Weekend Trip to Yosemite

by admin

Toward the end of April 2026, I took a short weekend trip to California, where I met up with a friend for two day hikes in Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite Valley

Last year, a good friend of mine from the San Francisco Bay Area made a valiant attempt to hike to Upper Yosemite Falls, only to fall short. In early April 2026, I learned that he would be changing jobs at the end of the month, which meant he could take a few days off, a perfect opportunity for me to join him in Yosemite and help him finish what he had started the year before.

After some discussion, we settled on the weekend of April 25–26, with me taking the following Monday off thus spending two nights outside Yosemite. Snowfall in the Sierra Nevada had been dismal this winter, so I guessed this would be roughly when Yosemite’s waterfalls peak for this year. (Judging by the discharge rate of the Merced River, they actually peaked on May 12.) The plan was for me to fly to the Bay Area on April 25 and then drive to Oakhurst, where we would set out on two day hikes over the next two days before I fly back to Boston on Monday night.

American Airlines Flight 2315 and 3116 from Boston to San Jose via Phoenix

I had hoped to arrive in the Bay Area early enough to give us plenty of time to drive to Oakhurst and get a good night’s rest, which meant taking the earliest flights available on Saturday morning. I had two connection options: Phoenix or Dallas. While checking the seat maps during booking, I noticed that first class on the second leg of both itineraries was already quite full, so I chose to connect through Phoenix hoping to maximize potential upgrade duration. Fortunately, the gamble paid off: my upgrade cleared about a day in advance, and it seemed that everyone on the upgrade list cleared as well.

One small anecdote from my time waiting at Boston Airport: I spotted what I am quite certain was a rat in the terminal, darting back and forth along the windows. It was a memorable addition to my airport animal sightings list, which until then had consisted solely of pigeons.

American Airlines 2315
Boston, MA (BOS) – Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
Airbus 321neo (N403AN)
Seat 5F
Scheduled Departure – 6:13am
Actual Departure – 6:20am
Scheduled Arrival – 9:00am
Actual Arrival – 8:49am
5 hours and 29 minutes
Here’s GPS tracking:

Long Shadows before Takeoff
Boston Skyline
Breakfast
Biscuit Sausages

Here’s a video of the takeoff:

Unfortunately, I hadn’t slept well the night before (packing the suitcases was as hectic as ever), and I had to wake up early to catch the flight, so I spent most of it drifting in and out of sleep.

Still, one unmistakable highlight was the view of the southern end of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with Wheeler Peak rising as the highest mountain in New Mexico. I already had a trip to New Mexico planned for late June, with a hike up Wheeler Peak on the itinerary, along with visits to nearby Taos and the Rio Grande Gorge. Now, I was treated to an aerial preview.

Spanish Peaks
Culebra Range Mountains before Sierra Blanca Massif
Taos Ski Valley
Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest mountain, in the right of this shot.
Mountains around Taos Ski Valley
Taos, New Mexico
Rio Grande Gorge
Abiquiu Reservoir

Here’s a video of the landing, one of the smoothest landings I had experienced:

The first minute of the video was sped up 2x.

I only had a brief one-hour layover in Phoenix. Interestingly, during that short time, the airport reversed its runway configuration.

American Airlines 3116
Phoenix, AZ (PHX) – San Jose, CA (SJC)
Airbus 319 (N758US)
Seat 8F
Scheduled Departure – 10:05am
Actual Departure – 10:18am
Scheduled Arrival – 12:06pm
Actual Arrival – 11:54am
1 hour and 36 minutes
Here’s GPS tracking:

Here’s a video of the takeoff:

Overlooking Downtown Phoenix
Snack and Drink Services
Both featuring American Airlines’ centennial logo.
Flying over Central Valley
Lots of clouds over Sierra Nevada mountains.

The flight from Phoenix to San Jose was largely uneventful. Clouds hung over both cities, and the sky remained overcast for almost the entire flight.

Here’s a video of the landing:

The beginning of this video up to 1:06 was sped up 2x.

Remarkably, I got my checked bag only 10 minutes after our gate arrival at San Jose, far more efficient than my usual stereotype of American Airlines’ baggage handling.

My friend from the Bay Area picked me up at the airport. Having been spoiled by the region’s usual sunshine, he complained about the unusually cloudy weather. We had lunch nearby and then set off for Oakhurst.

