I've just watched this video and it was beyond helpful. As a first timer trying to plan our trip I currently have a map and guidebook for yosemite and felt extremely overwhelmed, I didn't even know where to start and was honestly looking around the whole map area and not focusing on the valley. I cannot thank you enough, your 3 day suggestion sounds perfect to us. Thank you 😊

hands down still the best Yosemite guide video that I've found. Thank you for presenting such detailed information in a easily digestible manner

All I can say is wow This video was so well put together, extremely informative, and exactly what KZfaq was designed for. Thank u!!!

That 4-mile trail - Illouette - JMT loop is my absolute FAVORITE hike in Yosemite.

I’m going to Yosemite next week and have been reading/watching through numerous articles, guidebooks, videos, etc. still don’t know what my 2 full day itinerary is gonna be till I watched this one. Hands down THE most helpful video that one can directly copy. THANK YOU!!!!

I'm just returning from my trip to Yosemite. I just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for making my trip so INCREDIBLE lol. I followed your 3 day guide and it was fantastic.

This is the most informative channel for hikers in KZfaq

The best video I've seen for first time visitors that have 2-4 days in the park that want to hit the major sites and few lesser known ones. Exactly what i was looking for! Thank you, great video!

Hey Doug, this is one of the best videos for Yosemite Hikes. It's clear you've done your research and understand what to prioritize and avoid. My family is going to Yosemite and we've happened to plan a lot like you. However, we'll change our plan to be a more like yours, specifically Day 1. Thank you for this amazing video!

These are solid recommendations! I’ve been several times and have done Sentinel Dome Vernal and Nevada Falls, Half dome up to the sub Dome, and hiked the Panorama trail and Clouds Rest last week. They’re all great hikes. And now Mt Dana sounds like a great bucket list hike for the future! A stop at Mariposa Grove is also a great addition to your trip- depending on the entrance you use, it coud be something on your way in or out (coming in from the South at Fish Camp). You don’t need much time here to appreciate the sequoias.

Unbelievable quality video. Very informative and easy to understand, doesn't assume anything of the viewer. Thanks.

Doug this has been by far the most helpful video I have ever seen. Your knowledge, experience, and sharing what is actually helpful info is a very refreshing approach. Appreciate you sir

Thank you for amazingly thorough and well thought out planning! We are going to the park next week and as a worry-prone person, I really appreciate the guidance you put into this!

Most comprehensive guide on Yosemite I have ever seen. Your guide is incredibly helpful

My brother and I were there in June, we had Half Dome permits, we hit the trail at 5am and were on the summit by 10, and that was with quite a few photo stops, We were the only ones going up the cables, and once on top there was maybe 6 people up there. Going down was a different story, everyone we had passed going up was now trying to get up the cables, went back the JM trail to get a different view of Nevada and Vernal Falls. Our other big hike was Clouds Rest, We started that hike at 2am starting at the sunrise lakes trail head, our goal was to summit and catch sunrise, we got to the summit at 5am and basically froze for 1/2 an hour waiting for the sun to come up. It was so worth the wait to see Clouds rest cast a shadow over Half Dome, then watch the sun hit the Dawn Wall on El-Cap. We were there a total of 4 days and pretty much did all the major thing you describe.

Comment for the algorithm. Great video, deserves more views and clicks!

Just wanted to thank you for posting this. Drove up from San Diego this weekend and had definitely not had ample time to plan out our trip beforehand. Did two and half days in the park and this video made it completely manageable for my family and I. I tweaked your itinerary slightly as my kids are very young and any sort of strenuous hike would be far too much for them. But we did get two full days of hiking in and the whole family loved it. Thanks again!

This is the best resource I've found on KZfaq for Yosemite, by far!

The taco place he mentions at the end is the Whoa Nellie Deli inside the Mobile gas station in Lee Vining. 100% worth the trip!

I am planning the trip right now and watching the video for the 4th time making notes, thinking about your arguments, thinking what will fit me best. In this video you really nailed answers to my questions. Thank you!

