I first visited the park in December of 2017 and immediately fell in love with it all. Yosemite was covered in what looked like first snow fall of the season. You know, the one where the snow looks all fluffy, white and perfect? I felt like I was in a winter wonderland, surrounded by the trees and the mountains in what looked like powdered sugar. The beauty of the park mesmerized me, especially bridal veil falls and the valley loop. I created this 2-day itinerary for Yosemite National Park to aid any first timers or those who might be short on time.
I can only hope you get to experience how I felt the first time I visited the park. My tips for you, go in with an eye of curiosity, be open to new things, and take in the moment. Rest assured, this itinerary will help you make the most of your time at Yosemite.
Table of Contents
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite’s beauty is made up of four geographic areas: the High Sierra, Granite Cliffs, Sequoia Groves (not to be confused with Sequoia National Park) and the Valley. My fiancé had never been to Yosemite so to start off I figured we could see the great sights in Yosemite Valley. This place is famous for its breathtaking waterfalls and cliffs like El Capitán and Half-Dome! You can even hike North America’s tallest waterfall here, the Yosemite Falls! Whether you walk along the Valley loop trail, or drive around in your car this place will leave you in awe of what it has to offer.
It’s open year-round and can be reached via Highway 41 from Fresno, Highway 140 from Merced, Highway 120 from Manteca and via the Tioga Road, which is not open during the winter (map). With the park being about 4 to 5 hours from LA we decided to make a road trip out of it. Given that we had a long weekend ahead of us I thought it would be the perfect time to show my fiancé one of my favorite places in the world.
Things to know before you go
- Make sure you download the map for Yosemite on google maps before you head out to the park. Signal is spotty, which is how I like it when I’m immersing myself with nature, but of course we have to be prepared. Once you get out of the park you’ll want to make sure you have a map to guide you home.
- As I’ve stated before the park doesn’t have much signal so don’t forget your phone charger, because trust me you’re going to need it.
- And with that being said make sure you download your road trip playlist!
- Last but not least, if you are making a road trip out of this make sure and bring your cooler with food. The park offers plenty of areas with astounding views for a picnic. There is one place you can buy food and souvenirs within the park called the Village store, but just know you will be paying for the convenience. Plus, it’ll be nice to have some snacks on the hiking trails you do.
Day 1
We took off early Saturday morning and made it to the Yosemite southern entrance by 11am. The park has five different entrances with its own beautiful, unique sights. Logically it made sense to go through this entrance since we were coming up from the LA area. Plus, our hotel was in Oakhurst, something to keep in mind when booking your trip.
Unfortunately, I wish we had left sooner. By the time we arrived at the entrance there was an hour and a half wait to get into the park! Of course, we had no other choice but to wait it out, but this took away precious time from exploring. Learn from us and arrive as soon as the park opens, 8am! Note, the park requires everyone to leave the park by 5pm, no overnight stays are welcome.
Once you pay the toll the adventures begin! The pass is $35 for a 7-day pass, but if you intend to visit more than one national park this year go for the annual pass, $80. Now that we live in California, we intend to take advantage of it and explore all the national parks in our backyard. I was ecstatic, felt like Christmas all over again! For more information on park fees make sure you check out Yosemite’s website for more information.
Once you pay the toll the adventures begin! Since we had arrived mid day we decided our first day would be more for sight-seeing.
Tunnel View
As you make your way into the park you will see a Tunnel. Before this you might think the park isn’t as breathtaking as people make it seem, but trust me it is. As soon as you go through the tunnel you are immediately greeted by the beauty of Yosemite, you won’t miss it.
The first time around I had to make sure I drove, because I wanted my fiancé to take it all in. As soon as you’re out of the tunnel there are two lots for you to park in and take in this gorgeous view.
Bridal Veil Falls
As you descend into the valley one of the first things you’ll be able to see is Bridal veil Falls. It’s about a 0.5-mile roundtrip hike to the falls, takes about 20 minutes and is perfect for the whole family.
El Capitán
Oh El Capitán, this majestic beast stands across Bridal veil falls at 3,593 feet. You don’t realize how majestic it is until you stand before it and admire its beauty. There are plenty of picnic spots around El Capitán for you to have your lunch with a view.
Valley Loop Trail
Now, as I mentioned before you can either drive around Yosemite Valley or walk. If you opt for the latter the Valley Loop trail will be your guide. This is a great way to see everything and immerse yourself with nature. It’s also a great way to not lose your parking spot after you’ve parked. Trust me, you won’t want to lose your parking spot. If you opt for this alternative, you’ll get some amazing views and pictures along the way.
- Valley Floor Loop – 13 miles, 5-7 hours to complete, ranked moderate
Swinging Bridge
This bridge offers some gorgeous sights of the Yosemite Falls from afar.
Half Dome
Oh Half Dome, another one of Yosemite’s gorgeous beasts. You can see this from the swinging bridge or anywhere you are on the Valley loop trail. Now if you want to actually hike it keep reading for more information. As of right now the cables are down for the season, but will be put back up in May. When the cables are up you will need a permit to hike. You can apply for the lottery for 2021 permits, which will begin in March. If you’d like more information on the process make sure to check out the National Park’s site.
Make your way to Sequoia National Park on your next adventure with the help of my guide!
Day 2
For the second day I really wanted to get down and go on some hiking trails. Anywhere we go I at least want to do one trail that will knock the wind out of my lungs; Might be because of the breathtaking views or because I’m completely out of shape for it. Regardless, I wanted to hike! On this day we started early and thank goodness we did. The wait into the park was only 20 minutes.
Vernal Falls Footbridge
We decided to start the day with our more challenging hike of the day, Vernal Falls footbridge. This was about a 1.4mile roundtrip hike, took about an hour and a half, and was ranked moderate. Honestly, the inclines are what made this trail challenging, but it was well worth it. Felt like a champ afterwards!
Lower Yosemite Falls Trail
After our first hike we decided to lower the intensity and go for an easier one; Our legs felt like noodles at this point so we thought we could take a break. We opted for the Lower Yosemite Fall trail, which was about a mile roundtrip, took about 20 minutes and was ranked as easy.
Day Hikes
And before you know it our day was gone! Here are some other trails that make for great day hikes in the Valley:
- Upper Yosemite Fall Trail to Columbia Rock – 2 miles roundtrip, 2-3 hours, ranked as strenuous with a 1,000-foot gain in elevation
- Top of Upper Yosemite Fall – This is a 7.2 miles roundtrip, 6-8 hours, ranked as very strenuous with a 2,700-foot gain in elevation
- Mirror Lake – 2 miles roundtrip, 1 hour, ranked as easy
- Top of Vernal Fall – 3 miles roundtrip, 2-4 hours, ranked as strenuous with a 1,000-foot gain in elevation
- Top of Nevada Falls – 5 miles roundtrip, 5-6 hours, ranked as strenuous with a 1,900-foot gain in elevation
- Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point – 4.8 miles one way, 3-4 hours one way, ranked as very strenuous with a 3,200-foot gain in elevation
Map of Yosemite National Park attractions
