1 day itinerary

Yosemite is full to the brim of wonderful geological creations and inspiring viewpoints! If you only have one day available to you to explore the park, don't panic! That's still enough time to catch most of the highlights and make a magical day in one of the world's most famous national parks!

Try to start the day early if you can and arrive in the park before sunrise to head to Glacier Point. We always recommend heading to Glacier Point to watch it, as the setting is perfect to see the rising sun and the changing colours of the sky over the Sierra Nevada. Nearby is Taft Point, a photogenic location offering a great view of El Capitan while testing your fear of heights. It is also a particularly nice spot to capture photos in the softer, lower light!

Afterwards, head down to the other popular viewpoint in the park - Tunnel View. As you come out of the tunnel back from Glacier Point, the sizeable presence of El Capitan looming and Yosemite Valley extending ahead is a sight to behold. Carry on a little further down the road to take on a small hike to Bridalveil Fall - but be careful of the slippery rocks from the spray!

From here, drive to Happy Isles on the eastern edge of Yosemite Valley, where you are greeted by the trailhead for the Mist Trail. One of the most popular in the park, the trail passes Vernal Fall. Spray often lingers in the air near this fall, creating rainbows, but also 600 slippery stone steps, so tread carefully!

This trail then offers choices for those looking for a further challenge. Carry on to Nevada Fall, which is around 1.5 miles further up, with views of one of Yosemite's famous granite domes, the Liberty Cap. Hikers can then head back down the Mist trial, or loop back on the slightly longer John Muir Trail, experiencing a section of the 211 miles of one of the country's most

famous trails.

During such a busy day, it will be quite easy to forget to grab some lunch! Yosemite Lodge has a few options for food, namely Base Camp Eatery. Or if you prefer more of a sit down meal, you can enjoy the ambience of The Ahwahnee or the Mountain Room Restaurant nearby.

Depending on how far you hike in the morning, you may have time to explore some more of Yosemite Valley post-lunch. Meandering through it is the Merced River, which you can enjoy a crisp dip in during summer! To the eastern edge of the valley is Mirror Lake, with reflections of the crown of Half Dome. The small lake is largely seasonal, but is also one of the most popular swimming spots in Yosemite, if the river proves a little chilly! Don't forget to take a moment to view the monumental Yosemite Falls from afar. One of the most powerful waterfalls in the park, hiking up it should definitely be on your itinerary next time you visit Yosemite!

Head back to Tunnel View in the early evening to park and get a good spot to watch sunset. Inspiration Point is a couple of miles hike away if you have any energy left at this point, offering slightly quieter views compared to the parking lot of Tunnel View. Make sure to have a head torch so you can safely hike back down. And if you have time, spend a couple of hours after dark to stargaze - the isolated nature of Yosemite makes it a great national park for that. The NPS runs evening activities and tours that vary through different parts of the year, and are a great way to end your extensive day exploring America's third national park.

If you fancy spending a bit longer in Yosemite NP, check out our 3 day and 5 day itineraries, to enjoy even more of this amazing national park! Or incorporate this one day whistle-stop tour into a three week adventure of California, Oregon and Washington, as you race along the states of the Pacific Coast in an epic road trip!