Yosemite Fall 2023

There’s Plenty of Room in Yosemite this Fall to Discover Golden History

Yosemite may not be the oldest national park in America, but there is little doubt it contains the most history for a wilderness-based national preserve. The Southern Sierra Miwok have lived in and around the Yosemite Valley for millennia. More recently, the California gold rush drew thousands of European Americans to the region, each with their own story. John Muir’s residency and national park advocacy in the late 1800s is also considered the birth of our conservation movement. Fall offers a carefree time to explore this fascinating history while enjoying the changing seasons.

Where to Stay

Tenaya Lodge

The redwoods In Yosemite

Yosemite hospitality

“I had read everything I could on climbing, was well aware of Yosemite and the local climbing legends like Royal Robbins, Warren Harding, and others.”

Ken Yager

“But, truth be told, fall does edge out the other seasons for its crisp temperatures, blue skies, and colorful foliage and a rich landscape of golden hues."

Brett Archer

“The rapids are usually starting to pick back up from scattered rain, and the beautiful mountains along the edge are a site to see.”

Jerry Fisher

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Mariposa County

Many visitors also came to Yosemite for a precious rock other than gold, the granite edifices with fabled names like Half Dome and El Capitan. For alpine enthusiasts from North America and around the globe, Yosemite is, in the words of the Yosemite Climbing Association Museum’s founding director, Ken Yager, nirvana. “I knew about Yosemite as a kid,” says Yager. “I had read everything I could on climbing, was well aware of Yosemite and the local climbing legends like Royal Robbins, Warren Harding, and others.” When Yager first came to Yosemite, the 13-year-old jumped out of the car and ran to touch the base of El Cap. His father dropped him off to live in the valley when he was 17, though his first attempt to summit the monolith failed after a couple of days. He estimates he’s guided the routes over 50 times. In his spare time, he and partner Mike Corbett started pooling gear to exhibit in the early 1990s. “Yosemite climbing history is a part of Yosemite,” he says. “In 1875, George Anderson put up the cable route on Half Dome. Before that, in 1869, John Muir climbed Cathedral Peak with no rope when he was caring for sheep in Tuolumne Meadows.” Yuli Gotsev, marketing manager of the Redwoods in Yosemite, a vacation home rental company celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024, recommends everyone visit the Yosemite History Center in Wawona. The center recently installed an exhibit about the critical legacy of Chinese workers and their role in shaping today’s park experience. “There is history in every direction here,” he says. “I think the Indigenous history in Wawona and Yosemite is also important to learn.” Gotsev is a fan of autumn visits to Yosemite Mariposa County, noting that the area feels more relaxed, quieter, and intimate than during the busier summer season.

Photo by Charles Phillips

“I find guests like to hang out a little longer and get to know each other a bit more at this time of year,” he says. “It’s also a good time to explore the small towns in Mariposa County because you won’t find lines out the door.” Gotsev also enjoys the shorter days when the morning golden hour starts a little later and the landmarks are bathed in gold and red light. He also loves the fall storms. “If you’re lucky enough to have a small storm during your visit, you’ll see how the sun shines through the swirling clouds and mists. These conditions supercharge the lighting and make the white granite cliffs seem even grander. That’s why you’ll often find serious photographers flooding into Yosemite at the slightest suggestion of rain.” Tenaya at Yosemite’s Brett Archer, who has lived and worked in Yosemite for 38 years, says he still gets excited when fall arrives and the maple trees across from the Yosemite Chapel change colors. “When people ask me what my favorite season is here, I always say, ‘The one I am in,’ because they are all fantastic,” he says. “But, truth be told, fall does edge out the other seasons for its crisp temperatures, blue skies, and colorful foliage and a rich landscape of golden hues. It also represents a respite from the busy summer season, with fewer crowds and mild weather.” Tenaya at Yosemite, which offers three lodging styles two miles from the park’s southern entrance, has plenty of history to share, too, having opened in 1990. Archer says the legacy of Tenaya, “to dream” in the Indigenous Ahwahnechee language, is one part of a great story.

Photo by Chris Migeon

“There is so much deep-rooted history of hospitality in Mariposa County, from the Mariposa Inn and River Rock Inn to to the Wawona Hotel, Camp Curry, and the Ahwahnee in Yosemite. While they were established in a time gone by, one can still visit and stay in these historic hotels.” Jerry Fisher first visited a historic hotel with his wife 45 years ago. Smitten, he told her they had to invest in a local property. “We ended up purchasing the Rapids Motel, and while I had no experience in hospitality, we were determined to make it work,” he says. “Truth be told, though, we got off to a rocky start. Our manager, housekeeper, and janitor quit within weeks of purchasing the 12-room property, and my wife, who was seven months pregnant at the time, ended up running the show.” Today, Fisher’s Yosemite Resorts owns and operates 10 properties close to the park. He also loves the first fall rains, swelling the rivers and altering the sky and landscape. “Fall is my favorite time of year in Yosemite and, honestly, one of the best-kept secrets,” he says. “I love to sit alongside the river at Yosemite View Lodge. The rapids are usually starting to pick back up from scattered rain, and the beautiful mountains along the edge are a site to see.” After almost a half-century, Fisher says, the charm of Mariposa County’s small towns hasn’t changed. “I love the old-school charm that the small towns in Mariposa County have. It’s like a time machine taking me back to simpler times, with original storefronts, mom-and-pop shops, and restaurants. If you come to Yosemite, I highly recommend that you don’t just cruise through. Stop in the towns and learn about the culture of this incredible area.”

In the eyes of Fisher and his peers, Mariposa County is more than a gateway to Yosemite. It’s an area steeped in rich history that speaks to our national identity. An autumn visit provides plenty of room to stretch your legs, scale a rockface, spread your arms, and embrace this mythical environment and its history. Visit the Yosemite Mariposa County website to make your own history.

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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.

Tenaya at yosemite

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Yosemite Hospitality takes care of all your visit needs from accommodations at the Wawona Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge and elsewhere to lift tickets at Badger Pass Ski Area. You’ll also find one stop dining information and reservations at a variety of restaurants, as well as an array of tours like “Discover Yosemite,” “Curry Village Ice Skating” among dozens of other adventures.

Yosemite hospitality