This video was extremely informative and very well put together! Thank you so much for your hard work and input!

So helpful, thank you! My first trip to Yosemite is next month, I feel more prepared now :)

This was an incredibly informative and entertaining video. This will be the first of multiple viewings. Thanks Doug!

This guy knows exactly what he’s talking about. Incredibly informative video. Dude is a seasoned hiker. I’d pay attention to what he has to say.

Did I miss anything? Share your suggestions below!

Awesome video … I think I watched them all :) … this is the most helpful one. Thanks

Yeah!! Traveling to the States tomorrow and were going to be there with 2 kids in 2 weeks. Gonna take your 1 day itenary. Thanks!!

Thank you so much for making this video, as a guy from the UK this so so much appreciated 🙌🙌🙌

From one Doug to another….. THANK YOU! I live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but will be in Yosemite the first week of October (barring a government shut down), and your video was super informative.

Thank you so much for this video. I will be using it as a Blueprint to plan out my trip with a group of 9 people to Yosemite this Friday. We have 3 Days - so will plan and adjust accordingly! Much appreciated!

Thank you! I’ll be visiting in 10/06-10/11

Excellent video! You gave just enough of a sneak peak to get me intrigued without feeling spoiled!

Hands down the best video to help plan for a Yosemite trip. Thanks a ton!

This is a very helpful video! We only have two and a half days in the park. Your recommendation is extremely helpful! Thank you so much!

Great Yosemite overview video!! We used it to plan our 5 day visit and hope to check out the fish tacos on the east side. We will be skipping Cloud's Rest - too scary., you did it for us - LOL. Thank you for this great information!!

Thank you!!! I followed your 1 day hiking guide and it was amazing!!! Had a really great time at Yosemite. Thanks for all the recommendations!

Fantastic video, very informative! Planning a trip for July

I would absolutely avoid the plan on day one and 2 of driving a car during the day. You will spend most each day in the car. Now yes older people or families you might want to just visit the short hikes with big payoffs. But for beginner or advanced hiker you want to hit the trail at 5 or 6 am or as early as tolerable and hike all day and avoid ever getting back in a car until nighttime. Hiking upper Yosemite is a priority as is Vernal and Nevada / John Muir. Half dome is overrated but is a bucket list item for some. Day 3 glacial point area is nice but plan of traveling the night before and again waking up early for taft etc hikes. Day 4 do hetch hetchy. Depending on the moon phase and weather then the valley is beautiful as the granite walls are lit up with moonlight.

I am going to try the pro tip on my next visit!! thank you for sharing excellent research, looking forward to more videos about other national parks.

Planning a trip to Yosemite & Northern California in May. This video has been incredibly helpful! Thank you!!

Watched a dozen videos trying to grasp what’s the best hikes to do in a limited time. If I had watched this from the beginning, I would’ve saved hours 😭

This is excellent video. My favorite hike of all time is the Mist Trail/John Muir Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. I have been to the top of Vernal 16 times (it's a great half-day hike) and to the top of Nevada 7 times (a full-day hike when you take time out for photography). My most recent hike to the top of Nevada was in 2019. I used to hike up the talus slope on the north side of Nevada, but my old knees now prefer the Clark Point Cutoff Trail. Halfway up the Clark Point Cutoff Trail is an excellent viewpoint overlooking Vernal Fall. This viewpoint is one of my favorites in the entire park. My second favorite hike is Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin, which I have done 5 times…each time as a very long day trip from Fresno. My least crowded hike ever was Tioga Road to North Dome, which I did once in the 1990s. I encountered only three other people on the trail and the payoffs are an excellent face-on view of Half Dome and the granite arch on Indian Ridge. BTW, Hwy 395 and Mono Lake are in California, not Nevada.

This video came in handy!!! i am planning a 2 day trip there and I cannot do hard thinking so this was perfect! Thank you for sharing this 😊

So so so helpful! I am coming to mostly to do rock climbing and bouldering but i know ill have some time to sprinkle in some hikes. Im so excited, thanks so much this really helped a lot

Thank you so so much. Your video was incredibly helpful.

