The promise of the new year is something that makes the passing of the old year more bearable, and as you begin making your 2025 tripwith plans for a journey to Yosemite, you know that the year will shine bright simply because of your vacation destination. Whan you may not know, however, is how you are going to fill the hours of your vacation, wondering what’s new and what’s wonderful, and what kind of events you can expect to enjoy during your travels. Love Yosemite! knows, and because we make it our mission to make sure your vacation is a memorable one, we have created this 2025 preview to Yosemite, helping you fill in every blank space on your vacation itinerary.
Special Events
The towns that surround Yosemite National Park are small but charming ones, and there are more than a few special events that will make your stay all that much more fun and exciting. We have listed a few of our favorite events below.
14th Annual Bass Lake Yosemite Triathlon, May 31
The beauty of Yosemite may help ease the pain of competing in a triathlon, or at least that is what it seems like to us when we see the participants every year. For those who don’t know, a triathlon is made up of three race types in one—swimming, biking, and then running to the finish line—and if this sounds like a lot, wait until you hear the numbers! The standard Olympic triathlon is 1500 meters swimming, 40K biking, and 10K running, and the Bass Lake Yosemite Triathlon offers much more.
as well as a sprint (400M, 20K, 5K), an Aqua/Bike version, and a Duathlon which changes up things a bit, featuring a 5K run, 20K bike, and another 5K run. This triathlon has been a tradition since the 80s, and as we stated earlier, the stunning beauty of the surroundings, including the views of Bass Lake from inside and out, will distract you from the fact that you are swimming, biking, and running really far!
Bass Lake 4th of July Flip Flops and Fireworks
You can’t get more all-American than a vacation in Yosemite, making an Independence Day celebration here something that is almost pre-ordained. The Bass Lake 4th of July Flip Flops and Fireworks festival has been an annual event that brings visitors joy for more years than we can count, offering live music, delicious barbecue, and of course, fabulous fireworks. Also offering photo booths that will provide a more tangible souvenir of the good times you had during your 4th of July festivities, coming home to your Love Yosemite! vacation escape after this patriotic celebration will make the birthday celebration shine brighter.
Yosemite Firefall, February of 2025 Trip Guide
Although it isn’t new, Yosemite Firefall is a natural occurrence that has drawn visitors to the park for over 150 years, and if your visit takes place between February 8th and February 23rd in Yosemite, you may get the opportunity to witness it for yourself. What is the Yosemite Firefall? It is a natural phenomenon that makes Horsetail Falls at Yosemite National Park appear to be on fire, even resembling a stream of molten lava pouring over the cliffs. The sight of Yosemite Firefall will take your breath away, even knowing the secret behind it, which is as simple as the sunset striking the falls at just the right angle, an occurrence that only happens for about 15 minutes every February. The event is so popular, reservations must be made to visit Yosemite during the time period it is expected to take place.
Yosemite Attractions
Famous for its giant sequoia trees, for its stunning views, and natural landscape, guests have been flocking to its entrances for longer than it has been a park. The third National Park created (Yellowstone and Sequoia National Parks were 1st and 2nd respectively), it was officially designated a National Park by an act of Congress on October 1, 1890. Millions of people visit every year, but for most travelers, if you ask them what there is to see in Yosemite, they may not have a ready answer. We have listed a few of our favorite attractions below.
Yosemite Falls
The largest waterfall in the country, Yosemite Falls, is also the 6th largest in the world with its waters tumbling over cliffs that stand 2424 feet high. The best views of the falls take place in late spring when snowmelts increase the volume of the waters creating a spectacular display that has graced the backdrop of family photos for as long as there have been family photos. One of Yosemite’s oldest trails, the Yosemite Falls Trail will take hikers to the top, where the views are best, or you can take the 1-mile loop trail that leads to the base, which is accessible by wheelchair.
Tuolumne Meadows
The beautiful Tuolumne Meadows offer trails that lead alongside the even more Tuolumne River and can be the perfect spot for a picnic in the wild. Naturalists love the variety of plants and trees that make this area lush and verdant, and the trails that lead to the meadows can only be accessed by Tioga Road. Although Yosemite National Park is open 365 days out of the year, Tioga Road does close from December through May, sometimes June, so take that into account if the meadows are something you think you want to see when planning your vacation.
El Capitan
Rock climbing is a popular Yosemite activity, with most climbers making their way to the El Capitan rock formation, the tallest exposed wall of granite in the world, which stands about 3000 feet tall. Originally considered unclimbable, it was first conquered in 1957, taking 45 days over the course of a year. Today, it is the most popular climbing route, especially the route nicknamed the Nose. Only one person has ever completed the climb without ropes, and if you want to take a peek at his accomplishment, the movie Free Solo documents the climber’s experiences.
