Highlights of Yosemite in one weekend

Our Local Expert Says:

A social place for pie and brew with a view.

Description:

The pizza deck is a lively place in the summer, with families milling and sports fans swilling.  Big screen TV's draw lots of folks for basketball playoffs in the spring and Giants or A's games all summer.  All manner of draft and bottled beer and filling pizza is available for recovering from a day on the trail.  The view up to Glacier Point overhead is tasty, too.  The cafeteria is right next door, as is the outdoor amphitheater for evening programs in the summer.  Closed in winter.

Description:

Called Camp Curry in the old days, this rustic summer facility in Yosemite Valley pre-dates the establishment of Yosemite National Park.  Scores of tent cabins, cabins without bath, and cabins with bath comprise lodgings for hundreds of people.  There's a swimming pool, large cafeteria, a coffee corner, a pizza deck, a taco stand, and a small camper's grocery/gift store.  The climbing school is based here, within the Mountain Shop.  A large outdoor amphitheater features nightly programs in the summer.  Raft and bike rentals are nearby.  A few cabins are open in winter, as is an ice rink. 

Description:

This casual eatery is an all-you-can-eat buffet serving breakfast and dinner. Here, each member of your group can find something tasty for a filling meal. You will find bacon and eggs, sandwiches and various entrees including beef and chicken. There are pastries and often cakes, as well as fresh fruit, salads, vegetables, coffee, tea and other non-alcoholic beverages. The dining room is large and has floor-to-ceiling windows providing a view of the park.

Description:

This very strenuous, seven-mile round-trip hike gains almost 2,000 feet in elevation. Start at Happy Isles Shuttle Stop Number 16 and work your way through the crowds visiting Vernal Falls.  Above Vernal you get a breather, cross the river and resume climbing switchbacks adjacent to Nevada's roar. As you climb the gully, you will be treated to a nice profile of Nevada Falls. Be sure to bring water, and wear a hat as well as comfortable walking shoes or boots. Parts of the trail loop are closed in winter. For your safety, it is recommended that you complete this hike before dark.  Be very careful at the top of Nevada; too many people have been lulled into the gentle water above the falls and ended badly.

Description:

A Yosemite tradition this huge and elegant dining room somehow feels intimate, despite its 34-foot ceilings. For breakfast, you can choose from frittatas or omelets, or enjoy a variety of salads or sandwiches for lunch. The dinner menu features entrees such as Salmon Ahwahnee served with Dungeness crab with bearnaise sauce and wild rice. The restaurant has an extensive and award-winning wine list. Reservations are essential for dinner, and the evening dress code calls for jackets or sweaters for men older than 12 and dresses or pantsuits for women.

Description:

Called Camp Curry in the old days, this rustic summer facility in Yosemite Valley pre-dates the establishment of Yosemite National Park.  Scores of tent cabins, cabins without bath, and cabins with bath comprise lodgings for hundreds of people.  There's a swimming pool, large cafeteria, a coffee corner, a pizza deck, a taco stand, and a small camper's grocery/gift store.  The climbing school is based here, within the Mountain Shop.  A large outdoor amphitheater features nightly programs in the summer.  Raft and bike rentals are nearby.  A few cabins are open in winter, as is an ice rink. 

Description:

Start your day with a fancy espresso drink, a regular coffee or a pot of tea. Add a fresh baked pastry or two, and you will be in heaven. This spot is also perfect for relaxing after hiking and exploring the spectacular natural beauty of Yosemite. You will love the views here as you pause to contemplate all you have experienced. The clientele is a friendly bunch of campers, hikers and others visiting Curry Village. The coffee shop stays open all year.

Our Local Expert Says:

A must-stop in Yosemite Village

Description:

Yosemite's best known artist was trained as a classical pianist, but he married into a photography business and it is still run by the Ansel Adams family today.  The Gallery is located in Yosemite Village, right next to the Valley Visitor Center, and it's open all year.  Whether you're a photographer or not, the Gallery is worth a visit, for some unique shopping, rotating exhibits of various artists and photographers (many local), and a look at some of the master's work on display.  There is jewelry, Native American craftwork, help with camera issues, a great selection of Yosemite and other books, as well as posters, videos, postcards, fine art prints, ceramics, etc.
Free camera walks go out with a local pro each morning in spring, summer and fall; reservations are strongly advised.  High-level photography workshops are described on the Gallery's website.  Ansel's inspiration lives on strongly in the digital age. 

Our Local Expert Says:

A dramatic view worth the trip.

Description:

Glacier Point is the only spot on the rim of Yosemite Valley to which one can drive in a car.  It provides a breath-taking view almost 3000' down to the floor of Yosemite Valley, and of the high country stretching miles to the east.  Waterfalls, domes, miles of granite, snowfields, Half Dome, meadows and forests comprise the view.
The drive is 16 miles from Hwy. 41, with only the last few being slow and winding, down into the big parking lot.  There are restrooms and a gift/snack shop.  Rangers are on duty to answer questions and point out the landmarks that are visible from here: the Clark Range, Nevada and Vernal Falls, Tenaya Canyon, Yosemite Falls, North Dome, and Curry Village.  Plan on being here at least an hour, take the stroll out to the point, proper, for the scary view straight down to the Valley floor. 
Tour buses come up from Yosemite Lodge each summer morning and some hikers will walk down the Four-Mile Trail (4.6 miles) or the Panorama Trail (8.5 miles) past two huge waterfalls.  If you hike down, there is no shuttle back up.
While it's open all year, the Point can only be reached by cars between late May and mid-November.  XC skiers can stay in the hut (for a fee) in winter. 

Description:

Degnan's is a social hub for Yosemite Village and it's overflowing at lunchtime.  There's a lot to chose from, but their sandwich selection (all named for park landmarks) is great and the soups are just the thing on a chilly mountain day.  Lots of beverage fridges, ice cream novelties, chips and candy can round out a meal for a picnic table outside or will fill your daypack for a hike to Mirror Lake or up Yosemite Falls.  Open year-round. 

Description:

This trail begins from the Glacier Point parking area and descends to the Happy Isles area of Yosemite Valley. The trail is eight and a half miles long one way with a descent of 4,000 feet. A shuttle is ideal to reach your starting point from Happy Isles. Hikers will enjoy the views from this trail, which begin upon leaving the trailhead.

Description:

This trail begins from the Camp Four Campground or the Yosemite Lodge parking area via the north side Valley Floor Trail. It is steep with more than 125 switchbacks to reach the Upper Yosemite Falls overlook. The falls flow best during the spring and early summer months. You'll find signs that direct you toward the trailhead, which is a half-mile west of the much busier Lower Yosemite Falls area.  The trail ascends immediately with dozens of short switchbacks leading up the northern valley wall. The first mile ends at Columbia Rock, which provides sweeping views of the Yosemite Valley, that include Half Dome and Sentinel Rock. There's a short traverse along a cliff bench, then you continue up. The view of the falls improves as the trail climbs and transits an exposed gully prone to rock falls. A trail junction at the rim separates the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail from the Eagle Peak Trail. Follow the signs, going right to reach the hairy falls overlook. Whew!  Save some gas for the long trek back down the trail. 
Some people do the round-trip in 3 hours; others will want to make a day of it.  Bring plenty of water, food, sun protection and sturdy shoes for this rocky, bony, stony trail.