The Yosemite Half Marathon is produced by Vacation Races as part of the National Park Half Marathon Series. Enjoy a fast scenic course through the Sierra National Forest just outside Yosemite National Park! Enjoy a peaceful 5 mile run through the trees, a fast 5 mile descent, and a beautiful …
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The Yosemite Half Marathon is produced by Vacation Races as part of the National Park Half Marathon Series. Enjoy a fast scenic course through the Sierra National Forest just outside Yosemite National Park! Enjoy a peaceful 5 mile run through the trees, a fast 5 mile descent, and a beautiful 3 mile loop around Bass Lake. In May the lake is full and the waterfalls are pumping. There’s no better time to visit.
The first 5 miles of the course will start on Fire Rd and is on a rough terrain trail. There is no steep uphill or downhill here, but it’s not exactly flat either. Miles 6-10 are a fast downhill descent on a beautiful paved road. Then, after crossing RD-274 (Malum Ridge Rd), you will turn right on N Shore Road. You will run on N Shore Road around Bass Lake until about mile 12.25. From there you will take a left on S Shore Rd. The race will finish at Recreation Point.
This race sells out quickly every year. Yosemite is calling. See you there!
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First VR
My first vacation race.. loved the course, the views and the people. The organization lacked with the whole busses mishap, and the lack of information to those of us lined … MORE
My first vacation race.. loved the course, the views and the people. The organization lacked with the whole busses mishap, and the lack of information to those of us lined up was discerning. There was minimal to no swag, and the expo was meh. Good photo ops though. I’d definitely still do another VR, hoping this one was a one off for hiccups.
Great race
I flew in to Fresno and the drive was about an hour to Oakhurst where I stayed. This was only about 15 min from packet pickup which was easy. The … MORE
I flew in to Fresno and the drive was about an hour to Oakhurst where I stayed. This was only about 15 min from packet pickup which was easy.
The start line could only be accessed by shuttle which was simple enough, but a last minute issue with one of the companies caused significant delays. Frustrating on race morning, but things happen. The ride was about 30 minutes to the start.
There were plenty of porta potties without significant lines, but I’m not sure how much of this was because of the delays. Gear check was right there which made it convenient to stay warm until you were ready to start.
It was a rolling start where you pretty much start when you’re ready, which I had not experienced before. Just make sure you will finish within the time limit. I liked it as I didn’t have to wait around and there was not much congestion, which was nice. The first five or so miles was on trail, which had some fairly large rocks making the ground, uneven, but not awful. There were great views for pictures if that’s your thing.
The majority of the rest of the race was paved road, which was mostly downhill. The grade on the road was not bad and I didn’t really have any issues with finding a good place to run that didn’t bother my knees or ankles like I have experienced other races. Some people did have issues with the long downhill causing knee pain, but was fine for me.
There were plenty of aid stations with nutrition at the later stops, including gels, oranges and bananas.
I really appreciate the cup free vacation races as it eliminates so much trash on the ground!
There was decent crowd support as you reached back into town and headed towards the finish. There wasn’t much to the finish line as the post run festivities were held at an alternate location. I didn’t make it to this so I can’t comment on it. I spent the afternoon in Yosemite park. Shuttles back to the pickup areas ran smoothly.
If you’re planning on visiting Yosemite, just realize especially from Oakhurst it’s about an hour and a half to the main part of the park. It’s an absolutely beautiful place with tons to do and would recommend spending some extra time there if you have the chance. You do need a park reservation for the weekend.
There were a few issues, but overall I would recommend and would do again.
Another great Vacation Race!
The extent of downhills is no joke. We were really sore from braking so much. The course is scenic and I loved the combination of trails and pavement. There were … MORE
The extent of downhills is no joke. We were really sore from braking so much. The course is scenic and I loved the combination of trails and pavement. There were some unavoidable hiccups for the race organizers but they were accountable and made the most of it. Otherwise it was another great Vacation race! Note to future participants that to visit Yosemite on the weekend you DO need a park entrance ticket and need to pre-purchase them and they are competitive. Just fyi!
