Sierra News Online News from the communities in and around Yosemite National Park

News from the communities in and around Yosemite National Park

When Glacier Point Road closes this year, it will be closed for at least a year. That is why I am trying to make hay while the sun shines, getting my hikes in on the trailheads off of this road while I can. This week, I headed to Ostrander Lake on a cool, fall day. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 12.59 ...

This hike was all about the views and there were some dandies, not to mention getting in a good workout as I gained 3,415′ to see those magnificent views along the Pohono Trail. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 8.79 MilesDifficulty: Moderate to StrenuousElevation Range: 4,384′ – 7,087′Elevation Gain: 3,415′Date: November 12, 2021CALTOPO: Pohono Trail from Tunnel View to Stanford and Crocker ...

I was sneaking in a fall color hike in Yosemite Valley before a storm could blow the leaves off the trees, but where to go? I picked Mirror Lake to see delightful dogwoods, beautiful big leaf maples, wonderful willows and outstanding oaks. Oh, and those reflections of them all in magnificent Mirror Lake! Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 8.24 Miles (Depending ...

I kept watching and watching. Every day I drove north on Hwy 49 I could see those oaks up on Pilot Peak and Silver Knob turning more yellow and I wondered what a walk up on those dirt roads might show me in the fall color arena. The north side of Pilot Peak has quite a few dogwoods at the ...

Tioga Road had closed due to a storm but would it reopen before an even bigger storm was due to dump serious snow? The short answer is yes it did, for about 2 1/2 days, and I couldn’t wait to get up there to see if those Gaylor Basin lakes were icing up. Where: Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National ForestDistance: 3.06 ...

There is no need to travel far to see fall colors, just a drive or walk where you live will deliver. But I put in some extra miles because I just couldn’t resist heading over to the Sierra’s eastside to do some leaf peeping at Convict Lake, even more beautiful with a dusting of snow up high on those rugged ...

Leaf Peeping season has officially begun. . . . so Mom and I decided to take a day road trip through Yosemite Valley to see how those fall colors were shaping up. Where: Yosemite National ParkDifficulty: EasyElevation Range: 3,996′ – 4,184′Date: October 7, 2018Dog Hike? Maybe It was a bit early for prime leaf colors in Yosemite but Mom and ...

Camping with my dogs, we wandered where miners knew they would be striking it rich as soon as they hit “The Great Silver Belt.” Back in 1882, a town was started up to accommodate the needs of up to 50,000 miners when that happened. Well, the big strike didn’t take place but the remains of the town named Bennettville and ...

Smoky reflections in a lake named for a sheepdog and her puppies, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs, fishless lakes, and Tuolumne Meadows Campground’s closure played starring roles in my blog this week. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 5.76 Miles (About 5.2 Miles from the trailhead at the parking lot up to and around the lake)Difficulty: Easy to ModerateElevation Range: 8,583′ – 9,189′Elevation ...

It had been a while since I had hiked to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp but I had fond memories of this beautiful camp nestled against high peaks. Closed for a few years, I needed to pay it another visit. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 15.8 Miles (About 14.2 Miles from the Tuolumne Meadows Campground Trailhead)Difficulty: Moderate to StrenuousElevation Range: 8,588′ – ...