Day 1 - Yosemite Valley
Choose two depending on your interest and ambition. Valley Loop, Mirror Lake, and Mist Trail are all doable in one long day. If you do Four Mile Trail or Upper Yosemite Falls Trail, you can do the valley loop trail the same day by hopping on and off the shuttle.
Take a shuttle to the Mirror Lake Trailhead and follow the nice trail to the lake. Look up anytime to see half dome looming over ya!
Mirror Lake
Take a shuttle to the Mirror Lake Trailhead and follow the nice trail to the lake. Look up anytime to see half dome looming over ya!
Stop at the rangers office and grab a map of the trail. Hike or bike the whole valley loop trail. You can also hop on the shuttle bus to get back to your car when you are done
6 locals recommend
Yosemite Valley Loop Trail
Stop at the rangers office and grab a map of the trail. Hike or bike the whole valley loop trail. You can also hop on the shuttle bus to get back to your car when you are done
Waterfall is usually active well into Fall. You can hike 3 miles to Vernal Falls and back, or 7 miles to the top of Nevada Falls.
8 locals recommend
Mist Trail Trailhead
Mist TrailWaterfall is usually active well into Fall. You can hike 3 miles to Vernal Falls and back, or 7 miles to the top of Nevada Falls.
You can hike from the valley to the lookout point at Glacier Point. It’s a tough hike, but you can hike to the top and take the shuttle back to the valley. Alternatively if you don’t want to hike up, take the shuttle to Glacier Point from the valley and hike back to the valley.
Four Mile Trail
Four Mile TrailYou can hike from the valley to the lookout point at Glacier Point. It’s a tough hike, but you can hike to the top and take the shuttle back to the valley. Alternatively if you don’t want to hike up, take the shuttle to Glacier Point from the valley and hike back to the valley.
It keeps going up and up and up to the top of the falls. Then you look down into the valley for incredible views. Make sure you are fit and wear a good hiking shoe!
Upper Yosemite Falls Overlook Trail
Upper Yosemite Falls Overlook TrailIt keeps going up and up and up to the top of the falls. Then you look down into the valley for incredible views. Make sure you are fit and wear a good hiking shoe!
Day 2 - Wawona and Mariposa Grove
Stop here at the classic lookout point about a mile from the valley floor on the way to Wawona.
27 locals recommend
Tunnel view
Stop here at the classic lookout point about a mile from the valley floor on the way to Wawona.
Hike through the Mariposa grove of redwoods. You can hike 2, 6 or 7 miles across various loops. Trail Guide: https://www.yosemitehikes.com/southern-yosemite/mariposa-grove/mariposa-grove.htm
24 locals recommend
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
4726 Mariposa Grove TrailHike through the Mariposa grove of redwoods. You can hike 2, 6 or 7 miles across various loops. Trail Guide: https://www.yosemitehikes.com/southern-yosemite/mariposa-grove/mariposa-grove.htm
Drive to Glacier Point and get a view of the valley below and Half Dome
69 locals recommend
Glacier Point
Glacier Point RoadDrive to Glacier Point and get a view of the valley below and Half Dome
Day 3 - Tioga Road / Tuolumne Meadows
Olmsted Point
See Half Dome from the high sierras
It's an absolute gem of a lake half way on Tioga Road towards Tuolumne Meadows. Be there shortly after sunrise for beautiful views. In summer, it's a great place to cool off. There's even a beach on the east side of the lake for a picnic!
15 locals recommend
Tenaya Lake
Tioga RoadIt's an absolute gem of a lake half way on Tioga Road towards Tuolumne Meadows. Be there shortly after sunrise for beautiful views. In summer, it's a great place to cool off. There's even a beach on the east side of the lake for a picnic!
Hike to the Top of Lembert Dome for great views of the High Sierra. 2.8 Miles round trip. Trail guide: https://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/lembert-dome/lembert-dome.htm
Lembert Dome
Hike to the Top of Lembert Dome for great views of the High Sierra. 2.8 Miles round trip. Trail guide: https://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/lembert-dome/lembert-dome.htm
Traveler advice
Getting around
4 days in Yosemite
If you are in Yosemite for 4 days, simply spend the additional day in the valley and tackle either the Four Mile Hike or the Upper Yosemite Falls Hike.