Trip | A Yosemite camping weekend | Yosemite National Park, CA | 3 days
Day 1 – Arrive in the valley
2:00 PM | Stay | Upper Pines Campground, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, CA | Or wherever the group is camping
3:30 PM | Do | Yosemite Valley Welcome Center, 9035 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA | Maps, trail conditions and ranger tips
4:30 PM | Do | Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead, Yosemite National Park, CA | An easy 1-mile loop; biggest in spring, often a trickle or dry from late summer through fall
6:30 PM | Do | Tunnel View, Wawona Rd, Yosemite National Park, CA | Sunset light on El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome; in summer, sunset is closer to 8 PM
Day 2 – The Mist Trail
7:00 AM | Do | Mist Trail to Vernal Fall, Happy Isles, Yosemite National Park, CA | 600+ steep granite steps; heavy spray in spring and early summer, so bring a rain layer then. If repairs close the Mist Trail, take the John Muir Trail to the top of Vernal Fall
12:30 PM | Eat | Pizza Deck at Curry Village, Curry Village, Yosemite National Park, CA | Open daily except in December
3:00 PM | Do | Swinging Bridge, Southside Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA | River views and a place to cool off
7:00 PM | Other | Campfire dinner at camp
Maybe | Do | Mirror Lake Trail, Mirror Lake Trailhead, Yosemite National Park, CA | For anyone skipping the big hike; the lake is often low or dry by late summer
Day 3 – Glacier Point and the sequoias
8:00 AM | Do | Glacier Point, Glacier Point Rd, Yosemite National Park, CA | Check that the road is open
11:30 AM | Do | Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, Hwy 41, Wawona, CA | Park at the Welcome Plaza near the South Entrance and take the free shuttle; cars can't drive to the grove in shuttle season, and the lot can fill by late morning
2:30 PM | Other | Head home