3 Days In Yosemite Itinerary
Day 3: Hike to Yosemite Falls or North Dome
The last day of this three days in Yosemite itinerary is also dedicated to hiking though I will also share an easier “road trip” alternative.
Hike To Upper Yosemite Falls
During spring or early summer, you can hike to Upper Yosemite Falls if the waterfall is flowing. The hike from Yosemite Valley and back is challenging and takes almost five hours to complete. You can extend your hike beyond Upper Yosemite Falls on a few options.
Yosemite Falls Trail is one of the park’s oldest. It begins with a punishing ascent via a series of switchbacks, elevating hikers to a height of one mile above Yosemite Valley. Once out of the forest, incredible views of the valley are revealed, helping to take your mind off the tough ascent.
At Columbia Rock, a viewing platform offers panoramic vistas of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Sentinel Rock. From here, it’s a short hike to Upper Yosemite Falls, where you’ll stand directly above the 2,425-foot waterfall (739 m). From here, you can extend your hike to Yosemite Point or Eagle Peak.
If you really want to return home with pain in your legs, consider hiking to the summit of El Capitan from Yosemite Valley. This is one of the longest and toughest day hikes in Yosemite so prepare accordingly and get an early start.
Hike to North Dome Hike
In the more remote northern section of the park, getting to the trailhead to North Dome via Porcupine Creek requires a bit of driving along Tioga Road. The trail leads hikers via a beautiful sequoia grove where deer can often be seen, to the open expanse of the rocky domes. En route, you can take a short detour to Indian Arch and Indian Rock or head straight to North Dome. This spot is perfectly positioned for awesome views of Yosemite Valley and North Dome, without the crowds of Glacier Point.
Back in the car, you can stop and visit the giant sequoias at Tuolumne Grove, though it does require a short but steep walk and it’s not nearly as impressive as the Mariposa Grove.
If your legs are telling you “no more” on this day, consider driving the length of Tioga Road. Open from late May or early June through November, Tioga Road is a 39-mile high elevation scenic drive, ranging from 6,200 feet to nearly 10,000 feet (over 3,000 m). It is Yosemite’s trans-Sierra Nevada crossing, passing through sub-alpine meadows, blue lakes, smooth granite domes, and hiking trails.
I recommend driving to Tioga Pass and working your way back. Alternatively, you can simpy drive out of Yosemite from Tioga Pass and then continue to your next destination, perhaps adding some driving time to the entire journey.
Highlights include the engineering marvel of Tioga Pass, the highest automobile mountain pass in California, high altitude Tuolumne Meadows with its myriad of hiking trails, a perfect picnic lunch spot at Tenaya Lake, one of Yosemite’s finest viewpoints at Olmsted Point, and the Tuolumne Grove with its sequoia trees.
Due to the area’s high elevation, the weather can and probably will be much colder in this area than in Yosemite. Plan and dress accordingly.
What’s Next?
As you’ve just read, there’s a lot you can do in Yosemite in three days. In this three days in Yosemite itinerary, we’ve covered the national park’s main attractions while also getting the chance to enjoy the superb hiking that Yosemite has to offer. For more information about Yosemite, including essential planning tips, check out the Yosemite travel guide collection.
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