Of America’s national parks, Yosemite surely has the best weather. From spring through fall, daytime temperatures hover in a very comfortable range between 60F and 85F, which an occasional midsummer burst near triple digits. And rain, while occasionally intense, is rare. So your clothing choices should follow two principles: 1) keep it cool and 2) keep the sun off.
Sunscreen
The park has many trails that get you above treeline very quickly, and Yosemite’s many cloud-free days mean high UV exposure. Keep sunburn in check with a BACKPACKER favorite-Smartshield’s Sunscreen SPF 30 Lotion. This waterproof sunblock protects without feeling greasy or running into your eyes. No matter what sunblock you buy, choose an SPF no lower than 15, and reapply every hour or so during your hike-you may not feel like you’re perspiring in the park’s low humidity, but you are.
Shirt
Wool is a winter fabric, right? Not any more. Today’s extrafine merino wool layers are perfect for warm-weather hiking, because they wick moisture away from your skin, breathe well, and resist odor better than synthetic fabrics. A new t-shirt that many BACKPACKER editors are wearing is Patagonia’s Wool 1, a light blend of merino and polyester that you can wear day after day without stinking up the joint.
Shorts
Royal Robbins was one of Yosemite’s-and America’s-pioneering rock climbers, putting up big-wall routes here in the 60s and 70s that are now classics. His clothing company was also born here, which makes the Royal Robbins Backcountry Shorts a natural pick. But they were also top performers in a recent BACKPACKER field test, showing excellent durability and a roomy cut for good venting and mobility.
Raincoat
It doesn’t rain much in Yosemite, but when it rains, it pours. So it’s wise to back a lightweight emergency shell like The North Face Diad, which won a BACKPACKER Editors’ Choice Award in 2006 for its smart but streamlined features and minimalist weight-only 11 ounces, less than one sneaker! If it’s a warm rain, open the side vents to cool off.
Trail Shoes
Comfort, traction, and weight savings are your goal when selecting hikers for Yosemite’s moderate trails. BACKPACKER editors typically wear a trail-running shoe like Montrail’s ultralight Hardrock 09 or a hike/run hybrid like Merrell’s Chameleon Arc Wind. Both are low-cuts with lots of mesh for ventilation and sticky rubber outsoles for versatile grip on a range of surfaces.