Great informative video that has really helped me focus on what hikes to consider - thank you.

This is a great video, I've done most of the trails you cover between 1-3 days and I can say that this description is very accurate. I like the way you condensed the important info. Thanks for the post!

Great video, by far the most helpful guide on YT. Everything is very clearly explained and accurate. However, I recommend one correction: when discussing the Day 1 itinerary, after Lower Yosemite Falls Hike you take Wanona Rd to Tunnel View (not Glacier Point). Otherwise an excellent video and I am now a subscriber.

This is literally the video I needed. Thank you

we are putting our full trust into you and this video for our trip! thank you for the detailed tips

Great video, just what I needed to help plan my 3 day trip

Thank you for the input!

Thank you very much for this awesome summary. It really helped me to get out of this overwhelming confusion where to go during my 3 day stay at Yosemite…thumbs up 👍🏻

Thank you! You've helped me plan our 3-day trip at Yosemite! :)

This is a fabulous video. My son and I are taking 3 days there this September. You really laid out our itinerary! Thank you!

Thank you so much for all you recommendations!

Pretty good list. RE the Panorama Trail loop, I've done it in both directions. Going up the Mist Trail is way better than going down. Hikers should confirm that water is available at Glacier Point. Hikers should allow 8-10 hours. I've also taken FM up to Sentinel Dome and back down and just FM to GP and back down. Also check the weather. I went from sunny at the bottom of Four Mile Trail to Snow at the top one May. Enjoying your channel. The payoff at Cloud's Rest is great if there's no smoke and clear skies. I've done it three times and twice views were poor. Also nothing to see until you hit the spine, which is not for those with a fear of heights. In Tuolumne Meadow, Sunrise Lakes and Dog Lake also make good day hikes, with the later trail taking you to the base of Lembert Dome, which is worth the climb. You could also hike out Lyell Canyon for a few miles, have a picnic and hike back.

Incredible information for planning a trip, thank you so much!

FIVE BIG STARS!!!! Thank you for the great video!

We visited Yosemite for our Honeymoon! Spent a week and been talking about going back ever since! And we will for sure be going back! Great video!! I’m going to check that book out also!

Thank you! In the planning stages for Yosemite now!

Legend - thanks mate! This has helped us immensely!

Travelling from Ireland in a couple of weeks. As part of our California road trip we've planned a couple of days in Yosemite. Dissapointed to hear Glacier point road is closed but still really looking forward to the trip. Thanks for this video!

ive been out there twice, its a magical place. did the mist and panorama trails, camped at little yosemite valley. this video is great advice.

This video is fantastic

Thank you. This was incredibly helpful. I hope to stay in the Valley in 2023 or 2024. I want to spend the week hiking while using the shuttle.

Wow really thank you! Will be visiting Yosemite on August and your day plans really help me ☺

Okay I grew up hiking and backpacking in Yosemite, but there were some new ideas in this one even for me. Thanks for sharing!

Wish I had seen this video before, great research!

Beyond grateful for this video!! Thank you!!

Great video, thanks. Really helpful. One thing I’d like to say as a Californian who lives off of Hwy 395, please realize that Mono Lake and 395 are still in California….you have to drive another hour or so north on 395 before you are in Nevada. (You said Tioga Pass ends in Nevada/Mono Lake. We’re California, baby!) As a person who lives an hour away from Tioga Pass, this video is great for knowing how to spend our days. The only thing we’ve done so far is Mist trail> Vernal>Nevada Falls>JMT, which was amazing, but we’d like to see more of the park. Thanks again.

Very effective and effecient information for the hikers lovers. Keep it up and Have fun. Thanks for sharing your video my Friend. Enjoy !

Wonderful video, and I agree with just about everything you recommend, but I'm surprised you didn't mention visiting Mariposa Grove. For me, the giant Sequoia tress are a sight that you never forget, and equal to anything in Yosemite Valley.

