Why Fall is the Most Romantic Season in Yosemite

Some say spring is for lovebirds, but it doesn't hold a candle to a romantic autumn getaway to Yosemite! Here’s why fall is the ULTIMATE romantic getaway season for Yosemite.

Golden brown Black Oak leaves glow with autumn sunlight by the Yosemite Chapel
The kids are back in school. The weather is still warm, especially during the day, and cools off at night. Visiting Yosemite in the fall means you can enjoy the most famous vistas and attractions, like Glacier Point and Yosemite Valley, without the summer rush. Combine that with beautiful foliage, and you got yourself a world-class destination to rekindle the romance.

Make an afternoon of it. The Madera Wine Trail winds through one of the country's oldest wine regions, with tasting rooms perfect for a slow, two-person fall day. Pair a flight with the golden harvest-season scenery, then toast the sunset. There’s nothing more romantic than celebrating your love with that special someone at a vineyard. Explore and enjoy an assortment of award-winning vineyards on the Madera Wine Trail. 

What’s more romantic than staying in a quaint mountain cabin? Nothing. Lounge about in a pair of fluffy slippers. Read that book you’ve been putting aside. Snuggle up next to a fireplace, all under a towering canopy of evergreens. From comfy inns and B&Bs to cozy cabins, Yosemite has you covered so you can enjoy all the sights in relative seclusion.

For an extra romantic spotlight, retreat to the beautiful suites at Pines Resort on Bass Lake. Stay steps from the water, with crisp mountain air and quiet autumn mornings. Plan your Bass Lake Stay.

Autumn Sunset over Tuolumne Meadows. Photo by Steve Montalto/HighMountain Images

Although sunsets are beautiful any time of year in Yosemite, fall has the most vivid. This is because the light must pass through much more of our atmosphere, thus creating such spectacular natural displays. 

It’s also the last season you can reach the higher elevations of Yosemite National Park before the roads close for the winter. Via Tioga Road, enjoy a beautiful fall sunset at Tuolumne Meadows or Olmstead Point. And Glacier Point is an incredible destination to watch the setting sun's alpenglow. 

The Ahwahnee Hotel's Great Lounge.  Image courtesy of Yosemite Hospitality

The Jewel of the Yosemite crown, the Ahwahnee Hotel, sits near the center of Yosemite Valley and is as beautiful as its surroundings due to its interior design and architecture. As the nights get longer, an annual tradition begins anew… the fireside storytelling program. As you sink into a comfy chair in front of the Ahwahnee Great Lounge’s gorgeous fireplace, you’ll hear stories of Yosemite’s cultural and natural history.

We hope these ideas spark a last-minute romantic getaway this fall to Yosemite. Can’t make it this season? Here’s a list of five romantic getaways to enjoy in the winter in Yosemite instead.

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