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INSIDER’S TIP: Memorial Day Weekend
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007The Memorial Day Weekend (May 26 - 28) is Yosemite National Park’s most visited weekend of the year. That occurs because Yosemite’s famous waterfalls are at their peak and it’s the first three-day weekend of summer. Here are some tips on visiting during the Memorial Day Weekend:
Consider traveling to Yosemite Valley by public YARTS bus (www.yarts.com). You’ll see more and not have to search for a place to park.
Traffic backups usually occur only on Sunday of the three-day weekend and then just during midafternoon. Arrive earlier or later and you’ll probably avoid them.
Monday is the least visited day of the weekend; visit then and you wonder why there is so much said about crowding.
The most hiked trail in Yosemite Valley is the Mist Trail. Consider hiking the Yosemite Falls trail (Yosemite Valley), Hetch Hetchy Valley trail or Chilnualna Fall trail (Wawona), instead.
Yosemite’s high country is open and spectacular. Head there and you won’t see many people.
Lesser-visited museums include the: Pioneer History Center at Wawona, Happy Isles Nature Center in Yosemite Valley and outside the national park, the Mariposa History Center and the California State Mining and Mineral Museum both in Mariposa.
Get off the beaten path. Even in the heart of Yosemite Valley on the busiest day of the year, there’s solitude to be found in meadows, trails and turnouts at the west end of the valley.