Yosemite 3 Day Itinerary: Seeing the best of California’s iconic Yosemite National Park

Majestic. That’s the word. The perfectly descriptive word for Yosemite National Park. The scale and grandeur, the beautiful meadows,  the lush pine forests, the roaring waterfalls and gigantic granite cliff faces leave me awestruck every time I visit this magical and majestic place. Having visited a number of times, I’ve put together my perfect Yosemite 3 day itinerary to see the best of this stunning national park in California.

 ‘In every walk with Nature, one receives far more than he seeks.’ John Muir

Since my first visit to California in 2003, the USA state has always been on my list of ‘return to’ destinations. Embarking on long road trips covering cities, theme parks, the coast, deserts and mountains, there is such a wide variety of landscapes to visit meaning there is always something to return for. It’s mostly the mountains that draw me back though. Wide open spaces, clean alpine air and scenery unlike anywhere else. It’s a perfect combination and that’s what makes Yosemite National Park so special.

ANSEL ADAMS

Yosemite’s landmark granite cliffs were brought to my attention many years ago, thanks to the awe inspiring photography of Ansel Adams. Ansel Adams captured some wonderful images of Yosemite National Park, with high contrast black and white landscape images of landmarks such as El Capitan and Half Dome. I marvelled at these images, had (and still have) wall prints of his work, and dreamed of seeing them in real life. As stunning as these images are, they do nothing to provide a sense of scale when seeing Yosemite with your own eyes.

VISITING YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of Northern California, approximately a four hour drive east of San Francisco. Easily accessible by road from the west all year round and seasonally from the east (the Tioga Pass Road closes over the winter months), it is a destination that’s suitable for all seasons. With 1,200 square miles of mountain scenery, the park attracts millions of visitors per year which is definitely something to consider when planning when to visit.

Choosing the time of year to visit can also make a real difference to the scenery. Visiting the area twice in September,  the weather was gorgeous and the crowds were fairly manageable but the meadows were parched and the waterfalls mostly dry. Barely a trickle. For that reason, our third visit to Yosemite was planned during an early June road trip. We chose to plan the early June trip for two reasons. First up, the waterfalls would still have a heavy flow and the valley would be lush and green. Secondly, with the Tioga Pass Road open after winter (typically from late May to November), we could enter the park from the east to see some areas we hadn’t experienced before.

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MY PERFECT YOSEMITE 3 DAY ITINERARY

With so much to see in  Yosemite National Park, you could spend a week or two and still not experience all corners of the park. The vast landscapes provide the opportunity for guests to really get off the beaten track if they wish, with long hiking trails out into the wilderness. Rock climbers could spend days facing challenging climbs on some of the most impressive cliff faces on earth. Or, if you’re like me, a Yosemite 3 day itinerary is just enough time to explore the park by car, explore Yosemite Valley on foot and spend some time on some fairly challenging, but manageable hikes.

Yosemite 3 Day Itinerary – Day One

DRIVE THE TIOGA PASS ROAD & EXPLORE YOSEMITE VALLEY

Planning a Californian road trip taking in the Eastern Sierra around Mammoth Lakes and the I395 provides the perfect opportunity to enter Yosemite National Park from the east. Taking Highway 120 from Lee Vining and climbing the Tioga Pass, the highest highway pass in California, the flat desert roads of the Eastern Sierra and barren landscapes make way for pine forests and alpine peaks on the 11 mile journey to the entrance to Yosemite.

TUOLUMNE MEADOWS Entering Yosemite National Park, the road meanders through the mountains past sub-alpine meadows and glacial lakes before heading down towards Yosemite Valley. There are a few stopping points along the way which are well worth taking a short break for. Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center is one of the first stops that we made with views of one of the highest elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada, along with the backdrop of Lembert Dome.

TENAYA LAKE Further along, another worthwhile stopping point is Tenaya Lake – a gorgeous alpine lake located next to the highway. Sometimes referred to as the Jewel of the High Country, a short walk from the car park through the forest brings you out onto the shores – almost deserted on the day of our visit. The beaches of the lake can be busy in the summer months though, and popular with kayakers, swimmers and sunbathers.

