My Yosemite Weekend: Mist Trails, Missed Reservations, and The View That Never Gets Old

February 4, 2025 by jordangassner

I had almost forgotten how quickly Yosemite puts me in a different headspace. You roll in, and even with the cars and the parking lots and the shuttle stops, there’s this instant shift. The air smells like pine. The pace slows down as the signal on your phone quietly disappears. And, honestly, you don’t really miss it. Here’s a recollection of my most recent trip to Yosemite National Park (May 2025):

We got into the park on a Friday afternoon in May, a little tired and definitely hungry after the drive from LA. Before we did anything else, we pulled off at Tunnel View. You come out of the Wawona Tunnel and suddenly the entire valley opens up in front of you. El Capitan standing to the left, Bridalveil Fall off to the right, and Half Dome rising in the distance. It’s one of those views that lives up to every single photo you’ve ever seen of it. We stood there for a few minutes, not saying much, just kind of letting it all settle in. There were other groups there doing the same, but the person here who stood out to me the most was an artist who was painting the view with acrylics, a canvas, and an easel. The trip officially felt like it had started.

From there, we headed into Yosemite Village and, after getting lucky with a parking spot, we stopped at the Yosemite Valley Welcome Center. We chatted with one of the rangers at the outdoor booth who gave us a few tips for where to start that afternoon, which trails would be busier, and where we might enjoy riding bikes through the valley. It made the whole start to the trip feel a little less like a mad dash, which is kind of the point of being here anyway.

Lower Yosemite Falls was our first real walk. It’s one of those trails that doesn’t ask much of you, which was exactly what we needed that first day and a long drive. You barely have to leave the Yosemite Village area before you’re standing under one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. The mist at the base was stronger than I expected, and people kept laughing and trying to take photos as the spray hit them. If you’re visiting solo, this is a great place to offer to take someone’s photo, almost everyone offers to return the favor! It’s an easy trade.

Afterward, we grabbed a late lunch at Degnan’s. I found a surprisingly good chicken sandwich on gluten-free bread, plus dairy-free chocolate caramels(!) and a can of rosé. For a national park, Yosemite’s allergy-friendly options are actually better than they are in a lot of cities. We sat inside next to a little library with our sandwiches, finally settling into that first real vacation moment of, “We’re here! We’ve made it.”

That night we stayed at Yosemite View Lodge, just 2 miles outside the Arch Rock park entrance in El Portal. It’s nothing fancy, but exactly what we were looking for. The rooms have kitchenettes and little balconies, there’s a pizza place right on property, and the pool and hot tub areas are a perfect way to wind down after a full day. So we ate our personal pizzas, changed into swimsuits, and spent the evening soaking in the warm water before heading back to the room and putting on an episode of The Four Seasons on Netflix to end the night.

The next day, we started early by heading over to the Mist Trail. I’ve done a lot of hikes, but Yosemite’s Mist Trail has its own energy. We parked near Curry Village and walked about 1 mile towards the trailhead, where we began our ascent. The climb is steep but beautiful, with the sound of Vernal Fall growing louder as you go. Eventually we hit the granite staircase, which lives up to its name. The mist close to the fall was heavy, so the steps were slick, and it was crowded enough that we made the call to turn around when we’d almost reached the top of the fall. We still have regrets. The views even partway were worth it, and sometimes knowing when to stop makes the experience better (plus, given my track record, I wasn’t about to risk another fall!).

After the hike, we stopped for burgers at Village Grill. Secret Tip: if you’re eating at one of the tables just outside, don’t drop your fries unless you want a squirrel to join you. They’re bolder than you think here!

The afternoon might have been my favorite part of the whole trip. We rented bikes from behind the Welcome Center and spent a few hours cruising through the Valley. There’s something about riding here that just makes sense. We cruised past Yosemite Falls (again), through Cook’s Meadow, over old wooden bridges, by the historic chapel, and eventually through Curry Village, Happy Isles, and up the road to Mirror Lake. Our favorite part of the ride was discovering Stoneman Meadow, where Half Dome was glowing in the late afternoon light and tiny purple lupines were scattered here and there.

