In all our years on the road, we somehow never made it to Yosemite National Park. That changed this summer, and we have my daughter Meagan to thank. It was her birthday, and when we asked where she wanted to go, Yosemite was her first choice. So both of my girls flew out to California, and we finally checked one of the biggest national parks off our list.
Settling In at Yosemite Pines RV Resort
After tackling some steep, twisty mountain roads, we rolled into Groveland, California. It’s an old Gold Rush town with a fun, walkable main street, and it sits a short drive from Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat entrance. We stayed at Yosemite Pines RV Resort.
Before pulling in, we walked the route to our site first. We’re glad we did. Our site was on the opposite side from where the map suggested, and the turn in was sharper than it looked. Sometimes the maps just don’t do it justice. The site itself was long, with plenty of room to unload the motorcycle.
The park felt busy when we arrived. By Sunday, most of the weekenders had cleared out, and it turned quiet and peaceful. Tara went from being unsure about the place to loving it.
For our first dinner in town, we walked to the Iron Door Saloon. It bills itself as California’s oldest continuously operating saloon, and the building dates back to the Gold Rush era. It’s packed with history, and they poured a proper hazy IPA.
That Sunday was also Father’s Day, and my girls pulled in that afternoon. We took them to Around the Horn Brewing Company in Groveland for dinner. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly spot with a rotating lineup of craft beers brewed on site.
Our First Day in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite covers nearly 1,200 square miles of the Central Sierra Nevada. Most visitors are headed to one relatively small area, though: Yosemite Valley. That’s where we started too.
The National Park Service app was a big help. You can download Yosemite maps, trails, and driving info ahead of time. It also covers weather, food, restrooms, and things to do. The app doesn’t show entrance wait times, but the NPS current conditions page does.
Everyone says to go early. We rarely do. Just like in Zion, we tried heading in later in the day instead. We reached the Big Oak Flat entrance around 2:30 in the afternoon with no delay at all.
From there, it’s nearly 20 miles of winding mountain road to the valley. There are tunnels, granite walls, and waterfalls tucked into the cliffs. When the valley finally opens up in front of you, it’s breathtaking.
Bridalveil Fall
Our first stop was Bridalveil Fall. It’s a short, easy walk, which was perfect since Chad wasn’t feeling great that day. We found parking right at the trailhead around 5:30 PM. The park was busy but far from overwhelming.
You can get surprisingly close to the base of the falls. The mist reaches you well before you get there. Photos really can’t capture the scale of it.
We’ve now visited Glacier, Zion, and Yosemite. After one day, Glacier is still our favorite, but Yosemite made a strong first impression.
Whitewater Rafting the Merced River
The next day, we had a half-day rafting trip booked on the Merced River with Zephyr Whitewater. Tara woke up with a migraine coming on. Four hours of sun and heat would only have made it worse, so she stayed back to rest. The girls and I went without her.
The trip runs Class 3 and 4 rapids, with a couple of solid Class 4s. Our guide gave a thorough safety talk before we launched. He covered the rapid classification system, self-rescue if you fall out, and watching for rattlesnakes and poison oak along the banks. Wetsuits are provided if you want one, since the river runs very cold early in the season.
The rapids were a blast. Some sections were so rocky that there was only one clean line through. We also got to jump in the river during a few calm stretches. The water wasn’t nearly as cold as we expected. Our guide was fantastic, and we’d definitely recommend Zephyr.
We wrapped up the week celebrating Meagan’s 30th birthday, which was what prompted the whole trip. 🎂
We have much more to share from Yosemite. That includes some epic hikes with incredible views, a motorcycle ride through the park, and giant sequoias later in the season, so be sure to SUBSCRIBE! 😊 Stay tuned for Part 2.
Related 🎥
Links 🔗
- Yosemite Pines RV Resort: yosemitepinesrv.com/
- Zephyr Whitewater Rafting: zrafting.com/
Products 🛒
- Liquified (PrimeRV): lanes.link/primerv
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