Sign for Mirror Lake

Inspiration Point

Bridalveil Falls from Inspiration Point

Bridalveil Falls

Bridalveil Falls

Bridalveil Falls

Bridge in Yosemite Valley

Just before the Ahwahnee Hotel

Ahwahnee Hotel

Mirror lake is at the far end of the valley where you would descend from Nevada and Vernal falls. After walking all day in the Valley, the girls decided that taking in Mirror Lake would be too much of a hike. Next time!

This is a view from Inspiration Point along the Wawona road as you come out of the Wawona tunnel. In the distance you can see part of Half Dome and on the left, part of El Capitan. This is certainly one of the most gorgeous views on earth.

It was unusual for Bridalveil Falls to be flowing so strongly at this time of the year (July, 2005) Depending on the season, the waterfalls in the Yosemite Valley (and the Park) can be just blasting or reduced to a trickle.

A somewhat closer shot. Bridalveil is right off of the Wawona Road past Inspiration Point towards Yosemite Valley. The turnoff for Bridalveil is just before you enter the loop road for Yosemite Valley. You can feel the mist from the falls in the parking lot. As you get closer, it gets thicker and the falls get louder. It's kind of exciting in a simple-minded way.

As you can see, as we get closer the fall is really overwhelming. I wonder what percentage of the water actually makes it into the stream and what percentage leaves as mist. It must be interesting to see the falls from the top, too. (There wouldn't be a guardrail!)

Yosemite Falls (upper and lower)- also in Yosemite Valley- is even more popular and spectular than Bridalveil, depending on the time of year.

Another shot showing just how much of the water goes up in mist from the falls.

I don't remember the name of this bridge in the valley but always thought it was attractive. It's near the Ahwahnee Hotel.

I think this an old guard house just before the Ahwahnee. I guess it could be a bus stop in a pinch. Certainly not your run-of-the-mill place to wait for public transportation.

The Ahwahnee is a treat though very expensive. Certainly worth seeing; looking is free. I brought 3 friends there years ago; we just had desserts, no meal or anything. When the bill came (they said they would pay me back), I put two hundred dollar bills on the table which freaked them out. Of course the bill was actually in the twenty dollar range. (Remember, this was a long time ago.)