At one point along the ride, we stopped at something neither of us had originally planned for: the historic Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center, now run by the Sierra Club. It’s tucked near Curry Village and easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. Inside, a volunteer named Janet told us how the building was originally located behind the old Curry family property before being moved and rebuilt using granite from Oakhurst. The original wood beams, windows, and doors are all still there. And while the building itself is historic, inside it’s filled with children’s books, educational displays, and shelves lined with books about Yosemite’s history.

As we neared the end of our afternoon valley bike tour, we decided to make a quick stop at The Ahwahnee to see if we could score a last-minute dinner reservation. I had accidentally realized earlier in the day that the reservation I’d originally made was actually set for the night before and we had unfortunately missed it. After talking to the host, we learned that the Dining Room had already been fully booked for the evening, but that we might be able to try our luck again at the Ahwahnee Bar, which is first-come, first serve.

We figured we’d might as well try once we returned the bikes. In the meantime, we rode back into the heart of the Valley, stopping at the Yosemite Exploration Center and the Indian Village of the Ahwahnee, which has a beautiful reconstruction of traditional Miwok bark houses. As we passed by the Roundhouse, we saw a small ceremony just beginning as members of the local Native community entered the space. We kept a respectful distance and quietly moved along, but it was one of those moments that felt extra special to witness, even briefly!

Just before dropping off our bikes for the day, we stopped by the Ansel Adams Gallery to admire some of artwork that was inspired by the Valley and browse around. I ended up taking home a lovely animal-inspired watercolor workbook. Although it didn’t necessarily have a Yosemite-specific theme, I was pleasantly surprised to find it and have already begun digging in and painting away back at home.

Soon after, we returned to The Ahwahnee Bar via the park’s free shuttle service and scored a table! Our luck had changed! My partner ordered a Bee’s Knees while I sipped a Negroni. For food, we split the Ahwahnee Salad with Chicken (and no cheese) and Bavarian Pretzel Sticks (I opted for the dijon mustard dip). The Bar felt fancy enough to be special, but relaxed enough to show up in hiking clothes and have no one blink. Much more our speed than the Dining Room seemed! Throughout the meal, people filtered in from their hikes and formed a long line at the bar. I never felt so relieved to be off my feet and at a table after such an active day!

We capped off our visit by splitting a Roy Rogers, a guilty childhood pleasure made up of Coca Cola, grenadine and a maraschino cherry then took the shuttle back to our car before driving to the hotel. Tonight, the game room had been calling our name. It had everything from skee ball to air hockey and pool to boardgames. We opted for a few rounds of pool, before crashing hard back in our room.

For our final morning in Yosemite, we journeyed up up to Glacier Point. The drive winds its way higher and higher until you’re standing at one of the most breathtaking overlooks I’ve ever seen. We made a quick stop at Washburn Point along the way, where you get a different view of Vernal and Nevada Falls and the backside of Half Dome. But Glacier Point is where it really opens up. We were able to see the entire Valley from here, with Yosemite Falls in front of us, Half Dome to our right, and even The Ahwahnee just below!

On the way out of the park, we stopped at Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and walked the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail. After catching the shuttle from the parking area, we started out on the trail. We were surprised at how much warmer and dustier it was here than along the trails in the Valley. It reminded me quite a bit of hiking in Southern California, as opposed to the Sierra Nevadas!

After a bit of elevation gain, we arrived at two of the grove’s most massive trees, the Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree. Seeing both in their full glory reminded me a bit of visiting the redwoods up in the north of the state! They give you that huge sense of scale that photos can never quite deliver as well as you see them in real life (though, I still try!). One surprise we had along our hike back was seeing all the red snowplants popping up along the trail, adding little bursts of color to the otherwise earthy environment. It was a peaceful way to end the trip. Slow, quiet, and exactly right!