One of my bucket list items I finally checked off: Yosemite National Park! I hope this blog post inspires you to visit this beautiful larger than life kind of place. Everything here is so majestic- the mountains, the trees, the waterfalls, all so powerful, and grand- what a sight to see! I explored Yosemite during the perfect springtime in May. It is a great time to visit because the waterfalls are at their peak, the wildflowers are blooming, and summer crowds have not yet arrived. The temperatures during the day are perfect, but be ready for chilly nights. Here’s a list of the BEST trails/hikes during my 3 day stay at Yosemite National Park:

Day 1

I recommend having a "driving day" & staying the night nearby or inside the park. This allows you to get there in the afternoon-evening, have a night to reset, and take on a full day at the park the following day. Also, if you don't arrive at Yosemite first thing in the morning, the line to get into the park stacks up, and it could take more than an hour to wait.

Day 2

I woke up early and headed straight to Yosemite to have a full day of exploring. As soon as I got into the park, I was blown away- all the incredible greenery and overall landmass! I made my way towards Yosemite Valley Lodge, where I stayed for a night (yes, I highly recommend staying INSIDE the park, just because the drive in and out can take about one hour each way). By staying inside the park, you'll be able to use those extra hours exploring and enjoying the scenery. My full day at Yosemite consisted of the following hikes/trails:

Tunnel View

On the way to the lodge, you'll drive through some windy roads, leading you to the most iconic, photo-worthy views in all of Yosemite Valley- Tunnel View! It's an insane panoramic view of Yosemite Valley, and all you have to do is pull over into the parking lot and soak in the sights of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Falls. Around 930am is the perfect time to get there because it won't be so crowded!

Continuing on the one-lane road will lead you to more left and right gorgeous views where you will want to pull over and definitely take photos. Yosemite is set up where you can literally drive a full circle and see the iconic views but also you are able get out, park, and hike around. I wanted to spend the day just exploring my surroundings and getting a closer look at the iconic displays of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.

Cook's Meadow Loop

This meadow is right next to the lodge and an EASY- STROLL (no hike at all) that offers stunning views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, and the Royal Arches! It is very flat and offers a bike path too. Easy walk over to half dome where I stopped and made my sandwich for lunch. You can’t miss this well-known rock formation, giving you the appearance of a large rock that’s been cut in half hence the name!

One of Yosemite’s most iconic attraction in all of Yosemite Valley- Half Dome!

El Capitan Meadow

Drive over to El Capitan before sunset and bring chairs, food and wine because this is the perfect backdrop to end the day! Sitting in the meadow you will see the shadows creep up the face of El Capitan and through the valley, and the setting sun lights up the granite walls as it dips below the western horizon.

Meats + Cheeses + Wine at Sunset enjoying this view of El Capitan

Lower Yosemite Falls Trail

Another short, easy (but more of a hike) and a must to check off on your list at Yosemite is Lower Yosemite Falls Trail! It's a quick walk to get to the gorgeous views of Yosemite Falls and its fullness, and you can climb around the base of the falls, which was roaring when I visited. So beautiful!

Day 3

Taft Point

Clifftop views in Yosemite is an absolute must-see and Taft Point is the perfect moderate hike to achieve that. You can get there along Glacier Point Road, which is near the front of the park. After driving for about 30 minutes, you park and start your hike west towards Taft Point. This 2 mile round trip hike leads you on a gentle downhill hike to a row of tall trees, across filled creeks, walking across rocks and fallen tree stumps. Taft Point is revealed in all its glory as the forest breaks open and you reach vast unobstructed views! I did have vertigo once I got there, being 3,500 feet above the Valley below can make you a little queasy. There are no fences along the edges, so please be careful as you explore these beautiful views and formations. It truly is incredible to see El Capitan and Yosemite Falls from high above!

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK