Fall Colors in Yosemite National Park - Travel Guide

One of my absolute favorite places to enjoy fall colors is in Yosemite National Park, where you can find a plethora of trees and plants turning golden yellow, crisp orange and sharp red. I put together this little travel guide so you can find all the information you need to enjoy fall colors in this magical National Park. If you still have questions after reading this guide, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you asap with more valuable information! Happy Leaf Peepin!

on the Valley Loop trail (November 4, 2020)

Meadows in the Valley after sunset (November 3, 2020)

WHEN TO GO

This answer varies in Yosemite because of the differences in elevation throughout the park so I’ll break down this answer for each location.

Yosemite Valley - averaging around 4,000 ft in elevation, you won’t see much color change until end of October and this area is usually in peak through the first weeks of November. I typically make a point to visit the first and/or second week of November, which has been ideal conditions in the past.
Glacier Point - this beautiful view point is a bit higher, around 7,000 ft in elevation so you’ll see colors change up here before the Valley, around the beginning to middle of October.
Tioga Pass - this part of the park is much higher than the Valley, with elevations between 6,000 - 9,900 ft with hikes that take you even higher. The meadows will crisp to a golden hue and some shrubbery as well, usually in October. This road closes for the season after a big snowfall in the late fall, which varies each year. Check Yosemite’s current conditions here.

Near the boardwalk to Yosemite Falls viewpoint (November 4, 2020)

WHAT KIND OF WEATHER TO PREPARE FOR

It’s important to know what kind of weather you may encounter in the fall so you can be properly prepared. Temperate wise (in Fahrenheit), you could encounter evenings and mornings in the low 30s, even 20s at times. And during the day, you can expect to see the highs around 60, with a few chillier days in the 50s. This season is also infamous for early snow storms so please check the forecast before heading out so that you have all the proper gear for this weather. Chains may be required if a snow storm passes through, always be sure to carry chains during this time (even if you have AWD/4WD).

Another condition to beware of during the fall is smoke. Unfortunately the fire seasons have been bad in California and lately there’s been fires in September that linger through the fall and cause smokey conditions. I use the app AirVisual, it allows for you to look at multiple locations air quality plus the air quality forecast for the week.

Meadow in Yosemite Valley (November 3, 2020)

Things to do

My favorite area to enjoy fall colors is in the Valley. You can definitely find fall colors in the other places I mentioned (Tioga Pass & Glacier Point), but the colors seem to be the most prevalent in the Valley.

Walk or bike the Valley Loop: the entire Valley Loop is 11.5 miles long, but I usually pick a few sections of it to walk and enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Here’s more information on renting bikes in the Valley.
Bring some food and enjoy a picnic at Cathedral or Sentinel Beach: both of these picnic areas have gorgeous fall colors along the Merced River, a great place to hang with family or friends.
Photograph some beautiful scenes: some of my favorite photography spots are along the Merced River and the bucks usually make an appearance near the Yosemite Village which make for stunning shots.
Hike out of the Valley to get fall views from above: 4 Mile Trail is one of my favorites for fall colors, but you can also get good views from the Yosemite Falls trail or the Snow Creek trail.

There is no wrong answer when it comes to enjoying fall colors in the Valley. I usually set out to drive the full Valley Loop and keep note of the places that catch my eye for further exploring. There are so many great spots along the Loop to park, get out for a little walk and enjoy the colors. Be sure to be a respectful visitor by staying on designated trails and not leaving any trash behind. Happy Trails!

VIDEO OF PAST FALL COLORS

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Thanks for reading my latest adventure!

Tiare Kirkland

Hi! My name is Tiare, but you can just call me ‘T’. I’m a California based hiker and I spend most of my free time taking photos and videos of some of my favorite hikes. You can usually find me ‘Out Hiking’ in the Sierra Nevada mountain range or road-tripping to new areas. Read more about me here and follow along with my adventures by subscribing below!