Lupines in Yosemite

Taken in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park in California. Early summer. Depending on the rains/snowfall of the preceding winter and the elevation, wildflowers can be in bloom as late as August.



Hetch Hetchy is a great place for backpacking. It's away from the main Yosemite valley, which means far less crowds. In addition, the ranger station is open till 9 p.m. during the summer and apart from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir (which supplies a good amount of San Francisco's municipal water) there aren't too many places for short day hikes. What this means is that if you are a backpacker, you don't have to encounter the hordes of people like in the Valley, and can afford to get here late and still get a backpacking permit.