The Complete Yosemite Adventure: 5 day itinerary
- christopherwanstal
- Jan 4, 2024
- 6 min read
5 day itinerary
One of the most iconic and popular of the National Park System, Yosemite really will take your breath away at every turn. This magical segment of the Sierra Nevada awaits as you explore every aspect across five awesome days!
Day 1
Descend into Yosemite Valley along El Portal Road to reach the floor of Yosemite Valley, before heading to the first viewpoint of the trip, and one of the most recognisable! Tunnel View displays many of Yosemite's signature pieces. El Capitan is a giant, sheer granite rock face that soars into the sky. Opposite lies Bridalveil Fall - very picturesque and usually flowing well during Spring and early-mid Summer as the snow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains finishes melting. And peeking behind it all is the top of Half Dome!
Once you have your bearings a little, drive down to Bridalveil Fall for a short hike, to get a closer look at the first of many waterfalls! Watch out for slippery rocks as the spray of the falls crosses the path and projects rainbows on a sunny day.
Post hike, head down into the meadows of the valley, where you can cross the floor along the boardwalk. There is also a visitor center and museum which is well worth visiting to learn about the glacial creation of Yosemite, as well as the indigenous people who used to reside in this part of California. Grab a snack or early lunch at Yosemite Lodge to prepare you for the afternoon!
Meandering through the valley is the Merced river, which you can enjoy a dip in during summer! The rest of the year it might be a little too chilly - but depends on how brave you are! Nearby is Mirror Lake, with reflections of the crown of Half Dome, and you can view it on a 5 mile loop trail around the lake. The small lake is largely seasonal, but is another of Yosemite's popular swimming spots.
End the day by driving up to Glacier Point to watch the sun set, and enjoy the colours change across the amazing Yosemite landmark that is Half Dome. Later in the trip you can head back up here to watch sunrise, and decide which you prefer! A cracking way to conclude your first day in one of natures grandest creations.
Day 2
A big hike is in store today! Yosemite Falls is made up of upper, middle and lower segments - resulting in just over 2,500 ft in elevation gain, making it a very challenging hike for most. Ensure you start early to avoid the heat, as even then you'll be descending back around midday, and definitely bring plenty of snacks and water. The NPS recommends 4 quarts/litres of water each for the 7.6 mile trip to the summit of the falls and back. The relentless switchbacks at both the start and end of the ascending hike really work up a sweat, and from experience, it is not an enjoyable descent with no water left...
Half way along the hike the trees open up to reveal a stunning view of Upper Yosemite Fall, where the scale of this waterfall - the 3rd tallest in the Lower 48 - is abundantly clear. If the hike has been challenging to this point, this acts as a good turnaround stage, but if not, then kick on for the reward of getting up close to the water as it breaks over the edge of the magnificent rock face.
Once at the top of the switchbacks, you'll arrive at Yosemite Creek, which can be particularly powerful in spring and early summer as the snow melt really starts to accelerate. Stay well clear of its edge, and head down a small set of steps to a railed section beside the Upper fall. Yosemite Valley looks a long way down, while the horizon showcases distant snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada.
At the summit, you can head another mile east to Yosemite Point for a different viewpoint, or 3 miles west to Eagle Peak, through forested sections, to reach the highest point in the entire national park! El Capitan is also reachable along the trail, but this would total a 20 mile round trip with over 5,000 ft of elevation gain - so this hike is absolutely only for the most experienced hikers who are well prepped with water filters to top up en-route.
Standing on the summit of El Capitan is a slightly strange experience due to its size, so you don't really get super close to the edge. But not many can say they've stood atop this giant granite monolith!
As always, make sure to 'leave no trace' - taking everything out the trail that you came with, including trash, and not dropping any food which may attract and endanger wildlife.
Day 3
Enjoy a different type of day today as you drive instead of hike! Most visitors don't visit Tuolumne Meadows, east of Yosemite Valley. But this quieter segment of the park is home to numerous wildlife species, as well as offering good rock climbing routes and fishing opportunities for those who enjoy these activities! Flyfishing is particularly good at the forks of the rivers!
This high elevation alpine meadow is served by Tioga Road, with a 47-mile scenic drive between Crane Flat and Tioga Pass. Stop off at Olmsted Point for an unusual view of Half Dome, and enjoy Siesta and Tenaya Lakes. Take your time as you explore the various viewpoints, and turn the day into a semi-rest day, following a big hike yesterday, and another in waiting tomorrow!
Day 4
Start early this morning and head up to Glacier Point to watch sunrise over Half Dome. Around mid-summer, the sun rises directly behind the icon, scattering the rays across the slopes of wider Yosemite before it brilliantly rises above Half Dome's peak. On a clear day, you can even see the warm glow silhouetting the Sierra Nevada as the sun initially begins to rise - a truly special sight.
From here, you can walk the Mist Trail, one of the most popular hikes in the park. Descend to the Yosemite Valley floor whilst passing landmarks including Nevada and Vernal Falls, Liberty Cap, Observation Point and Illilouette Falls! Few hikes in the entire national park system can boast so many amazing features and landmarks along it!
The hike is around 8.5 miles long, but the continuous descent means it's more a hike that challenges the joints rather than the cardiovascular system. Reward yourself for reaching the valley floor by getting food in the impressive Ahwahnee Dining Room, which has a casual dress code for lunch.
There's no regular shuttle run by the NPS to Glacier Point, but you can return to your car by getting a guided bus tour ticket for a tour of Yosemite Valley, up to Glacier Point! This will help you see any parts of the valley that you might have missed, on a 4 hour tour. Make sure to book your ticket in advance so not to get caught out!
Day 5
The final day of an amazing adventure in Yosemite, and there's a couple of options available! For those really keen for another intense day-long hike, then you just have to apply for a permit to go up the cables to summit Half Dome! Having seen it from so many angles now, it's only right that you conquer it and take in the view from its top!
The 16 mile hike is largely in the wilderness, and takes most capable hikers 10-12 hours in total, so is only suitable for experienced hikers who come extremely well prepared. Unfortunately the permits are in high demand, and only around a third are successful each year in the pre-season lottery.
Therefore if Half Dome is too intense, doesn't fit with your schedule, or you can't grab a permit, then instead take on a series of smaller hikes. On the southern edge of the park lies Mariposa Grove, filled with one of California's most famous trees - Giant Sequoias. Great for some minimal elevation change exploring. About 500 of these trees live here, and is well worth stopping off for an hour or so, especially if you aren't planning on visiting nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks on this trip!
Then choose your spot for the final sunset of your adventure in Yosemite. Progress further into the park to see Taft Point, near Glacier Point, offering a great view of El Capitan while testing any fear of heights. Or you could head back to where it all started at Tunnel View, and take on the 2.6 mile round trip hike to nearby Inspiration Point. Just make sure you have head torches for the way back! Whatever you choose, it'll be a great finale to a week of stunning memories...
If you want to explore more of Yosemite, check out our full national park guide! You could also incorporate the park into a road trip along the Pacific Coast! Or if you want to explore the magic of Yosemite, but don't quite have 5 days to spare, check out our 1 day or 3 day itineraries! Perfect for those visiting San Francisco too!
