After an unforgettable two days in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks in June 2020, we were ready to start our Yosemite adventure. Due to COVID-19, Yosemite had just reopened with reservations required about a week before our visit. Having an in-park lodging reservation automatically gave us an entry reservation for the park so we did not have to compete with the masses for our entry reservation. Here is what we did with our two days in Yosemite!
JUMP TO
GLACIER POINT
WAWONA TUNNEL VIEW PULLOUT
BRIDALVEIL FALLS
YOSEMITE VILLAGE
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
MERCED RIVER & SWINGING BRIDGE
COOKS MEADOW
YOSEMITE FALLS
DINING AT YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
MIRROR LAKE
THE AHWAHNEE
BIKE RIDING IN THE VALLEY
CURRY VILLAGE
EL CAPITAN
VALLEY VIEW LOOKOUT
Table of Contents
OUR PLAN – DAY ONE
OAKHURST, CA to YOSEMITE VILLAGE – 90°
We woke up in the Yosemite Southgate Hotel & Suites, about a 25-minute drive from the SOUTH ENTRANCE to Yosemite. Our room was large and had a pull-out bed for our son, a coffee maker, and a fridge. All rooms include the fridge which is important when you are planning to do breakfast in the room. We booked with Expedia to ensure flexibility due to COVID and a competitive rate. Oakhurst was a great starting point because it is close enough to get to the park quickly, but also a town with plenty of hotel and gas options. We filled up with gas before heading into the park and were in line for the entry gate in no time.
MARIPOSA GROVE/WAWONA
Since we only had two days in Yosemite, we opted to skip the first right turn towards MARIPOSA GROVE because we had just spent time in the Sequoias. However, this would make a great first stop. The BIG TREES TRAIL LOOP is an easy .3 mile 30 -45 minute walk through the towering Sequoias. Due to COVID, there was an additional 2 mile walk to the grove from the parking area.
Most of the other sites in Wawona, like the Pioneer Yosemite History Museum, Wawona Golf Course and Wawona Hotel were all closed as well. We drove through the area pretty quickly and decided this would be on the “next time” list. This stop would take a full morning between visiting Mariposa Grove and exploring Wawona. After a full morning, it would be nice to enjoy lunch (and a glass of wine!) at the Wawona Hotel Dining Room. There is a 24-hour mini Chevron station in Wawona as well in case you need to fill up before the one hour drive towards the valley.
GLACIER POINT
As we headed towards the valley, our first stop was GLACIER POINT. I highly recommend taking this detour on your way in to the park, as there is no shuttle service to this overlook. After driving into the park from the Wawona area for about 40 minutes, you will see the turn off for Glacier Point Road on the right in Chinquapin. It is about 30 additional minutes out to the overlook on Glacier Point Road, but the views are worth it!
At 3,000 feet above the Valley floor, it is a great introduction to the park. You can see most of Yosemite’s famous sites from this area, such as Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, several waterfalls and Yosemite’s High Country. It is also a great place to picnic and let kids run around a bit. There were families moving around camping chairs just relaxing and taking in the views as the kids enjoyed rock climbing and exploring.
There are several trails around Glacier Point, including the 4.8 mile FOUR MILE TRAIL that will take you down to Yosemite Valley. We chose to stroll the paved trails along the guard rail and take in the views! It was the perfect introduction to Yosemite for our son. This is a great spot to let your kids break out their binoculars or digital camera. It was fun to “get the lay of the land” by looking down into the valley. The Merced river snakes through the valley floor and the Ahwahnee Hotel looks like a castle peeking out of the trees. It was a great place to stretch our legs from the drive into the park and spark excitement for our two days in Yosemite!
WAWONA TUNNEL VIEW
Once you drive the 30 minutes back to Wawona Road/Highway 41, you are not too far from the not-to-be missed pullout – the WAWONA TUNNEL VIEW. If you have seen someone post a family in Yosemite, chances are it was from Tunnel View. It is an easy stop, just turn left immediately following the tunnel. As you drive through the dark tunnel, there is excitement approaching the bright light and insane views to follow.
