The Perfect Full-Day Trip To Yosemite
You could spend at least a week in Yosemite if you are lucky enough to have the time. Unfortunately, not many of us have the luxury of taking a full week off to explore a single national park. I’m here to tell you Yosemite is still a must-visit, even if you only have a single day.
The truth is, you can get a full experience of Yosemite in a single, albeit jam-packed, day. Here’s an overview of everything I fit into my day in Yosemite this past Saturday.
- Lower Yosemite Fall (1.0 mile)
We started our morning by heading to the Lower Yosemite Fall trail. This trail is very easy and a great warmup: 1 mile with 50 feet of elevation gain.
On our way back around the loop, we stopped at the base of El Capitan (Cook’s Meadow) to watch some rock-climbers scaling the side. Bring binoculars if you want to see them better. We did not have them, so they just looked like specks of dirt on the rock. It was still cool to see, though.
2. Vernal Fall (2.4 miles)
The hike to Vernal Fall on the Mist Trail is a heavily trafficked 2.4 mile hike with 1000 feet of elevation gain. You want to go in the morning because it gets quite crowded. You will also get pretty wet climbing up since the waterfall produces a lot of mist.
The mist is great because it creates a rainbow from your perspective as the sun peaks over the top of the mountain.
3. Tunnel View Lookout (0 miles)
This lookout is the typical view people think of when they visit Yosemite. I think the view speaks for itself. Considering there is no hiking to get this view, it is an absolute must. Again, the earlier you go, the easier it will be to park. You may need to wait around for a spot if you go too late.
4. Glacier Point Lookout (0.5 miles)
The hike to this lookout is mostly flat and around 0.5 mile round-trip. It is super easy to do and the view of Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall and Yosemite Fall is breath-taking. This stop was by far my favorite view of the day.
5. Taft Point (2.2 miles)
This trail is around 2.2 miles with around 200 feet of elevation change. The view when you get to the cliff is amazing and terrifying. You can carefully peer over the edge at this spot, which is scary if you are afraid of heights. The rocks peer over the edge and you have a nice view of Yosemite Falls.
Conclusion
This day was pretty jam-packed and we felt we got a great feel for the wonders of Yosemite, all while leaving by 3:30 pm. The total mileage was 6.1 miles. We are pretty fast-paced hikers so your timing may vary. Our one regret was not being able to stay for sunset because Taft Point at sunset is supposed to be miraculous.
If you want to add one more hike to your day, consider adding the Sentinel Dome hike to your day. This hike is near Taft Point and would only add 2.2 miles round-trip to your total mileage. You also gain about 400 feet in elevation. We were exhausted and dreading the long drive home, so we skipped this one. If you have the energy, go for it.
Other Notable Hikes
We did not do these hikes, but thought we should list them in case you are looking for more things to do in Yosemite.
Half Dome
This is a famously dangerous, but fantastic hike. You need a permit for this 14 to 16 mile hike with 4,800 feet of elevation gain. Be aware of changing weather conditions and do not go if it’s about to rain.
Upper Yosemite Fall
The Upper Yosemite Fall is the waterfall above the Lower Yosemite Fall. This hike is a strenuous 7.7 miles round-trip with 3,323 feet of elevation gain.
Nevada Fall
Nevada Fall is the waterfall above Vernal Falls. This is a 5.4 mile round-trip hike via Mist Trail with about 2000 feet of elevation gain.