As I write this, I am watching The Dawn Wall; a Netflix documentary on Tommy Caldwell, who has spent his life climbing insane cliffs and dedicated much of it (6 years in fact) to designing a route up, and eventually scaling the Dawn Wall.
The Dawn Wall is a section of El Capitan, a gargantuan monolith in Yosemite National Park. It is equal parts imposing and awe-inspiring; this beautiful, grey rock shoots 3000 feet vertically into the sky. It is considered the pinnacle of global rock climbing. I see it as something to put on my wall; some people see nothing but a challenge.
I’ve been to Yosemite twice now, once successfully, once not so successfully. And while my experience is (very!) different from that of Tommy Caldwell, I can honestly say it’s one of my favourite places in the world too. The first time I visited was a drive-by, hampered by bad weather. The second time we spent 3 nights but I know I could have just as easily spent a week or more.
For many travellers, though, I know that you may only be able to afford to spend 1 day here since there is so much around California to see and itineraries are packed. This guide is written for you. This is how I would spend one magical day in Yosemite National Park.
How to See Yosemite in One Day
Yosemite is fairly unique in that its heart sits as a cul-de-sac. It’s a valley the whole way in, with roads on either side. The cliffs eventually meet so the roads meet. So it’s kinda perfect for a California road trip. You can enter on one side and exit the other. From the south side, you’ll enter on Highway 41 from Fresno, passing through Oakhurst and Yosemite West. Then you can exit on Highway 120 towards San Fransisco.
This is precisely what did as we came from Death Valley to San Fran via Yosemite. Obviously you can’t do all that driving and see Yosemite in one day, so you will need to stay close at least the night before, maybe even the night you visit to maximise what you see in Yosemite in one day.
So, assuming you arrive in Yosemite Valley early and plan to have a whole day exploring, how should you plan for your one day in Yosemite? This is what I’d do.
Where to stay in Yosemite
Accommodation options are surprisingly limited around Yosemite. Yosemite Village is the where all the action happens so is the most convenient. There are two hotel options, the Yosemite Valley Lodge and the Ahwahnee. These are both up there in terms of price, but if convenience matters more than price then this is your best bet. Curry Village, which is adjacent to Yosemite Village and connected by the shuttle has cabins and campsites, and there are also a handful of other campsites nearby: Upper Pines, Lower Pines, Housekeeping Camp, and Camp 4.
Availability can be an issue though as these can fill up in peak seasons. We travelled in April and a few weeks before we were due to travel, the whole area was hit by storms, damaging Curry Village, where we had cabins booked. It was a mad dash to find something else.
We found an amazing log cabin in Yosemite West and it turned out to be an incredible experience. We weren’t as close — it was about a 30-minute drive into the village — but it was great because we had a big group, and staying in the snowy mountains, in a log cabin is just an unforgettable experience. There is a stack of cabins here so find one that suits you and your group.
There are also a couple of options in Wawona and a few along the 140 but by now you are getting a little further out. If you’re only going for one night this is probably ok, but it’d be tough if you were traversing back and forth for days on end.
Click here to view options in Yosemite West.
Tunnel View
Tunnel View is the first real glimpse into the valley. You’ll pass through Yosemite Tunnel and will be met with a striking view right down Yosemite Valley. There’s a large car park here so it’s a great place to stop for a photo.
Bridalveil Falls
About 5 minutes further down the road is Bridalveil Falls. This waterfall drops 620 feet from top to bottom and the force is mesmerising. There is a path from the car park and you can get really close to it. In Spring, during the post-winter melt, the waterfall will be at its most ferocious, and the force of the spray is so immense that it’s difficult to get a good photo for fear of getting your camera wet. It might as well have been raining.
I resorted to taking cover behind a rock — commando style — and popping my head up with my camera on pulse mode, taking 6 shots per second with the hopes one will be a good one. It’s quite comical to think about. It felt as if I was laying down some cover fire for my fellow soldiers also under attack.
The waterfall is an easy, paved walk from the parking lot and takes about 5 minutes.
Yosemite Village and Visitor Centre
At the store, pick up some supplies for lunch because I’ve somewhere in mind for a picnic a little later on. If you plan on hiking pick up some Clif Bars, and the store also sells some delicious moonshine.
The visitor centre does what visitor centres do, most useful for talking with a ranger and getting ideas as well as picking up a map if you don’t have one already. The diorama there is also worth a peek as it goes through the geology of the mountains. Great if you’re into that! There is also a small museum on the area if you are that way inclined.
Lower Yosemite Falls
The walk to Lower Yosemite Falls is an easy one, and can even be done with a stroller. You can see Yosemite Falls from most places in the village and in some respects, it is grander at a distance. But there’s just something about looking up into a waterfall and being awestruck by the sheer volume of water plunging from the sky.
From the visitor centre, we walked through the residents’ lodgings and found the path toward the Lower Falls. It’s a pleasant stroll past ponds and stones and a plethora of native trees
Sentinel/Cook’s Meadow Loop
The Cook’s Meadow Loop is a little vanilla for what it is, which is a path through a field. But you are forever being looked down upon by these imposing walls on all sides. I took the view that I wanted to see Yosemite from every angle and this was yet another.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is an easy out and back stroll to a still lake at the foot of the mountains. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite make it there because the weather turned bad for us, but you certainly have enough time to see it as well as the features I’ve described above.
El Capitan Meadow
This is the easiest stop of the day. It’s a field with a car park; look up to see the incredible dome face of El Capitan. I’ve mentioned The Dawn Wall, but there is another documentary done by National Geographic called Free Solo, which tells of another daring story of strength and determination.
El Capitan Meadow is the perfect place to eat the picnic you prepared earlier. Pull up a piece of grass, crack open the moonshine and drink in the incredible view. You have the best seats in the house!
If you have them, bring some binoculars and keep your eyes out for climbers, as it is still very popular in these parts.
A Final Note on planning your trip to Yosemite
The Yosemite National Park website was invaluable to me for planning our visit to Yosemite. It is kept up to date on road closures and trail closures and has a wealth of information of what trails are best for what level of hiker.
Of course, the National Park Service will also give you a map with descriptions of possible trails as well if you prefer to make it up as you go along. Personally, I plan ahead so I have fewer decisions to make while on the road and live a bit more in the moment, which is important if you are only going to spend 1 day in Yosemite.
The Yosemite Tourism Bureau also has a good website with much of the same information, though perhaps a little less detailed than the NPS. I used both and found they complimented each other nicely.
Back to the Dawn Wall
I remember when we were in El Capitan Meadow, looking up these small specks of colour on the wall. These free climbers were attempting to do what Tommy and Kevin did. They look nuts, but it’s not until I saw what these climbers go through up close that you realise how gruelling it is. In many places, they are clutching onto razor-sharp pieces of rock with their bare fingertips and most of the time I can’t even see what their shoes are gripping.
Full credit to these guys but I think I’ll just stick to regular hiking thanks.
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