Stop for a bite at the Whoa Nelly Deli an award winning deli inside a Mobil Gas Station in Lee Vining. Okay, thats a wrap! Complete a waterfall trifecta with a visit to Yosemite Falls. The closest airport for year-round access to the park is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (YAT), around 2 hours away. , Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more Travel inspo! Yosemite is a mecca for rock climbers, from bouldering to the ultimate in big wall climbing. If you want to help Yosemite with their conservation efforts, I would opt into taking their free shuttle! The hike is relatively easy and STUNNING! Its a good place to enjoy a picnic or snack. Washburn Point, Glacier Point & Taft Point. You can enjoy a cold dip in the waters, a hike around the lake, or look for climbers on the walls. Start at the west end of Tenaya Lake and follow the trail south towards Tenaya Lake. Spend some time enjoying the beauty of Tuolumne Meadows, the largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra and likely blanketed in wildflowers. For those who would prefer not to rough it, but still want to be close to everything, there are several lodging options inside the park, from grand historic hotels to more basic canvas tent cabins. Your email address will not be published. You can find rental cars at all airports. After you are done hiking, head back to your hotel to shower, grab some food, and head back out to watch the sunset at Tunnel View. Backpackers, including those staying the night at Little Yosemite Valley, should apply for a Half Dome permit when applying for their wilderness permit. All of the massive hotels look like tiny houses from way up here. For those that want to earn their views, the Four Mile Trail from the valley floor is a good option. If you only have 2 days in Yosemite, I would highly recommend spending a little extra money to stay in the Valley. If you do just one hike in Yosemite, make it this one, which lets you see four waterfalls, including getting close enough to two to get wet from the spray (in the spring). . The rocks at the base are very slippery and should not be climbed. Yosemite National Park is in California and is amazing!! Utah National Parks Road Trip 14 EPIC DAYS! Campsites can be booked five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 am PST. There are options near all the entrances to the park. This could cause you to cancel your trip if the air quality reaches dangerous levels. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you want to see famous viewpoints like Taft Point and Glacier Point, these are closed during the winter months. The stars are incredible in the park since it is so far from major cities and there is hardly any lights inside the park. . This way you are reducing your own carbon footprint (especially in a place with SO much natural beauty), and you dont have to worry about finding a parking spot at all the famous hikes / viewpoints. Usually this viewpoint is a lot clearer and in the spring you will see a few waterfalls! Clark, Tenaya Canyon, Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, North Dome, and Sentinel Dome. Popular areas include Yosemite Valley, with a base camp at Camp 4, and Tuolumne Meadows, with a base camp at the Tuolumne Meadows Campground. For first-time visitors, June is the best time to visit, to see waterfalls flowing well, and have access to pretty much the entire park. Next, stop at Olmsted Point for sweeping vistas of Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon. These 2 days in Yosemite are PACKED with the must-see sights, beautiful hikes, bear sighting tips, and tons of photography locations. Yosemite is massive, and you really need a car to get around, and for the most flexibility. About halfway up, youll cross the old and overgrown Wawona Road. Here is my Two Day Yosemite Itinerary if you are planning a trip out there after visiting the springs. From San Francisco, take I-80 east to I-580 east past Livermore. Afterwards, stop at the Visitor Center, and take the shuttle to Happy Isles to take the Mist Trail up to Vernal Falls, though you likely wont have time to go to the top of Nevada Falls. They have tons of signs to read and a few different viewing areas. After you fuel up on some coffee, grab some free bikes from Yosemite Valley Lodge or walk over to Cooks Meadow! For even better views, head to the cliffs a bit further west of the point. TIP: El Capitan Meadows is on the way to Tunnel View. You will also get a clearer view of Yosemite Valley! Plus, there were almost no crowds in the park which means I got front row parking to all of the view points. Before we get into the itinerary for Yosemite, lets cover some basics that youll need to know for your trip. e to spending 3 days in SF, one day in San Francisco, 14 perfect weekend getaways from San Francisco, day trip to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles, best things to do in Mammoth Lakes in the summer, the best hikes in Death Valley National Park, Highway 395 road trip from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe, In the winter, ski touring visitors can stay at the. Definitely bring your camera for this spot! Something I didnt realize until I arrived at the park was that Yosemite Valley (where most of the sites are) is 1.5 hours from the park