5 Day Adventure-Packed Yosemite Itinerary
Yosemite National Park is one of the first National Parks in the United States and truly a "pinch me, I'm dreaming" place. Millions of people visit every year to enjoy the towering granite cliffs, incredible hiking trails, massive sequoia trees, and powerful waterfalls, including the tallest waterfall in all of North America. There are so many options on what to see and do in the park, so let me make it easy and help you out! Here is a 5 day, adventure-packed itinerary for Yosemite National Park.
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Day 1
Arrive at Fresno Airport (FAT) and pick up your rental car
On the way to the park, stop off at a grocery store (Von's or Raley's) in Oakhurst for breakfast items, snacks and sandwich stuff for the next few days (57 min)
Drive to Yosemite National Park (1 hr 5 min drive)
Hike Lower Yosemite Falls
A paved, pretty flat 1 mile roundtrip hike, takes about 30min
Note: We went in October and the falls are completely dried up
Hike Cook's Meadow Loop Trail (13 min drive)
A flat, 1 mile trail
(Shop my outfit here)
Check into our hotel,Yosemite View Lodge. (30 min drive)
It wasn't anything fancy, but it was clean and a great location, which is ideal for hitting the trails nice and early to beat the crowds. It also comes with a little kitchen in your room, 2 restaurants on site, and multiple pools. The closest entrance to the park from the hotel is Arch Rock, which is only a 5 min drive.
Day 2
Eat a quick breakfast in the room and prep a sandwich for the hike
Drive to Tunnel View (20 min drive)
A quick pull off with an iconic viewpoint
Hike Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Trail with stop at Roosevelt Point (37 min drive)
In my opinion the best hike and best views! Moderate trail, 1.8 miles to Sentinel Dome, 1.2 miles to Roosevelt Point, 1.6miles to Taft Point
Read full post on this hike here
Drive to Glacier Point viewpoint (6 min drive)
Drive to Washburn Point view (5 min drive)
Day 3
Eat a quick breakfast in the room and prep a sandwich for the hike
Drive to Yosemite Vista Point (22 min drive)
Drive to Hetch Hetchy/ O'Shaughnessy Dam (1hr 45min)
Hike Part of Wapama Falls
4.7mile out and back, easy moderate trail, very scenic
Park and walk across the dam, go through the tunnel at the end, which is where the trail begins
Note: We were there in October and no falls are flowing
(Shop my outfit here)
Visit the Yosemite Village to check out the village store, art gallery, and museum (1hr 15min)
Day 4
Eat a quick breakfast in the room and prep a sandwich for the hike
Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls (35 min drive)
2.4 miles, intermediate trail with some inclines and a lot of steps, does have a restroom along the way
This trail is one of the most popular in the park and gets very busy, so best to start early
Read full post on this hike here
Olmstead Point viewpoint (1 hr 11min)
Tenaya Lake (4 min drive)
Day 5
Check out Bridalveil Falls (22 min drive)
0.5 mile walk, paved path, takes about 15-20 min, restrooms in parking area
Note: This was in October and it was the only waterfall that still was flowing, so I can only imagine how much water comes down in Summer!
Head to Mariposa Grove to see the sequoias (43 min drive)
Once you park, you have to take the shuttle to the sequoias. First shuttle is 8am
Either do the 0.3 mile Big Trees Loop Trail or the 2 mile loop Grizzly Giant Loop Trail
Drive to Fresno Airport (1hr 27min drive)
Return rental car and take flight home
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