Originally, our plan for the next two days was to hike Upper Yosemite Falls on Sunday, April 26, and Mariposa Grove on Monday, April 27. The latter was less strenuous, which would have given us plenty of time to drive back to the Bay Area afterward. Unfortunately, the weather forecast was far from ideal, calling for rain, snow, and persistent cloud cover over the next two days. As of Sunday morning, the weather models predicted thicker low-hanging clouds on Sunday, while both days were expected to receive similar amounts of light precipitation. Since the chief attraction of Mariposa Grove was its towering trees, which depended less on clear visibility than the dramatic cliffs of Yosemite Falls overlooking the valley below, we decided to reverse the order of our plans and visit Mariposa Grove first.

Mariposa Grove

Here’s GPS tracking:

During the summer, a shuttle operated between Mariposa Grove’s Welcome Center, which had a large parking lot, and the upper trailhead near the giant sequoias. Although we saw a sign stating that the shuttle was supposed to operate “from late April”, it was not running during our visit. As a result, our hike gained an extra 3.3km (2.1mi) each way. (Vehicles with disabled parking permits could still access the smaller parking lot at the upper trailhead.) The stretch of trail connecting the two trailheads was quite unremarkable (p1–2 below).

Once at the upper trailhead, we decided to solve a “Traveling Salesman Problem”, treating the trailhead and every marked tree as vertices that required visitation. The outing began with a cluster of tall sequoias beside the trailhead, set along a boardwalk (p3–6 below).

Trail
Trail
Sequoias
Boardwalk
Trees felt very symmetric along this boardwalk.
Sequoias
Sequoias along Trail
Trail

At the end of the boardwalk was the dramatic root system of a fallen sequoia tree, named “Fallen Monarch”, a striking presence as if arranged as a museum exhibit.

Roots of Fallen Monarch Tree
Feeling very dramatic.
Roots of Fallen Tree

Next to “Fallen Monarch Tree”. This one seemed recently fallen, with the root system still holding onto large quantities of soil.

Farther along, I spotted a few deer just off the trail, their quiet presence complementing the birdsong and lending an added sense of life to our hike. As if understanding my excitement, they lingered long enough for me to pull my camera from my backpack and capture a few photos before vanishing deeper into the woods.

Deer
Deer
Deer

Next came a few named sequoias, beginning with the “Grizzly Giant” (p1–3 below). Even from a distance, it was unmistakable for its colossal size and its many outreaching branches. Officially, the tree was named for its resemblance to a grizzly bear, though I could hardly see the connection. To me, “mutated octopus” would have been a more fitting description of its sprawling limbs.
A short distance away stood the “California Tunnel Tree” (p4–6 below), aptly named for the opening in its base. A light drizzle began while we were in the area, and for a moment the tunnel beneath the tree felt like a perfect shelter.
Then, after a bit more walking, we reached the “Clothespin Tree” (p7–9 below), whose narrower, taller tunnel made it look almost like a pair of human legs. In a fantasy movie, this tree could easily have risen up and walked.

Grizzly Giant Tree
Base of Grizzly Giant Tree
Grizzly Giant Tree
California Tunnel Tree
California Tunnel Tree
People Crossing under California Tunnel Tree
Clothespin Tree
Clothespin Tree
Clothespin Tree

But the most amusing trees of the day were certainly “Bachelor and Three Graces” (p2 below) and “Faithful Couple”. The former consisted of four large sequoias arranged in a “3+1” composition. Interestingly, earlier along the boardwalk section of the trail, I had noticed another group of smaller sequoias in the same formation (p1 below), which I took to be their junior version. More intriguingly, later on the trail we came upon yet another cluster of four giant sequoias (p3–5 below). This time, two of them shared nearly the same lower half, like conjoined twins; these were officially named the “Faithful Couple”. The other two stood across the road. I imagined that the bachelor from earlier had finally chosen one of the three graces and formed a “faithful couple”, while the remaining two looked on sadly from the other side of the road.

Sequoias

This group was unnamed, but featured the same “3+1” composition as “Bachelor and Three Graces Trees”. So maybe this was their junior version.
Bachelor and Three Graces Trees
Sequoias along Trail
Faithful Couple Tree on the left, two unnamed trees on the right.
Sequoias along Trail
For a moment, we thought these were “Faithful Couple Tree”.
Faithful Couple Tree

Farther on, as we gained elevation, the landscape grew ever more deeply covered in snow, while the trees became increasingly veiled in mist as we climbed into the cloud ceiling. The precipitation, too, shifted from drizzle to snow, though it remained very light, and I have to say I appreciated the variety of colors in view. In addition, only a small number of people visiting Mariposa Grove seemed to venture beyond the Grizzly Giant Loop, so the upper reaches of the grove offered a wonderful sense of solitude.

