Best Itinerary for 48 Hours in Yosemite National Park
Today I want to share my itinerary for spending 48 hours in Yosemite National Park. This is one of my favorite places to travel in California, not least because of the astounding natural beauty. From waterfalls to hiking trails and giant sequoias, there's no shortage of inspiration to be found here. Read on for my itinerary for 2 days in Yosemite. I've included a map, too.
48 Hours in Yosemite
Famed for its dramatic natural scenery, Yosemite National Park is one of my favorite places in the world to get outdoors. Whether I'm in the mood for hiking, chasing waterfalls, going for scenic drives, or just getting into nature, there's something that appeals in this part of the Sierra Nevada mountains. I've been coming here all my life, and I can't get enough of it.
Most visitors stick to Yosemite Valley, where there are great views of Half Dome and El Capitan. Waterfalls like Bridalveil Fall and Yosemite Falls are visible right from the valley floor. Yosemite Village has great shops and restaurants, too. Cultural highlights like the Ansel Adams Gallery and The Ahwahnee hotel round out the scene.
But it's worth seeing more of the park than just the valley, and on this trip my friend and I are determined to do just that. We've been to high country before, so we're basing ourselves in Wawona this time. We're going to spend part of our time in the valley and part of our time in Wawona, and we can't wait to see what both places have in store for us.
Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park
We've booked a room at the historic Wawona Hotel. Located just inside the south entrance of Yosemite National Park, it features beautiful Victorian architecture and expansive verandas. The sweeping grounds are dotted with Adirondack chairs, and the dining room has a sense of heritage.
The Wawona Hotel is a national historic landmark. Made up of 6 buildings, its rooms feature antique furnishings and authentic period decor. Outside there's a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a golf course.
There are stables offering horseback rides nearby, and the area offers plenty of hiking and walking trails. The famous Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is just down the road, too.
If you want to follow in our footsteps, make sure to reserve your stay well in advance. Accommodation inside Yosemite National Park is in high demand. If you miss out, you can see other options in and around the park here. I've stayed everywhere from Yosemite View Lodge to Mariposa Lodge, the Chateau du Sureau, and Red Tail Ranch, and I've loved them all.
Sunday
After a 4-hour drive from San Francisco, we arrive in Yosemite in the early afternoon. The journey has taken us to the south entrance on the western side of the park. We've come on a Sunday to avoid the usual Bay Area traffic, and soon we find ourselves in Wawona.
We check into our room at the Wawona Hotel, reveling in the sense of history and imagining all the people who have come here since the first building went up in the 1870s. We walk around outside, taking in the expansive lawns and California poppies as the Sierra Nevada sunshine welcomes us to the national park.
When we've finished exploring the grounds, we continue our 48 hours in Yosemite by setting off to go hiking for the afternoon. We've found two trails near the hotel that appeal, and we're excited to see what Yosemite's paths will reveal to us.
Wawona Meadow Loop
The first of our hikes in Yosemite is the Wawona Meadow Loop. Located near Fish Camp, it's one of the easiest in the park. Not only is it in walking distance of our hotel, but it's also a great place to warm up our legs for the more challenging trails.
It's beautiful, too. The 3.5-mile circular path leads us under towering trees as we make our way around Wawona Meadow. The clearing is full of seasonal wildflowers, and we spot everything from orange poppies to purple lupine as we go.
The Wawona Meadow Loop takes us around 75 minutes to complete, and when we're done we're in the mood for more.
Chilnualna Falls Trail
We continue our 48 hours in Yosemite with a short drive over to the Chilnualna Falls Trailhead. It's located at the start of a challenging 8.2-mile round-trip path that goes straight up into the mountains and rewards hikers with amazing views of the falls and Wawona Dome.
Open year-round, this trail is a great place to see Yosemite's famous waterfalls without the masses that crowd the ones in Yosemite Valley. The route goes past five impressive waterfalls that make for good stopping points along the way. There are plenty of breaks in the tree line that offer views of the granite peaks in the distance, too.
We hike as far up the Chilnualna Falls Trail as daylight permits, then head back down. We love seeing the falls and taking in the panoramas of Wawona as we go. It's refreshingly uncrowded, which is a nice break from some of the busier trails in the national park, too.
