Fern Spring — Local services in Oakhurst

FERN SPRING, YOSEMITE NATIONAL FOREST: I have loved Fern Spring since the very first time my mother and father took me to see it for the very first time--I believe that was sometime around 1954 or '55--I guess I would have been about 5 years old, then. We drank our fill of the cool, fresh water from a cup and then filled our water jugs from the cold spring. We knew that nature's filter made the water pure and fresh. Every year since then, that I have been to Yosemite, I've made the pilgrimage to see the little spring. When I began taking photography classes, I began marking the seasons of the little pond and the years as they drifted by. I've only included a few snapshots, here, for you to enjoy. I would encourage you to take your own photos and make your own pilgrimages to a special place in Yosemite that you mark out as your own. My husband has a special tree, my daughter a large rock...it doesn't matter what catches your eye. Just make that spot, that object, your own and keep track of it with photos as time passes. You can find FERN SPRING after entering the valley and crossing Pohono Bridge, about 500 feet or so past the little bridge. It will be on the right side of the road, and is a very small turn out with only room for a few cars to pull over and stop. Remember to be safe stopping, and exiting and entering your car (watch out for your children and pets). For photography buffs, do not ever expect this little spot to be illuminated with sun, it seems to be perpetually in the shade. Make the best of the shade that you can and try not to shoot when it is overcast. Some people still collect bottles of water from the spring; it is up to you. I still make my pilgrimages to FERN SPRING every year, now I take my grandchildren to show them the...

Literally magic. This is not hyperbole. Every year we travel to Yosemite and every year I'm exhausted... Shoot, year around I'm exhausted because the stress from my job and my weight.

This year I drank directly from the Spring and I was instantly energized and I've been energized for 3 weeks after. Also I've been losing a little weight and I'm not ravenously hungry all the time.

I'll be back next time I need a...

We found this place accidentally on our 2nd day in Yosemite National Park. We were driving from Mariposa Miners Inn back to Yosemite for our picnic and tracking day. It was by the main road and the water was so clean and lovely.

We just stopped by for a while and took some pictures while enjoying the fresh, cold water and the greeneries surrounding it. It's so peaceful to be around here. I wish we had...