Checking out dogwood blooms and waterfalls in Yosemite Valley is an annual thing for me but I sure didn’t expect to meet a bear while hiking on the Mirror Lake Loop Trail. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 7.25 MilesDifficulty: EasyElevation Range: 3,983′ – 4,285′Date: April 30, 2021CALTOPO: Curry Village to Mirror Lake Loop TrailDog Hike? Maybe I maximized my dogwood viewing ...

My hiking boots took me back through time to property once owned by James McCauley, an immigrant from Ireland seeking his fortune in gold. We remember him best for building the Four Mile Trail, building the two-story hotel at Glacier Point known as the Mountain House, starting the tradition that became known as the “firefall” and so much more. Since ...

My hiking boots took me on an adventure along the Old Coulterville Road, a historic stagecoach route that brought people to the Yosemite Valley starting in 1874. Stage stops along the way provided a change in horses, a break from the bumpy, dusty, cold or hot ride, and maybe some food or a night’s rest. Imagine the stories that came ...

Clouds were just passing through and they teamed up with the waterfalls to create ever changing reflections in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Walking up that trail had me wondering about the old trails and people who walked here back in the day. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 6.86 Miles (About 5 miles rt to Wapama Falls, 13 miles rt to Rancheria Falls)Difficulty: ModerateElevation ...

Dewey Point is famous for spectacular views of Yosemite’s high country but who knew we would see Merced River Canyon poppies from the trail while snowshoeing? We enjoyed one last showshoe hurrah before winter access to Badger Pass Ski Area closed for the season. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 7.41 MilesDifficulty: ModerateElevational Range: 7,233′ to 7,570′Date: March 29, 2021CALTOPO: Badger Pass ...

Wilderness permit reservations for the Sierra National Forest (SNF) moves to Recreation.gov making the reservation process for overnight visitors much easier with move. Launching on March 09, 2021, overnight visitors to the SNF wilderness areas will be able to make their wilderness permit reservations using the website Recreation.gov. This replaces the current system, by which reservations were submitted by mail, or in person, ...

CLOVIS — The Sierra National Forest (SNF) is requesting public input for the California 2020/2021 State Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program application cycle. As part of the grant process, the SNF is requesting public comment on the draft applications submitted to the State. This Public feedback will be considered as development of the preliminary grant ...

Have you ever snowshoed into Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias? This was one adventure I had not experienced until this week. Tuolumne Grove was one of the big stops that early travelers made on their way to Yosemite. In the 1870’s, they left Hodgdon’s Stage Station, then headed up through these huge trees, even driving through one of the dead ...

There was a really good reason why I headed up to Yosemite Valley when I did. A nice storm came in and the timing for it moving out would be a perfect time to be in the valley. Maybe if I was lucky, I would see clouds swirling around the high places on the rim. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: About ...

If you are reading this article you are probably around the age 25-35 and are looking into purchasing your first home. This is one of the biggest decisions and one of the most expensive purchases you will make in your life. When purchasing your first home there are a lot of unknowns and unexpected expenses so it is important to ...