Yosemite, not much really needs to be said! It’s one of the most famous and most visited national parks. Yosemite Valley is one of the iconic features of the national park system. And the hiking there is absolutely world class. But what are the best things to do in Yosemite if you actually have to plan a trip, and you only have a week?
There’s a lot of information out there to sort through when trying to plan a trip there. Where to stay, what to do, how to get around, what to eat, all of these questions need answers, and they’re often hard to find.
Enter this article. We have tons of articles about Yosemite on this website, but I wanted to simplify it all down into one article. One article to give you my best ideas on what to see, where to stay, and how to make the most out of your trip to Yosemite!
I am going to write this with my best recommendations, and recommend things I would enjoy doing. I know everyone has slightly different interests and fitness levels, so I’ll include easy and hard options, as well as variations that may appeal to people with slightly different interests. However, if you’re reading this, I assume you enjoy the outdoors, like doing at least easy hikes, and are excited to visit Yosemite National Park!
Length of the Trip:
I am going to write this as if you are visiting Yosemite for a week. Growing up, we also did Saturday to Saturday vacations, and that seems pretty common for a lot of people. However, you can always shorten this itinerary and cut out whatever seems least appealing, or lengthen it and add whatever else you want to do!
When To Go:
I am going to write this with a visit between July and September in mind. Spring in Yosemite is beautiful, and the waterfalls are running high, but the high country is not accessible until the snow melts, often not until sometime in June. Late fall and winter are doable, but the weather gets cold, and the chance of snow increases quickly! Therefore, to make sure you can access all of the items on this list, it would be best to visit between July and September!
The Itinerary:
Where You’ll Be Staying:
To best experience Yosemite, you have to stay in the valley! Ignoring the fact that I’ve never actually stayed in the valley (I’ve been trying for years but the campgrounds always get booked within seconds), it’s by far the best base camp to explore the park. The valley itself is the biggest attraction, it’s located in the center of the park, Yosemite Valley has way more amenities than the other parts of the park, the list goes on.
Where I Would Stay:
I would stay in a permanent canvas tent in Curry Village. I’ve stayed in a canvas tent before (not in Yosemite Valley), and it was a great experience! You have beds, electricity, access to bathrooms and showers, and way more space than a traditional tent. They aren’t especially cheap, but it’s much cheaper than a hotel!
The Budget Option:
If you’re on a budget, the place to stay is the Upper Pines Campground. Would it technically be cheaper to camp outside of the park, or even just outside the valley? Yes it would, but again, the best way to experience Yosemite is by staying in the valley!
The Luxury Option:
If you want somewhere a little nicer than a tent, the Yosemite Valley Lodge is a nice option. It’s quite a bit more expensive than either of the other options, but if you want to stay indoors, this is the solution.
Day 1: Drive to Yosemite and Explore Yosemite Valley
On the first day of your vacation, the priority should be on simply getting to Yosemite! Whether this means flying into the nearest airport, or simply driving there from home, just get there! Since you likely won’t have an entire day to explore after travel and checking in, this is a great time to get acquainted with Yosemite!
You’re in bear country, so be sure to always be bear safe!
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
If it was me, I would do a short, easy trail around the valley. The best easy hike is the Mirror Lake Loop, and that’s what I would do the afternoon or evening that I arrive. The full loop is about six miles, but just to walk to Mirror Lake and back is only two or three. If you have the time, the full loop is nice, but just walking there and back is fine if you’re short on time!
Day 2: Hike Above Valley Near Glacier Point
Now that you’re on your first full day in Yosemite, you can really start exploring. Today, I would recommend heading to perhaps the most scenic area of Yosemite, Glacier Point and the valley rim.
Glacier Point is a viewpoint above Yosemite Valley that gives probably the best view of Half Dome in the park along with massive panoramic views. There’s a number of different hikes you can do around Glacier Point, all of which take you to amazing viewpoints above Yosemite Valley!
