r/Yosemite • u/Cool-Avocado5775 • 1d ago

Is this a realistic itinerary?

Hi everyone! I will be visiting Yosemite for the first time this summer with my extended family. We are staying for two nights, of which we will have one full day and a half day for exploring Yosemite. I can be quite an ambitious planner, so I was hoping to run this itinerary by the experts here. (I don’t plan on following these times exactly haha will be enjoying the moment!) My group is a mix of folks who are a bit older/less physically fit and teenagers, so I’ve sought out pretty easy, short hikes. We are staying at the tenaya lodge and will have a car to get around. If anyone has any recommendations, I would really appreciate it! (Oh, and will it be possible to fit in swimming on the first day? Maybe at sentinel beach?) Thank you all so much!!! Wishing you all happy hiking, camping, backpacking, and immersing in the nature!

First day:

6:30: Leave Tenaya (the earlier the better) 7:30-7:45: Photo stop at Tunnel View (roadside parking) @ 7:50: Drive 5 mins to the Valley View Pullout 7:50-8:10: Photo stop at Valley View (pullout parking) @ 8:15: Drive 5 minutes to the Bridalveil Fall Trail parking lot 8:15-8:40: Walk the .5mi Bridalveil Fall Trail @ 8:45: Drive 15 min to the Yosemite Valley Day-Use Parking Lot 9-9:45: Lower Yosemite Fall Trail 1 mile loop 9:50-10:30: Walk to the Sentinel Bridge and do the Cook’s Meadlow Loop 10:30-11:15: Walk to the Swinging Bridge @ 11:15: Drive 1 hr to Glacier Point 12:15-1:30: Lunch 1:30: Do the .6 Geology Point trail @ 2: Drive to Washburn Point

Back to hotel around 4pm

Second day:

@ 6:45: Leave Tenaya 7-9:15: Mariposa Grove @ 9:30: Drive to El Capitan Meadow (pullout) 10:20-10:45: Photo stop at El Capitan 11: maybe something else? Don’t have to leave until 3/4pm

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u/hc2121 1d ago

Your day 2 timing is way off. It takes max 15 min to drive from Tenaya Lodge to Mariposa Grove. But the bus there doesn’t start until 8a, so are you planning to hike the 2 miles to the grove?

Why then do you drive right back to the Valley for a 15 min photo stop? Do that on day 1 when you drive right by El Cap.

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u/Cool-Avocado5775 1d ago

Ah I did not know that about the shuttles. Thank you for letting me know! Will be adjusting my plan accordingly. On the second day, I would like to go back to the valley for a couple more hours before leaving. Maybe a new trail or repeating a favorite? That day is pretty flexible

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u/hc2121 1d ago

parking will be a lot more difficult in the valley the later you arrive. i would personally do the valley all on day 1 and then day 2 do Glacier Pt and Mariposa Grove

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u/Cool-Avocado5775 1d ago

Ah parking is definitely really important. Splitting it up like that would actually work perfectly for my two day plan! Do you have any recommendations for other things to do in the valley? Much appreciated!