There are parking lots on both sides of the road as you exit, but the grand view is from the parking lot on the left. If parking is too full, do not be discouraged. Just circle around again as people are constantly coming and going very quickly here! I grew up going to Yosemite as a kid, so my brother and I had plenty of photo opportunities at Tunnel View! Of course I had to try to recreate this 80’s photo from my childhood with my son! How did we do?
BRIDALVEIL FALLS
As we made our way down Wawona Road into Yosemite Valley, the sights surrounded us and did not disappoint. Yosemite truly is a magical place, and it is amazing to look up at the granite rocks knowing there are climbers looking down at our car weaving through the valley floor. Our first stop was BRIDALVEIL FALLS.
With only two days in Yosemite, I highly recommend stopping here as you head into the valley for several reasons. Wawona Road, the road heading in and out of the valley, is one way, so this is an easy pull out as you head in as it is on the right side of the road. In addition, there is no shuttle service to the trailhead. Open year round, the trail is an easy 1/4 mile walk to the base of the 620 foot waterfall. Some of the trail heading up closer to the base of the waterfall was closed for renovations, but we still had great views from the pools below.
TRAIL SAFETY
Please use caution when exploring the rocks below the waterfall as they are very slippery. Also, be very aware and careful near any water areas in the parks as conditions can be unpredictable. Each year visitors are injured (or worse) due to slipping on rocks or being swept away in changing currents, etc. I read earlier this year about a hiker that slipped on the rocks and hit his head in this same area. There were many people hopping the construction fence and scaling the rocks up closer to the waterfall. I just can’t recommend that as it may look exciting, but it is very dangerous. Plus we had great views from the end of the designated trail!
YOSEMITE VILLAGE
DINING OPTIONS
After our stop in Bridalveil Falls, we were more than ready for a late lunch. Once again, due to COVID, our dining options were very limited. With the fluctuating changes surrounding COVID, make sure to check here for updated information about what is open and when if you are traveling in this pandemic. We opted to stop in the village to grab sandwiches at DEGNAN’S KITCHEN, a grab and go deli in the heart of Yosemite Village. In addition to deli offerings, Degnan’s Kitchen has salads, artisan pizzas, baked goods and a variety of beverage choices. It is an easy place to stop in, stock up and continue your adventure! If times were different, I would have loved to check out THE LOFT AT DEGNAN’S for a more leisure-like lunch with a glass of wine or cold craft beer! Another item on my “next time” list!
VALLEY VISITOR CENTER
We also used this stop to check out the (closed due to COVID) VALLEY VISITOR CENTER. Park Rangers had tents set up outside to answer any questions. We were able to purchase the $3.00 Junior Ranger book for our son to complete during our two days in Yosemite. We were also able to grab stamps for our National Park Passports and figure out our parking options as there was no shuttle service available due to COVID. During regular operations, you would spend a little more time checking out all the village has to offer, but our stop was pretty short. Our next stop was within walking distance and a favorite from my childhood, the Yosemite Valley Lodge.
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
I cannot recommend the YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE enough. It has a fantastic location along the bike path and provides the comforts of home with the National Park rustic feel. The lodge is home to a gift shop, Starbucks, a large cafeteria open for breakfast/lunch/dinner, a bar/lounge, a swimming pool and a bike rental stand. Those of you that follow my itineraries know how much we love in-park lodging at National Parks. Yosemite Valley Lodge can be very difficult to book, and I made our reservations 12 months in advance. Even then, they only had one night available. However, I continued to check and was able to secure the second night about 10 months in advance. So do not give up! Keep checking availability as I have mentioned in other posts.
MERCED RIVER and SWINGING BRIDGE
Once we were settled in our room, we were anxious to head back out because there is so much to do and see in Yosemite! The back door of our room lead right out the the bike path so we followed the path a short distance (10 minutes maybe) straight to SWINGING BRIDGE and the MERCED RIVER. It was a beautiful bike ride for my son and we enjoyed the views across the meadows as we approached the river.
