by hotrod4x5 » Tue May 11, 2010 11:30 am
I've been to Yosemite every month of the year, for a total of 20 or more trips over the last two decades. I hate to say this, but August is the worst month, next is Sept. If you can go a different month, do so.
Why is it so bad? It is very hot, first of all. Next, the waterfalls are either dry, or at best a trickle. The Merced is too low to do some rafting, and there are crowds, crowds, crowds. Park employees are cranky because the high season is in it's 3rd month and there are traffic jams along the valley floor from 10 am to 4 pm.
My favorite months are October, December, Jan-May. June and July can usually be pretty good, because the waterfalls and river are high enough to enjoy, which overrides the other bad things about those months (crowds, mostly).