Is Yosemite Worth the Hype?

Yosemite is an increasingly popular tourist destination, with over 4.2 million visitors in 2024. And with that comes crowding, rubbish, smells; all the things you would consider with the big cities. It’s also becoming increasingly expensive to explore.

So is it worth the hype? 

Yosemite Valley is something you have to experience to appreciate, and once you get there it really becomes easy to see why it has garnered its popularity. One thousand metre-high walls tower above you, making it a great place to find perspective in how small of a person you really are in the might that is planet Earth. There’s nothing quite like driving into the valley for the first time and having to do a double-take to see if everything you’re seeing is actually real.

The actual park spans over 3000kms, meaning that even though the valley is incredibly popular, you can still easily find places away from the people. Bear in mind (no pun intended), these remote areas are definitely more of the wildlife’s territory than yours (and require the utmost respect). Bridalveil Creek and Tamarack Flat offer a more remote camping experience well beyond the valley and its most popular attractions. ‘Thicccc’ squirrels are EVERYWHERE, and waddle around like they own the place. Their agility has been very obviously reduced by interaction with humans. 

In terms of other essentials, Yosemite has them all. There are plenty of food options, including food courts, pizza, coffee, village stores as well as more formal dining options including restaurants. The options do change seasonally, but the essentials are always available. 

The park offers year round access into the valley, but certain areas are restricted seasonally due to weather. Regardless, the scenery of Yosemite changes to be something new and beautiful at all different times of the year. 

In summer, you can truly appreciate the enormity of the park as all areas are accessible and offer some wonderful secluded camping. This is the busiest time of year, and boy can the valley get hot. If you’re not used to the heat, it can be a nightmare to escape it, with only one of the accommodation options in the valley offering air conditioning (Check out our “Guide to Yosemite” for information on accommodation in the park). Generally, the weather is very clear, with stunning blue skies and warm summer air throughout the season. 

The colours of the valley in Autumn are truly something to behold, and the crisp air makes the difficult hikes a lot more bearable. Nothing could beat the reflection of the autumn colours on the Merced river. The weather is a little bit more labile, but nothing beats a perfect Autumn day. Costs of staying in the valley are a lot more affordable and there are a lot less people. 

As the weather gets cooler, Yosemite Valley becomes a winter-wonderland! The snow dusted pine trees and the frozen Merced river adds an incredible blue hue to the valley. When the sun rises, the stunning warm colours are in such stark contrast to the coolness of the valley it makes for the perfect photograph. 

My favourite part about spring in the valley is the wildflowers. Yosemite becomes the host of wildflowers of all shapes and sizes and adds a beautiful splash of colour to the valley. As the weather warms up slightly it draws world famous rock-climbers to the meccas of El-Capitan, Half Dome and the many other towering granite walls. You can watch from below as they tackle the toughest climbs, and marvel at the skills and strength of this quickly-growing sport. 

So is Yosemite worth the hype? Absolutely! It offers stunning scenery and unforgettable outdoor experiences year-round. Our recommended times to visit are the shoulder seasons (Autumn and Spring) to avoid the crowds and experience the stunning beauty of the valley. 

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