How To Spend 1 Day In Yosemite Nationwide Park (Itinerary)

Yosemite was one of many first nationwide parks established in the USA, and for my part it’s one of the stunning locations on the planet.

In case you solely have someday in Yosemite Nationwide Park, one of the best ways to spend it’s within the valley, the place you may benefit from the spectacular waterfalls, viewpoints, and hikes. Most of those are positioned fairly shut to one another.

A facet journey to the Mariposa Grove can also be worthwhile to see the traditional Sequoia timber. A few of these giants are greater than 3,000 years outdated!

You gained’t see the entire park in a day, as a result of it covers virtually 1,200 sq. miles, however you’ll have sufficient time to see a whole lot of the principle highlights.

We spent 2 weeks at Yosemite, and on this information, I’ll present you the entire prime sights to knock out on a brief go to to the park!

About This Itinerary

Right here’s a fast abstract of all of the locations on this itinerary:

 
I’ll cowl every of those locations intimately, after which share a map and timeline you may observe on your itinerary.

Yosemite Falls reflection in the course of the springtime flood

Finest Issues To See & Do

• Swinging Bridge Viewpoint

To your first cease in Yosemite, make a fast go to to the Swinging Bridge picnic space. This spot has the most effective views of Yosemite Falls within the park.

Higher but, once we visited in June, we had been fortunate to see an incredible reflection within the water due to the historic flooding. The Merced River had changed into a lake!

In most months you gained’t see that, but it surely’s nonetheless price a fast cease right here to get your first good view of Yosemite Falls. That is the park’s largest waterfall, and it’s one of many world’s tallest, at 2,425 ft (739 meters).

One other image from the identical spot at noon

• Mist Path

Subsequent, drive to the car parking zone for the Mist Path. This is without doubt one of the busiest hikes in Yosemite, so that you’ll need to get there early to beat the crowds and safe a parking spot.

You’ll be able to park at Curry Village or the Yosemite Valley Trailhead Parking. The latter is nearer and saves you 10 minutes of strolling, however the former has a restaurant if you wish to seize one thing to eat earlier than or after the hike.

The Mist Path is a superb hike with two massive waterfalls: Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. In case you’re a match hiker, it’s properly price going no less than to the highest of Vernal Fall. In any other case, you may get pleasure from a pleasant rainbow under the waterfall.

Vernal Fall rainbow

Above Vernal Fall. There’s a security fence so you may take footage like this with out worrying.

The Mist Path is a average hike with loads of elevation acquire, even should you cease earlier than Nevada Fall. In case you’re not up for that, you may substitute this hike for Mirror Lake, which is all flat and simple.

Once you attain the highest of Vernal Fall, should you proceed for a brief distance you’ll get a pleasant peek at Nevada Fall and the Liberty Cap with out including a lot to the hike.

Or, you may hike as much as Clark Level for a fair increased view of Vernal Fall, after which circle again all the way down to the beginning by way of the John Muir Path. Both method, you’ll get a pleasant number of surroundings in 2 or 3 hours of whole mountain climbing.

Keep in mind to convey water, snacks, and durable mountain climbing footwear. A poncho can be helpful so that you don’t get too moist on the waterfall. That’s how the Mist Path obtained its title!

The Liberty Cap and Nevada Fall

Vernal Fall as seen from above close to Clark Level. See the tiny individuals?

• Sentinel / Cook dinner’s Meadow Loop Path

After you end the Mist Path, it’s time to see extra of the valley. Drive to the Yosemite Falls Vantage Level and discover parking. Right here’s a map.

From right here, you may stroll the Cook dinner’s Meadow loop path, which is flat, straightforward, and principally paved or boardwalked, making it accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

Anybody can and will do that path, as a result of it’s so relaxed and it has among the finest views of Yosemite Falls and the valley!

In case you stroll the entire path, it takes as much as 1 hour, however you’ll get to see some nice surroundings even should you flip again after quarter-hour. In case you’re fortunate, you may see deer or different animals alongside the way in which, like we did.

• Decrease Yosemite Fall

It’s time to go see one other waterfall up shut! Drive to the Decrease Yosemite Fall trailhead, park, and hike to the waterfall.

As you’ll discover, Yosemite Falls is definitely a three-part waterfall, with higher, center, and decrease falls. This hike offers you an excellent view of the underside waterfall.

It’s one other quick, flat, straightforward, and accessible hike, and it takes about half-hour roundtrip. Anybody can do it.

Alongside the way in which, you’ll get peeks of the Higher Yosemite Fall via the timber, and the hike ends on the Decrease Fall, which you’ll see up shut.

