David & Elsie’s guidebook
Sightseeing
Yosemite Valley
15min drive from the house
Swimming, picknicking, hiking and fishing
It’s a great half day activity if you want to cool off and not drive all the way to the park for an afternoon. When you arrive, you can drive across the suspension bridge and continue along the dirt road next to the river. You can park along the side of the road anywhere there is space for cars to pass and you’ll find multiple paths leading down to the river.
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Merced River Recreation Area
California 14015min drive from the house
Swimming, picknicking, hiking and fishing
It’s a great half day activity if you want to cool off and not drive all the way to the park for an afternoon. When you arrive, you can drive across the suspension bridge and continue along the dirt road next to the river. You can park along the side of the road anywhere there is space for cars to pass and you’ll find multiple paths leading down to the river.
Both Lake McClure and Bass Lake are 45-60min drives from the house in opposite directions
You can rent boats, waterskis, kayaks, etc.
If you’re staying at our house for an extended period of time, spending a day at either lake can be a nice way to break up driving into Yosemite every day
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Lake McClure
9090 Lake McClure RdBoth Lake McClure and Bass Lake are 45-60min drives from the house in opposite directions
You can rent boats, waterskis, kayaks, etc.
If you’re staying at our house for an extended period of time, spending a day at either lake can be a nice way to break up driving into Yosemite every day
Both Lake McClure and Bass Lake are 45-60min drives from the house in opposite directions
You can rent boats, waterskis, kayaks, etc.
If you’re staying at our house for an extended period of time, spending a day at either lake can be a nice way to break up driving into Yosemite every day
294 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Bass Lake
Both Lake McClure and Bass Lake are 45-60min drives from the house in opposite directions
You can rent boats, waterskis, kayaks, etc.
If you’re staying at our house for an extended period of time, spending a day at either lake can be a nice way to break up driving into Yosemite every day
Built in 1927, this magnificently rustic hotel is among the most beautiful in the U.S. Eating in the Ahwahnee dining room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and 34-foot-high beamed ceiling, is something special. Reservations recommended, especially for Sunday brunch or dinner. It was renamed the Majestic Hotel in 2016 following a trademark dispute, however locals still fondly refer to it as the Ahwahnee Hotel. The food is mediocre in our opinion, but the hotel and dining experience are wonderful.
28 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
The Majestic Yosemite Hotel
1 Ahwahnee DriveBuilt in 1927, this magnificently rustic hotel is among the most beautiful in the U.S. Eating in the Ahwahnee dining room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and 34-foot-high beamed ceiling, is something special. Reservations recommended, especially for Sunday brunch or dinner. It was renamed the Majestic Hotel in 2016 following a trademark dispute, however locals still fondly refer to it as the Ahwahnee Hotel. The food is mediocre in our opinion, but the hotel and dining experience are wonderful.
Food scene
Sugar Pine Cafe
5038 CA-140Prefect breakfast pitstop
Great spot for lunch or casual dinner with local brews on tap
108 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
1850 Restaurant and Brewery
5114 Yosemite All-Year HwyGreat spot for lunch or casual dinner with local brews on tap
Bars
The Alley
5027 CA-140Fun locals bar with good snacks
Large selection of beers on draft, including many local brews
19 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
The Grove House
4993 5th StLarge selection of beers on draft, including many local brews
Dive bar built in an old mine shaft often featuring live music and board games.
35 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
The Hideout Saloon
5031 CA-140Dive bar built in an old mine shaft often featuring live music and board games.
Yosemite Favorites
Upper Yosemite Falls Overlook Trail
Upper Yosemite Falls Overlook TrailCatch one of the valley shuttle buses to the trailhead for the easy /moderate Lower Yosemite Falls hike, at its best in spring and early summer. The Upper Yosemite Falls hike starts a bit further to the south and goes all the way up to the valley rim. It is a much more serious hike if you go all the way, but you’ll be rewarded with incredible views from the very top of the waterfall! There are many excellent viewpoints along the way if you choose to turn around before reaching the very top - even partially done it’s still a worthwhile hike. Both of these are often crowded, so get an early start!
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Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
Catch one of the valley shuttle buses to the trailhead for the easy /moderate Lower Yosemite Falls hike, at its best in spring and early summer. The Upper Yosemite Falls hike starts a bit further to the south and goes all the way up to the valley rim. It is a much more serious hike if you go all the way, but you’ll be rewarded with incredible views from the very top of the waterfall! There are many excellent viewpoints along the way if you choose to turn around before reaching the very top - even partially done it’s still a worthwhile hike. Both of these are often crowded, so get an early start!