OLMSTED POINT Continuing along from Tenaya Lake on the first day of this Yosemite 3 day itinerary, there’s a fabulous stopping point called Olmsted Point. This scenic pullout is clearly signposted on the left hand side, and gives a very unique vantage point towards Yosemite Valley and the iconic Half Dome, which is almost unrecognisable from this position. Looking towards the rear of Half Dome, the foreground is filled with a large granite slab dotted with pine trees and large boulders, left when the last glacier came through.

ARRIVING AT YOSEMITE VALLEY

The final 35 mile stretch of the journey from Olmsted Point sees a slow descent through the forests towards Yosemite Valley. Merging with Big Oak Flat Road (a route from the west), the descent steepens with some switchback sections of road, and some fantastic vista points, offering glimpses of the valley itself. 

Yosemite Valley is the main hub of the park for tourists. Approximately 7.5 miles long and 3000 – 3500 ft deep, it is home to large open meadows, pine forests and numerous accommodation options and scenic viewpoints. The valley is also the starting point for many of the trails and spectacular hiking routes. There is a one way loop road that runs around the valley, with plenty of stopping points to see the main sights and take in the views. Wherever you stop, the views are breath taking.

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Yosemite 3 Day Itinerary – Day Two

EMBARK ON THE MIST TRAIL AND SEE THE YOSEMITE VALLEY WATERFALLS

It’s worth an early start for the second day of the Yosemite 3 day itinerary, to get out and experience one of the most popular and rewarding hikes from Yosemite Valley. While there are a number of long hikes to embark on in Yosemite, some of the longer hikes are quite challenging and a certain level of skill and fitness is needed to safely complete them. 

The Mist Trail is a six mile round trip, and a fairly strenuous hike which takes you up close to two large waterfalls – Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, with a 2000 foot elevation gain. Named the Mist Trail due to the sheer amount of spray from the river and the waterfalls in the spring, you need to expect to get a little wet along your journey, but it’s also nicely cooling in the summer heat. It does make things slightly slippery underfoot, so sensible footwear is a must.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE MIST TRAIL

The Mist Trail begins at the Happy Isles trailhead to the east of Yosemite Valley and follows the John Muir Trail alongside the Merced River to the Vernal Fall footbridge which offers some great views of Vernal Fall. Note: This is the only hiking trail in Yosemite National Park which has restrooms along the route – there are three in total, which is great for a hike of this distance.

Continuing on from Vernal Fall Footbridge, the trail separates into the John Muir Trail and Mist Trail. Following the Mist Trail, this section of the hike is a dramatic journey which takes you up a granite stairway of more than 600 steps towards Vernal Fall. The force of the waterfall and the spray generated at this stage is such a powerful experience. There are further steps built into the side of the cliff face which lead to the top of the fall, a spot to take a well earned break.

Once at the top of Vernal Fall, the views back down towards the valley are impressive – the mist from the water creating rainbows in the air. Continuing on the Mist Trail past Emerald Pool and Silver Apron, the trail then crosses the river and provides great vantage points both downstream overlooking Silver Apron and upstream looking towards Nevada Falls.

A hike through the forest leads to a section where the trail opens to a series of steep, rocky switchbacks which climb up 594 feet alongside the thundering Nevada Fall. Once at the top, this is the highest point along the Mist Trail hike and a great opportunity for a rest and to soak in some of the spectacular views. 

A brief rest and there’s a choice of two routes to head back down to Yosemite Valley. Return on the same trail (passing many people on the stone steps), or take a slightly longer route back along the John Muir Trail, providing new vantage points and quieter hiking experience. The John Muir Trail heads away from Nevada Fall towards a viewpoint called Clark Point. This spot provides great views of Liberty Cap and Nevada Fall, before descending down a number of forest switchbacks to meet the original trail near the Vernal Fall footbridge and back to the valley below.

