I was in Yosemite Valley for a day this past weekend, and I have just one thing to say to those of you who live in the area – go NOW!

The colors were spectacular – more so than I remember from previous years. (And the light was wonderful that day as well, which may have improved the overall effect.) The dogwoods are turning colors between the Valley (at 4000′) and the higher points on the Hiway 120 entrance (slightly above 6000′), and many different trees are wildly colorful all over the Valley and above. I ran out of time to go up toward Glacier Point, but I could see large patches of very colorful trees up that way from my hike up above Vernal Fall.

These things are hard to predict, but I have a feeling that this coming weekend might mark the end of the best colors.
—–