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With towering sequoias and colossal granite peaks, Yosemite National Park is world famous for its veracious landscapes and undeniable beauty.
If you’ve ever dreamed of hiking through thick forests opening up to thundering waterfalls that could make even Niagara blush, or spotting a bear (from a safe distance, of course), you’re planning the right vacation.
Yosemite is a vast, 1200 square mile park in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, and as such, it takes a while to see it all.
However, in three days, you can pack in a ton of adventure, and see some of the biggest highlights of the park such as the iconic El Capitan and Half Dome rock formations, as well as stumble on some secluded spots for introspection under the giant sequoias.
If you want to combine both relaxation and adventure, this 3 day itinerary for Yosemite National Park has you covered.
So, grab your binoculars and a sense of adventure, because it’s time to hit the road!\
The Ultimate 3 Day Yosemite Itinerary
We spent three days in Yosemite National Park at an ambling pace, which allowed me to soak up the views, the warm Fall temperatures, and experience a few undiscovered experiences like a Ansell Adam’s inspired photography tour of Yosemite Valley.
In this guide, I have mapped out how I spent three days enjoying Yosemite and offer some suggestions for other activities you can do, in case you want more adventure than I did!
If you need more ideas, I also have this complete guide on things to do in Yosemite National Park, which details more of the highlight hikes, viewpoints, and more.
Day 1
Stop 1: Tioga Pass Road
As we were coming in from Mammoth and the Eastern Sierras regions of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, we entered Yosemite by the less frequently visited Tioga Pass Road.
It’s the highest road in California with an elevation range from 6,200 feet to 10,000 ft. The road is closed for half the year due to snowy conditions, but if you happen to be visiting from late May or June until sometime in November, this is the best way to reach the park.
It’s especially beautiful during the Spring. This time of year is when the high snowfall up here melts and feeds most of the waterfalls that will gush down those Yosemite Valley walls, creating a mesmerizing sight!
The 39-mile scenic drive takes you through Yosemite’s high country, past forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. Tuolumne Meadows is a popular place for adventure hikes to several lakes and domes.
Stop 2: Olmsted Point
Olmsted Point is where you’ll find dramatic panoramic vistas of the granite cliffs and boulders that form so much of Yosemite and makes rock climbers around the world happy.
This is your first view of Half Dome, the iconic, dome boulder that looks like it’s been shaved in half. This view shows the backside of it, which is very different to the Half Dome view you’ll see throughout Yosemite Valley.
You can see it from the parking lot, but if you want better unobstructed views, take the short, paved path that goes down from the parking lot.
The views here are 360 degrees, so be sure to turn and take in the views behind you overlooking Tenaya Lake, which just as dramatic and beautiful.
Stop 3: Tenaya Lake
Tenaya Lake, also known as the Jewel of the High Country, was our picturesque first stop along the Tioga Pass. There’s a nice sandy beach here with beautiful views of the surrounding glacially shaped domes that look snow covered, but is just the granite sparkling!
Tenaya Lake was named after Chief Tenaya of the Ahwahnechee people, who inhabited much of Yosemite before their forced relocation in the 1850s.
The best view is meant to be the west end, which is accessed by the Clouds Rest / Sunrise Lakes trailhead.
Stop 4: Ansel Adams Photography Workshop
When you think of Yosemite, two renowned artists and naturalists names come to mind: John Muir and Ansel Adams, both advocates for persevering special places in nature.
A unique experience you can do in Yosemite National Park is to walk in the footsteps of Ansel Adams on a photography workshop, which are operated by the Ansel Adams Gallery.
Yosemite was Ansel’s chief source of inspiration for most of his life, and his photos of Yosemite would become treasured around the world.
He spent many years in Yosemite working as a High Sierras photography tour guide, placing the half dome cable system each year for hikers, and as caretaker of the Sierra Club’s LeConte Memorial Lodge in Yosemite Valley.