Yosemite Falls peeking via the timber

Decrease Yosemite Fall

• Yosemite Valley Lodge

If it’s worthwhile to seize lunch at this level within the itinerary, you are able to do that on the close by Yosemite Lodge Meals Court docket, which is only a 2 minute drive or a 5 minute stroll from the place you parked for the decrease falls.

When you’re at it, there’s additionally a present store and Starbucks, so you may choose up a shirt, mug, magnet, or different souvenirs from the park.

In case you packed a picnic lunch for the day, there are many spots within the valley the place you may get pleasure from your meal with a view. The subsequent one you’ll go driving west is the El Capitan picnic space.
 

• Cathedral Rocks Viewpoint

That is an unmarked and unnamed viewpoint, however I’ve to say it as a result of it’s price stopping for footage.

As you proceed driving west on the valley loop street, after you go the El Capitan picnic space, and earlier than you attain a curve within the river referred to as the Satan’s Elbow, there’s a pull-off spot with epic views of the Cathedral Rocks.

I’ve marked the coordinates on the map right here. There’s a small parking area with room for a number of automobiles.

Cathedral Rocks viewpoint

Unbelievable cliffs

• El Capitan Meadow

The El Capitan meadow is true by the street, and it’s certainly one of my favourite spots in the entire park.

It has stunning views of the Cathedral Rocks throughout the meadow, and you may look straight up at El Capitan, the sheer granite monolith that was climbed by Alex Honnold with none tools within the Free Solo documentary.

Folks like to come back right here with garden chairs to allow them to sit and watch the climbers going up the facet of El Capitan. It’s an excellent place to go to within the afternoon.

El Capitan Meadow

El Capitan

• Yosemite Valley View

That is one other viewpoint that’s proper by the street, and it’s one of many final locations you’ll cease within the valley.

It has glorious views of the Merced River, El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridalveil Fall. We even noticed a giant rainbow at Bridalveil within the afternoon.

Yosemite Valley View

Bridalveil Fall rainbow

• Tunnel View

The Tunnel View is without doubt one of the most iconic views of Yosemite as a result of you may look straight via the valley, all the way in which to Half Dome.

So why put it aside till later within the day? Easy: early within the morning, it’s fully backlit and exhausting to take pictures. Afternoon is the proper time to see it.

Sure, there will likely be crowds, however parking is normally straightforward to search out as a result of there’s a whole lot of turnover. Folks snap their footage and go away fairly shortly.

Tunnel View

• Washburn Level

Now that you just’ve seen the Yosemite valley from under, it’s time to see it from above!

Drive out of the valley and as much as Glacier Level, the very best overlook of the park. The drive from Tunnel View to Glacier Level will take about 45 minutes.

Alongside the way in which, you’ll go Washburn Level, which is price a cease too. It has related however barely totally different views of the park, and you may see the entire Mist Path from above, together with Vernal and Nevada Falls.

Views of Yosemite on the way in which to Glacier Level

• Glacier Level

Up subsequent is Glacier Level, the place you may see extra of the well-known Yosemite icons from above!

This overlook has nice views of Yosemite Falls and the sheer face of Half Dome, which nearly appears shut sufficient to succeed in out and contact. You gained’t be capable to see the hikers scaling the cables on Half Dome since that’s all on the other facet of the height.

If you wish to do extra exploring at Glacier Level, there are some nice mountain climbing trails right here, reminiscent of Taft Level or the Panorama Path.

Half Dome as seen from Glacier Level

• Massive Timber Loop Path

The final cease on this itinerary for Yosemite is the Mariposa Grove of Big Sequoias, the place you may see among the world’s oldest and largest timber.

From Glacier Level, it’s a 1 hour drive to the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, the place you may hop on one of many free shuttle buses that runs each quarter-hour. The shuttle trip to the sequoia grove solely takes 5 or 10 minutes.

Right here, you’ll need to hike no less than a part of the Massive Timber Loop Path, which is spectacular. It’s additionally comparatively flat and simple.

Bachelor And Three Graces

Roots of the Fallen Big

In case you’re quick on time, you must hike no less than so far as the Grizzly Big and the Tunnel Tree, which takes about 1 hour roundtrip. Most individuals flip round at this level.

These are two of essentially the most notable and spectacular timber within the park. The Grizzly Big is the oldest sequoia within the grove, and one of many oldest timber on the planet. It’s at present estimated to be greater than 3,000 years outdated!

The Tunnel Tree is a brief distance previous the Grizzly Big, and it’s a enjoyable picture op because the base is hole. That was accomplished in 1895 so horse drawn stagecoaches may go via the tree.

That is the tip of your itinerary for someday in Yosemite Nationwide Park. You’ve now seen most of the finest highlights of the park!

The Grizzly Big is a big tree

Grizzly Big

Tunnel Tree

Map Of Issues To See & Do

Right here’s a map of all of the sights and actions listed on this Yosemite itinerary. You’ll be able to click on on the icons for instructions and different data.