Dinner
Our 2 days in Yosemite continue with dinner back at the Wawona Hotel. We settle in at a table in the historic dining room, hungry for sustenance after a big afternoon of hiking in the park. The service is friendly and the meal goes down a treat. It's a great way to end the first day of our trip.
Monday
The next morning we wake up early and ask the hotel to pack us a boxed lunch. We're off on another big day of hiking, and we can't wait to see what Yosemite reveals to us.
Mist Trail Hike in Yosemite
We drive into Yosemite Valley, the best-known part of the national park. Surrounded on all sides by waterfalls and rock faces, it's straight out of a nature fairy tale.
After taking in the famous vista from Tunnel View, we drive out to Curry Village to ascend the iconic Mist Trail. One of the best hikes in Yosemite, it starts from the valley floor and works its way up to two of the most spectacular waterfalls in the area.
Making it to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall is a rite of passage for many visitors, and I've done it on every trip since I was a child.
We ascend the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Fall, climbing the famous 600-step rock staircase through wet rainbows to the top. After letting the view percolate, we continue to Nevada Fall. The uphill climb is worth the energy, not least because the valley looks even more stunning from way up here.
We enjoy a picnic lunch at the top, marveling at the natural beauty around us. It's a beautiful day, and the granite is glistening in the sun.
We could continue to Half Dome after lunch, but we opt to follow a 4-mile section of the John Muir Trail back down to Curry Village. We want to pay homage to the naturalist for whom the trail is named, not least because he successfully lobbied for the creation of Yosemite National Park.
I once visited John Muir's birthplace in Dunbar, Scotland, and I can't wait to hike on the trail after seeing where he grew up. I'm not disappointed. The views of Nevada Fall are amazing.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
After finishing the hike, our 48 hours in Yosemite continue with a drive back to the southern part of the park. We're here to see the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. It's home to the largest group of sequoia trees in the national park, and there are over 500 mature ones.
We hop on the free shuttle from the parking lot at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, then spend the afternoon hiking. There's a range of trails here, from the easy Big Trees Loop to more challenging ones that go into the upper reaches of the grove.
We hike along the Mariposa Grove Trail and Guardians Loop Trail. As we ascend the 1,200 feet to Wawona Point, we spot a number of famous sequoias. From the California Tunnel Tree to the Faithful Couple, Bachelor, Three Graces, Telescope Tree, and Clothespin Tree, it's awe-inspiring to see the giants up close.
When we reach the overlook at Wawona Point, we're rewarded with spectacular views of everything from the South Fork of the Merced River to Wawona Meadow and Wawona Dome. It's a great reward for our efforts.
Dinner
After leaving the Mariposa Grove, we head back to the Wawona Hotel. We have dinner in the dining room, enjoying a filling meal while recounting our day and recalling our favorite moments.
Tuesday
The next morning our itinerary for 48 hours in Yosemite continues with breakfast and an early morning check-out from the hotel. There's one last hike we want to do before we leave the park, and we can't wait to hit the trail.
Yosemite Falls Trail
We drive back into Yosemite Valley to take on another challenging hike. The Yosemite Falls Trail starts on the valley floor and climbs a steep set of switchbacks before reaching Lower Yosemite Falls 1.5 miles later.
The climb is tough, but it's worth it for the views of Half Dome and the tendrils of mist pouring down the cliff face. As soon as it comes into view, we stand in awe of its majestic beauty.
The trail continues to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls, North America's tallest waterfall. Sadly, we don't have time to complete it. But given how beautiful it is, we're happy to have a reason to come back to Yosemite again someday soon.
48 Hours in Yosemite National Park
We hike back down the switchbacks, arriving at the parking lot in time to make the journey back to San Francisco by the afternoon. It's been an amazing 2 days in Yosemite, and we can't wait to see what our next trip has in store for us.
Yosemite Itinerary Map
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all the places on my Yosemite itinerary. You can see it here. I hope it helps you plan a great getaway to the national park.
2 Days in Yosemite
If you want more inspiration, you can take a look at my other Yosemite itineraries. From a weekend trip to a Yosemite itinerary for 3 days and a guide to spending 4 days in the national park, they'll give you lots of great ideas for how to spend your time here. I'm sure you'll enjoy visiting as much as I have.
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