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

News from the communities in and around Yosemite National Park

They say that the wildflower show around Lukens Lake can be pretty darn nice in early summer. I might have been a bit early but it is hard to imagine a more dramatic display of Shooting Stars in the meadows and along the waterways. Plenty other colorful wildflowers were doing their part to create a beautiful wildflower adventure. Where: Yosemite ...

Hiking up Yosemite’s Mono Pass Trail, up a trail full of history, up along beautiful mountains still streaked with snow, up to old mining cabins and claims. Almost 150 years have passed since these cabins and mines were built but they are still standing . . . sort of. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 9.07 Miles (About 7.4 Miles without wandering)Difficulty: ...

Just a short hike up to a pretty lake with Fannie the Corgi. We made this hike when the very rare plant named Shuteye Peak faun lily was blooming. Although almost a month has gone by since we did this hike, it will still be a nice, short hike but watch for rattlesnakes and bring your bug spray! Oh, and ...

Yosemite’s Mono Pass Trail is a magical trail, leading the way to snowy peaks and colorful red mountains framing high lakes. Those lakes were still sporting a bit of ice when I hit that historic trail. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 11.04 MilesDifficulty: Moderate to StrenuousElevation Range: 9,596′ – 10,972′Elevation Gain: 1,605′Date: June 9, 2022Map: CALTOPO: Hiking to Helen and Spillway LakesDog ...

I love checking out the Gaylor Lakes Basin as soon as Tioga Road reopens for the season. Will the lakes still be iced over? Will those lakes hold beautiful reflections? Will I see pika? Yes, yes and yes! Where: Yosemite National Park and a smidge over into Inyo National ForestDistance: 6.17 MilesDifficulty: ModerateElevation Range: 9,943′ – 10,817′Elevation Gain: 1,356′Date: June ...

It was that magical day when Tioga Road reopened and I wandered across to say hello to some of my old friends: Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Lake and Saddlebag Lake. I never know how much snow or ice I will see until I make the trek. Please join me on my wandering. Where: Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National ForestElevation Range: ...

Hiking beside really old, tall trees that have tiny cones is always special and a bit of Galen Clark’s cabin history along the way made it even better. It had been a while since I had hiked in Mariposa Grove and I got an early start to beat the crowd. And you probably should be careful when you tell me ...

Every family who homesteaded the Miami Mills area in the 1880’s has a story to be discovered. This one is about three of them helping their neighbors through some very tough times. I armed myself with a map of early homesteads to better understand where these neighbors were living as I walked through history. This week’s adventure is about Shake ...

They say that the Mist Trail’s steep granite stairway has over 600 steps but I wasn’t counting because Vernal Fall’s beauty fully captured my attention as I climbed them. Up the Mist Trail and down the John Muir Trail. In between, I could feel the power of 2 huge waterfalls, their spray on my face and the roar of a ...

A little early for wildflowers and plenty of down trees were across this historic trail but my hike was rewarded with a lovely waterfall, pretty views along the way and a good workout. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 12.12 MilesDifficulty: ModerateElevation Range: 4,037′ – 5,841′Elevation Gain: 2,252′Date: April 20, 2022CALTOPO: Alder Creek Falls HikeDog Hike? No I headed to Wawona through ...