When to go
- Day
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
- Time
- Arrive before 8 a.m. · Late afternoon through sunset
- Avoid
- Avoid Saturday, holiday-weekend, or midday Yosemite Valley arrivals from April through September.
About 72 hours
A good route
- Start
Park once at Yosemite Village or Yosemite Valley Lodge/Yosemite Falls parking.15 min
Do not move the car between Valley sights.
- +15 min
Cook’s Meadow and Lower Yosemite Fall60 min
Start here for easy Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Sentinel Rock views.
- +1 h 15
Happy Isles and Vernal Fall Footbridge via the Mist Trail120 min
Continue toward Vernal or Nevada Fall only if fit and prepared for uneven, steep trail.
- +3 h 15
Lunch in Yosemite Village or Yosemite Valley Lodge45 min
Use the shuttle or walk; avoid driving for lunch.
- +4 h
El Capitan Meadow and Valley View60 min
Visit in late afternoon for the best light and a calmer pace.
- +5 h
Tunnel View30 min
Finish here if traffic allows; it is Yosemite’s essential broad panorama.
Trails
Big Trees Loopeasy
0.3 mi
Wide, level accessible trail/boardwalk from the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area.
Mist Trail to Vernal Fall Footbridgemoderate
Start at Happy Isles; a recommended minimum hike for a first Yosemite Valley visit. Fitter visitors can continue to Vernal or Nevada Fall.
Half Dome via the Subdome cableshard
A Half Dome permit is required every day when the cables are up; conditions permitting, this is usually from the Friday before Memorial Day through the day after the second Monday in October.
Trailheads
Happy Isles / Mist Trail
Reach by free Yosemite Valley shuttle or on foot from Yosemite Valley.
Park once at Yosemite Village or Yosemite Falls/Yosemite Valley Lodge parking; do not plan to move the car between sights.
Mariposa Grove Arrival Area
Free accessible shuttle links the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and Arrival Area when operating. Visitors with a disability placard can drive Mariposa Grove Road when it is seasonally open.
Hetch Hetchy
Reached via Evergreen Road/Hetch Hetchy Road from the Mather/Evergreen Road area; no public transport. The access road is open only sunrise to sunset.
Closures: Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road usually close from about November to late May, with actual opening and closing dependent on snowpack. Tioga Pass is normally closed by snow from roughly November into late May or June. Hetch Hetchy Road is open only sunrise to sunset. Verify current Mariposa Grove trail and shuttle status before travel because storm damage and seasonal operations can change access.
Good to know
Bring
- Water and snacks
- Sun protection
- Layers for changing mountain weather conditions
Food & breaks
- Eat in Yosemite Village or Yosemite Valley Lodge to avoid moving your car.
- Keep all food and scented items within arm’s reach while hiking or picnicking.
Skip it if
Postpone if you have only a few midday hours in peak summer, dislike mountain driving, or cannot manage short uneven paths.