Sequoias along Trail
A very symmetrical composition.
Trail
Another very symmetrical composition.
Trail
Mariposa Tree
Sequoias along Trail
A giant opening in the tree on the right.
Unnamed Tunnel Tree
Guess this tunnel was too small to be named.
Trail
Sequoias
Sequoias

With the cloud ceiling hanging low, we decided to skip the spur to Wawona Point, since it likely would have offered no view at all. Not far beyond the junction stood the Galen Clark Tree (p3 below), a named but inconspicuous tree that took us a while to find its marker. (It’s along Perimeter Trail, whereas other named trees in the area were on Guardians Loop Trail.)

Sequoias with Basal Hollows
Sequoia with Branches
An almost rectangular branch, a bit like the Grizzly Giant earlier.
Galen Clark Tree
Sequoias along Trail
Sequoias along Trail
Pair of Sequoias

They were not as close together as “Faithful Couple”, so I would call them “best friends”, or “divorced couple” if I’m more devious.
Sequoias
One fallen and broken into two halves.

A short walk farther on was the Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree (p3 below). I learned the tunnel through its base had been artificially enlarged by people to turn it into a tourist attraction. Unfortunately, that alteration weakened the tree, and it eventually fell. Even in its current state, though, I found it hard to discern the tunnel that once opened at its base.

Root System of Fallen Tree
The moss added some variety of color.
Sequoias along Trail
Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree
Root System of Fallen Sequoia
Snow Plant
Sarcodes sanguinea, a parasitic plant that gets its nutrients from fungi.

Next along the trail was the “Telescope Tree”, a heavily eroded tree whose hollowed trunk one could step inside (p1-2 below). Looking up from within, it felt like a telescope skyward. The “Telescope Tree” was located along Guardians Loop Trail, but at first we couldn’t find its sign, and the official NPS map seemed to place it on the Perimeter Trail, so it took us a while to confirm that it was in fact just beside a major trail junction.

After the Telescope Tree, we took a shortcut towards Mariposa Cabin, near which stood the “Columbia Tree” (p4 below). I had to admit that, among its many unnamed neighbors, the “Columbia Tree” was not especially remarkable.

Telescope Tree
Interior of Telescope Tree
Sequoias
Columbia Tree
Unnamed Giant Sequoia
Trail

As for trail conditions in the upper part of Mariposa Grove, sections of the Mariposa Grove Trail were actually on a fire-access road. I noticed a few fire hydrants along the way, likely remnants of the 2022 Washburn Fire response, and that stretch was largely free of snow during our visit. Once we left the road, parts of the Guardians Loop Trail were covered in snow. Still, because the trail was mostly level and didn’t require much traction, we managed fine without any traction devices.

On the way back, before reaching the Faithful Couple Tree, we decided to take a shortcut to the upper trailhead. All told, the hike took us about 4.6 hours car to car.

Upper Yosemite Falls

The next day, weather forecast indicated chances of showers in the afternoon in Yosemite Valley, so we got up reasonably early and checked out of our hotel in Oakhurst at 8am. As we drove along Wawona Road through Yosemite National Park, we passed through what I was fairly sure was an active snowfall at the higher elevations. Fortunately, by the time we descended into Yosemite Valley, patches of blue sky had begun to appear behind the shifting clouds. With no rain falling, we were able to begin our hike in perfect weather.

El Capitan Surrounded by Clouds
Giving the immense granite wall an almost celestial quality.

This was a Monday in late April, so the day-use parking area of Yosemite Falls was very empty. After some warmup, we set out on the hike at 9:47am. Here’s GPS tracking:

The trail began with a long series of switchbacks through the woods. After about 45 minutes, we reached the first landmark on the route: Columbia Rock. To me, it did not seem like a particularly distinctive rock, but it nonetheless served as a fine viewpoint, offering sweeping views over Yosemite Valley below.

Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock
Half Dome in Clouds
Half Dome
Snow on Southern Rim over Yosemite Valley
The snow-covered Sentinel Dome.
Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock

Leaving Columbia Rock, we caught occasional glimpses of Yosemite Valley through breaks in the vegetation along the trail. The stretch between Columbia Rock and Oh-My-Gosh Point rose only gradually, in a mixture of uphills and downhills.

Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley
Glacier Point across Yosemite Valley

Not long afterward, we arrived at what my friend claimed was Oh-My-Gosh Point, the next landmark on the trail. From there, Upper Yosemite Falls stood directly before us, a white ribbon unspooling from granite’s stern hand. (The actual Oh-My-Gosh Point was on a short spur just off the trail, which we missed, and offered views of all three sections of Yosemite Falls.) To me, this spot felt like the perfect distance from Upper Yosemite Falls: close enough to feel its thunder, yet far enough to escape the drenching spray.

Upper Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls

On our way down, I came upon a raven at Oh-My-Gosh Point, as if it too were admiring the beauty of Upper Yosemite Falls.

