Bridal Veil Falls is brought to light by full sunlight by late afternoon. Even at the end of autumn when the water levels in Yosemite Falls are lower, it is a an impressive sight.
Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.
Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite National Park. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe sunshine in Yosemite National Park is barely making its way over the ledge at Bridal Veil Falls.
While I was standing there, the wind shifted and pushed the path of the falls to the left and creating a hint of a rainbow.
Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco and south of Reno, Nevada.
Half Dome in Yosemite National Park on a sunny day in late October. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe colors in Yosemite National Park take on different intensities as the day progresses.
The dark side of Half Dome in the morning will light up in the afternoon.
I found a spot on the edge of the Merced River where I could catch the reflection of Half Dome. The exact location where I stood, while a dry spot in late October, might have been six- or eight-feet deep in raging water at the peak of the snowmelt earlier in the year.
Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco and south of Reno, Nevada.
Yosemite Valley in late October has a lot less visible snow. – photo by Joe AlexanderBy late October in Yosemite National Park, the previous winter’s snow has mostly melted away.
Yosemite Valley Falls is dry and there are lower water levels in the Merced River and at Bridal Veil Falls.
Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.
El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in late morning. – photo by Joe AlexanderThere is an area of whiter/lighter rock where there was a recent rockslide and sent tons of rubble into the valley.
They refer to late fall as “Rocktober” for the perfect weather for rock climbers.
Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.
Deer looking for a morning snack in Yosemite Valley. – photo by Joe AlexanderOn the second day of my trip, I got to Yosemite Valley shortly after sunrise.
I ran into a couple of the locals as they were out having breakfast.
Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. – photo by Joe AlexanderMy first view of Half Dome way off in the distance while driving into Yosemite National Park on the Tioga Pass road.
Both photos are from the same spot – first zoomed in and then zoomed all the way out to give you a feel for the distance.
Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.
The drive to Yosemite National Park via the Tioga Pass road. – photo by Joe AlexanderI flew into Reno, Nevada to start my trip. From there I drove south into California and then west through the Yosemite National Park on the Tioga Pass road.
On the way I saw a little bit of last winter’s snow still on the mountains and got my first glimpse of Half Dome looming over the Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.
The drive south on Highway 395 in eastern California in late October looks like the setting from an old western movie. The highway rolls from the Nevada border near Lake Tahoe down to Mono Lake and crosses the road leading into Yosemite National Park. – photo by Joe Alexander
The Joshua Tree only blooms in the area in and around Joshua Tree National Park in the high desert of California. – photo by Joe AlexanderOfficial site: Park Service, Joshua Tree National Park