We took time to sit down by the “beach” along the river as my son splashed away in the water. The views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome towering about the river are phenomenal. We sat in awe of our surroundings. We enjoyed a kombucha on the beach, but the lodge had informed us that you are more than welcome to grab a drink at the bar and walk it down to the beach for a fun happy hour!
COOK’S MEADOW
After our swim, we crossed Sentinel Bridge to continue the loop to COOKS MEADOW. My son rode the bike path along Wawona Road and the views were astonishing. It was almost 6pm (late lunch for the win), and we felt like we had the place to ourselves. With only two days in Yosemite, we wanted to make the most of our daylight hours. The boardwalk weaves through the meadow and back to the bike path all along Wawona Road. Right before we turned to cross the meadow towards Yosemite Falls we passed the oldest building in Yosemite, dating back to 1879, the YOSEMITE CHAPEL. This walk/bike ride was beautiful and I cannot recommend it enough! The loop from the lodge is about 1 mile, easy and paved or boardwalk the entire way. Crossing the meadow towards Yosemite Falls is a view everyone should enjoy!
YOSEMITE FALLS
Although it was getting late, we decided to check out the LOWER YOSEMITE FALLS TRAIL as I knew this is a very busy trail and would be crowded during peak hours. Our son was able to ride his bike for some of the trail and again, the views were remarkable. The trail to the falls is easy, with just a slight incline towards the end. At the base of the 2,425 foot waterfall you can feel the spray as the water flows down. We even saw climbers repelling down from the top of the lower falls. It was a great time to do the trail as it was mostly shaded and not too crowded. Again, please use caution around wet rocks and waterfalls in Yosemite. There were many people climbing all over the rocks to get closer to the base of the waterfall. This is not recommended!
DINING AT YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
As we began seeing last light on the valley floor, we knew it was time to head back to the lodge. The Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls trailheads are right next to the lodge, so it didn’t take much time to get back. BASE CAMP EATERY is the cafeteria at the Lodge, and offers a variety of items for dine in and to-go. I have some of my favorite childhood memories adding massive slices of cake to my tray sliding through the line. It has changed a lot since then, but the nostalgia surrounding it made it something we were going to try.
Due to COVID, we decided to take it to go back to enjoy on our room’s porch. We all chose the meatloaf and macaroni and cheese plate and it was really good! We enjoyed an easy night and my husband and I enjoyed a quiet night on the porch as our son fell asleep. In an non-COVID world, I would have loved to have a glass of wine in THE MOUNTAIN ROOM LODGE, dinner in THE MOUNTAIN ROOM and to roast marshmallows for smores on their patio – all on my “next time” list!
OUR PLAN – DAY TWO
EXPLORE YOSEMITE VALLEY – 84°
Waking up in the center of the valley is truly incredible and so peaceful. I can only imagine how camping in Yosemite must feel (on the “next time” list!). Morning coffee on the patio while filling my husband in on the adventures I have planned for the day is one of my favorite things. Knowing we only had two days in Yosemite, I loved knowing we had the entire day ahead of us!
As always, I picked something I knew would get crowded to do first thing in the morning. I chose another nostalgic hike to start our day, the hike to MIRROR LAKE. Yosemite Valley offers so many beautiful hikes, but this one stands out from my childhood. We headed out for the day and as we hopped in the car I couldn’t help but smile at the view of Yosemite Falls from the Lodge parking lot. It is all just so beautiful. Yosemite really is magical. I know everyone says that. But really, there is a reason.
MIRROR LAKE
Mirror Lake is an easy, 2 mile flat hike on the east side of the valley. You can park at the horse stables near Curry Village, or during non COVID times, take the shuttle to Mirror Lake Trailhead at shuttle stop #17. As a kid, my family walked this trail in summer and winter. We used to whine and complain like it was the longest walk ever. Not at all. It is incredibly kid friendly and has many beautiful things to see. Mirror Lake is the closest you can get to half dome without actually hiking or climbing it. The tranquil waters act as a mirror for the beauty surrounding it.