Our guide and avid photographer, Blake, shared the story of Ansel and his photography journey as we walked through the meadows of Yosemite Valley.
We’d stop along the way to look at some of his photos, hear the story behind them, and learn a few photography techniques: how to keep scale for perspective to give photo justice to real life, how to use darkness and tall structures to distract and block wandering eyes, and how Ansel developed the Zone system for black and white photography which grew in the histogram system we now use on our digital cameras.
Practicing Perspective
The following two images were our perspective practice – changing where we stood to add space between the tree and the Cathedral Rock. Something so small can completely change the image captured.
Tell me in the comments which image you prefer.
Chamonix 45 4×4 View Camera
The highlight for everyone was Blake setting up a Chamonix 45 4×5 view camera on the Swinging Bridge. It was a camera similar to what Ansel would have used.
It was enlightening to see the time and effort that went into capturing one photo with little room for error. I don’t think anyone in our modern days with our automatic captures and overused delete button would have had the patience to capture anything. No wonder it was a job for the true artists.
It costs Blake about 5- 6 dollars to produce just one photo from this camera!
Ansel Adam’s was a silent but persuasive voice in getting Kings Canyon to become a national park in 1940, through his images from the Muir Trail that President Roosevelt loved.
It was here that Ansel realized his photos could be used for something greater than his own benefit of sharing photos.
I connected to this story so deeply as it was that kind of thinking that led me to travel blogging – allowing my stories from a life of travel to be used for something greater than just my own enjoyment of them.
I decided to start a travel blog to learn the lessons and inspire others to pursue lives and experiences that help them tap into (and expand through) joy, awe, and wonder.
And as a Kodak color film tester, we can say Ansel was the original “influencer” and Blake assures us he would have been very accepting of how photography has evolved since his black and white view camera days.
To discover photography tours, check in with the Ansel Adam’s Gallery to see what kind of photography tours are available to you during your visit.
Stop 5: Wander (or bike) Yosemite Valley
Craig and I hired bikes back in 2006 to cycle around the valley floor, which I loved. When we visited with our daughters, we spent little time exploring the valley’s meadows and viewpoints as we were hiking to waterfalls instead.
On this trip in September the waterfalls didn’t have much water left, as they are mostly snowmelt fed, and they tend to dry up by the end of summer.
So this was the perfect opportunity to wander the valley floor and just enjoy the waterless, yet still beautiful views and gentle walks.
Yosemite Valley is famous for its rock formations, massive cliff faces and plunging waterfalls, including Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America.
It’s open year-round and is where you’ll find many hiking trails and park amenities like general stores, visitor centers, cafes, Starbucks, accommodation, campgrounds, cabins, museums, and the Ansel Adams Gallery.
If you are hiking, my favorite hike is the Mist Trail up to the top of Nevada Fall – and if you have longer than three days, go off the beaten path at the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
Most people choose to walk the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail, which is an 11 mile loop trail around the valley floor which basically takes you to see all the iconic viewpoints, such as of Eagle Peak, Colombia Rock, Bridalveil Fall Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, The 3 Brothers, Cathedral Rock, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock and of course, El Capitan.
Don’t miss the view of Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge. If the wind is not blowing, you will get great reflections in the Merced River.
There are also plenty of sandy banks along the Merced River to soak up the rays, including the blissful Sentinel Beach. I saw some people floating in tubes, and Swinging Bridge is also another popular viewpoint and place to enjoy the river.
We hired bicycles for the two hours and loved cycling all the way to the stunning and popular The Ahwahnee Hotel.
Stop 5 Alternative: Hike to Vernal Fall footbridge on the John Muir Trail
If you want a shorter hike than the Yosemite Valley Loop, consider hiking a small portion of The John Muir Trail (JMT), a long-distance trail that passes through Yosemite, along with a few other national parks in California.
The Yosemite portion of the trail is 300 miles long, and so it’s not possible to hike the whole trail in a 3 day itinerary. However, you can hike a small and beautiful section of it which hugs the Merced River and takes you to the Vernal Fall footbridge, where you can see epic views of Vernal Fall.
