Yosemite Nationwide Park is without doubt one of the United States’ most well-known nationwide parks, and positively essentially the most iconic in California. There are such a lot of issues to do in Yosemite, one or two journeys isn’t sufficient.
I’d visited Yosemite earlier than as a teenager, nevertheless it was my companion’s first time after we visited this summer time. As such, I wished to ensure we hit the must-sees.
You should utilize this information as a 3-day Yosemite itinerary as we did, or you may decide and select and construct your individual 1-day or 2-day Yosemite itinerary. Simply needless to say Yosemite is big, so it’s essential to plan your days round issues which can be close to one another to keep away from spending an excessive amount of time driving.
Yet another factor: Don’t neglect to examine the Nationwide Park Service’s official Yosemite web site earlier than you go. COVID restrictions are ever-changing, so that you’ll wish to be sure to have the newest updates.
The place to remain in Yosemite
First off, the place to remain. Whereas Yosemite is big, its lodging choices are considerably restricted.
Your choices fall into just a few classes:
- Lodges, cabins, tent-cabins, and campgrounds inside Yosemite Nationwide Park
- Lodges, trip leases (e.g. Airbnb, vrbo), and campgrounds outdoors the park
- Backpacking with a wilderness allow
If you wish to keep inside Yosemite, you’ll must plan your journey months prematurely. Lodges and cabins may be laborious to get, however maybe the toughest is a Yosemite tenting reservation.
Campground reservations open up 5 months prematurely at 7 a.m. Pacific on the fifteenth of every month. Get your Recreation.gov account arrange and able to go, and know precisely which campgrounds and dates you need. Have a plan B and C for good measure — generally spots are booked inside seconds!
In case you’re like me and customarily don’t plan your journeys that far prematurely, search for lodging outdoors of Yosemite as an alternative.
Crucial factor is to at all times map out how far your proposed lodging are to the locations you wish to expertise. Yosemite is big, and the gap and driving concerned at all times shock folks!
After we went this summer time, we booked a beautiful campsite through Airbnb.
The Westlake Campground is without doubt one of the finest choices for tenting close to Yosemite that we discovered. It’s a roughly 40-minute drive from Yosemite’s Large Oak Flat entrance. Whereas which will sound lengthy, most choices outdoors the park are no less than as far, if not a lot farther away.
Lastly, if backpacking within the wild open nation is extra your pace, make certain to observe these steps to get a Yosemite wilderness allow. These additionally run out sooner than you’d think about!
Day 1: Discover Yosemite’s finest viewpoints
After getting up and having fun with a lazy breakfast at our campsite, we headed to Yosemite with plans of seeing all of the tremendous common viewpoints on day 1. We’d hoped that doing so on a Thursday would supply fewer crowds than the weekend.
Sadly, the Moc Hearth began that day in close by Moccasin, ushering a veil of smoke throughout Yosemite. It was particularly dangerous throughout our first morning within the park.
Regardless of the poor visibility and dangerous air high quality, nonetheless, we nonetheless had a good time testing a few of Yosemite’s most iconic views. You’ll be able to see how placing Yosemite’s viewpoints are, even when shrouded by smoke.
Snap a photograph at Tunnel View
In case you are coming from northern California like we had been, you’ll most certainly enter Yosemite through the Large Oak Flat Park Entrance or the Arch Rock Entrance.
Our first cease contained in the park was at Tunnel View.
This iconic view, made well-known by the equally iconic Ansel Adams, is without doubt one of the hottest and most photographed spots in Yosemite. And you’ll why.
The car parking zone there isn’t massive, however don’t fear if it’s packed. People get out, take images, and depart comparatively rapidly.
(In case you’re coming from SoCal and getting into from the South Entrance, think about turning this 3-day itinerary on its head and beginning with our day 3 plans as an alternative.)
See Glacier Level
Then, if you’re fortunate sufficient to have a transparent day, head over to Glacier Level, certainly one of Yosemite’s most gorgeous cliffs.
Sadly, the smoke was the worst after we obtained to Glacier Level, so we may solely see ~15 ft in entrance of us. Yep, it was that dangerous.
There are just a few good hikes round Glacier Level, nevertheless it’s straightforward to drive as much as that, so I’d recommend driving to see Glacier Level and mountaineering elsewhere as an alternative.
Hike to Taft Level and Sentinel Dome
Particularly, I’d recommend taking place the street and spending an hour or two mountaineering to Taft Level and Sentinel, two different distinguished Yosemite hotspots.
There isn’t a variety of parking obtainable right here, so I’d extremely suggest coming early within the day or throughout the week. After you park, you may both go left to Taft Level or proper to Sentinel Dome.
When you have the time, I’d positively suggest mountaineering the complete circuit. You are able to do an out-and-back to Taft Level after which an out-and-back to Sentinel Dome, however we thought the less-trekked Pohono Path connecting the 2 was extra peaceable and exquisite.