Timeline For Your Go to

Right here’s a prompt timeline you may observe on your itinerary in Yosemite.

The park is extraordinarily widespread and normally begins to replenish by 8 AM, so I’d extremely suggest beginning early within the morning should you can.

It will mean you can safe parking and beat the worst of the crowds, and the valley can also be additional good at daybreak.

• 6:00 AM – Depart Oakhurst or Mariposa and drive to Yosemite Nationwide Park (should you’re staying within the valley, you can begin later).
• 8:00 AM – Arrive in Yosemite valley and begin mountain climbing the Mist Path.
• 9:30 AM – Attain the highest of Vernal Fall on the Mist Path, and begin mountain climbing again to the parking.
• 10:30 AM – End the Mist Path and arrive again on the car parking zone. Drive to the Yosemite Falls Vantage Level and discover parking.
• 11:00 AM – Stroll the Sentinel / Cook dinner’s Meadow loop path.
• 11:30 AM – Drive to the Decrease Yosemite Fall trailhead, park, and hike to the waterfall.
• 12:00 PM – Seize lunch on the close by Yosemite Lodge Meals Court docket.

Mirror Lake lives as much as its title

• 12:30 PM – Proceed driving the loop street, stopping on the viewpoints for the Cathedral Rocks, El Capitan Meadow, and Yosemite Valley View, in that order, after which cease on the Tunnel View on the way in which out of the valley.
• 1:30 PM – Exit the valley and begin driving to Glacier Level. Alongside the way in which, cease at Washburn Level for the views.
• 2:30 PM – Arrive at Glacier Level and go searching on the viewpoint.
• 3:00 PM – Begin driving to the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza.
• 4:00 PM – Arrive on the Mariposa Grove and seize a shuttle to the grove.
• 4:15 PM – Hike the loop path so far as the Grizzly Big and the Tunnel Tree, then again to the shuttle space.
• 5:15 PM – Seize a shuttle again to the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza.
• 5:30 PM – Arrive again on the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza. Depart the park and begin driving again to Oakhurst or Mariposa.
• 6:00 / 6:30 PM – Arrive again at your lodging in Oakhurst or Mariposa in time to seize supper.

Different Suggestions For Visiting Yosemite

• Reservation: Keep in mind to test the NPS web page to see if reservations will likely be required throughout your go to.
• Entrance Charge: A park go is all the time required at Yosemite. Yow will discover extra data on the NPS web page.
• Navigation: The street contained in the valley is a loop street, and it’s not all the time straightforward to backtrack should you miss one thing. It’s a good suggestion to plan your route forward of time so you may see all the pieces you need.
• Parking: Parking could be a problem, particularly throughout peak season. The valley has a free shuttle system, however we discovered it to be fairly gradual and inefficient. In case you begin early, you may drive your automotive in every single place on this itinerary and the shuttle gained’t be wanted.
• Clothes: Gown in layers. Even summer time mornings could be chilly in Yosemite, however the climate warms up in the course of the day.
• When To Go to: For my part, the very best time to go to Yosemite is within the spring months of Could and June. The waterfalls are massive due to the continuing snowmelt, the climate continues to be cool, and the crowds aren’t at their peak but. We went in June and it was excellent. I wouldn’t change something.
• The place To Keep: The very best resorts are within the valley, at The Ahwahnee or Yosemite Valley Lodge. If these are out of your funds then you may attempt to safe tenting within the valley, or there are resorts in Oakhurst and Mariposa, exterior the park. We stayed in Oakhurst.

A view of Half Dome from Yosemite Valley

How To Spend Extra Than One Day In Yosemite Nationwide Park

In case you have greater than someday in Yosemite, there are many different nice issues to do, particularly should you’re a hiker.

For the second day, do the strenuous hike to Higher Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Level. Even should you don’t go all the way in which to the highest, it’s nonetheless an excellent expertise to see the waterfall up shut.

Higher but, attempt to get permits for the Half Dome hike, which is essentially the most thrilling hike within the park! It has a scary cable part on the finish that leads you to panoramic views of your complete Yosemite valley.

For the third day, go to any locations within the valley you missed on the primary day, reminiscent of Bridalveil Fall and Mirror Lake. Each of those are quick and simple hikes. Then do the scenic drive on Tioga Street to see Olmsted Level, Tenaya Lake, and the Tuolomne Meadows.

Higher Yosemite Falls is an superior hike, particularly within the springtime when it seems like this!

Extra Journey Guides For Yosemite Nationwide Park

Thanks for studying! I hope you loved this itinerary for easy methods to spend someday in Yosemite Nationwide Park.

I’m engaged on extra journey guides for the U.S. nationwide parks, so don’t neglect to test again later.