This is a perfect intro to the park. It’s 2.25 miles, flat and easy, with stunning views
Cook's Meadow Loop
Cook's Meadow LoopThis is a perfect intro to the park. It’s 2.25 miles, flat and easy, with stunning views
Beat the crowds and watch the sun rise on an early morning hike to this lovely lake near the east end of Yosemite Valley. From Half Dome Village you can also rent bikes for an afternoon, and ride the easy 1.5 miles on a paved pathway to Mirror Lake. The pathway leading up to the lake is gorgeous, and walking a bit around the lake will give you a unique view of Half Dome.
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Mirror Lake Trail
Mirror Lake TrailBeat the crowds and watch the sun rise on an early morning hike to this lovely lake near the east end of Yosemite Valley. From Half Dome Village you can also rent bikes for an afternoon, and ride the easy 1.5 miles on a paved pathway to Mirror Lake. The pathway leading up to the lake is gorgeous, and walking a bit around the lake will give you a unique view of Half Dome.
Glacier Point offers incredible views of many of Yosemite’s iconic sights from the very top of the valley. It’s about a 45 minute drive from the valley to the trailheads. Continue up Glacier Point road, and once you reach the trailhead for Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, you’ll see two separate hikes go from the trailhead to each viewpoint, and are each about 2 miles round-trip.
After the hikes, continue down Glacier Point Road for another 10 minutes until you reach Glacier Point, where there’s a large parking lot and incredible views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, and El Capitan. There’s an outdoor amphitheater which is a great spot for a picnic lunch - we’d recommend packing in your own food.
If you want to opt for a longer, more strenuous hike, you can buy a ticket to take a shuttle one-way up to Glacier Point, and then hike down to the bottom of the valley via either the Four Mile Trail (4.0 miles) or the Panorama Trail (8.5 miles) with truly incredible views (or hike both trails both up and down!)
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Punto del Glaciar
Glacier Point RoadGlacier Point offers incredible views of many of Yosemite’s iconic sights from the very top of the valley. It’s about a 45 minute drive from the valley to the trailheads. Continue up Glacier Point road, and once you reach the trailhead for Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, you’ll see two separate hikes go from the trailhead to each viewpoint, and are each about 2 miles round-trip.
After the hikes, continue down Glacier Point Road for another 10 minutes until you reach Glacier Point, where there’s a large parking lot and incredible views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, and El Capitan. There’s an outdoor amphitheater which is a great spot for a picnic lunch - we’d recommend packing in your own food.
If you want to opt for a longer, more strenuous hike, you can buy a ticket to take a shuttle one-way up to Glacier Point, and then hike down to the bottom of the valley via either the Four Mile Trail (4.0 miles) or the Panorama Trail (8.5 miles) with truly incredible views (or hike both trails both up and down!)
Tunnel View to Dewey Point
This is our favorite hike from the valley floor, but it’s not for the faint of heart. It starts at Tunnel Point, one of the most iconic views in the valley, and traverses up to the ridge above Bridevale Falls. The trail is well shaded, has a few small stream crossings, beautiful meadows, and multiple viewpoints. Most important, it’s almost never crowded. Tunnel View to Dewey Point and back is 10.5 miles and 6,000 elevation gain, but there are also many good places to enjoy lunch with a view and turnaround well before reaching Dewey Point.
Dewey Point
Tunnel View to Dewey Point
This is our favorite hike from the valley floor, but it’s not for the faint of heart. It starts at Tunnel Point, one of the most iconic views in the valley, and traverses up to the ridge above Bridevale Falls. The trail is well shaded, has a few small stream crossings, beautiful meadows, and multiple viewpoints. Most important, it’s almost never crowded. Tunnel View to Dewey Point and back is 10.5 miles and 6,000 elevation gain, but there are also many good places to enjoy lunch with a view and turnaround well before reaching Dewey Point.
One of the best views on the park floor. No hiking required :)
27 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Tunnel view
One of the best views on the park floor. No hiking required :)
Local Hikes
Easy, 3 miles, loop trail, near Mariposa downtown, featuring a lake
Checkout the alltrails map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/stockton-creek-preserve-loop
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Stockton Creek Resevoir Trailhead
Easy, 3 miles, loop trail, near Mariposa downtown, featuring a lake
Checkout the alltrails map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/stockton-creek-preserve-loop
Moderate, 5 miles, out and back trail, featuring nice views
Alltrails map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/hite-cove-road
Hites Cove Road
Hites Cove RoadModerate, 5 miles, out and back trail, featuring nice views
Alltrails map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/hite-cove-road