Best of California: Yosemite & Mammoth Lakes – Part 1

One of the most beautiful corners of California, Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes are simply breathtaking with mountain scenery and alpine lakes. 

California has many incredible places to visit. With only a limited window between family visits, we had just enough time to squeeze in a memorable road trip. During our last trip to the Golden State, we explored San Diego. This time, however, we were determined to visit one of America’s most iconic national parks: Yosemite National Park.

If there is one word that sums up Yosemite, it is majestic. Photographs simply cannot capture its scale or beauty. At around 4,000 feet above sea level, Yosemite is a landscape of towering granite cliffs, dramatic waterfalls, giant sequoias, and the spectacular Yosemite Valley, all carved by glaciers over millions of years.

Gold Rush Country

To add a little California history to our adventure, we took a scenic driving tour through the foothill towns on our way to Yosemite. The Gold Rush era left behind a remarkable legacy of historic buildings, mining sites, winding roads, and cemeteries that continue to shape the character of the region today.

Murphys is a charming former mining town known for its historic Main Street, boutique wineries, and excellent restaurants. Arnold, a quiet forest community, serves as the gateway to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, where we stopped to marvel at the giant sequoias.

Further along, we visited Columbia, one of California’s best-preserved Gold Rush towns. Its historic streets, living-history exhibits, and restored buildings offer a fascinating glimpse into life during the mid-1800s.

Our overnight stop was an Airbnb on North Washington Street in Sonora, a lively Gold Rush town with a vibrant historic centre filled with shops, museums, and restaurants. We enjoyed dinner at Diamondback Grill and spent the evening chatting with local residents, who shared stories of life in the Sierra foothills.

Yosemite National Park Day 1: Bridalveil Fall, Glacier Point & Lower Yosemite Falls

The next morning, we set off along Highway 120 towards Yosemite. To our surprise, the usual $35 entrance fee had been waived in celebration of the National Park Service’s 110th birthday. Our first stop was Bridalveil Fall. The short walk to the viewpoint was easy and rewarding, although late summer meant that the waterfall had mostly dried to a gentle trickle.

From there, we drove up the winding mountain roads towards Glacier Point, one of Yosemite’s most famous viewpoints. Before reaching it, we stopped at Tunnel View, the iconic overlook that delivers the classic postcard view of Yosemite Valley. Seeing it in person was every bit as spectacular as we’d imagined.

Glacier Point itself was simply incredible. Standing high above the valley floor, surrounded by vast granite peaks and endless wilderness, we enjoyed a picnic lunch while soaking up both the sunshine and the extraordinary scenery.

With plenty of energy left, thanks to the crisp alpine air, we spent the early evening walking to Lower Yosemite Falls before continuing around Cook’s Meadow Loop for stunning views of Half Dome. Although the waterfalls were running low, the immense scale of the granite cliffs more than made up for it. And as the sun began to set, the golden-hour light transformed the valley into something truly magical.

After a full day of exploring, we checked into Curry Village, where we had booked a wooden cabin with a private bathroom. The village offers several dining options as well as a convenience store for supplies. That evening, we devoured well-earned pizzas beneath a sky full of stars, with the silhouette of Half Dome looming above us.

Yosemite National Park Day 2: Vernal Fall & Nevada Fall

After a good night’s sleep, we packed plenty of snacks and water for our biggest adventure yet: hiking to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall.

As with everywhere else in Yosemite, every turn in the trail revealed another postcard-perfect view. Towering cliffs, rushing water, granite domes, and endless mountain vistas made every uphill section worthwhile.

Unfortunately, the popular Mist Trail was not open due to repairs between 7:30am-3:30pm, meaning we had to take the longer John Muir Trail route. What followed was Lady Yeya’s first major hike. The route covered approximately 10 miles with around 2,000 feet of elevation gain, taking us roughly five and a half hours to complete. It was certainly challenging, particularly in the summer heat, but she powered through every step of the journey. We couldn’t have been prouder.

Back at Curry Village, the remainder of the afternoon was about recovery. We relaxed in the communal hall, playing Uno, enjoying a few rounds on the Nintendo Switch, reading on our iPads, and generally doing very little. After such an epic hike, we were more than happy to take it easy with dinner and rest for the next leg of this epic mountain road trip. 

More to come…