In search for home and peace of mind I decided that a trip to a national park was a necessity.
While I was assured that there was no better national park in the United States than Yellowstone, I figured Yosemite could be the next best thing. It didn’t fail my expectations, and while Yellowstone is still my absolute favorite, Yosemite most certainly has its own very unique beauty.
Enormous mountains, winding roads with elevation over 6,000 feet going up and down along the cliffs; rivers quickly making their way through stones, small and large, carved by glaciers over thousands of years; trails through various trees, mostly evergreens, including greatest trees in the world, sequoia and redwood; mesmerizing waterfalls, turned into ice in some spots, and most importantly peace, quiet and the freshest air.
Some attractions are easily accessible by car, such as El Capitan rock formation (pictured to the right), Bridalveil Fall, Horsetail Fall, O’Shaugnessy Dam, Hetch Hetchy reservoir, Mariposa grove of giant sequoias. However, I’d say for the best views, it’s best to take small hikes.
My absolute favorite hike was the one to Wapama Falls. It took about 2.5 miles to get to the Wapama falls from the parking lot; not a difficult hike, but it was quite tiring. I would suggest getting there refreshed and somewhat early, before or around noon, to have enough time to get back.
A short trail to Mirror lake was also just beautiful (pictured below).
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias was another short and easy hike.
Sequoia National Park is the first place to see sequoias, one of the oldest trees on our planet, but you can also find them at Yosemite National Park. One of the few areas of the park where you can find magnificent sequoias, located in the south part of the park, is called Mariposa Grove.
Here you can enjoy the freshest air and a peaceful walk between these beautiful mighty tall trees, and find the 26th largest giant sequoia living today, Grizzly Giant.
Tioga road, one of the main ones, was closed for winter, so can’t tell much about the sites along that route, but without it there was plenty to see for the four days at the park.
What is specific to visiting Yosemite in March? It was exceptionally quiet, especially on weekdays. As far as I researched, summers get pretty busy, and using a shuttle service to reduce traffic is recommended. However, the roads and parking seemed pretty empty early March, even more so on weekdays compared to weekend.
Also, some roads are closed for winter, while others may require tire chains depending on the weather.
Finally, if you’re planning a visit, make sure to bring antihistamines to avoid allergies. 😉
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