After the footbridge, the trial splits in two and you can either continue on the John Muir Trail or take the Mist Trail for a closer look of Vernal Fall. If you hike from the trailhead to the footbridge, it’s a moderate 1.5 hour hike.
If you continue on the John Muir Trail, you can reach the top of Nevada Fall for amazing views of Liberty Cap. This will make your total hike about 5 hours.
You can read more about these trails here.
Day 2
Hike (or climb) El Capitan
The sheer rock face of El Capitan is enormous and all encompassing. It’s one of the top attractions in Yosemite, especially if you are a rock climber.
If you don’t want to scale the gigantic, sheer cliffs of the granite monolith, El Capitan, one of the most famous rock climbs in the world, you may want to stand at the viewing place on the valley floor and see if you can spot them climbing 3,593 feet to the summit.
If you ever needed a sense of scale in Yosemite, this is it. They are black specks against the snowy white walls.
There are about one hundred ways to get to the top, and while some have managed to race up it, even without equipment, most do it in 2 days, sleeping tied to the rock face overnight.
Note: I was quite cranky to later learn there is a team of rangers whose job it is to climb the walls (perhaps once a week or every two weeks) and clean up after the rock climbers who leave their rubbish tucked into the rock crevices. What a TERRIBLE use of resources. If you can carry your food up the walls with you, you can carry your trash back out. I was so shocked to hear of this as my assumption was rock climbers would be one of the most protective of our precious natural resources with what I thought would be a natural affinity with nature.
Of course, if you don’t want to climb El Capitan, which is probably too big of an adventure for most travelers, you can take the long way around which is to hike.
Hiking is one of the top things to do in Yosemite, and if you’re going to do one, make it a full day hike that encompasses the best of the park and finishes at the peak of the most famous summit of El Cap!
There is a strenuous, 13 mile trail that starts at Camp 4 on the Valley Loop Trail, and ends at the summit of El Cap. You do need to be in peak physical fitness to do it, and poles are recommended, but it is well worth it.
The trail passes Columbia Rock and other phenomenal viewpoints, overlooking Upper Yosemite Falls. There is also a detour to Eagle Peak, though this will make the whole hike around 8-10 hours, so you decide whether you want to do it.
You can view the route for this trail here.
Day 3
Stop 1: Valley View
A top Yosemite view not to miss down in Yosemite Valley is Valley View.
It gives you the best view of Bridalveil Falls (if running) and the valley from the bottom up. Take your gazing up at the valley photos and then sit back to absorb the real view. This is one of a kind. As is the following view.
Stop 2: Tunnel View
One of my favorite views in the USA is of the Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. As the waterfalls barely flow during the Fall, the view was slightly less mind glowingly beautiful than the Spring.
But, still beautiful at any moment. All I feel when I look down this lush valley bordered by these steep granite walls is complete heavenly bliss. And when you see the peregrine falcons flying through the valley all I feel is freedom (and some envy of their ability to soar)
Tunnel View is pristine perfection.
And then in Spring – just look at how those walls are crying with the waterfalls teaming down them all along the valley on both sides.
Tip: The light is best in the afternoon.
We could not access Glacier Point Road by bus on this Yosemite trip. It’s one of the best views in Yosemite, and the only one I haven’t yet done! The Sentinel Dome and Taft Point hike is one of the most popular in this area with dramatic 360 views.
Stop 3: See the Sequoias at Mariposa Grove or Tuolumne Grove
The best place to see giant sequoia trees in Yosemite Valley is at Mariposa Grove near the South entrance of the park. Walk the Grizzly Giant loop trail here and you’ll be enveloped in sequoia and all their glory.
The only way you can get to the grove from the parking lot is by shuttle bus, unless of course you hike the two miles in.
Another great place to see them is in Tuolumne Grove in the western corner of Yosemite on the Tioga Road. It’s not as well known or visited as Mariposa and with only 25 sequoias, has a much smaller sequoia grove, but it was worth a visit to see these largest living trees.