New at the Lake
The small towns that surround Yosemite haven’t changed much through the years, so when something new happens, whether it be a farmers market or a new restaurant, it is the talk of the town. Below, we have listed a few new things that we are all very excited about.
Sunset Market at Miller’s Landing
Summers in Bass Lake are probably our favorite time of the year, and in the summer of 2025 the new Sunset Market will be giving us more reasons to love the season. Taking place on the third Thursday at Miller’s Landing, visitors can expect to find gifts and goods crafted in the area, enjoy wine tastings, as well as purchase local produce, fresh flowers, and fresh baked breads, and homemade jams. The market will offer a fun way to stock the pantry of your Love Yosemite! California sanctuary, and the live music played during the market will have you dancing through the aisles. The first market will take place on May 18 starting at 4 and ending at 8.
Chipotle, 40009 CA-49 in Oakhurst
If you know, you know. The taste of Chipotle is an addiction that you won’t have to miss during your Yosemite vacation, as a brand new Chipotle restaurant has opened right here in Oakhurst. We don’t often extoll the virtues of chain restaurants, but this wonderful one has held our hearts in its hand since our first taste of their fresh-made guacamole and will be a wonderful addition to your culinary explorations of the Yosemite area.
Frame-Worthy Photos
We keep mentioning the stunning landscape of Yosemite—it is probably the number one draw for the travelers who come in from all over the country—but before you take out your camera phone in a woeful attempt to capture the majesty you are seeing, why not consider taking a photography class at Yosemite? Ansel Adams was a photographer from San Francisco who grew famous from the photographs he took of Yosemite, and the Ansel Adams Gallery, located at 9031 Village Drive in Yosemite Valley (less than 50 miles away from Bass Lake) offers a class they call “In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams” on Mondays and Thursdays from November 26, 2024 through January 28, 2025.
Starting at 12:30 and lasting for four hours, this photographic tour of Yosemite Valley will help you take the pictures you can print, frame, and hang on your walls. The gallery has been offering a variety of photography classes over the years, so if you miss this one, the link we have attached below will keep you updated on all the classes they offer throughout the year, allowing you to time your getaway to match up with the class you love best.
At Home with Love Yosemite!
With all the changes that are going on in the world it will be a relief to discover that Love Yosemite doesn’t believe in changing what is important. Do we renovate spaces that are looking a little tired? Yes. Do we update electronics ensuring that our guests will be able to enjoy the modern conveniences that make travel wonderful? Absolutely. But the underlying values we offer, that of comfort and style will never change, and every night spent in the comfortable embrace of our California sanctuaries will be your favorite. Below, we have listed some of the qualities that will ensure your Love Yosemite lodgings will be an integral part of your vacation experience.
Sized Just Right
Our vacation rentals are sized just right for your traveling party, offering spaces that range from compact and cozy studio escapes to 6-bedroom sanctuaries offering room for as many as 20 guests to reside under their roofs. We understand that not all traveling parties are alike, and if you are looking for a honeymoon escape with your favorite traveling partner in cozy confines that will make you feel as if you are the only people on earth, we have that. And if you are considering a family reunion spent with siblings, cousins, parents, children, and grandparents, yes, you guessed it, we have that as well.
The Yosemite Experience
Your adventures in Yosemite National Park are bound to be ones that you will talk about for years to come, but what if you don’t want to leave, even if it is just to come home to Love Yosemite! for a good night’s sleep? You won’t need to camp out in the wilderness, fortunately, because we offer a large selection of cabins located within the park’s boundaries! Offering a rustic charm that includes fireplaces, paneled walls, and decks that face the best views in the area, it is their modern amenities that may surprise you. Electric vehicle chargers, private hot tubs, even outdoor saunas and gas firepits may be found in the Yosemite National Park escape you choose to make your own. Smart TVs and Wi-Fi are standard amenities, and many of our sanctuaries within Yosemite are pet friendly as well.
Luxury Matters
There will come a time in everyone’s life where they begin to realize that luxury does matter, especially when it comes to your vacation experiences. Our luxury properties are filled with all manner of amenities, large and small, that will make this vacation unforgettable. These luxury amenities can include fireplaces in the bedrooms, playground structures on the property, and even private swimming pools that will be the most popular spot in the property during a summer visit. Outdoor televisions, outdoor kitchens, or barbecue grills, and plenty of seating areas throughout will ensure that you get to spend as much time playing outside as you do relaxing inside.
Making Vacation Dreams Come True
We make you our top priority, and your Yosemite vacation spent at home with Love Yosemite! is destined to be the vacation that you compare all others against for years to come. Reserve your favorite sanctuary today and discover all the wonders of Yosemite!
