Yosemite is no longer requiring reservations for park entry.
Yosemite National Park in One Day
Take the self guided “grand tour”
- Start your trip through the south entrance of Yosemite (approx. 30 minutes from the Inn). Take Hwy 49 for 10 minutes to the town of Oakhurst, the highway Ts at Highway 41, at the stop light turn left, continue straight through Oakhurst on Highway 41 for another 20 minutes. The south entrance has 3 pay booths to make it a quicker entrance to the park even on busy summer days. After passing through the booth area you will come to a roundabout. Follow signs to Yosemite Valley (approx. 1 hour from the entrance).
- As you drive north on Highway 41 you will pass by the Mariposa Grove turn off, Wawona Lodge (big white historic hotel), the Glacier Point Road and finally go through the Wawona Tunnel. There are lots of views before the tunnel but wait to stop until the moment you come out of the tunnel, make an immediate left into the Tunnel View parking lot. I call this view the “awe” moment, because this is your first glimpse of the stunning Yosemite Valley in all its glory.
- After Tunnel View continue on to Bridalveil Falls Parking Lot. This is your first opportunity to get out and walk, and a restroom! The walk to the base of the falls is approx. ¼ mile up a slightly inclined trail. In the spring, be prepared to get very wet from the mist at the bottom of the waterfall.
- Continue driving, following the signs to Yosemite Valley Lodge – Yosemite Falls Parking Lot. Park your car in the large parking lot (Alternative parking can be found in the Curry Village Parking lot) and catch the free Yosemite Shuttle to Happy Isles (Stop 16).
Insider Information on Alternative forms of transportation: Rent a bike at the Yosemite Valley Lodge Activity center
Insider Information on the Shuttle system: Summer time- the shuttle comes every 10 minutes and is the best way to get around the valley with less parking hassle and less walking. It also helps the park manage road congestion and will give you a chance to look out the windows as you are chauffeured around Yosemite Valley.
- At Happy Isles (Shuttle stop 16) you are in for a grueling but worthwhile 1.6 mile roundtrip hike to the bridge at the bottom of Vernal Falls. You can continue hiking to the top of the falls via the famous Mist Trail (over 600 granite stairs) for more of a challenge and a view from the top, this is 3 miles roundtrip. Insider information: If you take the Mist Trail in spring or early summer make sure to bring an umbrella or raincoat. They call it the Mist Trail for a reason!
- If Vernal Falls appears too strenuous or you want an additional hike, continue to Mirror Lake (Shuttle stop 17) for an easy 2-mile roundtrip stroll. Take the paved roadway to the lake that is at the base of Half Dome. Don’t forget to look up! Insider information: Mirror Lake is small and sometime non-existent in late summer to winter, but the hike to the base of Half Dome is what makes this hike worth the easy stroll year-round. When you reach the restrooms, make sure to keep going a little further to reach Mirror Lake.
- After your hike, hop back on the Shuttle and take it to the Ahwahnee Hotel (Shuttle stop 3) for a view of the grand historic hotel. The Ahwahnee Bar is open for breakfast, 7-10am, and 11:30-9pm. They offers a nice selection of alcoholic beverages, appetizers, and food items. The hotel also has a formal dinner (Reservations (ph.1-209-372-1489) are required and formal dress is required). Insider information: Keep your eyes out for wildlife around the hotel, many deer like to graze in the meadow out back, and we have seen a black bear around this area several times during all times of the year and even a bob cat.
- After the hotel take the Shuttle to the Yosemite Village (Shuttle stop 2, 4, 5)
- Welcome Visitor Center – Open 9am-5pm – Pick up information, National Park stamp, Junior Ranger Badge, and gifts.
- Village General Store – Open 8am-10pm – Pick up Food, souvenirs, and gear.
- Village Grill – Lunch – Open 11am-6pm – Burgers, Hot Dogs, and more. Outdoor Seating Only.
- Degnan’s Kitchen – Lunch – Open 11:30am-6pm – Deli Sandwiches, Coffee, and grab-n-go items. Indoor and outdoor seating.
- Yosemite Exploration Center & Theater – Open 9am-5pm – Make sure to catch the videos in the theater called “The Spirit of Yosemite” and/or “Yosemite: A Gathering Place” and a ranger program while you’re there.
- Ansel Adams Gallery – Open 9am-5pm – Historic photos of Yosemite and other art forms
- Yosemite Museum – Open 10am-5pm – Great information on the history of the people and places in Yosemite. The Indian Village is out back of the Museum. If you have kids or are a kid at heart, out back next to the movie theater there is an Indian village showing the teepees and warming house that the native Ahwaneechee used while they lived here. It is a fascinating self-guided walk that is enjoyable for people of all ages.
- Finish off your loop around the park by taking the Shuttle to Yosemite Falls (Shuttle Stop 6). Walk the short paved ¼ mile to the base of the tallest falls (2,800 feet) in the lower 48 states and marvel in its grandeur. Insider information: As you are walking from the shuttle stop to the falls make sure to be looking up, there is a point along the trail that you can see both the upper and lower falls at the same time. A great photo opportunity!
