Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places I have been in the United State. It is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and covers a vast amount of land.

We did a week long vacation in California hitting multiple different destinations; Yosemite was one of them. This national park is worth all the hype it has earned. We spent two and a half days within the park. I am going to break down the hikes we did and give you the details on where we stayed, and how to get into the park.

How to get into the park:

There are 5 entrances within the park which includes: 1. Hetch Hetchy, 2. Big Oak Flat, 3. Arch Rock, 4. South Entrance, and 5. Tioga Pass
There used to be a reservation system in place to access current national parks. It was used during COVID times to limit the amount of visitors but that does not seem to be the case for 2023.
I do recommend doing research before heading to any national park just to make sure any of the hikes you are planning to do, don’t require a permit.
Recreation.gov is the website to use to check for any reservations or permits that you may need. You can also download their app.
It cost $35-$40 for a 7 day pass to get into the park. If you have a national park pass you will be able to get in for free.

Itinerary:

Day 1- This was when we first arrived into the park. We got there later in the day so we weren’t able to do any hikes but we did drive through different areas of the park and watch the sunset. The first night we saw a black bear eating on the side of the round. When heading into the park you will go through numerous different tunnels before entering the center of the park. Once it was dark out we headed to our campsite to rest.

Day 2- We woke up and went to a little diner for breakfast. Then we headed into the park to do Mist trails which is one of the most famous hikes in the park. I highly recommend this hike; you have gorgeous views the whole time but it is very steep so be prepared! For lunch we packed a cooler and ate in the park. That night we headed to Indian Flats to stay for the night.

Day 3- We woke up and headed to Tunnel view. Tunnel view is a must when you’re in the park if you want to see everything Yosemite has to offer. The last hike we did was Inspiration Point Trail. It should give you an amazing view of Half Dome. The most iconic landmark in the park is undoubtedly Half Dome, a massive granite dome that is over 4,700 feet above the valley floor.

Where to stay:

When trying to figure out where to stay around Yosemite there are many different options. You can always stay in different hotels located inside the park along with different campsites. It’s going to be more expensive staying in the park, so I recommend staying at the hotels that are located outside of the park. Most of the hotels have shuttles that will take you into the park or you can always drive into it yourself. We rented a car, which I highly recommend if you have the budget to do so. But using shuttles is reasonable as well, if it is more suitable for your own budget.

Campsite– I really enjoy camping, so I always try to do it when I’m in different national parks. Most of the campsites inside the park require reservations fairly in advance . They fill up quick, so if you know when you plan on going to Yosemite try to find a site as soon as possible.
You can reserve different campsite on recreation.gov. There are first-come camping spots, if you are feeling lucky but I never like to take the risk. If you do want to risk it then plan on getting there very early to claim your spot or you will likely not be able to get one. Camping is going to be the cheapest option for lodging.
If you don’t find a campsite within the park there are many that are just a few miles outside of the park that you can stay at. The one we stayed out was only about 20 mins from the park.
Indian Flat RV Park : I was only able to get a camp spot for one night so I stayed in Indian Flat RV Park the other night. This is an RV park but they also have set up tent rooms that you can rent out, as well as different cabins. We stayed in a tent room which worked for one night; there was a bed, fan/heater, and towels. The bathroom was not connected to the room so you did have to walk to a different location to use the bathroom and shower. But it is the cheapest hotel like option around that is only 8 mins away from Yosemite. This place felt pretty safe.

Hikes:

Mist Trail: One of the most popular hikes in Yosemite is the Mist Trail, which takes hikers to the top of Vernal and Nevada Falls. The trail is about 3 miles to the top of Vernal Falls, but hikers can continue on to the top of Nevada Falls for a total of 6.4 miles round trip. Be prepared to get wet on the Mist Trail – you’ll be walking right alongside the rushing waterfalls!

Tunnel View: If you’re short on time or just looking for a quick and easy photo opportunity, head to Tunnel View. This viewpoint offers a stunning panorama of Yosemite Valley, including El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall. You can park your car at the viewpoint and view the breathtaking scenery.

Yosemite Falls: another must-see attraction in the park. It’s actually made up of three separate falls – Upper Yosemite Fall, Middle Cascade, and Lower Yosemite Fall. The hike to Upper Yosemite Fall is quite strenuous, but the views from the top are worth it. For a more leisurely hike, you can take a paved trail to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall, which is the picture above.

Inspiration Point Trail: This is a moderate difficulty 2.1 mile hike. It is located right beside tunnel view. If you are about to leave the park and want to explore one last easy hike I recommend this one. We did not encounter any bears but I encourage adding a bear bell onto your bag, as well as carrying easy to access bear spray on you. I do recommend using the all trails app to access this trail and stay on track.

Half Dome: this hike is for more experienced hikers. It is nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley and 8,800 feet above sea level, making it a Yosemite icon and a great challenge. You need a permit to do the hike, which you can apply for at recreation.gov. It is a lottery system so it doesn’t guarantee you will get the permit.

Mist Trail

Things to know:

Yosemite National Park also has many other outdoor activities that you can partake in, including rock climbing, fishing, and skiing.
There is also a wide variety of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, and bald eagles

Up to the Sky