Suggestions for Yosemite, Sequoia and Mammouth Lake in June

I've got 12 days planned to spend in Yosemite, Sequoia and over to Mono Lake, Bodie and areas around Mammouth. This will be the second half of June so I'm hoping I can drive across Tioga Road to the east side.

I'm looking for wildlife and landscape suggestions. What are your favorite places for that time of year?

Thanks!

I'm in Yosemite and kind of wild.......

Locations I go to depend on the vechicle you are traveling in. Do you have a time frame??? How many days each area??? Do you hike well??


If you shoot me a pm(address) I have a photo guide to Yosemite that might help I got as a sample.

Many locations in the Valley can be shot on or near the road and will be obvious.

Your question is too broad. For landscapes, well, just drive between and around the places on your list and you will make your own fun discoveries. I'm sure the avid typers will chime in with a few hundred locations.

Bodie and Mono Lake can be explored within a day...bear in mind that is not to say there's not a huge wealth of photo ops in both those locations, just that they are relatively compact and you can find something interesting within a short period of time. Yosemite offers almost too much of a good thing...you could spend all 12 days there and not get enough of it...or you may get tired of the relatively muted color palette outside of the golden hours, if B/W is not your thing. Tioga pass ought to be open by then, but it's always unpredictable. Check the NPS website for regular updates on that. I recommend the high country, if for nothing else, you can avoid 90% of the crowds in the valley. Also, the valley's better in winter and early spring...in summer, it gets hot and dry. Tuolumne meadows and the various lakes in the high country will give you plenty to capture. Mammoth lakes...really a fall destination, but there's always something worth shooting anywhere in the eastern Sierras. As for Sequoia, that's one underappreciated park...it has a lot going on, but needs time to explore if you want photo ops...I'm assuming you're not talking about the 90% of Sequoia barely visited - the eastern side, which has the great alpine wilderness and Mt. Whitney - that's a 10-day backpacking trip deal. If it's the big trees you want to see, that's easy enough. I highly recommend neighbouring King's Canyon NP - take the General's highway between the parks and into the bottom of King's Canyon...another underrated area.

Try to limit your time in Yosemite valley to mid-week. Weekends will be rather busy. Bring plenty of mosquito repellent.

In the latter part of June, Yosemite Valley will likely be quite warm and very crowded. The light during the day will be very harsh, so early morning and early evening will be best for shooting. Going there mid-week, as Harley says, is a very good idea.

Tioga Pass should be open by the time you get there, but do check ahead. There is some wonderful country along the Tioga Pass road (HWY 120), especially between Tenaya Lake and up and over the pass. It is also cooler at the hgher elevations.

I have ltierally spent days in the Mono Basin area. There are several canyons (Lee Vining, Lundy and Virginia Lakes) that have much to offer. Also, If you head south to Mammoth, you can easily visit McGee Creek and Rock Creek.

If you have nort done so already, you should arrange for lodging now. The Sierra is very busy during the summer. Also, if you are not used to very hot and dry weather, take it easy for the first few days so that you can aclimate, and be sure to stay well hydrated.

--P