I think it would take a lifetime to explore all that Yosemite has to offer, but each time we go, we tend to revisit a lot of the same places. A lot of that is due to the fact that I have young kids with a max capacity for hiking. Some of it is comfort. Most of it though is just that it's so astonishingly beautiful every time, even when you think it won't be. We've driven the three plus hours to the valley at least once a year for the past 6 years, visiting Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, The Swinging Bridge, and Cook's Meadow too many times to count. We've seen Yosemite in all seasons; each one, by the way, is my favorite. We've glimpsed Tuolumne Meadows and scrambled up Sentinel Dome as a part of another road trip. We've seen the massive trees in Mariposa Grove, and hiked Artist's Point for a beautiful view of the valley from afar. When Zoe was just six weeks old, I carried her in a Baby Bjorn through Tuolumne Grove. I have so many pictures of El Capitan it's silly. We've hiked to Mirror lake and climbed partially up the mist trail for a view of Vernal Falls. We've explored some secret paths which led us to unnamed waterfalls that we had all to ourselves. But until this week, we have never been to Hetch Hetchy.

I've wanted to check this spot out for a couple of years, but had hesitated for a couple of reasons. First, people seem to see a lot of bears there. I'm fully aware that they are not the aggressive type, but still, bears. Also, when the snow melts, Wapama Falls can become very dangerous. And then, there were the lackluster reviews of the area. I think a lot of this stems from the fact that Hetch Hetchy, as a reservoir bringing water to San Francisco, covers the valley floor, masking nature's intentions. Nature lovers don't tend to like that sort of thing. 

All that aside, Hetch Hetchy is BEAUTIFUL, and well worth a visit. Here's a few reasons why you should go: 

1) It's WAY less busy than Yosemite Valley. We crossed paths with a few hikers along the way, but we never had to actually share the trail. We were solo for the majority of the three hour hike, and enjoyed a quiet picnic on the rocks with only sounds of birds and running water to interrupt our observations. 

2) It's really beautiful. The terrain is mostly rocky with modest elevation changes, offering a shifting view of the huge granite rocks across the reservoir. It was fascinating to watch their shapes alter as our perspective changed, and to see how the light played with the rock side as the sun moved throughout the hike.

3) It's educational - learning about how far this water travels, and seeing it in action gave my kids a renewed apprecation for both nature and infrastructure.

4) The trail is fun, and you can't get lost, seeing as it circles the reservoir. My kids love a trail with variety: some rocks to climb, waterfalls, greenery, views. This one has it all. So many little waterways and rock hopping to keep any hiker interested. It's enough of a challenge, at roughly six miles, but my nine year old thought it was a great hike, and my eleven year old kept leaving me in his dust, so not too hard. 

5) Wapama Falls is the closest encounter you will get to a powerful waterfall (the second biggest in the park, I think). It is amazing to watch, hear, and feel the spray of this waterfall. 

6) I did not see any bears (though I was really hoping I might see one very far away). We did see plenty of grey squirrels, birds, and beetles. 

If you do plan to go, a couple of tips: 

- There is no shade. Save this one for a cooler day, or have plenty of water on hand

- The only facilities are outside of O'Shaughnessy Dam, so be sure to go to the bathroom before you park for your hike. 

- Good shoes are a must! Parts of the trail are muddy and wet, and there is plenty of rock hopping involved.