The Easy Option:
If the full loop between Sentinel Dome and Taft Point seems too tough, just do the hike to Taft Point. Taft Point is awesome; it gives you a unique view of Yosemite Valley, and it takes you to some awesome ledges and dropoffs! Sentinel Dome is really cool, but it’s mostly a better version of Glacier Point. If you don’t want to do that climb, you can get mostly the same view at Glacier Point.
The Moderate Option:
The best hike around Glacier Point, and in my opinion the best moderate hike in all of Yosemite is the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop. This five mile trail takes you on a loop above Glacier Point to the summit of Sentinel Dome, and to Taft Point, a viewpoint on the rim of the valley. This hike has incredible views, and isn’t too tough!
Day 3: Visit Tuolumne Meadows
Continuing with the theme of visiting different parts of Yosemite, on day three you should take a bit of a drive up to Tuolumne Meadows. This high elevation region of the park offers cooler temperatures, lesser crowds, and still has great hiking and incredible views. Yosemite Valley may be the star of the show, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the rest of the park!
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
The Easy(ish) Option:
I say easy(ish) because I don’t know that I would call this hike easy, but at less than four miles, I think it’s pretty manageable. The hike up to the summit of Lembert Dome is an excellent hike, and at under four miles, you get huge views of the Yosemite high country for not too much effort! This won’t be easy, it is at elevation and it’s a steep little climb, but most should have it done in about two hours!
The Moderate Option:
The Cathedral Lake Trail has been one of my favorite hikes since I first came to Yosemite, and it makes for a great moderate hike. At about nine miles, this trail will take you about half a day. You will hike to one or two alpine lakes, and get great views!
The Difficult Option:
The Young Lakes Loop is a hard hike. It’s sixteen miles, and climbs for over 2,500 feet, but it’s a great trail. If you really want to get away from the crowds, want to see some amazing views, and want to hike to incredible alpine lakes, then this is the trail to do!
Day 4: Explore Outside Yosemite
I love Yosemite, but it’s also nice to see what else there is to do in the area! Therefore, I think it makes sense to take one day of your trip to do something that isn’t just hiking in the park.
The Easy Option:
This one is actually in the park, but it’s not hiking so I’m going to count it here! The Merced River flows right through Yosemite Valley, and it’s a great idea to float the river! Bring your own tube or kayak, or rent a raft to gently float through Yosemite Valley! Bonus points if you do it on a hot day!
The Moderate Option:
Get your adrenaline flowing with a zip line tour outside of the park! Lots of people love zip lines, and if you are one of those people, there are places to do it outside the park. Some of the zip line companies also have ropes courses to try out too!
The Challenging Option:
Go whitewater rafting outside the park! There are a number of different companies that will take you rafting around Yosemite, and there are a few different rivers to choose from. The two closest are the Merced River (which flows through Yosemite Valley,), and the Tuolumne River. Most would probably choose a one day trip, but if you really like rafting, there are multi-day rafting trips too!
Day 5: Visit a Sequoia Grove
The Sequoias are one of Yosemite’s treasures, and this is one of the best places to see the giant trees! While the trees here aren’t quite as massive as the trees in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, they’re still amazing, and definitely worth seeing, especially if you have never seen them before!
The Easy Option:
Hike the Washburn Trail into the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias. This four mile trail takes you into Yosemite’s most impressive Sequoia Grove. I personally would do the full Mariposa Grove Trail, but that’s a little tougher!
The Moderate Option:
Hike into Merced Grove or Tuolumne Grove. Each of these trails have about 700 feet of elevation gain, which is significantly more than the Washburn Trail, and are about 3-4 miles. While the Mariposa Grove is the best place to see the Sequoias, both of these groves are closer to the valley!
The Moderate+ Option:
I can’t call this trail difficult because it’s only six miles and about 1,200 feet of climbing, but it’s a bit tougher than the other ones. The best Sequoia hike in Yosemite is the Mariposa Grove Trail, and if you are going to hike in the Sequoias, I highly recommend you do this trail. It takes you all the way through and around Mariposa Grove, and you’ll see the biggest trees Yosemite has to offer!
