Yosemite in Spring: A Photo Diary

A black woman with a short blond afro sits on a wooden log thats created a natural bridge across a ravine

As the last traces of winter snow thawed around Yosemite, we spent a few days celebrating my friend Mariah, who loves the outdoors and planned a “cabin in the woods” getaway for her birthday. While she and her husband drove five hours down from Los Angeles, my friends and I made our way up from Oakland, arriving within minutes of each other at our cottage in Groveland — about 30 minutes outside Yosemite National Park. From cascading waterfalls to towering granite peaks and forests of lush pine, here’s a glimpse into our time in Yosemite.

Big Oak Flat Road

On our way to the park, we stopped on Big Oak Flat Road to sight see before heading into Yosemite National Park.
walking towards cascade creek situated beneath an underpass
a woman with long black wavy hair covered with a scarf sits on a rock with her head turned to the left as she poses for a photo
a Black woman with short blonde afro sits on a rock in an all pink athletic set smiling towards the camera.
from the roadside, a rocky creek is visible beneath a dense copse of green pine trees

Bridal Veil Fall

A waterfall cascades down a tall granite face, flanked by tall masquerade trees
It really does look like a long cascading veil, doesn’t it? I loved it here. We could see a rainbow where the sun hit the water and feel a cool mist on our faces.
a black woman in a short blonde fro poses infront of the bridal fall cascade - a misty waterfall flowing down a gray rock face.
a wooden bridge is in the foreground. and a copse of green pine trees is in the background, alongside a shadowy mountain.
a couple faces each other in front of the misty white cascade of bridal veil falls
three women smile with their teeth. one has a tongue sticking out. the misty white cascade of bridal veil fall is in the background
two women look up to the misty white cascade at Bridal Veil Falls
a woman sits on a log thats laying across a rocky ravine. her face is not showing.
A black woman with a short blond afro sits on a wooden log thats created a natural bridge across a ravine

El Capitan

the gray granite rock face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park
Our last stop in the park: the granite tower, El Capitan. The same one Alex Honnold climbs without ropes in Free Solo. Seeing it in real life was surreal.

I would’ve happily spent the better part of a week exploring more waterfalls, hiking well-worn trails, and basking in crisp mountain air and sunshine, but we had the time we had, and I’m more than grateful for it.

Good to Know

The Yosemite Valley is the ancestral land of the Ahwahnechee people.

How we got there:
We drove from Oakland to Groveland (a town near Yosemite National Park), which took about four hours.

To enter the park, you’ll need to pay a per-vehicle entrance fee, and on particularly busy weekends, a reservation is required. You can find park access information here: NPS Yosemite Fees

Where we stayed:
We booked our stay in Groveland via Airbnb. While the home was cozy, I hesitate to recommend it due to the quality of service. That said, Groveland itself is a good base for exploring the park, though it’s about a 30-minute drive to the entrance so I recommend having a car.

Staying inside the park is also an option, but it comes with considerations, like booking nearly a year in advance, limited cell service, and limited access to amenities like grocery stores and restaurants.

Where we ate:
We cooked most of our meals at the cottage, but on arrival, we stopped at Iron Door Saloon, where I had a tasty plate of fish and chips!

For more of my U.S National Park visits, you can read this story from Joshua Tree here: Desert Dawn: A Visit to Joshua Tree National Park

As always,

Thank you for reading!

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