Above: Warm October light in the high country. Photo: Taylor Millin.
Grab a bag of trail mix, fill up your reusable water bottle and join us for a virtual visit to Yosemite! No hiking boots necessary for this adventure: Thanks to our Yosemite fans, you can travel to different parts of the park, and through every season, from wherever you are.
Earlier this month, we asked our social media community to share photos of their favorite time of year in the park. We loved seeing all the submissions, from shots of glowing autumn afternoons, summer storm clouds and foggy winter views, to calm rivers and roaring cascades. Here are just a few of the images we got from park fans — scroll down for a quick adventure from your armchair (or standing desk, or exercise ball, or beanbag), and see all the submissions in the Yosemite Moments: Your Favorite Season gallery.
Waterfalls
Whether surging with melting snow and rain, or swaying in a gauzy mist, the park’s celebrated waterfalls are a captivating sight — and it’s no surprise they were a common theme in fans’ favorite shots. (To get to know a few more Yosemite waterfalls, check out our May 2017 blog post.)
Upper Yosemite Fall. Photo: James McMillan.
Vernal Fall. Photo: Jason Weiss.
Lower Yosemite Fall. Photo: Felicia Avendano.
Illilouette Fall. Photo: Melissa King.
Snowy scenes
“Frost is the greatest artist in our clime — he paints in nature and describes in rime.” That clever bit of wordplay, attributed to 19th-century poet and humorist Thomas Hood, comes to life in fans’ photos of picturesque snow-coated moments in Yosemite Valley. (For a slightly different take on cold-weather scenery, check out naturalist Pete Devine’s guest post on bird-watching during the quiet season.)
Yosemite Valley. Photo: Henry Tran.
Tunnel View. Photo: Jayms Ramirez.
Fern Spring. Photo: Mecia Serafino.
Bridalveil Fall. Photo: Jayms Ramirez.
High country
No virtual Yosemite vacation would be complete without a few views above 8,000 feet! Enjoy these fan photos from day hikes and backpacking trips — and if you’re in the mood for a tour of a few more high-elevation spots, take a peek at our Destination: High Country Lakes post.
Tuolumne Meadows. Photo: Justin Esteban.
Young Lakes. Photo: Samantha Castro.
Lembert Dome. Photo: Dana Sarcinello.
Fletcher Lake. Photo: Joseph Mourgos.
Valley views
Yosemite Valley’s best-known features — gleaming cliffs, powerful waterfalls, the meditative Merced — took a starring role in many fans’ photo submissions. What’s the first view that comes to mind when you close your eyes and picture Yosemite?
Half Dome view. Photo: David La Duc.
Nevada Fall and Liberty Cap. Photo: Gia Monachino.
Valley View. Photo: Patrick Prager.
Half Dome and the Merced River. Photo: Melissa Mattis.
Nature’s palette
Fans shared shots showcase the greens and grays of summer hikes, the warm palette of autumn sunsets, and, of course, rainbows dazzling in waterfall spray.
Yosemite Falls. Photo: Melissa King.
Tuolumne Meadows. Photo: Taylor Millin.
Cathedral Rocks. Photo: Shadeh Begian.
Hiking to Clouds Rest. Photo: Erika Santana.
Congratulations to our contest winners, and thanks to all who shared their Yosemite moments! Stay tuned for more ways to connect with the park from afar. In the meantime, enjoy a visual feast of images from past photo contests, including winter wanders, summer splendor (don’t miss the sequel), and year-round Yosemite beauty. And if you’ve been looking back at your own Yosemite photos, we’d love to see them! Share your shots and stories with us on Flickr and on social media — we’re @YoseConservancy on Twitter, and @yosemiteconservancy on Instagram and Facebook.
