--- title: "Yosemite Trip Planning Guide" url: https://stacklist.com/card/bf694148-d3bf-4b8a-bba1-c0a735e75ed7 stack: https://stacklist.com/stack/74248ad6-33da-4f6f-817f-ce64ff282b9d summary: "Yosemite trip planning guide provides detailed recommendations for visiting the park, including early arrival tips, half-day activities at Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point, and a full-day itinerary for exploring Yosemite Valley. The guide covers family-friendly hikes, scenic viewpoints, shuttle logistics, food options in the Valley and nearby Oakhurst, and practical advice for navigating crowds and parking." tags: "yosemite, trip-planning, hiking, national-park, family-travel, california, outdoor-activities" key_entities: "Yosemite National Park (location), Yosemite Valley (location), Mariposa Grove (location), Glacier Point (location), Oakhurst (location), Tunnel View (location), Bridalveil Fall (location), El Capitan Meadow (location), Sentinel Dome (location), Taft Point (location), McGurk Meadow (location), Dewey Point (location), Badger Pass Ski Area (location), Mirror Lake (location), Merced River (location), South Gate Brewery (organization), Pete's Place (organization), family-friendly hiking (concept)" classification: "reference" content_hash: "sha256:593aadcd203bd0a6733a45656cb86706869b99b6f10e4b01b8be26813449d547" acp_version: "0.2" token_counts_approximate: 998 visibility: public agent_accessible: true status: "final" --- # Yosemite Trip Planning Guide My first recommendation is to get up as early as possible to visit the park. I normally try to get to the entrance station sometime between 6–7 AM. Yosemite is no longer using the reservation system, which means entrance lines can easily be 3+ hours long, and parking in the Valley fills up fast. Law enforcement rangers will also be actively ticketing vehicles parked outside designated parking areas. Here are some recommendations: ## Half-Day Activities (I'd recommend getting to these locations mid-morning.) ### Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias This is between Oakhurst and Yosemite, so it's a shorter drive, about 30 minutes from Oakhurst. You'll take a free shuttle from the Welcome Plaza to the grove (runs every 15 minutes from 8 AM–7 PM). There are trails ranging from easy to strenuous. For your family, I'd recommend the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (2 mile moderate loop). ### Glacier Point About a 1 hour 50-minute drive from Oakhurst. The road is seasonal, but it should be open during your trip, still worth double-checking before you go. Glacier Point has some incredible views, and as a bonus, you'll drive past Badger Pass Ski Area, which is the only ski resort located inside a national park. Glacier Point hiking: - Sentinel Dome is a great family-friendly option (2-mile round trip, 400' elevation gain) - Taft Point is also fun, but tends to be crowded because of the famous cliff-edge photos (2.2-mile round trip, 200' elevation gain) - McGurk Meadow is beautiful this time of year, especially for wildflowers, and you may even spot a great gray owl (1.6 miles round trip, 150' elevation gain) - This trail also will go past the meadow all the way to Dewey Point, but that might be a bit far for the family (7.6 miles, 750' elevation gain) ## Full-Day Activity — Explore Yosemite Valley If you've never been and don't plan on returning anytime soon, Yosemite Valley is absolutely worth seeing. Just be prepared for crowds...the earlier you arrive, the better. One thing to note is that getting to the Valley the road is a large one-way loop, and you'll enter partway through the loop when driving in from Oakhurst then leave on the other half of the loop. ### Stops on the Drive on your way Into the Valley - **Tunnel View** — You can't miss it. As you exit the tunnel, there's a parking lot on the left with the iconic panoramic view of Yosemite Valley. - **Bridalveil Fall** — Very short walk from the parking area to the base of the falls. There should still be water flowing, although the falls may be slowing down since snowfall was lighter this winter. ### Stops on the Drive Out - El Capitan Meadow - Yosemite Valley View ### Once You're in the Valley I'd recommend parking once and then using the shuttle system or walking paths to get around. The Visitor Center and Museum are both worth checking out and have a lot of great information on the park and its history. Some good Valley hikes/walks: - Lower Yosemite Fall (especially if the water is still roaring) - Mirror Lake Loop - Most waterfall trails are beautiful, but many are steep, slippery, and have exposed drop-offs, so they can be stressful with kids Honestly, just wandering around the Valley paths is great too. The meadow wildflowers may be popping off this time of year, and there are some really nice spots along the Merced River to relax or let the kids play in the water. Sometimes this is the best way to spot a cool area to hang out that is off the beaten path. ### Food in the Valley The Valley is basically a mini town, so there are grocery stores and several food options. Most of the food is pretty standard amusement park/fair-style food. I usually grab a sandwich, chips, and a drink from the deli. ### Food Recommendations in Oakhurst (small town so not a lot of options....and even less good options! hahaha): - **South Gate Brewery** - Good but often busy with long waits, not sure if they do reservations. - **Pete's Place** - Loved this spot as a kid for burgers