July 18, 2014
Bridalveil Creek Trail, Yosemite National Park
Total distance walked: 6.6 miles
On many of Yosemite National Park’s more popular trails, it’s typical to cross paths with fellow hikers. On this hike, however, I encountered very few people. Perhaps it was because the route I chose lacked a definite destination—no serene lake, no picturesque riverbank, and no breathtaking vistas to savor. Yet, there were unmistakable signs that I wasn’t alone on the trail.
I eased the car into the dusty parking lot, where trucks with horse trailers filled the shaded, wooded area. As I started out, two black birds circled overhead, their squawks echoing through the trees.
My path followed the Ostrander Lake trail for a brief stretch before veering off in the opposite direction.
Today’s walk meandered alongside the elusive Bridalveil Creek. Mostly hidden from view, I was aware of its presence winding through the dense undergrowth below the trail.
The walk was easy, passing through a forest slowly regaining its life after a devastating fire years ago. This was familiar terrain—ground I had traversed on my way to Ostrander Lake before. I was astonished by how much the trees had grown in the four years since my last visit.
The trail alternated between sandy meadows brimming with wildflowers (I counted 26 types of wildflowers), open rocky patches, and dense forest areas strewn with dead wood.
Stalks upon stalks of brightly colored fireweed lined the path—a plant that only thrives in the aftermath of forest fires.
Savoring the cool air and ambling along the well-defined path, I discovered new flowers I hadn’t encountered before. It was monkshood. These flowers aren’t commonly found in large clusters. I spotted two of them at different points along the trail.
The trail was lined with twinberry honeysuckle shrubs, also known as bearberry honeysuckle. These berries are a favorite snack for bears. It was my first time seeing this plant adorned with both blooms and berries.
Close to the berries, I found evidence that I was sharing the trail with a bear.
I heard various bird calls—perhaps birds communicating with family members or alerting them to my presence. One unassuming bird, however, literally shared the trail with me, running along the ground and following the path through the forest. Throughout the day, several small squirrels did the same. Swarms of fritillary butterflies fluttered away as I walked through their perennial feeding ground.
A light breeze cooled me as I walked through a warm, sunny stretch. On the trail, there was a clear sign that I was sharing the area with a mountain coyote.
I reached the end of the route at Bridalveil Creek Campground. Rather than continuing to make a loop hike, which would have required walking on the busy Glacier Point Road, I decided to turn back and retrace my steps. I paused at a clearing and headed down to the creek for a brief break. Bridalveil Creek runs from Ostrander Lake to Bridalveil Fall in Yosemite Valley.
While retracing my steps through the shady forest, I discovered delicate smooth-stemmed fireweed thriving in a wet area near the creek—a close relative of the larger fireweed.
I always relish having an area to myself, but in a forest bustling with wildlife, both seen and unseen, I am never truly alone.
Hiking Yosemite and Beyond 