I was worried about massive crowds and delays on my first trip to a national park, but here's why I already want to go back to Yosemite

Sarah JacksonAug 22, 2021, 18:07 IST

Sarah Jackson/Insider

I recently went to a national park for the first time on a short day trip.
I expected there'd be long lines and huge crowds, as many national parks have seen this summer.
I was pleasantly surprised by how my experience actually turned out, and I can't wait to go back.

National parks have seen some huge spikes in visitation this summer as many Americans are itching to get outside after a year spent mostly indoors. I've wanted to go to a national park for a while now, and a combination of this stir-crazy feeling and a curiosity for whether the parks would actually be that crowded ultimately led me to visit.

I ended up going to Yosemite National Park for a quick day trip, and the visit completely defied my expectations. Here's what I saw, and why I already can't wait to go back:

I took a bus to get to and from Yosemite.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

We made several stops along the way.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

As we approached the park entrance around 9am, the bus driver warned us that there could be a pretty big line.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

To my great surprise, and our driver's, there were only two other vehicles besides our bus at the entrance stations.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Our drive through the park continued for a little while longer before we arrived at our stop.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

At around 10am, we reached our stop: Yosemite Village.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

The Visitor Center and Theater was closed because of COVID-19.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

The park shuttles that are typically available aren't in operation this summer due to a "lack of staffing," according to the National Park Service website.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

A board near the visitor center also had information about what other services were reduced or unavailable due to COVID-19 and what services remained open.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

After quickly scanning the route map and park information materials, I got on the path headed to Yosemite Falls.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

There were plenty of clearings along the way where you could catch a glimpse of the falls in the distance.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

In some stretches of the path, there weren't any other visitors within earshot. Seeing the park's natural beauty in this quiet stillness was very serene.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

By this point in the day, the only real crowd I had seen was a small group of people stopping to look at two deer.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Crowds remained scarce when I was still relatively far from the falls.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Because it was August, the falls had much less water than they do at their peak time of year.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

After leaving the falls, I chose another trail nearby to follow.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

This trail was much less crowded. Again, the peaceful silence made the beautiful views seem even more majestic.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Around noon, I headed to the Village Store and the neighboring Village Grill for some cheesy souvenirs - and even cheesier food.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Tables were mostly occupied in the main area of the grill's outdoor seating deck, but there were a few empty tables in a smaller section of the deck on the side of the building.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Tables were mostly occupied in the main area of the grill's outdoor seating deck, but there were a few empty tables in a smaller section of the deck on the side of the building.

After lunch, I went to visit the Ahwahnee Hotel.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

The hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in honor of its famed architecture.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

It cost $1.25 million to build and opened to visitors in 1927.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

I particularly liked this beautiful mural in the aptly-named Mural Room.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

The architect who designed the hotel, Gilbert Stanley Underwood, also designed Yosemite's post office.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

I also passed the Ansel Adams Gallery, which features work from the legendary photographer, as well as books, handcrafted items, and more.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

The park also has a library.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

Overall, I considered the trip a great success.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

I got one last photo of the park on the bus ride going back home, capturing Yosemite's iconic tunnel view.

Sarah Jackson/Insider

I traveled on the famed Eurostar between London and Paris and saw how European high-speed rail blows America's out of the water

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I was worried about massive crowds and delays on my first trip to a national park, but here's why I already want to go back to Yosemite

I took a bus to get to and from Yosemite.

We made several stops along the way.

As we approached the park entrance around 9am, the bus driver warned us that there could be a pretty big line.

To my great surprise, and our driver's, there were only two other vehicles besides our bus at the entrance stations.

Our drive through the park continued for a little while longer before we arrived at our stop.

At around 10am, we reached our stop: Yosemite Village.

The Visitor Center and Theater was closed because of COVID-19.

The park shuttles that are typically available aren't in operation this summer due to a "lack of staffing," according to the National Park Service website.

A board near the visitor center also had information about what other services were reduced or unavailable due to COVID-19 and what services remained open.

After quickly scanning the route map and park information materials, I got on the path headed to Yosemite Falls.

There were plenty of clearings along the way where you could catch a glimpse of the falls in the distance.

In some stretches of the path, there weren't any other visitors within earshot. Seeing the park's natural beauty in this quiet stillness was very serene.

By this point in the day, the only real crowd I had seen was a small group of people stopping to look at two deer.

Crowds remained scarce when I was still relatively far from the falls.

Because it was August, the falls had much less water than they do at their peak time of year.

After leaving the falls, I chose another trail nearby to follow.

This trail was much less crowded. Again, the peaceful silence made the beautiful views seem even more majestic.

Around noon, I headed to the Village Store and the neighboring Village Grill for some cheesy souvenirs - and even cheesier food.

Tables were mostly occupied in the main area of the grill's outdoor seating deck, but there were a few empty tables in a smaller section of the deck on the side of the building.

After lunch, I went to visit the Ahwahnee Hotel.

The hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in honor of its famed architecture.

It cost $1.25 million to build and opened to visitors in 1927.

I particularly liked this beautiful mural in the aptly-named Mural Room.

The architect who designed the hotel, Gilbert Stanley Underwood, also designed Yosemite's post office.

I also passed the Ansel Adams Gallery, which features work from the legendary photographer, as well as books, handcrafted items, and more.

The park also has a library.

Overall, I considered the trip a great success.

I got one last photo of the park on the bus ride going back home, capturing Yosemite's iconic tunnel view.