Yosemite in mid-June too late for waterfalls?

Hi all,

I hope you can help me out here: I will be going on a trip to the US in May and June. I also plan to visit Yosemite for 5-6 days.

Currently I have planned to go there around June 11. However, I was wondering whether this would be too late to see the waterfalls at a good strength. I could reshuffle my itinerary and be there a bit earlier, either around May 12 or around May 26.

My main intention of the trip is landscape photography of all the beautiful places in the park.

Would be great if you could give me some advice.

Thanks and take care,

Bastian

Yosemite in mid-June too late for waterfalls?

Earlier is always better.

This year--2007 AD, 4705(Chinese Lunar Calendar), etc has so far seen mostly drought conditions (very little rain or snowfall) in the Sierras. The waterfalls will be going, no doubt. As for relative strength, so far the forecast looks very weak but we could still get lucky. The winter wet season is barely half over. If we get a repeat of the 1990-1991 winter, March will see good snowfall after a big dryspell.

Yosemite in mid-June too late for waterfalls?

Good morning Bastian,

You might consider moving Yosemite to May 12th period for the fewer people in the park during your visit. Once memorial day hits and the schools get out the volume of visitors increases substanially. The waterfalls will be quite heavy then.

That said, it it possible that more of the park will be open and accessible if you wait until June. Perhaps Glacier Point is open and even Tioga pass. It is unlikely that either of these will be open on the mid-May date.

Have a wonderful trip, which ever dates you choose!

While I agree that earlier is better, as HC mentioned, you may also get the bonus of the high country when you visit in June, which would oiffer you many more photo ops.

While this has not been as wet a year so far, the falls should still be very impressive mid-June. They may not be at their raging peak, but they should still be very full at that point.

Last year was a wet year, but the pic in my avatar of vernal Falls was taken last June 3rd. And even from that far away, the spray from the falls was so intense that we (and our camera) were drenched. I can%26#39;t imagine they were too much less a week later!

macjack, What are you talking about? This 2006-07 season is competing with the 1990-91 season for dryness.

As you said, Darth, our rainy season isn%26#39;t over with yet. And as I said, it does look to be a drier than average year, but I doubt the falls will be dried up by June 11th. May 26th would be better, but May 12th could mean missing the high country (even in a dry year) and as a landscape photographer, I think this would be a priority.

It%26#39;s too soon to call to be honest. It%26#39;s almost March so we still have the next 30 days or so to get one last impressive storm or two which can dump alot of snow in the high country. If that happenes then the falls should be in great shape through june and into july also. If we don%26#39;t get any more major storms then expect the falls to be gone by end of june.

Hi all,

thanks for your replies so far - based on your comments I have decided to move Yosemite at least to the beginning of June (6/1-6/7) in my itinerary. If it turns out that this is too late, I can still try to cancel/shift the reservations for all the parks in Utah and change my travel route. I will get back when we get closer to the end of March/beginning of April.

It really looks as if you can%26#39;t have everything. I%26#39;d love to see all the falls, but I am also looking forward to see the high country. Sounds as if Yosemite is calling for more than just one trip. :-)

Again, thanks for all the knowledgeable replies, they help a lot in planning the trip. Can%26#39;t wait to get there and see the park myself.

Cheers,

Bastian

Bastian-

Good choice...and you just may get everything after all. We are certainly having some winter storms now, a wee late, so the waterfalls should still be plenty decent when you%26#39;re here. But if the winter doesn%26#39;t prove to be exceptionally harsh, you may even get to see the opening of the high country roads as well!

Keeping our collective fingers crossed for you-

mac

I have several friends who work and live up in Yosemite and they have received quite a bit of snow this past week thanks to those storms. It%26#39;s still early and winter isn%26#39;t over yet so I have a feeling we will get some more snow soon and that will be great for the falls. Best time to see the falls is May and June so you will definatly see some impressive water levels from the falls. Have fun and make sure to bring LOTS of film or extra data cards!

Yea, I%26#39;d think you%26#39;ll be fine. Hope so anyway, I plan on being there about the same time, and I picked that time because I%26#39;m trying to get the best of both worlds = total park access while the water is still flowing. Been there once before with my wife, Sept 06. Bridal Veil still had some water flowing. Yosemite Falls, by the Lodge however, was completely dry. I%26#39;m an East-coaster %26amp; may not get back here, so I wanted to see some good water flow, but also wanted to show my other family members who%26#39;ve never been - Glacier Point %26amp; Tioga Pass. I know I%26#39;ll be putting up with a lot more crowded conditions, but there really isn%26#39;t any other way to do what I want to do. If you don%26#39;t care about Glacier Point %26amp; Tioga Pass, and water flow is your main priority, then go earlier. Say, a month earlier. Water flow will be better and the crowds a good deal thinner. But if you%26#39;ve never seen Glacier Point %26amp; Tioga Pass, I must say that would be unfortunate to miss them.

excel