No Reservations:
Local Experts
Weigh in on
Yosemite Mariposa County
This Autumn
Colorful oak, dogwood, and maple leaves are just one of the changes coming to Yosemite Mariposa County this autumn. As always, wildlife will be on the move, asters and other alpine fall flowers will be in full bloom, and Chilnualna, along with other year-round waterfalls, will continue to tumble.
October 1 also marks the end of the year’s reservation system, a welcome change that opens up Yosemite for spontaneous weekend visits and midweek trips. To celebrate all the changes that fall brings, we asked a few local experts about some of their favorite seasonal gems.
Where to Stay
Tenaya
Lodge
The redwoods
In Yosemite
Yosemite
Scenic wonders
"The Grove receives far fewer visitors in the fall, allowing for the most undisturbed reverent moments while visiting these ancient beings."
Nia Huerta
"Yosemite Trails is a small family-run business, and these folks really know their horses. No previous experience is necessary."
Yuli Gotsev
Minutes away from the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and 2-miles from Yosemite National Park’s South Gate, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite provides full resort services such as restaurants, pools and outdoor activities. Tenaya’s lodging options are just as diverse, including main lodge rooms, cottages and two-bedroom Explorer Cabins.
"Can you imagine a sitting president today disappearing into the wilderness for three days and hiding from the press and all his staff?"
Ken LeBlanc
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Mariposa County
Yuli Gotsev, a manager at The Redwoods in Yosemite, says his favorite fall trail is the Wawona Meadow Loop, citing the relatively rare pet-friendly path for its abundant fall colors.
“There are sometimes a couple of creeks running after a rainy day, making for a fun mud bath for the doggies too!”
Gotsev had to dig deep to determine his favorite tidbit among the lesser-known landmarks, the 90-plus-year-old Wawona Tunnel, which, at 4,233 feet, is the longest highway tunnel in California.
“The tunnel would cost about $12.5 million to build today,” he says. “And they used 275 tons of blasting powder to cut through the granite.”
Fall is also a great time to visit more popular attractions, says Nia Huerta, who works at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite.
Huerta remarks, “One of my favorite places to visit in the fall is the Mariposa Grove, which is located in Yosemite National Park just two miles from Tenaya Lodge. The Grove receives far fewer visitors in the fall, allowing for the most undisturbed reverent moments while visiting these ancient beings.”
Huerta offers several other options for convenient multigenerational walks in the woods, beginning with the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, a two-mile, wheelchair-accessible path with several trees that are so famous they have names.
“This trail has notable trees such as the Bachelor, the Three Graces, the Grizzly Giant, and the California Tunnel Tree,” she says. “We recommend allowing at least two hours in The Grove to fully enjoy the spectacle of it all.”
Photo by Charles Phillips
Not all the family fun involves trail hikes, observes Gotsev. One of his favorite family, couple, or individual experiences is the Vista Pass Trail Ride with Yosemite Trails Horseback Adventures.
“Yosemite Trails is a small family-run business, and these folks really know their horses,” Gotsev explains. “No previous experience is necessary. You’ll get a quick riding lesson before you set off down the trail. You can sign up for one- or two-hour rides through the beautiful Sierra National Forest and experience getting to cross a mountain stream on your mount. Kids do need to be at least seven years old.”
Gotsev also recommends the Wawona Loop Trail Ride offered by Wawona Stables. “The Wawona Stables are even closer to The Redwoods in Yosemite cabins than Yosemite Trails, but a little less remote feeling. The age requirement here is also seven and up, and the kids also need to weigh at least 52 pounds and be at least 52 inches tall.”
Getting out and about to more remote-feeling areas in Yosemite is the stuff of legend here, of course, like when Theodore Roosevelt sent his entire entourage of important officials and media ahead to a soirée at the Wawona Hotel.
Ken LeBlanc of Yosemite Scenic Wonders, picks up the story, a personal favorite. “Meanwhile, the president spent three days camping in the open with John Muir, two park rangers, and a horse packer as they explored the southern part of the park. Can you imagine a sitting president today disappearing into the wilderness for three days and hiding from the press and all his staff?”
Photo by Chris Migeon
The CEO of Yosemite Scenic Wonders doesn’t hesitate when asked to name his recommendation for multigenerational groups: an open-air tram tour in Yosemite Valley.
“Boarding a ‘green dragon’ gives you an unobstructed view of the valley walls and an NPS park ranger as your guide to the sights and stories of Yosemite. It is a feast for the eyes and soul.”
Like most locals, LeBlanc says picking a favorite park trail is like asking a parent to choose a favorite child, though he does admit the west end of the Valley Loop Trail is particularly stunning in fall.
“The bright yellow and gold colors of the big leaf maples and black oaks are punctuated by dogwood leaves that range from peach to maroon.”
Like LeBlanc and Gotsev, Huerta notes the crisp air, reduced number of visitors, and fall colors, such as the leaves in Tenaya’s “Golden Tunnel,” as key reasons why a fall visit is a must. She also highlights “the slowing flow of the Merced River” as beautiful, a keen observation of subtle changes from someone who knows the area well.
The gushing snowmelt of spring may be long gone, but the Merced delivers an equally interesting pattern and lovely melody come autumn.
“The same can be said for what we call the Tenaya Waterfall,” Huerta says. “It’s a gentle two-mile walk or bike ride from Tenaya Lodge through the incense pines and dazzling sugar pines.”
Observing daily changes in the enveloping environment is one of many fantastic realities when spending time in alpine splendor like Yosemite Mariposa County. Hawks and other migratory birds pause here on their way south, meadows sparkle with fall blooms, and every day the natural world appears a little different from the day before.
Visit the Yosemite – Mariposa County Tourism Bureau website to plot your trip to see the kaleidoscope of changes this autumn.
Tenaya Lodge
at Yosemite
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The Redwoods offer vacation home rentals inside Yosemite National Park. Guests will find a vast array of options including fully-equipped cabins and spacious homes that are perfect for larger groups and multi-generational families. Many accommodations are also pet-friendly, feature fireplaces and other resort-level amenities.
The Redwoods
in Yosemite
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Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders offers more than 145 diverse properties located in four distinct regions of Yosemite’s High Sierras. The variety of properties from intimate studios to large lodges that can accommodate small grounds and multigenerational families consistently rank at the top of user reviews.
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