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| The Infamous Crowds in
Yosemite Valley **************************** Attention! Yosemite Rangers are cracking down on speeders! While driving in YNP, be aware that LEOs are being hardcore about speed limits, especially in Tuolumne Meadows. I saw more LE vehicles this past weekend (7/14/07) than ever before. They were pulling people left and right. I got nailed myself for doing 60 in a 45 in a remote area between TM and Tioga Pass, and although I only got a warning, it was a sobering reminder they are serious. DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT and do not go over. They are using radar in places they never used to monitor before. No matter how late, early, remote or whatever, watch your speed. The reason for this crackdown is 8 bears have been killed by speeders so far this year. In Tuolumne Meadows, 2 bears were killed in the first week of Tioga Road opening.
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The trail to Lower Yosemite Fall on Memorial Day 2005. |
| You've heard the stories or
possibly experienced it yourself; massive crowds on a holiday weekend.
Yes, it's true, on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day, crowds in YNP are
unbearable. Day trippers from nearby Merced, Mariposa, Fresno, Madera,
etc. flock to the park. Auto traffic grinds to a standstill. These kinds of crowds only occur during holiday periods! I get emails all the time asking how to avoid the crowds. Yosemite Valley does not have oppressive crowds during non-holidays. Yes, there are people, and you may run into a crowd at the Village Store, but traffic jams, again, only occur during holidays. Otherwise traffic flows freely. Here's how to get around the inconvenience in case you are planning a visit during a holiday: 1) Arrive early. The crowds do not appear until about 10:30am and are gone by 5pm. If you get here before 9am, you are guaranteed to miss the crush. 2) Park your car and ride the shuttle bus. Buses have some routes that cars cannot access, giving them a way around the delays. 3) Ride a bike. This too, gives you a way around the backed-up traffic. It's kinda fun, too! 4) Do your hiking between 10am and 5pm. The Panorama Trail out of Glacier Point was virtually deserted when I was on it Memorial Day 2005. Try the Sentinel Dome Trail, or the Taft Point Trail; or the Old Inspiration Point trail above Tunnel View; much fewer people. If you cannot escape the crowds, then be sure to NOT bring your white-knuckle, road-rage attitude with you. If you get caught up in the traffic, then develop a patient attitude and don't let it bother you. Sitting in your car just let's you enjoy the scenery that much more. I have witnessed near fistfights in the parking lot in Yosemite Village. If you cannot let go of your impatience and just relax and take what comes, then don't come to Yosemite at all. You will have a much more pleasant experience in spite of the crowds if you just make a conscious effort to be happy and enjoy yourself. |
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Another shot the same day. |
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Lining up to get through the south gate at 11:30am. |
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Along the road near the old River Campgrounds (now closed) on July 3rd. 2005. It took 45 minutes to drive from Curry Village to the Yosemite Village store at 4pm. You can walk it in 15 minutes. |
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Crowds at Tunnel View late afternoon July 3rd, 2005. |