- From the lower falls it is just a walk across the street to Yosemite Valley Lodge and your car. On your drive out of the Valley, stop under El Capitan to see the climbers tackle the granite face. Parking is on the left side, after the roads merge, and you start to see El Capitan on the right. It is usually recognizable by the number of cars parked along the road and people with binoculars. Also, before you leave the Valley look to the left side of the road for a small pullout along the Merced River, this is called Valley View, and offers great pictures of the Merced River, Bridalveil Falls and El Capitan. Perfect lighting in the afternoon or for sunset.
- Finish the loop by exiting following the signs towards the Highway140. This will provide a nice loop and takes you along the Merced River, and eventually to the town of Mariposa for a dinner stop. Or if you prefer to have dinner at back at your room or in Oakhurst, shave off 10-15 minutes of your drive back by taking the Triangle Road short cut.
Insider information: Along Hwy 140 you will encounter a road detour, the wait should not be longer than 15 minutes. This detour happened on May 28, 2006 when a major liquid rockslide covered approximately 600 feet of the highway. Because it was a liquid rockslide they were unable to move the rocks so they had to move the road.
If you have 1.5 to 2 days to tour Yosemite, start your day here:
- Follow instructions for entering the South Entrance to Yosemite. After passing through the booth area, you will come to a roundabout. Follow signs to Mariposa Grove, it is the first exit on the roundabout to the right.
- Mariposa Grove: Parking is at the small welcome center. The dedicated Mariposa Grove shuttle (Shuttle runs late May to Early October) will take you the remaining 2 miles up to the grove. We recommend hiking the easy-moderate 2 mile roundtrip trail to the Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree. Insider information: If you have more time, take the moderate 6 mile dirt trail loop up past the Galen Clark Cabin. It is 3 miles of all uphill to Wawona Point, and 3 miles of all downhill back past many giant sequoia trees, including the Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree.
- Wawona Hotel and area: This historic area is best recognized by the large white hotel, easily seen from the highway. A visit inside the historic hotel, where Theodore Roosevelt stayed when he visited Yosemite, is a step back in time. The road just past the hotel has the Pioneer Center. A great place to visit to see how people visited the park before there were cars. There is also a beautiful covered bridge.
- Hiking Near Wawona:
- Swinging Bridge – ¾ mile (roundtrip) easy walk to an actual swinging bridge. Turn at the Wawona General Store and drive 2 miles to the parking lot at road’s end.
- Chilnualna Falls – 1 mile (roundtrip) to the lower falls or 8.4 miles (roundtrip) to the upper falls. Best only in the spring time when water is flowing. Turn right on Chilnualna Falls Road. Drive just over 1.5 miles to the trailhead parking lot, which will be on your right.
- Glacier Point: Drive approximately 40 minutes (from South Entrance or 30 minutes from Wawona) on Hwy 41 then turn right to take the Glacier Point Road. Drive 16 miles one-way (approx.. 30 minutes) to the end of the road and the Glacier Point Parking lot. Park and walk the ¼ mile paved trail to out to Glacier Point, which offers a sweeping aerial view of Yosemite Valley 3,000 feet below, Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, and Half Dome.
Insider information: Glacier Point is the best place for sunset photos of Yosemite Valley.
- Hiking Near Glacier Point:
- Sentinel Dome – 2 Miles (Roundtrip) The Innkeeper’s favorite hike! The trailhead is located 2 miles before the Glacier Point and is parking for Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Take the right-side trail at the start to head towards the dome. This moderate hike is on a dirt trail to the top of Sentinel Dome where you will have a 360-degree view of Yosemite Valley and the surrounding mountains, with no trees or mountains in the way of your view.
- Taft Point – 2 Miles (Roundtrip) Park in the same lot as Sentinel Dome. Take the left side trail at the start to head towards Taft Point. This moderate hike travels down and out to Taft Point, and brings you to the edge of Yosemite Valley, looking 3,000 feet straight down.
- Sentinel Dome and Taft Loop – 5.5 miles loop. This trail starts from the Sentinel Dome side, visit the top of the dome. Then when you come down the dome, go straight to the trail signs marked for Taft Point and Glacier Point. Hike past the cellphone towers. To the next trail junction, follow the signs to the left for Taft Point. Take this breath-taking moderate trail that follows the edge of the valley with sweeping views until the trail T’s with the Taft Point Trail. Turn Right to head down to Taft Point. Return to the parking lot via the Taft Point Trail.
- Bass Lake: A 20-minute drive outside of the park to Road 222.
- North side of the lake has the Pines Resort and Ducey’s On the Lake Restaurant. You can rent boats and other water sports equipment here. The Willow Creek Trail – 3 Miles (Roundtrip) up to Angels Falls
- South side of the lake has the Forks Resort and Best Burgers on the lake. The Way of Mono trail is an easy ½ mile loop passing great views of Bass Lake