-There is a small chance of rain on Sunday, so please come prepared with a rain coat or poncho. Light rain won't derail the trip, but thunder and lightning will and you don't know where you will be when this happens so just be prepared.

-Wear hiking boots preferably, if you don't have them wear comfortable close toed shoes.

-Bring sun block, bug spray, and a hat. The mosquitos are present this time of year, especially in Yosemite Valley, think about wearing long sleeves and long pants.

-Carry your water and lunch with you on the trail. You won't be returning to the campsites to make a lunch or stopping anywhere to pick anything up.

-Plan to share vehicles and carpool to the trailheads from the campgrounds. Many of the trailheads don't have a ton of parking.

-Be prepared for driving in the park to take longer than you expect because visitation numbers are way up this year. Weekend traffic on the South Side Drive in Yosemite Valley has been bumper to bumper in recent weekends. I tell people to think like the anti-visitor, stay ahead of the crowds by being early to everything and visit the "unpopular" parts of the park to avoid crowds.

-Bring a notebook and pen if you want to remember the plants you see.

-Bring your smartphone with iNaturalist on it, and join the Yosemite Bloom Blitz project. less ↑