Buena Yosemite: Mono Meadow

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Yosemite National Park

DAY 1  |  DAY 2  |  DAY 3  |  DAY 4  |  DAY 5  |  DAY 6  |  DAY 7  |  DAY 8

static map
Pink line for day 8. Click for interactive map

One last day, and it would be a short one. The long drive home would follow the walk to the car.

526: light on the side of Half Dome
Half Dome casts a long shadow in the morning light.

527: trail through burned area
Our way back to the trail.

I started a little earlier than the others and took some time to try to photograph the little birds that were zipping through the brush.

528: feathery creature
Most the birds were Brewer's sparrows.

530: bright yellow bird
But I also caught this orange-crowned warbler.

531: green around bumps of granite
An easy rolling terrain to pass through.

While navigating the small creek, I noticed a tent around some rocks. Had we gone for the typical type of site with water, we'd have had to share the space! And the view wasn't anywhere near so nice.

532: water among rocks
Plenty of water in the small creek.

533: dome and point
The view is vanishing.

534: grassy area
Mono Meadow seemed a little constricted by trees.

536: narrow grassy patch
A long and narrow meadow with much downed wood.

537: no distant view
One last look back.

538: signs at the start of the trail
Finishing at Mono Meadow Trailhead.

From the trailhead, we had some road walking to get back to the car. Plenty of cars zoomed by. Sometimes they even held to the speed limit. With no shoulder to work with, we found that a swinging hiking pole or two can really help to remind folks to slow down or give a little space to those on the side of the road. A few still felt the need to speed, tight to the lane, even without oncoming traffic.

*photo album*




©2025 Valerie Norton
Published 14 Dec 2025
location: MCJR+W3 Yosemite Valley, CA, USA

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