Day 6: Finish With a Big Hike
I think it’s worth pushing yourself at least once on a visit to Yosemite, and there are tons of awesome trails that will definitely challenge even fit hikers! From technical, somewhat dangerous climbs, to long slogs around the park, there are lots of different places to really push yourself!
The Extreme Option:
The Half Dome Trail is the best hike in Yosemite, and might be the best hike in America. This trail takes you up 5,000 feet from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Yosemite’s most iconic feature. It’s a long sixteen mile hike, and it’s capped with the Half Dome Cables. The cables are literal metal cables used to pull your way up the smooth granite dome! It’s not for the faint of heart!
If you want to hike Half Dome, make sure you apply for a permit. Permits are awarded in the spring, and are chosen by lottery.
The Less Extreme Option:
Clouds Rest is a peak at the head of Yosemite Valley that looks down on the valley, including Half Dome. The Clouds Rest Trail is not as extreme as Half Dome, and is a bit easier! While this trail does not have the excitement of the Half Dome Cables, the final push to the summit takes you up the spine of the mountain with massive thousand foot plus drop offs on each side of you! It’s not as famous as Half Dome, but Clouds Rest is still an incredible cap to a Yosemite trip!
The Really Long Option:
The Yosemite Grand Tour is a gigantic 19 miles loop that takes you through most of Yosemite’s greatest landscapes, and stitches together many of its most iconic trails. While you won’t actually reach a summit on this hike, the views are consistently just as good or better than the views on the Half Dome or Clouds Rest trails!
Starting in Yosemite Valley, you will complete a loop that includes the Mist Trail, the Panorama Trail, the 4 Mile Trail, and parts of the Valley Loop Trail. Each one of these are great in their own right! This hike is definitely not for people who aren’t in great physical shape. It’s long, it climbs a lot, it can be hot, and it will kill your knees going downhill!
All three of these trails are world class hikes, and would make an incredible end to your trip! Half Dome is the most famous, but if you aren’t quite up for it, or can’t get a permit, don’t despair, there are worthy replacements!
Day 7: Stop at Hetch Hetchy On Your Way Home
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and your Yosemite vacation falls under the category of good things. However, just because you have to leave today doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy it!
On your way out, you’ll be stopping at the final unvisited region of Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy! Hetch Hetchy is a reservoir filled valley separate from the rest of the park; you actually have to exit the park and then re-enter through a different gate to get there!
Not as famous as Yosemite Valley, the valley of Hetch Hetchy is incredible in it’s own right! Massive granite walls and plummeting waterfalls mimic Yosemite Valley, and the blue of the water add to the spectacle! There is one excellent trail here, with both an easy and difficult way to do it!
The Easy Option:
The Wapama Falls Trail is one of my favorite easy hikes in Yosemite. This 4-5 mile hike takes you along the edge of the valley to the base of the huge Wapama Falls! Standing at the base, you’ll be able to look up thousands of feet to the top of the ridge, and stand in the spray emanating from the torrent! That’ll feel nice too because it gets hot here!
The Difficult Option:
If you’re looking for a longer hike than Wapama Falls, you can continue on all the way to Rancheria Falls. Rancheria isn’t as impressive as Wapama, and I wouldn’t consider the trail there to be one of Yosemite’s best hikes, but it’s worth doing if you’re up for it. The trail isn’t overly tough. Honestly, the hardest thing about it is probably the heat! Rancheria Falls also has a backpacking campground, so this makes for a great overnight backpacking trip too!
Yosemite is truly amazing, and we hope that if you haven’t been, you make a trip out there! There’s tons of information about Yosemite floating around out there (lots on this site), and all of that information can be pretty overwhelming when you’re trying to actually make plans!
Consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass if you’re visiting Yosemite!
We hope this guide can at least serve as a starting point for planning your trip. It would be cool if someone actually followed this for their entire vacation (please tell us if you do!), but most people probably don’t have the exact same tastes and interests as us!
Good luck planning your very own Yosemite vacation, and we hope this page was helpful!
Additional Yosemite Resources:
Guide To Camping In Yosemite And Everything Else You Need To Know
Yosemite’s 10 Best Difficult Hikes
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