Rick Youngren said, "It's the most beautiful we've ever seen it. It's just absolutely incredible."
The falls are flowing thanks to the first above average snowpack since 2006. And it will melt even more as the weather warms up just in time for what's typically the park's busiest weekend of the year.
Yosemite spokesperson, Scott Gediman said, "We can have between 7 and 8 thousand cars on one weekend, up to 25000 people."
Visitors will also find the Merced River rushing at near peak capacity, which can be both beautiful and dangerous. That's why search and rescue teams spent Wednesday training to save people from the swift water.
U.S. Park Ranger, Brendan Bonner said, "It's the second leading cause of death in Yosemite, and we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend, and that means keep your distance from the river and respect it as you should."
Rangers also want to warn people Tioga Road will be closed for the holiday weekend because of ice and avalanche conditions. And the cables on Half Dome won't be in place because of lingering snow. But the rest of the park is open and ready for the weekend rush. In fact, all of the reservable campgrounds are already booked.
Nina Forbess said, "We figure this is a good time of year, and some crowds are fine and that's ok. We're still enjoying everything."
If you're planning to visit the park this weekend, rangers recommend getting here before 10am or after 2pm to avoid long lines at the entrance stations.