PARKING AND TRAILHEAD
To start our hike, we parked at the stables which are right by the service road where the trail begins. Along the side of the service road is an actual trail, so although my childhood memories were walking along the paved service road, I insisted we follow the trail on the side. My son loved climbing along the boulders on the trail. At the first bridge crossing the creek, stay to the left along the road. To get to Mirror Lake in one-mile, follow the service road.
TRAIL TO MIRROR LAKE or MIRROR LAKE 5 MILE LOOP
I took us to the right walking along the right side of Tenaya Creek. Although it was beautiful, we realized about 2 miles in that I had taken us on the 5-mile loop of Mirror Lake. We reached a point along the creek to cut across, but the water was VERY cold to walk through and led us to a marshy wetland with limited options to cross over again. We quickly realized we were in the middle of Mirror Lake!
From the start of the trail my husband had said he was concerned we were on the wrong path, but I insisted I knew what I was doing (because I did it every year 25+ years ago?!?!?). Michael is a good sport and just gave me that “I told you so” look in the middle of the lake! Ha! But good memories. It did not take too long to cross over again and then we were there! We took some time to enjoy the views and have a small snack before walking back on the paved road! There were many people heading up as we walked back, including lots of families biking which would be really beautiful! When we got back to the car, parking was full with people circling for spots. Earlier we had no problem parking, so early was key for this trail.
HAPPY ISLES ART & NATURE CENTER
During non-COVID times, the HAPPY ISLES ART & NATURE CENTER is a short walk away and would be fun place to check out with kids too. This would be a great place to attend a Junior Ranger program or let you ranger ask questions, explore and even take his/her Junior Ranger oath! Since the nature center was closed, we headed back to Yosemite Village so our son could take his Junior Ranger oath. I absolutely love the National Park Junior Ranger programs. More on that here. But they really are so special to kids. He talked to this sweet ranger for almost 10 minutes about all of his adventures. It makes me so proud to see him so proud of what he has done and seen! The activity books are the perfect activity for quiet evenings, getting ready in the am, restaurants and specific to CF breathing treatment times.
THE AHWAHNEE HOTEL
Once our Junior Ranger was officially sworn in, it was time to have lunch and celebrate! What better place to relax and celebrate than THE AHWAHNEE HOTEL? Unfortunately, due to COVID, the dining room was only open for dinner, so we planned to take advantage of the bar’s “Gourmet Grab & Go” box lunches.
The Ahwahnee Dining room is definitely a special treat and reservations are strongly recommended. Due to the changing situation with COVID, I would recommend checking out the latest offerings. As I write this, everything is take-out only, but it makes for a fun gourmet picnic! Although the Ahwahnee had dining tables set up outside, we decided to picnic on the grass. It was a special time, although it was cut short by some aggressive squirrels! We ended up enjoying the outdoor couches surrounding the dining room and treating our son to an ice cream treat from The Sweet Shop!
BIKE RIDING IN THE VALLEY
After lunch, we headed back to our room to regroup and decided our son should pick the afternoon. He wanted to head back to the Merced River and go on another bike ride. Although we had just done it yesterday, it was a lot of fun so we put on our suits and headed out! Bikes are a great way to navigate Yosemite Valley and if I hadn’t been 32 weeks pregnant, we all would have taken a family bike ride. If your kids are able, I highly suggest enjoying the valley on bike! There are over 12 miles of flat bike paths that take you to a majority of the highlights! The Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village have bike rental stands if you do not want to bring them with you. We had an incredible day in 2021 bike riding and you can read all of the details and our itinerary here!
SENTINEL BEACH
We headed back to the MERCED RIVER along the bike trail and headed north of SWINGING BRIDGE toward SENTINEL BEACH. Hanging out on the shore, we saw so many people come cruising down the river on rafts. The water was so calm, and families looked like they were having a great time. This is another “next time” item and it turns out you can rent rafts through your in-park lodging and enjoy the river starting in Curry Village! We had a lot of fun relaxing on the shore before heading out for an afternoon bike ride/parent walk! We cruised around a similar path as the night before, through Cook’s Meadow and even saw several deer and two brown bears! It was incredible.
