Anyone visited Yosemite in August?

[Libby]

We'd love to spend a couple of days there this summer but I'm finding it hard to find info.

Looks like a tour would suit us best but do we have to be staying inside the park to book this?

How bad is the traffic really?

What has everyone else done?

Will the government shut down or forest fires affect us?

Looked at a few places but they are either unavailable or an hour's drive away.

Thanks for any info.

[jdouds]

Hi for yosemite people normally book there accomodation early, from almost a year out. Have a look at yosemite view lodge at El portal on the edge of the park and 25 mins drive to valley floor. The valley floor tour is very good and last 2 hour and anybody can do this, it gives you a little history and an overview. Would suggest some time walking around the main valley floor area,drive to glacier point,walk up to the vernal waterfalls and down the john Muir trail,drive part of the tioga pass. Hope this helps.

[smithlane]

We’ve only just booked our accommodation for Yosemite for the beginning of August. Couldn’t get into any hotels inside the park so are camping in Half Dome Village instead!

[bluesky30]

We went in August but stayed at the lodge in the park, we had to book it a year out. We didn’t want to have to drive each day and wanted to get out hiking early, if you can stay in the park it’s definately worth the extra money, to be able to go out early and as it gets light and see the deer grazing outside our cabin was just amazing. We had 4 nights there and it was just fabulous. We didn’t do any tours and just did our own hikes following the trails. I’m sure you’ll love it, it really is the most beautiful place

[Rob & Jan]

We went in August it does get very busy and its hot, we stayed at a B & B called Red Tail Ranch in Groveland which in just on the edge of Yosemite park, its was an absolutely fabulous place you basically get the run of their home, the breakfasts were amazing. Here is a link to their website red-tail-ranch/

[Libby]

Thanks for your replies.

Oh dear, it looks like we might have left things a bit late. How long would an hour's drive (from Fish Camp maybe) really take in the summer?

[lindasarahlou]

We stayed in a cabin in Yosemite West early Oct 18. It wasnt luxurious but was comfortably, had everything we needed, including full kitchen (you would be better shopping for food before going to the park), 2 bathrooms. It was about half an hour from the valley floor but the bonus was we were already in the park and didn't need to queue at the park entrance each day. Was also easy to get Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove.

[Olympiad]

Hi - it depends on what type of lodging you want. There is still plenty of availability at half dome village for all dates in August but it is quite basic - however it is bang in the middle of Yosemite Valley and once there you would not need to use the car until you left (possible exception a trip up.to Glacier point if you dont fancy the 8 mile round trip walk!). Cancellations at the other lodges in the park do come up fairly often - as so many people book a year in advance there is inevitable drop outs as people change their plans etc - so worth keeping checking (official site is travelyosemite.com).

Alternative is lodging outside the park which will probably be cheaper and of a higher standard but then you will have to potentially (likely in August) contend with traffic to get into the park and to find parking - you can mitigate to an extent by getting an early start.

[miked1e]

We stayed on the valley floor at Yosemite Lodge at the falls. We booked a year out and stayed in August!

Loved it!

[Libby]

That's the thing we are now only 7 months out and I'd prefer to stay in a hotel with private bathroom, so I don't mind a drive or an early start but would like to know how bad "bad traffic" is or how early is considered an "early start".