Yosemite Spring in the

BY KRISTA MINARD HIKES BY PHILLIP REESE PHOTOS BY GABRIEL TEAGUE

RUSHING WATERFALLS BECKON VISITORS TO YOSEMITE VALLEY, WHICH IS EMERGING FROM ITS LONG WINTER SLUMBER.

Anyone who has followed the weather knows what happened in Yosemite National Park this year. Mounds of snow fell, the park closed for three weeks, and the photos emerging of Curry Village made the tent cabins look like thick-frosted gingerbread houses. But at press time, the park was open—as were most roads in—and all that snowfall had turned the waterfalls into wild, roaring cascades of raw power. The splendor of early-spring Yosemite might be surpassed only by later-spring Yosemite. But before jumping in the car, check the conditions. With 240% of average snowpack in the Tuolumne and Merced river watersheds as of April 1, Yosemite Valley could be overwhelmed by water between now and July as that snow melts. Between those fabulous falls and the rising river, there may be parts of the valley that are simply inaccessible. Check the park’s social media (IG: @ yosemitenps) and website (nps.gov/yose) for the latest information before you go.

Yosemite Village

Yosemite Visitor Center and Theater, Yosemite Museum, Indian Village and The Ansel Adams Gallery make for enriching stops, revealing a wealth of information and history through exhibits, interactive signage and lots of artifacts. At the museum, a short, free film with stunning footage introduces folks to the splendor of the region. The Ansel Adams Gallery is packed full of Adams’ famous photography of Yosemite (and other beautiful wildlands) as well as works by other artists and photographers. The gallery also includes books, handcrafted items and gifts. The Village Store is fun to explore for souvenirs—coffee mugs, T-shirts, hats—and carries camping gear (forget your flashlight?) as well as groceries so you can create your own picnic to enjoy beside the Merced River. Also nearby, Degnan’s Kitchen makes towering sandwiches and typically has a crock of soup or chili going; you also can grab an espresso drink.

Must Do! PLAN YOUR TRIP

For the past three years, reservations have been required to enter Yosemite National Park. Not so this year. Entrance fee is $35 and good for seven consecutive days, or get an annual pass for $70. You still should get reservations to stay overnight—campgrounds and lodges fill up fast once the spring and summer seasons get underway.