This Mist Trail hike takes about six hours in total, including some breaks along the way. There are some fairly strenuous sections, but it’s definitely a manageable hike for most people with a reasonable level of fitness. Well worth doing for the spectacular views along the way. Summer in Yosemite can get hot, so be sure to carry a significant amount of water and energy snacks for the hike.

THE WATERFALLS OF YOSEMITE VALLEY

Back in the surroundings of Yosemite Valley, providing it was an early start to set out on the Mist Trail, there should be time to continue exploring on the second day of the Yosemite 3 day itinerary, by visiting the waterfalls of the valley. There are two significant waterfalls, and both can be accessed via short paved trails.

BRIDALVEIL FALL The first of these is Bridalveil Fall. To the west of the valley, Bridalveil Fall is usually the first waterfall you will see when entering Yosemite Valley, cascading down a cliff face at 620 feet in height. The hike from the parking lot is only a half mile round trip, and leads to the base of the fall, where in spring you may get wet from the spray.

Note: The Bridalveil Fall trail has undergone a large rehabilitation project to improve access and facilities in the area, and is due to reopen in Summer 2023.

YOSEMITE FALL Another, and more impressive waterfall which is easily accessible from the valley floor is Yosemite Fall. Separated into the Upper and Lower Falls, these combined form the highest waterfall in North America at 2,425 feet high. Whilst there are some moderate to strenuous hikes which will take you up towards the Upper Falls, the hike to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls is a flat and paved one mile round trip. When we first visited during September these falls were barely a trickle, so a return visit in spring showed us the full effect and power of the water. Seriously impressive.

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Yosemite 3 Day Itinerary – Day Three

GLACIER POINT, TUNNEL VIEW, VALLEY VIEW AND MEADOWS

The final day of this perfect Yosemite 3 day itinerary sees a little exploring further afield, before taking time to check out the iconic scenic viewpoints of Yosemite Valley, and taking time to relax in the beautiful natural surroundings of the valley.

GLACIER POINT 

Venturing outside of Yosemite Valley by car, to get some truly outstanding views and vantage points of Yosemite’s landmarks, a trip to Glacier Point is a must do. An overlook with unparalleled views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point sits at 3,214 feet above the valley floor. With a large parking area, Glacier Point also has facilities including a restaurant and restrooms. 

From the parking lot, there are a number of short walks to overlooks and viewpoints with unobscured views of Yosemite Valley’s key landmarks such as Yosemite Falls, El Capitan’s 3000+ foot cliff face on the opposite side of the valley, and arguably the most striking and iconic landmark of Half Dome, rising over 5,000 feet above the valley floor. The views across to Half Dome from Glacier Point are breath taking and worth the drive alone. 

The drive to Glacier Point is 30 miles from Yosemite Valley, heading out on the Wawona Road before turning onto Glacier Point Road for the remainder of the journey. Note: Glacier Point Road has been closed throughout 2022 for repair work, and will be due to open in Spring 2023, with some delays possible. 

SCENIC VIEWPOINTS OF YOSEMITE VALLEY

TUNNEL VIEW Heading back towards Yosemite Valley along Wawona Road and through the Wawona Tunnel, leads to one of the more popular viewpoints in the park. The aptly named Tunnel View overlook, provides one of the most photographed views of Yosemite Valley, including the image that made Ansel Adams famous. There’s no hiking required here, the iconic view can be seen directly from the parking lot. Yosemite Valley opens up ahead, with El Capitan to the right, Bridalveil Fall cascading over the cliff with Half Dome as a backdrop.

VALLEY VIEW Located to the west end of the Yosemite Valley alongside the Merced River, another popular scenic viewpoint is Valley View. Looking east, the vertical cliff face of El Capitan sits to the left, with Cathedral Rocks towering upon the other side of the valley. The Merced River meanders its way through the centre of the scene, creating a stunning landscape in all seasons.