entrance! Big Sur Road Trip- Includes ALL the Best Viewpoints! Float down the river 3 miles and catch a shuttle bus back. Afterwards, head to the Bridalveil Falls trailhead, and take the short trail to the base of the falls. For a more thrilling rafting experience, head west on Hwy 140 outside the park west of El Portal for Class III and IV rapids. At the far western edge of Tuolumne Meadows, take an easy stroll up Pothole Dome for lovely views over the meadow. Stop for a late breakfast or an early lunch and a peek inside the historic Victorian-style Wawona Hotel. Its one of the best in the park and you definitely earned it. Youll need to plan in advance, and have a bit of luck for this one, but its totally worth the effort as this is arguably the most iconic hike in all of Yosemite. There are more than 750 miles of trails to explore in the Yosemite Wilderness and spending a night or two backpacking is a great way to explore. Heres the map of the route from the NPS website (more information here). Jen is a freelance writer, photographer and content producer based near South Lake Tahoe. Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous and popular national parks in the country, and deservedly so, as its a stunning natural wonder. Utah National Parks Road Trip 14 EPIC Everything You Need To Know About Planning a An EPIC Tulum Bachelorette Party Itinerary 5 3 Day Lake Tahoe Itinerary (Winter Guide)! But most of the parking areas once you are inside the park are very small! Also, fire season in California is in the fall months. Here are even more things to do that you can add to your Yosemite National Park itinerary. Smoke from wildfires may be an issue in late summer. When mapping how far the airport is to Yosemite, make sure you plug Yosemite VALLEY into your maps, not Yosemite National Park. When I started the hike at 10am, most of the hike was in the shade still, making it way more enjoyable! Tioga Road and Glacier Point may still be closed though, depending on the snowmelt. This is the only spot in the park where I realized how deep the Yosemite Valley is! Head back to the trailhead on the Sentinel Dome Trail. To escape the crowds, consider taking the trail up to Inspiration Point. N. ext up is the short trail to Lower Yosemite Falls. The hike is very steep and rated strenuous, but it isnt too long and you will be taking a lot of picture breaks! P.S. Both areas are good spots to find climbing partners and beta. I went in the Fall and there were so many pros / cons. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Choose which direction to go based on where you want to end up (for sunset). More information on the hike here. There is a free year-round shuttle bus that loops around Yosemite Valley on a regular basis. Right after Sentinel Creek you have the option to take a side spur to Roosevelt Point. This viewpoint is only a 15 minute drive from the valley, and is not a hike. The lottery for permits opens in March, and only 300 hikers (225 day hikers and 75 backpackers) are allowed per day. Here are my favorite pink tennis shoes I wear everywhere! Expect crowds, though they are not as bad as in the summer. Stop by the nearby Swinging Bridge as well for great views of Yosemite Falls. History buffs should also cross the covered bridge and stop in at the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. Dangling your feet over the edge will get the palms sweating, but overall you feel very safe because the railing is preventing you from falling off. Everything You Need To Know About Planning a Bachelorette Party in Tulum. Paid shuttles are available to Glacier Point and Tuolumne Meadows. Are you ready for an epic 2 days in Yosemite?! I strive to share my travel journey to inspire YOU to see this beautiful world we live in! In the summer you will get to enjoy the lakes, most waterfalls are still flowing, and you will get beautiful hot weather. [], [] I traveled there in October 2020 (click here to read my full itinerary), I was in complete awe. Named for the Washburn brothers who built the Wawona Lodge, this overlook provides views of Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, Illilouette Falls, and the eastern crest of Sierra. The Mist trail to Vernal falls will give you gorgeous, expansive views the entire way to the top. Its a short quarter mile paved trail to the base of the falls. Bring binoculars or stop at nearby El Capitan Bridge for the seasonal Ask a Climber program. We have an entire guide dedicated to helping you find the right place to stay in Yosemite National Park. Soon youll come across a lookout with views of Yosemite Falls. You will just need to park the car and walk over to the viewpoint. At this viewpoint, you get to see the entire Yosemite Valley including Half Dome, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Falls! Waterfalls should all be flowing in early summer, though they start drying up after mid-summer. The first stop is Washburn Point where you will get to see unobstructed views of the famous Half Dome! Plan an Unforgettable California Adventure. HI! The hike is not only steep, but you are walking alongside a powerful waterfall. Afterwards, hike to Lembert Dome and Dog Lake (hike info here), or if you have more time and energy, stunning Cathedral Lakes (hike info here).
yosemite national park 2 day tour