May 8, 2012
Carlon Meadow
Total distance: 2 miles
It was a very warm day as Wendy and I walked through Carlon Meadow just outside of Yosemite National Park.
The trail was an asphalt road covered with broken branches, dirt and pine needles. From 1916 to 1939, this area was occupied by the Carl Inn, a popular destination for Yosemite visitors. The NPS acquired the land and removed the building in 1940 but left a lot of the infrastructure behind.
We walked for a while under dogwood trees just beginning to bloom. The trail led uphill, but we turned back when it veered away from the South Fork Tuolumne River.
We walked over to a shady “Day Use Only” area and found a great place to have a picnic next to the swift moving river.
The unmarked trail to Carlon Falls was on the north bank of the river. We walked up that trail for a short distance through the woods passing snow plants, Pacific bleeding hearts and thick, green horsetail reeds before returning to the car.
Hiking Yosemite and Beyond 