Yosemite National Park is a breathtaking gem nestled in the heart of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Known for its stunning granite cliffs, majestic waterfalls, giant sequoias, and diverse wildlife, Yosemite offers incredible hikes, activities, and views that you do not want to miss.

Four days in Yosemite is more than enough time to hit all of the best parts of the park and have time to relax and take in the surrounding nature. This itinerary provides an overview of how you should spend each day to have the best experience possible.

Day 1: Arrival and Exploring Yosemite Valley

Arrival

If you are planning on flying in, the closest major airports are Fresno Yosemite International Airport (2.5 hours away) and San Francisco International Airport (4 hours away). Click here to find some great rental options.

Yosemite National Park does sometimes require vehicle reservations on top of their regular park entry fee, so make sure to check and see if you are visiting during their reservation season as you plan your trip.

Accommodations

Options range from the luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel to the more rustic Curry Village to the plethora of campgrounds located in the park. Choose according to your preference and budget.

I stayed at Camp 4, a walk-in shared campground in Yosemite Valley, and I had an amazing experience! I would recommend it if you are social and don’t mind parking a short walk away from your car.

Yosemite Visitor Center

First things first, you want to check out Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Here, you can gather maps, get information on current trail conditions, get merchandise, and learn all about the park.

Yosemite Falls

The iconic Yosemite Falls is a view you do not want to miss! As one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, it cascades a total of 2,425 feet from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall.

You can hike Lower Yosemite Falls: an easy 1.2-mile loop that takes you to the base of the falls; Upper Yosemite Falls: an intense, 6.6-mile hike with 3,254 feet of elevation that provides incredible views of the falls and the valley floor; or both!

El Capitan Meadow

Next, head to El Capitan Meadow, to get close up views of El Capitan, an iconic granite monolith that is one of the most famous landmarks in the park. It is also a favorite among rock climbers, so don’t be surprised if you spot any brave souls scaling the cliff.

This is a perfect area to relax, explore, and soak in the beauty of the park, so enjoy your first evening in Yosemite!

Day 2: Hiking and Relaxing in Yosemite Valley

The Mist Trail

The Mist Trail is a beautiful hike that takes you to many incredible points. It is pretty intense, so you can decide how far up you want to go. Here are your options:

Vernal Falls: Hike 3.1-miles with 1,131 feet of elevation gain, and get up close and personal to an absolutely stunning waterfall.

Nevada Falls: Continue trekking past Vernal Falls to see Nevada Falls, another breathtaking waterfall. This would put you at a 5.7-mile round trip and a total elevation gain of 2,129 feet. This is the hike I would recommend doing to get the best experience and views out of the Mist Trail.

Half Dome: This is a famous and extremely challenging hike in Yosemite that requires you to have a permit to complete. It is a 16.5-mile round trip with 5,305 feet of elevation gain. You do not want to do this hike if you have not obtained a permit and trained hard.

Mirror Lake

Mirror lake is a beautiful area in Yosemite Valley to hike, relax, and maybe even swim depending on the water levels. You can hike Mirror Lake Loop, an easy 5-mile hike that takes you along Tenaya Creek and beyond the lake. But there are also several other easy trails in the area that you can take to explore the area.

Sunset Hike: Inspiration Point/Artist Point

If you are looking to fit another hike into your day, or a unique place to catch the sunset, I would recommend Inspiration Point Trail or Artist Point Trail. Both trails are out and backs that start at the same spot at Tunnel view but branch off halfway to two separate points. Inspiration Point is a total of 2.1-miles with 1,023 feet of elevation gain while Artist Point is a total of 2-miles with 761 feet of elevation. Both provide incredible views of Yosemite Valley and some of the best views in the park!

Day 3: Glacier Point Road and Mariposa Grove Road

Glacier Point Road

Glacier Point Road is a long windy road that takes you to hikes and viewpoints towering over Yosemite Valley. It is also only accessible to cars during the summer months due to its high elevations, so check the website to see if it will be open during your visit.

It will take you at least an hour to drive from Yosemite Valley to the end of Glacier Point Road, but there are several hikes and view points you can stop at on the way up. Here are the stops I recommend:

Sentinel Dome: This is a moderate 2.2-mile out and back trail with 459 feet of elevation gain. It offers 360 degree views at the top and is a MUST if you are driving Glacier Point Road.

Taft Point: Make your hike to Sentinel Dome a loop by adding on Taft Point, offering even more breathtaking views of the park. The loop is a total of 5.1-miles with 1,105 feet of elevation gain.

Washburn Point: This is a beautiful viewpoint that you hit close to the end of the road. It offers views similar to Glacier Point, but is still a great place to relax and break up the drive.

Glacier Point: Now, you have hit the spot that most visitors come to see. Glacier point is an easy quarter mile walk from the parking area and offers stunning views of the valley below. There are also a few other hikes from Glacier Point if you are feeling more adventurous.

Mariposa Grove

If you want to spend the entire day exploring Glacier Point Road, definitely go for it! However, if you have some time and are interested in seeing some giant trees(the largest in the world), drive 1-1.5 hours to Mariposa Grove.

In Mariposa Grove, there are several different hiking trails you can take to explore the giant Sequoia trees. Here are a few options:

The Grizzly Giant Loop Trail: This is a fairly easy 2-mile loop with 383 feet of elevation gain that takes you past some of the most famous trees, including the Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree.

Mariposa Grove Trail: The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia Trails is a 6.7-mile out and back trail with 1,217 feet of elevation gain. It offers everything the Grizzly Giant Loop does and more!

Day 4: Hetch Hetchy, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Hetch Hetchy is a beautiful, lesser-known area of Yosemite National Park that features granite cliffs, serene meadows, and the Tuolumne River, which flows into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The area is a 1-1.5 hour drive from Yosemite Valley, and you don’t have to spend a lot of time there, or any time at all if it isn’t something that interests you. But, I think that the reservoir is worth a quick visit. Here are a few hikes in the area:

Lookout Point Trail: This is a moderate 2.7-mile out and back trail with 544 feet of elevation gain. It provides gorgeous views of waterfalls, the reservoir, and wildflowers if it’s the right season!

Wapama Falls Trail: This is a moderate 4.7-mile out and back trail with 1,108 feet of elevation gain that provides beautiful views of the reservoir and of course, Wapama Falls.

Tenaya Lake

Next, you are going to drive about 2 hours to Tuolumne Meadows. But about 10 minutes before you hit the meadows, you are gonna stop at Tenaya Lake. Tenaya Lake is a beautiful alpine lake along Tioga Road that is a popular place to swim, canoe, and relax. There are also a few hiking trails in the area that might be fun to explore!

You can make this a quick stop and just stay for a few minutes, or pack a picnic or your bathing suit and hang out for awhile!

Tuolumne Meadows

You are going to spend the rest of your day in the beautiful Tuolumne Meadows! This is a serene high-altitude meadow surrounded by granite domes and peaks. It’s a great place for a leisurely walk or a more strenuous hike. Here are some hikes I recommend:

Tuolumne River Loop: This is an easy 3.6 mile loop with 187 feet of elevation gain that provides some nice views of the meadow. Construction has been going on along this trail on and off, so be sure to check the trail conditions before your hike.

Lembert Dome: This is a 1.9-mile out and back hike with 698 feet of elevation gain that takes you to a summit with a spectacular view. Be aware, you may have to do a bit of rock scrambling to get to the view point.

Gaylor Lakes: This is a gorgeous 2.4-mile loop with 800 feet of elevation gain. You have to drive a bit past the main Tuolumne Meadows area to get to this hike, but the views are worth it!