Thank you so much for the information you’ve provided. Me and my friends are travelling from Canada in October and we have 4 days. I can say that you’ve certainly influenced our itinerary. Mount Dana will be our final day hike. Thank you for the advice!

incredible video. thx!

Well done! You have some awesome videos on Yosemite. People need to go to your channel for advice on Yosemite. 👍. Well done Doug.

Oh buy the way, your video is awesome Thank you

This is great stuff! Very well done video that helps me breakdown such a huge park. Going soon for 5 days, so this was perfect! Might just follow it to a tee!

Thank you for your detailed itinerary! Can’t wait to go!

I just got back from a pretty meh trip to Yosemite. Tioga Pass was closed, Glacier Point and many other roads had delays due to road work, it was peak tourist season so completely overcrowded unless I got there before dawn, we were low on gas money due to that aforementioned Tioga road closure forcing us to take a massive detour, and worst of all, a nearby wildfire had filled up Yosemite Valley with smoke so you literally couldn't even see the iconic features or hike at all due to the air quality. We had 4 days in fish camp and spent half that time in the lodge, and only ended up going on one hike, a short 2 mile hike to the Mariposa Sequioa Grove. I really wish we had watched your video! The whole trip was pretty poorly planned, we were having a hard time finding things to do in the park that weren't in the valley or along Tioga Road and didn't have much gas to burn so we ended up just not going there much. We still had an awesome time seeing more of the Sierra, though

Just Awesome. Very comprehensive.

Agreed on Half Dome, that's something to get a permit for, then train and train and train, do it in a day, have pizza at Curry Village, get your T shirt and get a lot of sleep that night to recover. :)

Great video Doug! Very informative with great advice. The only thing possibly missing that I might add based on what I've read about Yosemite is a visit to Mariposa Grove to see the Sequoias near the South entrance. It looks like there are some nice loop hikes there. We are going to Yosemite for the first time this spring and wondering what you think about adding a stop to Mariposa Grove?

Very informative. Heading to Yosemite from the south entrance from Hwy 41. I have children so considering a more friendly family hike, I will do Day 1 as you describe covering the valley, sleep that night in the valley and then continue Day 2 over at Glacier Road into Sentinel Dome and to Glacier Point, skipping Taft point as I think the cliff there might not be safe for children. Then heading back south to Hwy 41. Coming in a couple of weeks. Thanks a million.

Thank you. This was super informative and well done!

Need to make it to Yosemite now! Thanks for sharing!

I just did the Vernal and Nevada falls hike and sentinel dome yesterday. I wish I could see more but we had to go back.

Great job again !!!!

Thank you for this information. Your videos are excellent. Lots of great detail! We will definitely be trying to find those fish tacos, too! Would love to get an opinion on some of the hikes in Tuolumne Meadows area, as well. Any recommendations there? What about in Wawona?

North Dome is another great hike, be sure to wzlk a littleway down thedome, away from other persons

Thank you for all your work on this. Incredibly helpful.

Well done! 👏

Excellent video. I hiked to the base of El Capitan this summer...pretty cool experience. You skipped one of my favorite hikes in the park though...North Dome. The hike itself is definitely nothing to write home about, but the views of Half Dome at the end are out of this world!

Will definitely follow your suggestions for 2 day itinerary, going there mid October. Thank you!

Best video for someone totally new to Yosemite. Helps learn and plan Yosemite trip. One question: For El Capitan Base Hike, where would be the nearest parking spot from either side of the hike? I found little parking area (4-5 car) parking side of the road driving from Lower Yosemite falls, nothing besides that. Thank you

This is like my 100th time watching this lol im about 1 month away from being at Yosemite. Im doing Nevada falls and now I need to figure what Yosemite Valley Loop trail to do 😂

The video I needed, thank you!

Most helpful video. Thank you!

I was going to add mariposa grove/sequoia section in addition to the 2 day sights that you recommended when I go to yosemite next June for 3.5 days