Beautiful Course
A fast downhill course with beautiful scenery to help get you thru for a potential PR. The unpaved portion at the beginning can be a little rough if not used … MORE
A fast downhill course with beautiful scenery to help get you thru for a potential PR. The unpaved portion at the beginning can be a little rough if not used to running unpaved/trail.
Beautiful downhill race
This is a beautiful race in the Sierra National Forest just outside Yosemite! Expo: Bib pick-up day before the race was located at Bass Lake (the finish area for the … MORE
This is a beautiful race in the Sierra National Forest just outside Yosemite!
Expo: Bib pick-up day before the race was located at Bass Lake (the finish area for the race) and went smoothly. There are a couple of merch and vendor tents, and the lake is a great place to chill and relax before the race.
Start logistics: Getting to the start required parking by Oakhurst High School and taking a shuttle. This was the worst part of the race experience. Vacation Races updated us all the night before saying one of the shuttle company owners had unexpectedly passed away so there would be fewer shuttles than normal. The line of runners was massive and I ended up waiting almost 2 hours, and the ride up to the start took another 30 minutes. There was coffee and fruit by the start line, but the portapotties were mostly out of toilet paper. The start line was a rolling start which was nice because it wasn’t crowded at all.
The course: The first 5 miles on the dirt trail were absolutely beautiful and my favorite part of the race. The trail wasn’t technical but there were a few muddy spots and some rocks to watch out for. It starts going downhill about 4 miles in and eventually switches to road. It’s a VERY long downhill until about mile 10 and took a beating on my quads/knees. The last 3 miles were around Bass Lake past lakefront houses. This part also shares the road with cars so it was less fun to run on. The last quarter mile or so turns back onto a grassy area right before the finish.
The finish: We were immediately met with medals and some awesome snack boxes right after crossing the finish line. Lots of people were also hanging out by the lake and taking a dip.
Overall this race was great aside from the shuttle experience. Pre-race communication was also super detailed and helpful.
Breathtaking Scenes!!!
This is one of the most beautifully scenic races I’ve ever run. Surrounded by nature’s beauty for 13.1 miles!! You will not be disappointed with this race. The elevation was … MORE
This is one of the most beautifully scenic races I’ve ever run. Surrounded by nature’s beauty for 13.1 miles!! You will not be disappointed with this race. The elevation was a kicker so you definitely have to train for it. It was such an amazing experience and I’m excited to completes the Vacation Races Series!!!
I would definitely do it again!
Beautiful scenery and I really liked the course. The fire road was more challenging with rougher terrain but finishing on the road was great. Aid stations were well spaced out. … MORE
Beautiful scenery and I really liked the course. The fire road was more challenging with rougher terrain but finishing on the road was great.
Aid stations were well spaced out. Clothing drop offs were missing at each one except mile 3. If we hadn’t been expecting to find them it wouldn’t have been an issue.
Overall, great half and I would definitely do it again!
A fun scenic race
Lots of fast downhill through forests, treelined road and along Bass Lake. Be prepared with hydration and electrolytes. Make sure you look good at the finish line as the pictures … MORE
Lots of fast downhill through forests, treelined road and along Bass Lake. Be prepared with hydration and electrolytes. Make sure you look good at the finish line as the pictures are free.
Forest to Lakeshore Half near Yosemite
Five miles of a wide challenging trail through a beautiful forest followed by 5 miles of a fast paved downhill, ending in rollers along beautiful Bass Lake. Great medals and … MORE
Five miles of a wide challenging trail through a beautiful forest followed by 5 miles of a fast paved downhill, ending in rollers along beautiful Bass Lake. Great medals and pre-and-post race management by Vacation Races
PR with incredible scenery
There was a hiccup at the beginning with busses canceling last minute, but I don't fault vacation races for that. They did well with what they had, and the rolling … MORE
There was a hiccup at the beginning with busses canceling last minute, but I don’t fault vacation races for that. They did well with what they had, and the rolling start ended up being beneficial with all the mud towards the start of the course. The course was downhill nearly the entire time which makes it great opportunity for a PR, but is a beast on the knees! Half trail and half paved roads, all with gorgeous views. The quantity of portajohns at the start and finish were amazing. I never had to wait more than a few seconds. Coffee at the start and bananas at the finish. I wish they had vegan chocolate milk like they had at a previous race.
Fast, downhill course with stunning view
A great course to try and PR at! It is both trail and road running and tree lined the whole way except for the last couple of miles where you … MORE
A great course to try and PR at! It is both trail and road running and tree lined the whole way except for the last couple of miles where you run around Bass Lake. As someone from sea level, altitude is always a concern at these mountainous areas, but it was not a factor really here. Vacation Races did a great job of dealing with a last minute bussing issue and still put on an amazing race. It is a point to point and neither point has parking so you do need to take the shuttle both ways.
Logistics were lacking
This race was entirely dependent upon a shuttle to the start. Less than 12 hours before the race start, a vendor backed out. While this wasn’t the fault of Vacation … MORE
This race was entirely dependent upon a shuttle to the start. Less than 12 hours before the race start, a vendor backed out. While this wasn’t the fault of Vacation Races, it didn’t seem like there was any backup or contingency plan. This became a logistical nightmare and significantly negatively impacted our race experience.
That aside, the race was a beautiful course. The people were very friendly and helpful, even though circumstances were outside of their control. I would like to do this run again when things are going smoothly to truly be able to experience this run as it was meant to be, instead of being highly anxious about the logistical nightmare it became on race day.
Great for beginners
Great for beginners trail and road runners. Almost 5 miles of the race is downhill, so it makes it easier. Amazing views! Especially the finish line by the lake! Good … MORE
Great for beginners trail and road runners. Almost 5 miles of the race is downhill, so it makes it easier. Amazing views! Especially the finish line by the lake! Good snack box at the finish. Not much of swags, nice T-shirt, and beautiful medal. Wish there were some samples from sponsors at the expo. Had delays of the shuttle due to some cancellations on their partners.
Overall I loved the race and would recommend it!
Unexpected snags but overall great!
I was so excited when I found this race, talk about a dream location! The registration price was surprisingly reasonable and created the perfect excuse for a roadtrip with my … MORE
I was so excited when I found this race, talk about a dream location! The registration price was surprisingly reasonable and created the perfect excuse for a roadtrip with my boyfriend!
Expo – I went to the expo at Bass Lake the day before the run to pick up my bib and shirt. It was easy to find, and not busy when we got there (about 30 minutes after it started). Got my stuff without a problem and found a really cute hoodie to purchase. Oh and they had s’mores!! Very nice, laid-back atmosphere.
Shuttles – I stayed at a hotel near one of the shuttle stops so I was able to walk over early on race morning. They had sent out an email the night before about an unexpected disruption with the shuttle service so I allowed extra time – boy was I glad I did. I waited in line for about an hour and 15 minutes, the ride itself was only about 30 minutes, but then it took another 20 minutes or so to get off the bus because they were unloading one at a time and then the bus had to make a tight turnaround to exit the area. The whole experience was less than ideal, but at least they had given us a heads up that there would be some problems. (I had my own transportation from the finish back to my hotel so I can’t comment on how the shuttles ran after the race.)
Starting line – I will give a major thumbs down to the porta potty situation at the starting line. Some of the portajohns didn’t have working locks, and the one I ended up in didn’t have any TP. (Thankfully I had tissue in my pocket!!) Well stocked and functioning potties are a MUST for a run, I think everyone will agree. From there, you were pretty much free to start at your leisure, so it was nice not standing and waiting in a mob of people all rushing over the starting line in one tangled mess.
Course – first 5 miles were on fire service roads, compact dirt road with some obstacles like rocks and uneven terrain. Really had to watch your step, I saw a couple people go down hard and I rolled my ankle a couple miles in. There were a lot of uphill sections here, and we were already starting up around 5500 feet elevation. I knew this was going to be a challenge for me, since I live in an area that’s at 500 feet, and I definitely felt it!! Miles 5-10 were on a paved road and downhill. On the plus side, I made up a lot of time after those first challenging miles. But my quads sure paid the price for it! By the time you’re in the last 3 miles, you’re running around the lake and the road has rolling hills. On their own, they would be fine. But after the previous 10 miles, these are a killer! I didn’t expect that part to be so hard but my legs were spent.
Finish line – coming up to the finish line, you had runners trying to weave around other people leaving the race which got a little tricky. The logistics of the course in this section could be improved to make a clear path for runners. The finish line itself kind of sneaks up on you as you make a couple final turns in the recreation area, so it was a little underwhelming. Personally, I like seeing the finish line as I approach for that last burst of energy, but this one was just like BAM you’re done.
All of the pre-race communication and race guides were great, they provided all the information I needed. The finisher medal is awesome! I heard there were some problems with the top finisher awards, but it sounded like they were working hard to make it right. (I’m not fast enough to get one of those, so I’m very happy with my finisher medal LOL!)
I’ve done about 20 half marathons, and I will say this one was probably the most challenging, due to the elevation and course. But I loved it and would definitely recommend it! Just be sure to bring some patience and a positive attitude and enjoy the beautiful scenery!
Great Race, early start is worth it!
Bus shuttle time is early but was worth running before it got too hot. Course is great downhill and fun on the dirt backroads. Downhill really works in your favor, … MORE
Bus shuttle time is early but was worth running before it got too hot. Course is great downhill and fun on the dirt backroads. Downhill really works in your favor, but the last three miles are rolling road hills around the lake. Check out the finish line area before, its longer than you expect
Beat my expectations
First time running this specific race/location, but not new to VR races. Was a little hesitant when reading ‘Forest roads’ for a portion of the race, had mixed expectations. But … MORE
First time running this specific race/location, but not new to VR races. Was a little hesitant when reading ‘Forest roads’ for a portion of the race, had mixed expectations. But these were legit Forest roads-soft, scenic with river below and trees all around. Not too rocky overall (I run in rocky, so it was easy for me to maneuver). Pavement majority of the race, but if you can handle the downhill you’ll be able to run most/all of it. Hearing the finish line a couple miles away was both energizing and demoralizing-felt like it took me too long to get there. Unlike some of the other half’s you don’t get any Yosemite views, but I anticipated this. Not sure if I would run again, but glad I marked this one off my VR list.
Beautiful downhill race near Yosemite
The race company warned that the shuttles in the morning may be delayed, and they were. After finally getting to the start line, the race was great. The first four … MORE
The race company warned that the shuttles in the morning may be delayed, and they were. After finally getting to the start line, the race was great. The first four or so miles were on a rough dirt road through a beautiful forest. After that we hit a paved fast downhill until the town, and then through the town, around part of the lake and finishing at the park. The race company owned up to the challenges they had (it sounded like it was out of their control) after the race as well, which I really respect.
Disorganized and dismissive organizers.
The race organization left much to be desired. The bus drop-off process was incredibly slow, causing delays and frustration for everyone involved. The lack of supervision at the pickup spot … MORE
The race organization left much to be desired. The bus drop-off process was incredibly slow, causing delays and frustration for everyone involved. The lack of supervision at the pickup spot only added to the chaos, with buses stacking up and causing traffic jams.
The demeanor of the volunteers didn’t help either; they seemed unenergetic and somewhat dismissive of participants’ needs. Overall, while I had hoped for a better experience, it’s clear that this company needs to improve its organization and customer service. As a longtime runner, I would suggest exploring alternative race organizers until they can get their act together.
Poor organization
So many aspects of the race were poorly planned. At the bus drop off for the start of the race, they unloaded buses one at a time, taking 10 minutes … MORE
So many aspects of the race were poorly planned. At the bus drop off for the start of the race, they unloaded buses one at a time, taking 10 minutes each. Because of this, award ceremonies were cancelled because they staggered the start at the top since people couldn’t get off the buses.
At the pickup spot at the end, the organizers left the bus line without supervision. The buses stacked up and just stayed there, preventing cars from leaving this one lane, one direction loop. I wanted to give more credit to this company, maybe they’d be good. But it was so far from well organized, that as a long time runner and racer, I would recommend people find an alternative company.
Fantastic race organization
This year the course was ruined in the winter storms and they put together a new course for all of us and I had a blast as a first time … MORE
This year the course was ruined in the winter storms and they put together a new course for all of us and I had a blast as a first time half marathon runner however this alternative course had a suprise mud run in the middle but it was my favorite part and got me to come back to try the original course the following year vacation races really are amazing to travel for.