Yosemite only needs 3 days…it’s most enjoyed riding bikes around the valley loop, floating down a river, chill stuff.

Stays:

• Rush Creek Lodge 45 mins to Yosemite Valley
• Yosemite Valley Lodge (expensive best western basically)
• Tandoori Indian Express in Oakhurst on the way

Tours:

• Grand Tour is a full-day tour (~ 8 hours) that visits Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. This tour operates during the late spring through summer.
• Valley Floor Tour is a two-hour tour of Yosemite Valley that operates all year. From approximately April through October, this is an open-air tram tour (weather permitting).
• Bicycles are available for rent in Yosemite Valley.
• Horseback riding
• Ranger Tour

Spots:

• Tuolumne Meadows (possibly not open till May)
  • Tioga Road is a 39 mile scenic Yosemite drive past forests, meadows, lakes and granite domes.
  • The round trip is 7 miles to either Upper or Lower Cathedral Lake and 8 miles for both
  • Soda Springs Trail 1.5 miles r/t
• Glacier Point/Tioga Road > Panoramic trail one way 8 miles > take bus to Glacier Point
• Yosemite Valley
• ✔ Mariposa Sequoia Grove to see Grizzly Giant Sequoia
• ✔ Tunnel View: El Capitan + Half Dome
• Wapama Falls - Hetch Hetchy area 40 mins from rush creek lodge

Hikes:

• Mariposa Sequoia Grove (may need shuttle entry)
  • ✔ Big Trees Loop Trail (easy) 0.3 mile (0.5 km) loop from trailhead, 30 to 45 minutes (wheelchair accessible) Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. Winding through a forest with many giant sequoias, this trail features the Fallen Monarch and interpretive panels on the life and ecology of giant sequoias.
  • ✔ Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (moderate) 2 miles (3.2 km) loop from trailhead, 1.5 to 2 hours Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. Allow two hours to enjoy the full loop that winds along the edge of the grove.
  • Guardians Loop Trail (strenuous) 6.5 miles round trip from trailhead, 4 to 6 hours. Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. After hiking to the tranquil upper portion of the grove, a 1.5-mile loop takes hikers past many famous features including the fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree, the Telescope Tree, and the Mariposa Grove Cabin.
• ✔ Bridalveil Fall Trail Easy / 0.5 mi (round trip)
• ✔ Lower Yosemite Fall Trail Easy / 1 mi (entire loop)
• Cook's Meadow Loop Easy / 1 mi (entire loop)
• ✔ Mirror Lake Loop Easy to Moderate 2 mi (lake & back) or 5 mi (entire loop)
• ✔ VALLEY LOOP Trail Moderate / 6.5 mi (half loop) or 13 mi (full loop) Mostly flat (START AT CHAPEL - CUT ACROSS BRIDGE AT EL CAPITAN TO DO 6.5 VERSION)
• ✔ MIST TRAIL - VERNAL FALLS and Nevada Fall Trails Moderate to Strenuous / 1.6 mi-8 mi / (round trip) (START SHUTTLE #16 STOP HAPPY ISLES NATURE CENTER) - BRING RAIN GEAR FOR WATERFALL SPRAY
• UPPER YOSEMITE FALLS Trail Moderate to Strenuous / 2.0 mi (round trip)
• 2 mi (round trip IF YOU GO TO TOP) STARTS AT CAMP 4
• Snow Creek Trail Strenuous / 9.4 mi (round trip)
• Four Mile Trail / Strenuous 4.8 mi (one way)
• Half Dome Trail / Strenuous 14 mi-16.4 mi (round trip)
• North Dome Bag a peak without all the work of Half Dome on this moderate, 5-mile round trip to the top of 7,543-foot North Dome.

Food:

• Food Court at the Yosemite Lodge (vegan burgers, starbucks, etc)
• Ahwahnee Dining Room and bar (visit the hotel The Shining was inspired by)
• Cocina Michoacana (30 mins away - tofu, potato tacos)
• Ever Green Lodge (falafel burgers, vegan tamales) - 20 mins