Yosemite National Park – Dirt biking, Hiking, Camping & Anything Outdoors!

Hi’all! My first trip to Yosemite National Park was definitely and extreme one. I grew up on the east coast and did a lot of forest camping and hiking but nothing as magnificent as this! If you don’t mind wildlife walking through your campsite and are responsible enough to pick up after yourself, this place is AMAZING. We lucked out and got a last minute campsite and decided to make it a 4 day adventure. This is how it went:

Our first night we had to stop and camp just outside the park (off of the 120 corridor) because we didn’t have reservations until the next day. So we stopped at Sweetwater Campground ($22/night fee). This site was a little more chilly at night because it’s actually at a slightly higher elevation than the park, but man were the stars out! This was one of the first times I had ever left the cover off of my tent so I could star gaze while drifting to sleep and it was so worth it.

The next morning, my husband, Brad, and I took our 125CC dirt bikes on their 100+ miles of trail riding on the Black Springs Trail. I would consider this easy riding as it’s mostly well maintained small OHV roads but there are certainly some big rocks, roots and ditches to avoid. If your like my husband and are adventurous, you may find a few single track trails that, if not looking ahead, you could slip down the side of a steep downslope -or- end up on the backside of a residential area on a dirt road and get attacked by 5 guard dogs. The difference between men and women became very clear to me on this trip. Women look a head and read signs, Men just go full throttle and deal with the consciences as they come.

We checked into our Yosemite campsite after riding. We stayed at the Upper Pines site. It’s walking distance to the village where you can take a shower for $4, go grocery shopping, get wood, souvenirs, or eat at a regular restaurant. Prices are definitely marked up in the village and it’s very kid and family friendly. In the village is a family of deer that eat off of the apple trees planted in the parking lot. They are stoic and beautiful but please do not feed them or try to touch them. Have you every seen a deer boxing? Don’t be that dude.

By far the most memorable part of our trip, besides sleeping under the stars with my hubby, was our hikes! Our first (warm up) hike on day 2 was to May Lake. It’s only 2.5 miles (one way) to the lake from the car but it’s a decent little uphill climb at higher elevation. The lake presents a beautiful panoramic view and a popular stopping point for many who are doing the long John Muir trail.

The next day came our ridiculous 14+ mile hike. It was epic, beautiful, and super tough since I am not a seasoned expert hiker but this trail had MANY rewards along the route. We drove from our campsite in Upper Pines to the trail head of the Four Mile Hike which ends at
Glacier Point. The part of the hike is extremely up hill and the trail is mostly constructed of slabs of stone and is about 4 miles long. Walking sticks come in handy for this entire hike. At the top you are greeted by tourists and long bathroom lines, but the store offers a rewarding ice cream cone and views to die for…and bandaids or mole skin if your getting sores.

The next leg of the hike took us on the Panorama Trail. This section is considered a little more difficult than the last but my legs were numb by this point so I don’t think I could feel anything anyways. This trail is about 8.5 miles long and offers beautiful wilderness views, waterfalls and a refreshing swimming hole! The cold mountain water felt FANTASTIC on our sore feet, helps with swelling and muscle soreness. Totally worth a dip! Plus my friend, Eric, found a $1 bill in the water here! Talk about a wishing well.

The last leg of our hike was The Mist Trail towards Vernal and Nevada Falls, about 3 miles. By this time I was happy to see the slopes heading down. This trail is heavily populated towards the falls. There are many man made steps going down and hand rails at times but my walking stick was a big help here. The waterfalls were a testament to the power of water in large quantities.

This hike took us 9 hours total round trip, which was a little longer than we expected since some of us were amateurs. Casualties along the way were blisters, ball chaffing after swimming, soreness but the positives were the sense of pride and accomplishment upon completion. I would consider this an advanced hike and would suggest it to anyone wanting a challenging day hike in Yosemite. Bring lots of water, gold bond, lunches, snacks (I found myself very hungry and eating often from all the cals I was burning). Also, refill your waters at Glacier Point, bring a map (duh), and ENJOY!

Our 4th day in Yosemite, needless to say, was spent resting. Definitely check out the giant red wood trees at the entrance. You don’t really need to walk around, just park and check out the trees, take some pics and get the heck out of there because it gets pretty touristy.

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading about our Yosemite experience! Feel free to share your own experiences too. Now for the fun stuff…check out some of my photos here:

“Flutterby” Butterfly in Yosemite Field

“Besties” My husband’s Mustache(right) and I(left) at the lookout point right after the tunnel on the way to Yosemite (Oh, Brad’s there too!)

“Chillin” at May Lake. Where’s my PBR?

This was taken at a lookout point on the way back from May Lake.

This was taken at a lookout point on the way back from May Lake.

After we went to May Lake we wanted to take a dip. You can’t swim at May Lake so we found another one to test out. I forget this ones name but it’s a beauty!