Yosemite may not be the oldest national park in America, but there is little doubt it contains the most history for a wilderness-based national preserve. The Southern Sierra Miwok have lived in and around the Yosemite Valley for millennia. More recently, the California gold rush drew thousands of European Americans to the region, each with their own story. John Muir’s residency and national park advocacy in the late 1800s is also considered the birth of our conservation movement. Fall offers a carefree time to explore this fascinating history while enjoying the changing seasons.
“Fall is my favorite time of year in Yosemite and, honestly, one of the best-kept secrets,” he says. “I love to sit alongside the river at Yosemite View Lodge. The rapids are usually starting to pick back up from scattered rain, and the beautiful mountains along the edge are a site to see.”