there are too many photo oppuntunites in the park year around but the waterfalls draw most people and you will be lucky if you see one in Sept. Good Luck and let me know how it goes. Chris

i was just at Yosemite last week. It was my first time and I have lived 3 hours away from the park all my life. I will never wait so long to go there again, it is truely a special place that will not let you down. We stayed at the campground in Wawona and was pleased. The camp sites are huge, with big berar boxes at each site, it is about a 45 minute drive to the valley but a gorgeous drive. The park costs $20 to get in, wawona was $18/night. The merced river runs through the sites and it is not nearly as crowded as the valley. If you are going in Sept. i would get reservations now if you still can and stay in wawona. A must go is Glacier Pt. the views are out of this world!!!!!! Have fun, it is hard not to there.

"A cup is only useful for the hollow of its shape"-Justin McRoberts

Thanks for that. I have just booked a night at lower pines. They stop taking reservations at wawona the day before I arrive so I think I will have to stay in the valley itself. I cannot imagine that the campsites are more crowded than the UK so I am sure it will be fine.

It's been 11 years since I was there, but oh the beauty! I'd say at least 3 days in the park, more is better. Many things to see and do. If you have time, I will suggest another possibility, not far from the park. Leave via the East entrance. As someone said in aprevious post, it is awesome. Then head north on US 395 and catch Bodie State Park. This is a ghost town with many still syanding buildings. It's very interesting, informative and photogenic. You can leave Yosemite catch Bodie and head back south in one days time with no problem. There is a small town called Lee Vining almost at the east entrance, right at Mono Lake. I can't remember if there is camping there (I think there was) but there is an affordable nice motel, a couple gift shops and diners (not much else). You are at almost 10,000' there so the evenings are very cool. If you have another day, I suggest heading south on US 395 by Mammoth Lakes and into Death Valley. By September the temperatures there are bearable but still warm. (I was there in June and it was 128 degrees F) Also very arid, so make sure to have plenty to drink and keep yourself hydrated. But the difference in Yosemite and Death Valley are like night and day. The colors make for some awesome photos.
But, even if you don't get the chance to go elsewhere, Yosemite will not disappoint you, on that you can rely!
Have a fun and safe trip!
Debbie

Lee Vining. Yes. Got stuck there once in a blizzard. Had breakfast at a place called "nicely's" and paid $20 for breakfast for two people. Must have been the "snowed in" menu. Not very nice, never been back...

Joel

Nikonian in the High Desert of Southern California.

The Manzanar Project: http://www.renewingmind.com/photography/manzanar/manzanar.html

Check out my blog: http://transformingrenewal.blogspot.com

Chris,

I just came back from a couple of days in Yosemite. It has been my 2nd time there. First time, a couple of years ago I went at the same season (mid October) as you did.

Apart from experiencing the beauty of the landscape again, I decided to go in (late) spring this time. Before my first visit I didn't know, that most of the waterfalls – except Bridaval Fall – can dry up completely during the summer. Nevertheless, still worthwhile to go in the fall. Less crowds, although it wasn't too bad. Most of the folks might have gone Memorial Day two weekends before.
So, no roaring Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls and the name 'Mist Trail' to access the top of Vernal Fall remained a mystery to me. A small trickle. Skip mirror lake, basically there is not much of a lake left at any time of the year.

This time there was plenty of water in the falls. The 'Mist Trail' lived up to its reputation. I might go so far and call it 'Get a free shower trail'. It takes about 10-15 min to hike through the mist. Protect your camera. You will get completely soaked. I had a couple of dollar bills in my pockets and they almost dissolved.
Afternoon offers the best sunlight in the valley downstream Vernal Fall. Late afternoon generates a nice rainbow in the mist (facing the waterfall, hope it came out in my pics).

Late morning, close to noon, offers the best shooting condition for Yosemite Fall. No shadows on the falls from the wall.

Again late afternoon, already close to sunset (2 h prior) is the best time for Bridaval Fall with a nice rainbow.

In addition to the highlights aforementioned, I suggest taking an (easy) 1 h hike to the top of Sentinel Dome (close to Glacier Point). It offers a breathtaking 360 degree view of the valley and surrounding mountains. I had planned to go twice, early in the morning and again later in the afternoon for nice pics of Half Dome, but time allowed only for one trip. I should have picked the afternoon.

I can't remember having encountered any bugs in the fall. This time I got almost drained by those bloodsucking vampires on the first evening.

By fall, the park management should have fixed one part of the road which leads to the exit and at one spot offers excellent shooting across the Merced River early in the morning.

Enjoy

Andreas

Andreas
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