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Re: Early July in the Valley?

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avatar Early July in the Valley?
June 23, 2015 10:34PM
Heading to Curry Village next Wednesday for an overnight with some relatives who have never been to Yosemite. I've never really been in the Valley during the summer high season, except once one August for a half-day and the traffic was horrendous. Will there be a ton of traffic getting into the park and to the Valley? Crazy crowds? Loud adjacent tents? Mosquitoes? Trying to set expectations.
Re: Early July in the Valley?
June 24, 2015 01:41AM
Summers in the Valley are crowded. Try and get in as early as you can on Wednesday morning to avoid traffic. Or go late(after dark).
Going for a hike almost anywhere will get you away from the crowds. Of course, the term 'crowds' is relative. For instance, hiking the Mist Trail will put you near a lot of people. But the further you go up Vernal Falls and then higher towards Nevada Falls, there will be less people than around Yosemite or Curry Village.
Curry Village tent cabins are noisy. You will hear conversations in the tent next to you. If a person in that tent is a loud snorer, you will hear it. I'm not sure what the mosquitoes are like in the Valley this year.
But just remember you are in Yosemite, almost heaven on earth, so appreciate that the beauty will outweigh the downsides.
avatar Re: Early July in the Valley?
June 24, 2015 10:57AM
Quote
Paris92

Heading to Curry Village next Wednesday for an overnight with some relatives who have never been to Yosemite. I've never really been in the Valley during the summer high season, except once one August for a half-day and the traffic was horrendous.

Will there be a ton of traffic getting into the park and to the Valley?


At the entrance gates, from 8:30 AM to about 3:00 PM, Yes, there will be usually a long line of cars. Sometimes (but not always) they'll have a separate line open for park pass holders and employees. That can speed up the lines through the entrance stations. Within Yosemite Valley itself during summer WEEKDAYS if you get there before 11:00 AM, traffic won't be so bad and you should be able to find parking at Curry Village or somewhere else. After 11:00 AM, finding a parking spot will get exceedingly difficult until about 4:00 PM when it starts to ease up.


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Crazy crowds?


On Summer weekdays during low water years, not really. Yes, there will be crowds, but when I was there last year in mid-June mid-week, the crowds were actually quite low. Felt more like late September crowds than mid-June crowds. This year due the late rains, there was more water going over the falls, so the crowds were larger. Still mid-week summer crowds during low-water years are manageable inside Yosemite Valley. Just get there early and find a parking spot.

And if you're planning to leave Yosemite Valley to visit the hight country (Glacier Point, Tioga Road/Tuolumne Meadows) or a giant sequoia grove, get to (or beyond) the Yosemite Lodge before 1:00 PM to avoid the worse of the daily traffic jam that occurs on Northside Drive between Curry Village and the Yosemite Lodge.


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Loud adjacent tents?


At Curry Village? Unfortunately, that's always a risk. If they're too loud for too long, just inform the front desk. They'll usually send someone out to quiet the noisemakers.


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Mosquitoes? Trying to set expectations.


Mosquitos will be active in Yosemite Valley when you visit (though they won't be as bad as they are now around Tuolumne Meadows). So definitely bring some insect repellent with you (also insect repellent clothing if you have some). Depending on the weather conditions (breezy vs calm air), the mosquitos might just be minor nuisance in the Valley right now, but some years they can be a major pain even in late June.

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avatar Re: Early July in the Valley?
June 24, 2015 07:28PM
Thanks all!
Re: Early July in the Valley?
June 24, 2015 08:27PM
Mosquitoes were out almost everywhere this past weekend even in the valley so take the bug spray. Curry tends to be noisy so bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper. While many here tout the virtues of Curry Pizza, if you go to Degnan's after 6 pm, that area tends to clear out and the line for pizza is not as bad as at Curry and it is not hard to get a table inside or outside. Saturday night we ate pizza and then sat on the benches near the Ansel Gallery and there was only a few people around. Try to get to the gates early to miss the crowds. If you don't want to deal with the crowds when you get there then take a drive to Glacier Pt or along Tioga Rd and then go back to the valley in the late afternoon or early evening. At least going during the week it is not as bad as the weekends. Have fun.
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