MEADOWS AND THE MERCED RIVER

Finishing up the third day of the Yosemite 3 day itinerary, allow time to explore the meadows of Yosemite Valley, as well as the trails and bridges around the Merced River. The meadows of Yosemite Valley offer some amazing views of the surrounding scenery and wildlife. With a number of parking lots and pull outs around Yosemite Valley, park up and take a stroll wherever possible. 

Visit in springtime and the meadows are lush and green, tall grasses swaying in the gentle breezes. Visiting later in the summer, the parched yellows and browns of the valley floor contrast beautifully with the evergreen trees and grey granite cliffs. Some of my favourite shots from Yosemite Valley are those where despite the camera being zoomed out to the max, the backdrop of the images are filled with the granite cliff faces. This gives a dramatic sense of scale, especially when comparing them to the tall pine trees sitting below.

Finally, be sure to take a wander along the Merced River.  A number of bridges cross the Merced in Yosemite Valley, both traffic and pedestrian. The quieter pedestrian bridges, once again, provide some interesting views of the surrounding scenery. Take a walk along the Berg Bridge to the quaint Yosemite Chapel, nestled in the trees. Head to Swinging Bridge, and spend some time on the beaches alongside the river. Just be sure to relax and take in the magnificent scenery of this wonderful place.

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USEUFL TIPS FOR A YOSEMITE 3 DAY ITINERARY

WHERE TO STAY IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Depending on your budget, there are a variety of lodging options within the park for your Yosemite 3 day itinerary. Having visited Yosemite National Park three times, we opted to stay outside of the park on our first visit and found it was too restrictive. For our second and third visits, we stayed within Yosemite Valley. 

There are three main options of lodging in Yosemite Valley. For the more budget conscious, Curry Village offers camping options and cabins, with Yosemite Valley Lodge being more of a traditional style hotel offering with rooms located in a number of outbuildings. Finally, for visitors wanting to splash out, The Ahwahnee Hotel is a large and grand mountain lodge style hotel aimed at the higher end of the market. 

CURRY VILLAGE Curry Village, or Camp Curry, is located to the east of Yosemite Valley, nestled in the forest. With 499 guest accommodations, mostly made up of canvas tents, there are also cabins with shared facilities and cabins with ensuite bathrooms. We spent one night in an en-suite cabin at Curry Village – it was clean, nicely decorated and cosy. Facilities include a large dining pavilion, pizza deck, bar and grill. We enjoyed an evening on the deck, having drinks surrounded by the sounds of nature. 

YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Formerly known as Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, this was our main accommodation choice for both stays in the valley, with traditionally styled hotel rooms set in 15 buildings located in the woodland. Located centrally in Yosemite Valley, right next to Yosemite Falls, it’s a great base for a Yosemite 3 day itinerary with a number of facilities on site including the fabulous Mountain Room Restaurant with great views of Yosemite Falls. There’s also a bar and lounge on site, a large outdoor swimming pool and a food court offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.

THE AHWAHNEE HOTEL The Ahwahnee Hotel is a must-do for our next visit to Yosemite National Park. This mountain lodge looks spectacular – all stonework, wood panelling and picture windows offering spectacular views of the surrounding scenery. With standard hotel rooms and suites available, guests can enjoy the stunning Ahwahnee Dining Room with floor to ceiling windows, and fabulous dining. 

FOR FURTHER LODGING OPTIONS CHECK OUT THE YOSEMITE.COM WEBSITE

PARK PERMITS AND ENTRY COSTS

PERMITS With the popularity of the park, Yosemite has seen some increased traffic issues over the years, and during the covid recovery years, permits were introduced to allow a more managed access into the park. There are no plans for permits for the summer season of 2023, thanks to a number of infrastructure repairs coming to an end, but it’s always worthwhile checking the Yosemite National Park website for the latest information before your visit. 

ENTRANCE FEES With all park entrances open 24 hours per day, there are entrance fees into the park from all directions. The prices vary based on vehicle type, but as an example, a non-commercial car, RV or van fee is $35.00, valid for seven days. Credit cards are preferred, and if the entrance station is unmanned, you can pay on the way out.

VISIT THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE YOSEMITE WEBSITE FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION

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