Yosemite Spring and Moonbows 2026

Yosemite Valley is always dramatic, but it’s spectacular in the spring! Roaring waterfalls, rainbows and lunar night “moonbows”, dogwood and redbuds blooming, wildflowers. Often we enjoy a dramatic passing spring storm that can bring fog, mist rising along the valley’s walls, sun rays, sunrise and sunset color, and even a light dusting of snow.

We select dates for this workshop to pursue lunar rainbow “moonbows” around the date of the full moon. We’ve actually stopped running this workshop in many years when the full moon date falls too close to the Memorial Day weekend and summer, and crowds can fill every parking spot in the Valley for most of the day. In 2026 the full moon falls on May 1 and 31, so the crowds should gravitate toward the end of the month. Going for the earlier date will give us  great timing for redbuds blooming, the early part of the dogwood bloom (before insects chew them up), and many wildflowers are blooming. The waterfalls should be roaring with a thunderous sound throughout the valley, and we’ll have some bonus moon photography. These factors don’t always line up like this, we’ll enjoy a particularly target-rich five nights and six days. So carpe annum: seize the year… this is the year with the moon timing to visit Yosemite with us for all of the best spring conditions at once!

You’ll want to book early, since in-park lodging goes fast this time of year. If the Yosemite Day Pass system is in effect, enrollment in the workshop ensures entry into the park for the duration of the workshop, even if you stay just outside of the park in El Portal.