Chasing Dogwoods

Yosemite Hikes 2 Minutes

May 6, 2025
Valley Loop Trail, west end
Total distance walked: 4.8 miles

Morning broke over the mountains as I sat at my laptop waiting to snag my Peak Hours Reservations for Yosemite. Living so close to this majestic park yet needing permission to visit feels like asking to enter my own backyard. I understand why the system is needed and agree with it, yet something in me bristles at being told “not today.”

Tiger swallowtail

So, I sat, credit card in hand watching each minute tick by with the same anticipation I feel while waiting at the gates to enter Yosemite. Then the clock struck eight. I had no problem procuring all the passes I wanted for the summer. Now let’s go to Yosemite.

Just days before the release of the reservations, my sister texted to tell me the dogwoods were in bloom in Yosemite Valley. We picked today to go see them. Instead of heading into the valley, we parked just west of the Pohono Bridge and walked under the leafed-out dogwoods on the Valley Loop Trail.

Bugs on a bloom.

My real goal was to reach El Capitan to touch it, which I had unsuccessfully tried once before. Along the way we saw Bridalveil Fall’s powerful presence on the southside, and the seasonal Ribbon Fall’s more delicate flow whose water trickled onto the trail making a slippery, muddy path.

Bridalveil Fall
Ribbon Fall

On this day we were unsuccessful in reaching the base of El Capitan—the fire department was cutting trees and blocking the area where we were headed. Nonetheless, we had a great view of that massive piece of granite.

El Capitan

We retraced our steps to the trailhead, crossed the bridge over the Merced River, and continued the Loop Trail on the south side of the road.

Merced River
Pohono Bridge over the Merced River.
Cathedral Rocks through the trees.
Pacific Bleeding Heart
Dandelion seed

All in all, we didn’t see too many dogwoods in bloom since they were deeper in the valley, but our walk under the trees with bright young leaves was refreshing.

A dogwood bloom.

It was a lovely spring day in Yosemite even if it didn’t go exactly as planned.

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Published by Janet

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14 thoughts on “Chasing Dogwoods”

    1. Hi Rae, thank you! I sure don’t get out there as often as I would like. I hope to do that this year. I used to go alone all the time, but don’t feel as comfortable doing that. Now that my sister is retired, she’s happy to go with me, so I hope we go. 🙂

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    1. It IS such a pretty time of year, especially down by Curry Village. We didn’t make it down that far this time. If you’re ever up here again, get in touch!

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  5. It was a pleasurable day for a hike. I always enjoy the waterfalls and being near the river. I love springtime in Yosemite! Looking forward to our next hike!

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