Itinerary for Yosemite - The High Sierras Hangout

Yosemite National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in east-central California. Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves and biological diversity. The 750,000-acre, 1,200 square-mile park contains thousands of lakes and ponds, 1,600 miles of streams, 800 miles of hiking trails, and 350 miles of roads.

Physically fit travelers will enjoy hiking the park’s many trails and footpaths. Check with rangers for trail conditions; snow and hazards from falling rock close many trails in winter. No permits are required park-wide for day hikes. The valley also offers some of the most challenging and spectacular rock climbing in North America, with vertical faces more than  3,000 feet tall. There are still commercial horseback-riding concessions in the Yosemite Valley, Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows areas.

For cross-country skiers the park offers over 350 miles of trails, with 90 miles of marked trails and 25 miles of groomed trails originating at Badger Pass. Downhill skiing options include 10 runs at Badger Pass. The majority of these runs are for beginners and moderate skiers, so thrill seekers may wish to ski elsewhere.

Enjoy nature at its finest along with cultural amenities you might not expect in a national park.

As the closest property to Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Lodge is an idyllic spot for families, group retreats and visitors seeking to blend the comforts of a hotel while exploring the wilderness. In 1998, the main complex was redesigned and modernized with an emphasis on glass and wood detailing to blend harmoniously with its surroundings. Landscaping of indigenous trees, shrubs and wildflowers further reflects the natural beauty of the Yosemite Valley.The Yosemite Lodge has 226 lodge rooms and 19 standard rooms with daily maid service. (Please note: The Lodge does not have air conditioning in any guest accommodations.

Make this your first stop to discover all the park has to offer. In addition to information about Ranger Programs, bear conditions, location of attractions and other visitor information, the center acts as a sort of gallery, with displays that change each year. For example, you might see an audiovisual presentation on the splendor of the valley, or an exhibit of Native American arts and crafts, or you might even take part in a discussion about future plans for the park. The compound includes an auditorium along with various exhibit spaces.

This replica of a Native American village gives you a taste of how the Miwok and Paiute peoples lived; the places where they prepared and cooked their food, and more. The village is setup in a more or less natural setting behind the Yosemite Museum Gallery. There is no fee for this attraction. Weather permitting, the staff of the Indian Cultural Exhibit puts on demonstrations of basket weaving, beadwork and game playing. These programs usually take place between 9a and noon and again between 1:30p. and 4:30p.

About half a mile round-trip, this trail can get crowded in summer, but it affords breathtaking views of the falls, with water spilling over 600 feet to the valley floor and looking just like a bridal veil. Beware, you may get damp from the spray. Start from and return to the Bridal Veil parking area, located about 10 miles southwest of the Visitor Center on Highway 41. There is wheelchair access with assistance. The trail may be closed during winter months; call first.

Lower Yosemite Falls is boisterous, and during a year of high water volume, you may find yourself getting wet as you gaze at this famous waterfall and listen to the amazing noise all the pounding water makes. John Muir wrote about "Moonbows," the rainbows created here by the full moon during April and May. Even without this phenomenon, the falls are lovely and worth the easy half-mile round-trip hike. This walk is likely to be crowded in summer. There is wheelchair access with assistance, and the trail is open all year. For your safety it is recommended that you take this hike during daylight hours.

Named after famed Yosemite photographer Ansel Adams, this gallery displays many of the artist's well-known works in its permanent collection. On rotating basis, the gallery also shows works by contemporary photographers who focus on the valley. The gallery also offers free weekend camera walks when weather permits (reservations required). The delightful gift shop features not only prints of Adams' work but also videos, Native American crafts, and books about photography as well as the valley. The admission to this gallery is free.

The fine dining at this restaurant is enhanced by a stunning view of nearby Yosemite Falls. You can dine inside or outside on the patio. This restaurant is a delicious, less expensive alternative to the Ahwahnee Dining Room. It is open year-round, for dinner only. The food is traditional, well-prepared American fare including steaks, chicken, seafood, pasta and salads. The restaurant has a nice selection of wine which is available by the glass. In addition, domestic and import beer as well as blended cocktails are served.

Mirror Lake has been gradually filling up with silt, so it is not as mirror-like as it once was, but the lake's banks do provide a glorious view of Half Dome rock. Start from Shuttle Stop 17. This is considered an easy walk, with a mild uphill grade. The distance is just about a mile, and you will probably complete the round-trip in about an hour. This area can get crowded in summer. The trail stays open some winters, depending on snow depth, but in winter hikers must start from Shuttle Stop 19, which adds another mile to the trip. In summer months, there is access for vehicles with current disability placards.

This is a small deli offering typical deli food and snacks. Here you can purchase a made-to-order deli sandwich. The sandwiches can be made from a variety of deli meats or cheeses and offer all the trimmings. Try a turkey and Swiss cheese on a sourdough roll with mustard, onions, tomato, lettuce, peppers and avocado for $6.95. In addition to sandwiches, the deli offers salads, chips, drinks and snack foods.

This hike is also known as the Mist Trail because it passes right beside Vernal Falls, which in the spring blows a heavy mist everywhere. This 1.4 mile roundtrip hike is considered a moderate hike, with a steep 400-foot elevation gain in just over a mile. It is recommended that you wear shoes that grip as the path can be slippery. You can see the rushing water from the Vernal Falls Footbridge as well as the top of the falls in the distance. This is probably the busiest and most crowded hike in the Valley, small wonder given the loveliness of the trail. Plan on spending an hour or two on your walk. The trail may be closed in winter.

A Yosemite tradition this huge and elegant dining room somehow feels intimate, despite its 34-foot ceilings. For breakfast, you can choose from frittatas or omelets, or enjoy a variety of salads or sandwiches for lunch. The dinner menu features entrees such as Salmon Ahwahnee served with Dungeness crab with bearnaise sauce and wild rice. The restaurant has an extensive and award-winning wine list. Reservations are essential for dinner, and the evening dress code calls for jackets or sweaters for men older than 12 and dresses or pantsuits for women.

Open in the summer only, this station is the place to start when you enter Yosemite from the south via Highway 41. Located just inside the south entrance, the station offers maps, books, park orientation material and current information on trails. The station also offers campfire programs nearby. These campfires take place during summer months and last about an hour. Rangers lead a variety of walks through the area as well. Schedules of these walks are posted daily in the station.

Enjoy breakfast, a buffet lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch in this delightful restaurant with quaint 19th century decor. Breakfast consists of bacon or sausage, and eggs, as well as a large selection of omelets. Lunch is buffet-style and changes with the seasons. Dinner includes delicacies such as roast duck and fresh trout. Come at the end of the day to watch the spectacular Yosemite sunset from the outdoor dining patio. A full service bar is available.

This small village is a collection of historic buildings that have been moved to their current location from various places in the park. Each building comes from a different time period. During the summer, volunteers and park rangers dress up in costumes specific to each building's period and play a sort of living history, giving you a flavor of the past. There is also a collection of horse-drawn vehicles such as the Cannonball Stagecoach, an old covered bridge and a blacksmith working over a flame while pounding out iron as you watch. Visitors can even ride a horse-drawn stagecoach. There is not a fee to visit this attraction.

The trees in this grove are more than 3,000 years old, more than 50 feet around, and reach up over 300 feet seemingly to touch the sky. You can drive to the lower edge of the grove, but parking is strictly limited and you may wait in line for quite a while; better to take the free shuttle from the Wawona General Store, which departs every 15 minutes from 9a to 4:30p. Note: Trailers and motor homes are not permitted on the Mariposa Grove Road.