Even though I have hugged those bigger sequoias at Mariposa, I still enjoyed hugging the Tuolumne Grove sequoias as well. I know many first-time sequoia gazers are thrilled by this experience.
What makes Tuolumne Grove unique is the tunnel through the sequoias, and there are also a few redwood trees in this section too – the largest trees in the world.
The hike is about three miles return and loops around the grove at the bottom. You’ll have an opportunity to walk through the tunnel of a dead giant sequoia and even crawl through the trunk of a dead one now sleeping on the ground.
And the gnarly roots of the upended sequoias adds a different element of texture to explore.
Sequoias don’t have long roots, but they have pretty sturdy, intertwined wide reaching roots which tend to use up most of the resources and so stops other flora from growing here.
Note that it is quite a steep climb coming back out of the grove.
Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park: Tenaya Lodge
Every time we visit Yosemite National Park, we stay at Tenaya Lodge. We stayed here for four nights with the girls previously and loved it, so we make sure to go back every time. It’s one of the best places to stay near Yosemite.
It does take about an hour to get to Yosemite from here, but due to limited accommodation in the park, and most other accommodation is outside, it’s still one of the best options.
It has comfortable accommodation, with an excellent restaurant, relaxed ambiance, outdoor swimming pool, spa, and other convenient amenities.
There are fun things to do on the property, like nighttime guided walks, an archery course, and star gazing, and there are nearby hiking trails, including one to a waterfall. You can read our full review of Tenaya Lodge here.
Best Time To Visit Yosemite National Park
The best time to visit Yosemite is from April to October, as this is when the weather is at its finest and most of the park is accessible. In the winter, snow closes many roads which can make visiting some of the top sights impossible, so we don’t recommend coming later than October so you don’t miss out.
Spring is definitely the best time to visit Yosemite for waterfalls. Most of the waterfalls are fed by melted ice, and so by the summer many of them have dried up. In my opinion, the best time to visit Yosemite is in May when the waterfalls are gushing
The summer is still a beautiful time to visit though. Even if the waterfalls have dried up, the meadows and flora are in full bloom and it’s a great time to do some hiking.
Before You Go
Before you go, to help you prepare for your adventure in Yosemite National Park, here are some words of advice and caution to ensure a smoother trip:
- Get Your Pass: Don’t be that person who shows up at the gate with a confused look. Purchase your park pass online beforehand. Trust me, the last thing you want is to hold up the line while everyone else is itching to see El Capitan.
- Pack Layers, Not Regrets: Yosemite weather can’t decide if it wants to be summer or winter. Bring layers and assume you’ll meet both climates from the Arctic and the Sahara. One minute you’re sweating, the next you’re shivering—embrace the drama!
- Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! The air is dry, and you’ll be hiking like a mountain goat. Bring enough water to fill a small lake. Dehydration is not a cute look.
- Leave the Fluffy Friends at Home: Yosemite has a strict “no pets” policy (except for service animals). So, leave Fido to guard the couch and keep the squirrels in check.
- Know What To Do About Bears: Yosemite bears are famous, frequently photographed, and can sometimes get a little too close for comfort. Store your food properly, especially when camping, or you might end up with a bear visitor!
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service is as scarce as a unicorn in the park. Download offline maps so you don’t get lost in the maze of trails. MapsMe has been a trusty app for us for many years.
- Hike Smarter, Not Harder: Choose trails that match your fitness level. If you’re more of a “stroll through the meadows” type than a “climb every mountain” type, then don’t take unnecessary risks because it’s a popular thing to do. The trails in Yosemite are HARD. And we hike a lot.
Now you’re ready to embark on the ultimate Yosemite adventure! We hope this three day itinerary helped you plan your trip and gave you some inspiration for what to do in this world famous national park.
What are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.
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Need more inspiration for visiting California? Here are some other helpful guides!
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