CURRY VILLAGE
After cruising the valley it was time for dinner! I wanted to check out CURRY VILLAGE, another childhood favorite. Due to construction, Curry Village has a variety of food trucks in the parking lot to add to their dinner options. We had some delicious tacos and checked out the “under renovation” Pizza Patio. I can imagine relaxing with some delicious pizza and a craft beer under the towering views of Glacier Point would have felt pretty good! So again, adding it to the “next time” list. Deer were out and about which was a lot of fun for our son to see.
We went to bed with happy hearts and beautiful views of the moon from our patio. As we enjoyed the moonlight and quiet, we heard some major noises in the bushes and then saw glowing eyes staring at us on the porch. Due to COVID, there was a lot of news about how animals were out and about more due to park closures. After our experience, we could not agree more.
OUR PLAN – DAY THREE
YOSEMITE VALLEY TO SAN DIEGO – 84°
Waking up on the last day of vacation is so hard. Let’s be real. I am always grateful for the time we have had, but it is hard to know it is time to pack up and start our 7-hour drive home! I always have a few last-minute “let’s try this” items so we took our time in the morning and headed out right before check-out to see some last-minute sights!
EL CAPITAN
As much as our son loved the documentary “Free Solo,” I knew we had to take him to look for climbers on the granite monolith EL CAPITAN, or as my son would say, “EL CAP.” We headed west out of the valley and pulled off the side of the road at EL CAPITAN MEADOW to check out the climbers. My son used his binoculars and immediately saw two heading up and it was so exciting! As far as we could tell it was not Alex Honnold, but my son was thrilled anyways! Can you spy them in the photo?
VALLEY VIEW LOOKOUT
As you continue towards the park exit after El Capitan on the loop road, the beautiful VALLEY VIEW lookout is waiting for you. We were not sure what we were looking for and it came up quick. We actually had to loop around to get there again! Shortly before the exit to 140 and the turnaround towards Bridalveil Falls, there is a small pullout on the left hand side of the road with incredible views. It is a great way to say goodbye to the valley as you head out. It definitely maximizes your time to hit the one way stops on the way in and the way out versus turning around over and over on one-way roads. As we our two days in Yosemite, it was hard to say goodbye but our hearts were full from the magic.
FINAL GOODBYE AT TUNNEL VIEW
On the way out of the valley, we pulled over at TUNNEL VIEW to say a final goodbye to our two days in Yosemite. It seemed fitting as it we entered the valley here and said our final goodbye here. There are so many amazing ways to experience Yosemite and I feel like we did not even begin to scratch the surface. We had an incredible trip, but I know there are so many more things we want to do and see. In addition, I am only writing about a summer version. Imagine what a winter wonderland in Yosemite can bring you. I have left a few pieces of my heart around CA, but Yosemite definitely has some of it. I am confident we will be back.
I always keep a “NEXT TIME” list when we travel. It is important to share because this blog is subjective and I want my readers to know about the myriad opportunities that I am still hoping to experience. Whenever I read, hear, research something outside of my experience, I will include it here. My hope in to eventually fully experience these destinations when I visit again (and I can’t wait to do so). Next trip, I want to to see more of the park and experiences a few new things. I also want to visit some of the most popular places the were closed due to COVID.
THINGS WE WANTED TO DO THAT WERE CLOSED OR IMPACTED BY COVID
- Mariposa Grove
- Lunch at Wawona Hotel
- Golf at Wawona Hotel
- Happy Isles Nature Center
- Stargazing Ranger Program
- Valley Visitor Center
- Degnan’s Loft
- Yosemite Lodge Mountain Room
- Curry Village Pizza Patio
ADVENTURES WE NEED MORE PLANNING TO DO (maybe without kids)
YOSEMITE TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES
Planning a trip to Yosemite? Check out my other Yosemite resources here!
- Plan Your Trip to Yosemite National Park with Kids
- Biking in Yosemite Valley
- Secret Yosemite – Hiking Hetch Hetchy
- Road Trip – Sequoia & Yosemite National Parks Itinerary and Planning Guide
