Shared itinerary · Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite in 3 days

Three days in Yosemite: the valley floor from Tunnel View to Valley View on the free shuttle, the Mist Trail past Vernal and Nevada Falls to Mirror Lake, then Glacier Point, Taft Point and the Mariposa Grove. 15 stops with times and notes. Park once in the valley; Glacier Point Road is open roughly late May through October.

From the guide Yosemite National Park: valley, granite and the crowds question

Updated October 2026

Distance

80.0 km

Tunnel View → Mariposa Grove

Days

Stops

Each day of Yosemite in 3 days: route, stops and distance
Day	Route	Stops	Distance
Day 1	Tunnel View to Valley View	6	21.7 km
Day 2	Happy Isles to The Ahwahnee	6	23.1 km
Day 3	Glacier Point to Mariposa Grove	3	35.3 km

Day 1: Tunnel View to Valley View

21.7 km

Valley floor day. Park once and use the free shuttle.

08:00
Tunnel View

Sight

El Capitan, Bridalveil and Half Dome in one frame. Arrive before 09:00 or share it with forty tripods.

3.2 km · 10m drive to next
09:15
Bridalveil Fall

Park & nature

A ten minute walk to the base. In spring the wind throws the whole fall sideways.

1.8 km · 8m drive to next
10:45
El Capitan Meadow

Park & nature

Lie back and find the climbers, tiny specks on a 3,000 foot wall. Binoculars pay off here.

6.6 km · 12m drive to next
12:00
Yosemite Valley Visitor Center

Food & drink

Lunch in the village, then the exhibit hall’s relief map to plan tomorrow.

1.1 km · 15m walk to next
14:00
Lower Yosemite Fall

Park & nature

An easy loop to the base of the tallest waterfall in North America. Best in May, spray guaranteed.

9.0 km · 15m drive to next
17:30
Valley View

Sight

The river-level goodbye view of El Capitan for golden hour.

Day 2: Happy Isles to The Ahwahnee

23.1 km

The Mist Trail, the best staircase in America.

07:00
Happy Isles

Sight

Shuttle stop 16. Start early, the granite steps bake by noon.

877 m · 20m walk to next
08:15
Vernal Fall Footbridge

Sight

First view of the fall, and the last water fountain.

1.2 km · 45m walk to next
09:15
Top of Vernal Fall

Activity

600 granite steps through the spray cloud. A rain shell keeps the camera dry, nothing keeps you dry.

1.5 km · 1h walk to next
11:30
Nevada Fall

Activity

Continue to the 594 foot upper fall and loop down the John Muir Trail for the Liberty Cap view.

4.0 km · 45m walk to next
15:30
Mirror Lake

Park & nature

A flat recovery walk to the seasonal lake under the sheer face of Half Dome.

3.0 km · 15m transit to next
18:00
The Ahwahnee

Food & drink

Dinner under the 34 foot beamed ceiling of the 1927 dining room. Dress code is real at dinner.

Day 3: Glacier Point to Mariposa Grove

35.3 km

The rim, then the big trees. Glacier Point Road is open roughly late May through October.

08:30
Glacier Point

Sight

3,200 feet directly above the valley floor, with Half Dome at eye level and the high country behind it.

2.7 km · 20m drive to next
10:30
Taft Point and Sentinel Dome

Activity

One trailhead, two payoffs: the fissures and unfenced drop of Taft Point, and a 360 degree summit panorama from the dome. About 5 miles for both.

29.8 km · 1h drive to next
14:00
Mariposa Grove

Park & nature

500 giant sequoias including the 3,000 year old Grizzly Giant. Ride the shuttle in from the welcome plaza.