Raven
Raven
Raven

Shortly after leaving Oh-My-Gosh Point, the trail launched into another relentless series of switchbacks, climbing steadily upward. A few spots along the lower section offered a closer view of the waterfall. During our descent, the wind blew the spray across the trail, making it feel as though it was raining.

Upper Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls

As for trail conditions, this was the time of year when water was most abundant in Yosemite National Park. In some places, a creek was literally flowing down the trail, requiring some caution (p2 below). Beyond that, the path soon lost sight of Upper Yosemite Falls as it continued up the switchbacks, which, unlike the stretch before Oh-My-Gosh Point, was now mostly unshaded.

Water Flowing along Trail
Trail
A tiny bit of Upper Yosemite Falls and Yosemite point visible.
Cliffs of Eagle Tower
Trail
Trail
Trail

Trail

Near the top of the switchbacks, just before the trail intersection to Eagle Peak and El Capitan, there was a section where the trail seemed to dissolve into a jumble of logs laid above a flowing creek. Some caution was needed here to keep one’s feet dry.

Finally, after about 3 hours on the trail, we reached Upper Yosemite Falls at 12:48pm. This was a fine viewpoint, overlooking the lush Yosemite Valley below, with snow-covered Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point rising beyond it. Those not afraid of heights could venture to the cliff’s edge and look down over the Middle Cascades of Yosemite Falls (p4 below). Yet because Upper Yosemite Falls is so lofty, the Middle Cascades felt to me somewhat distant, almost disconnected from the scene.

Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley
Mt Starr King
Overlooking Middle Yosemite Cascades
Squirrel

Yosemite Valley from Upper Yosemite Falls Vista

Additionally, we followed a narrow path (p1 below) to a small viewpoint near the brink of Upper Yosemite Falls. A fence (p2 below) had been placed at a cautious distance from the waterfall, which unfortunately kept me from taking the most dramatic photos. It also seemed that only a handful of visitors ventured out to this little overlook from the main upper viewpoint.

Narrow Path to Upper Falls Vista Point
Brim of Upper Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls
And Middle Yosemite Cascades also visible.
Yosemite Creek just before Upper Yosemite Falls

Last year, my friend had only made it as far as Oh-My-Gosh Point, so reaching Upper Yosemite Falls was already quite an accomplishment for him. On the map, though, Yosemite Point looked just a little farther on, with only a modest gain in elevation. As we neared Upper Yosemite Falls, I kept urging him to continue on to Yosemite Point, which promised an unobstructed view of Half Dome, and he happily obliged.

To get there from Upper Yosemite Falls, we first crossed a footbridge over Yosemite Creek, just upstream from the waterfall. Not long after, a sudden hailstorm swept over us. Fortunately, it was not especially fierce, and our umbrellas were enough to shield us. More importantly, it lasted only about 15 minutes, and by the time we arrived at Yosemite Point, it had all but passed.

Footbridge over Yosemite Creek
Yosemite Creek
Yosemite Creek

Hailstorm

Finally, Yosemite Point welcomed us with a view of Half Dome’s immense sheer granite face, capped with snow and standing solemnly beneath a grey, gloomy sky. It seemed to me that only something of Half Dome’s grandeur could answer the surging force of Yosemite Falls; now, with Half Dome in sight and level across the valley, the scene felt complete.

Half Dome
Half Dome
Yosemite Valley
Mt Starr King
Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome

Yosemite Valley from Yosemite Point

We left Yosemite Point at about 2pm, followed by a largely uneventful descent. As I mentioned earlier, the afternoon wind blew the spray from Upper Yosemite Falls into the air, and the resulting rainbow was a lovely treat for the eyes.

Rainbow from Yosemite Falls

At around 4pm, just as we passed Columbia Rock, rain began to fall along the trail, hard enough for me to pull a rain cover over my backpack. Before checking out of the hotel that morning, I had consulted several weather models, all of which predicted a light shower in Yosemite Valley sometime that afternoon, though their timing ranged from noon to 4 pm. Among them, the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model forecast the 4 pm shower, and it proved to be the most accurate. I suppose that, for this rewarding hike to Yosemite Falls, some of the credit must go to those advanced models.

In the end, we were back at the trailhead at 4:50pm, concluding the entire hike in just under 7 hours.

END

Weekend Trip to Yosemite by Huang's Site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Category: Flight Log, Hiking, Travel Tags: American Airlines, Yosemite National Park

Huang's Site

Fluctuat Nec Mergitur

Weekend Trip to Yosemite

American Airlines Flight 2315 and 3116 from Boston to San Jose via Phoenix

Mariposa Grove

Upper Yosemite Falls

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Search

Contents