Wow. We aren't going until end of June/first of July. We know some things for sure that we want to do:

Go down the Merced either in our raft or in a rental.

Enjoy a few of their evening programs.

Eat a Philly Cheesesteak at the Lodge.

Go for a night bikeride.

Do the Mist Trail.

Go up to Glacier Point.

See the giant Sequoias.

Ride the free bus at night.

Go for rides in the early morning to see the valley as it is waking up.

And, before we hit Yosemite, I am hoping to check out the Devil's Postpile, some hot springs, Crowley Lake, and whatever else we can find out that way. {now this area, I need to research...I think that Bodie is actually out of the way....:( }

postpile is weird looking. doesnt seem at all natural to me, even after they explained it
totally worth the trip IMO

I've seen it before, can't remember its' story. But, this time I want to go on top of it. *gack* the guy who does the shows of CA, did a show on Mammoth and he was on the top. I've seen from the bottom and, yes, it doesn't seem natural.

But, I've seen this somewhere else, I can't quite recall where. It wasn't in a large scale as the Postpile {nor was it even compared} but it looked familiar.

I skipped your list because I really don't want to think about it. I'll get there, settle in, and then decide what to do. I may end up sitting on my ass for four days or I may end up crawling all over the valley. I probably won't go to the lodge if I can avoid it (nothing like a giant hotel next door to ruin the feeling of camping).

Well, then I'll say this for MouseWife's sake.


My favorite hike/stroll in the Park is on the cliffs above the Valley, with the trailhead located on the road to Glacier Point. This hike, which features only one difficult section, is better than Glacier Point by far.

It's a loop which first goes out a tangent to a spot called The Fissures, which are a series of five gaping cracks in the cliff where you can look straight down to oblivion. Right nearby is beautiful Taft Point, with its fantastic view of El Capitan.

The hike backtracks a bit, through a beautiful fern valley, and then downhill through a lovely forest till it reaches and parallels the rim of Yosemite Valley, with stunning views directly across to Yosemite Falls.

Then the trail heads uphill and comes to the base of Sentinal Dome. There's a stunning view of Half Dome from here and, if you climb to the top of Sentinel Dome (not really that arduous), you are afforded a spectacular 360-degree panorama of Yosemite Valley and the Sierras.

Returning to the bottom of Sentinel Dome, there's a short cut path (not very scenic) leading back to the Parking Area where the loop began. It's about a 4 mile trek, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. After the Mist Trail, absolutely the best hike in the Park ... and far easier.

Thank you! Oh, do you recall the name of this? I have a book full of hikes/trails. Easier than the Mist trail with all of those views? The Hubster may have taken this hike before...well, he took the one where you get on to it from the valley floor. Not the same, eh? He's done the Panorama but I don't think I'll venture that far.

I want to do a lot of hiking, but, not suffer so much with it. :D

I do like to plan because I don't want to forget anything and love to try new places. We found a trail last time, purely by accident. Found it by the new trail by the lower falls. We had my daughter and husband with us and hadn't planned on such a hike. It was a good work out, steep. But, nothing really to look at. It ended up behind the Ansel Adams gallery, just east of it.

I am not looking forward to the heat. I have been spoiled by the cool temps in the winter/spring. Ack! I don't even have any shorts out yet!

Alex, sorry if my list turned you off. I understand but I am really excited and am eager for any suggestions.

LOL I am just the opposite. A lodge is quite the welcome sight. :D I have a night with a cabin w/o a bath and am trying daily to get upgraded {I am 90% sure I'll get upgraded...} and the next two days in a cabin. I'd rather stay in the Lodge but nothing available.

AND I have to fess up. I leaned towards Crowley Lake because I didn't want to have to lug all of the gear up for just two nights of camping and then still have to carry all of the things we'll use on the rest of our trip. PITA

I am really going to study the maps, though, and see what we can do while we are up there. Who knows where we'll end up those days we don't have set reservations?

Wow, you are my kind of camper. I make few plans. I usually end up doing a LOT, and if I don't - I probably needed to do not-a-lot.

I like to plan stuff far in advance ... and then forget about it all. About a week out from any trip, I'll start getting preparations ready ... but the plans are old and hopefully not contemplated much in the lead-up to doing the stuff that I don't want to have overthought.


Mousewife, s'far as I know ... that trail is called The Taft Point / Sentinel Dome Loop. The trailhead and parking area are along the Glacier Point road, with decent signage, and should be clearly marked on any trail map of the park.

Thank you much, iSm. I will write that one down.

I over plan. Then, I only do a few things. I never do everything I plan to. That is why I have to keep going back. :D

I will look up places, see what there is around there to do, print up a bunch of info, make up a 'travel book' for only the places we'll be going to {that huge AAA book is too much} and if we go to those places, I let the gang know what we can do and then we decide what we will do.

Well, the more we go the less I need to carry but new trails {thank you, iSm} are always welcome because I want to explore as much as I can.

iSm~ I found the information about the hike your recommended.

I also found a few others on that website. Seems I have some new hikes to fill my days.

{they are all easy-moderate, too!} ;)

Thanks for the tip!