Black Bears and Tent Cabins: My Yosemite Experience

El Capitan, meandering rivers, black bears, deep valleys and vast meadows can only describe one place: Yosemite National Park.

Iconic mountains, rock formations, majestic waterfalls and giant sequoias set it apart from most other places in the world. This inspiring nature makes it one of America’s most well-loved and popular National Parks.

Although climbers flock to the park so they can tackle the likes of El Capitan, a vertical rock that rises 3,000 feet from the ground, Yosemite is not just for the active and adventurous. It’s also a place to relax and simply be.

No matter your fitness level, almost everyone can enjoy an exploration of the valley which brings an abundance of wildlife to enjoy at your own pace.

A few years ago, along with my friend Harriet, I gathered my rucksack and headed out of San Francisco on the Amtrak to Yosemite National Park. We’d briefly read about the place and thought it looked pretty enough to spend a couple days. However, I soon discovered that describing it as pretty is a huge understatement. It’s paradise.

As soon we caught a glimpse of it, we knew we wanted to spend longer there.

Singing “The hills are alive with the sound music” a la Julie Andrews style!

The landscape of Yosemite

To look at Yosemite’s landcape is to see the result of glacial erosions of granitic bedrock. Deep valleys, soaring cliffs, and domes that bring to life a land before human time. Such a unique landscape has been the subject of much geological interest and conservation.

Many people and institutions work hard to make Yosemite thrive, but there are two people who deserve recognition above all others: Galen Clark and Ansel Adams.

Clark made the preservation of Yosemite his mission in later life and prompted the legislation that protects Yosemite Valley and the Mairposa Grove of Big Trees (which he discovered).

Adams, the other guy we need to thank was a photographer in the early-mid 20^th Century whose images of Yosemite set alight the imagination of all those who saw them, and brought attention to Yosemite from around the world. Together these two people made the park a place of recreation and world-wide interest, whilst protesting against the growth of commercial development.

Since then the park has been inducted into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in recognition for its natural beauty. 

“Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.”

~ Ansel Adams

Accommodation and my experience sleeping in tent cabin

Whilst staying at Yosemite you can pick from a variety of different accommodations. Where you stay depends largely on budget, personal preferences, and what type of experience you want to have.

Hotels: The Ahwahnee is actually the only hotel inside Yosemite National Park all year round. As a result rooms fill up fast so if you want to stay here I recommend booking in advance. If comfort is the most important thing for you, this place is your best bet.

Wooden cabins: You can also stay in cosy wooden cabins. These accommodations are great for groups and families. Staying in one of these, you still feel close to nature while having a great night’s sleep!

Heated and non-heated tent cabins: Next up are heated tent cabins and non-heated cabins. They are essentially the same, apart from you pay extra to stay in the heated tent. 

Camping: For a true out-door experience, visitors can bring their own tent and camp.

Since we didn’t have a tent we opted for a modest non-heated tent cabin. They’re great. Basic but spacious enough to fit two bed and have a dance inside. I would definitely recommend a tent cabin to enhance the feeling of being in the wilderness.

Sure, it’s nice to stay in a hotel, but the tent cabins are more unique. And we found it exciting to think that a bear might swing by to say hello…

Safety – lock up your food!

When staying in the tent cabins you’re required to pack all your food and toiletries in a metal cabin located outside each tent. This is to avoid any unwanted furry fiends making a meal out of you!

Needless to say this advice is not to be taken too lightly as black bears in Yosemite are not uncommon, as well as other animals including possums, coyotes and the less threatening (but much more annoying) mice that have a penchant for stealing food!

Bear sighting

The next morning, and after all the talk of bears, what did we see? You guessed it – a bear! We were stopped in our tracks at the sight of a big, black bear about 20 metres in front of us. The quality of the photo is indeed poor, but I wasn’t going to get any closer for the sake of more megapixels!

Have you been to Yosemite? What wildlife did you see?