In case you’re restricted on mountaineering time and might solely go to certainly one of these, my choice is Sentinel Dome.
Taft Level is perennially extra common, particularly on Instagram and with marriage ceremony photographers, as a result of it gives a placing view. However Sentinel Dome gives 360 panoramic views of Yosemite that may’t be crushed.
It is usually potential to hike from Glacier Level to Sentinel Dome after which all the way down to Taft Level should you’d like. Simply needless to say you’ll must hike again to your automobile after!
Stand in awe below El Capitan’s shadows
Earlier than you wrap up day 1 in Yosemite, make certain to absorb El Capitan from the meadows beneath it.
Made well-known by the thrill-seeking rock climbers which have graced its face (and extra not too long ago featured within the spine-chilling Free Solo), El Capitan is without doubt one of the well-known granite monoliths on the planet.
I’ve no inclination to ever climb it, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a sight to see. In case you go throughout the golden hour proper earlier than sundown, it’s particularly gorgeous!
I’m pretty certain we noticed somebody making an attempt to climb it whereas we had been there, however my companion insists it was a shadow. Oh nicely.
Day 2: Hike previous the crowds to gorgeous waterfalls
With lots of the Ansel Adams<>Instagram hotspots visited on our first day, we wished to take a while for an extended hike on our second day. Whereas day 1 concerned a variety of monumental rocks and cliffs, day 2 was themed round waterfalls.
Not surprisingly, Yosemite is dwelling to many beautiful waterfalls. Relying on the time of 12 months once you go to, nonetheless, some could also be on the drier aspect. For instance, the eponymous Yosemite Waterfall roughly dries up by late summer time.
Beat the crowds to Vernal Falls
After we visited in August, a variety of the falls had been dry, so we determined to take a look at the Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls combo. (You’ll be able to see what situations are typically like at every waterfall right here.)
Vernal Falls is tremendous common, so the sooner you head over, the higher. It will get particularly crowded on the bridge the place you first get a view of the waterfall.
Make certain to not simply cease there although. A couple of extra minutes up the hill and also you’ll have a way more spectacular view.
Proceed onto Nevada Falls
Most folk cease at Vernal Falls, however the actual gem is additional upriver. It’s about one other mile, largely uphill, nevertheless it gives essentially the most gorgeous views.
First, you’ll get to see the serene Emerald Pool and Silver Apron.
However forewarned although, this serenity is an entire phantasm. Emerald Pool is dwelling of terrorist squirrels — DO NOT EAT YOUR LUNCH HERE.
These are significantly essentially the most aggressive squirrels I’ve ever encountered. Attempting to place collectively after which eat a turkey avocado sandwich by the Emerald Pool was essentially the most unsettling meal I’ve ever had.
Let’s simply say we squirreled away from Emerald Pool fairly rapidly.
From there, it’s a fast 25-30 min. hike as much as Nevada Falls. The highest of the falls makes for a significantly better picnic spot, promise!
After we went, you needed to go up the Mist Path and return through the John Muir Path, a COVID restriction set as much as maintain the slender trails one-way solely.
That loop provides roughly one other a mile to the hike, nevertheless it’s nicely definitely worth the views (and glute exercise!). In my view, it’s truly approach higher than doing an out-and-back.
Day 3: Stroll among the many giants
On our final full day in Yosemite, we determined to hit the southern finish of the park.
I received’t lie, it was a protracted, lengthy drive. However the southern part of Yosemite gives a distinct panorama than what you see in Yosemite Valley.
The spotlight is the Mariposa Grove of Large Sequoias.
There are greater than 500 mature large sequoia timber on this grove, every standing so tall, you don’t have any selection however to crane your neck up and stand in awe.
There are a handful of mountaineering trails round these groves, starting from these which can be lower than half a mile to 7-milers. We ended up combining just a few completely different hikes and spent about 2.5 hours round these gorgeous giants.
Or, hit up different corners of Yosemite
In case you’re hitting up Yosemite after visiting Sequoia Nationwide Park or vice versa, you may be happy to skip Mariposa Grove. (Trace: the park named after these timber has extra stunners.)
As an alternative, think about taking the day to go to one of many different two less-visited areas of Yosemite: Hetch Hetchy or Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Highway.
Hetch Hetchy, dwelling of the eponymous reservoir that provides the Bay Space’s ingesting water, is within the northwest nook of Yosemite and gives a wide range of hikes.
Tuolumne Meadows, which you’ll be able to attain through the scenic Tioga Highway, gives wide-open meadows and a number of lakes.
The previous is open year-round, whereas the latter is just accessible whereas Tioga Highway is open, which is often Could/June by means of October/November.
Not down for extra driving? Return to Yosemite Valley and spend a while on the valley ground. It’s an important spot for picnicking, biking, and strolling along with your four-legged mates.
With so many issues to do in Yosemite Nationwide Park, you’re certain to search out one thing new and awe-inspiring.