Hi all!

I just booked a flight into SFO and plan to go to the Yosemite area later on this month.

I've never been out there before, and am looking for advice on what all is doable in that time frame.

I've persued the other topics related to Yosemite, but I was wondering if the time frame is enough to allow a trip to Kings Canyon and or Sequoia National Parks.

Anybody care to weigh in on what the 'can't miss' areas are that can be seen in 4 days or so?

Thanks!

Never been there.

Have watched this however ...

http://stevekossack.com/DVD/cart.htm

Wrong season for you.

With just four days, I'd skip Sequoia & Kings Canyon; you'd end up spending a great deal of time just driving back and forth. There will be *plenty* to keep you busy for four days in Yosemite if you do some hiking; if you don't hike but just want to drive, you can do Kings Canyon one day.

Must-sees (in my humble opinion):
(1) Wander the trails and meadows of the valley, looking up.
(2) Drive to Glacier Point for the view (there are some fine hikes along the way, too, to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point).
(3) Hike the John Muir trail from the valley past Vernal Falls to Nevada falls.
(4) Tunnel View (the parking area outside the tunnel on the 41); to avoid the tourist hordes, take the trail that leaves from across the street up several switchbacks, and you'll get the same view without the hordes of people around you (the beginning is steep, however; wear good shoes).
(5) Drive the 120 into the high country, and hike to Cathedral Lakes (both of them). Overland it from Upper Cathedral Lake to the ridge overlooking Lower Cathedral Lake. (It's a sizeable drive; allow all day.) Stop at Olmstead Point for the view on the way there, and look for marmots there too (there are often some hanging around).

If you'd really like to see Seqouias, there are a couple of groves in Yosemite.

I'd go online to see if the park service has a park map available, so you can do some planning ahead of time.

However, Yosemite Valley is VERY crowded in summer. Be forewarned. Be patient and get in to get a parking space EARLY.

Where are you planning to stay? You're extremely unlikely to find anything available in the park at this point. Of the various towns outside the park, El Portal is the closest to the valley. However, there's been a lot of construction on the roads leading into the park from the west lately, with a lot of delays - check the park service web site and/or the Caltrans web site before making lodging reservations to avoid the roads with the worst delays.

Lisa

Pick up a copy of "Photographing Yosemite" by Michael Frye, it is full of good advice on locations and when to best photograph them. I just returned from the park 2 weeks ago, stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal. It was convienient, but had to travel through the road construction each day which was a major pain. Highway 140 was closed Sun - Thurs from 10PM -6AM, with 30 min minimum delays when it was open.
Regardless, it is a beautiful place with endless photo opportunties.
Dave

Tuna,
I'd suggest adding Mariposa Grove at the southern end of Yosemite Park to your "to do" list. It will show you what the Giant Sequoia trees are like without having to go to Sequoia Nat'l Park. Driving there and to Glacier point in the same trip up from the Valley would make a great 4-6 hour loop.
Brad

Just one more comment: If you find the valley too crowded this time of year, just head a mile or two out any trail and the density of humans will drop dramatically. (Though the Vernal/Nevada Falls trail and the Yosemite Falls trail are probably the most popular ones, so the density may still be substantial; other trails, like the 4-Mile trail and the Snow Creek trail from behind Mirror Lake are much less crowded in my experience, as are any high country trail.)

Lisa

Thanks everybody for all the advice (esp. nniko!)!

I have a feeling I'm going to wish the trip were longer....

If at all possible, I would postpone your trip to Yosemite until September or October, after the kids are back in school. During the summer months, it is packed!

Sherri

http://www.sherrimeyer.com

Sherry,

thanks for the advice. I'm sure I will go again when the kids aren't around, but I've never been to Yosemite and I just NEED to go..I will try to avoid the touristy areas as much as possible. Two days till I leave, can't wait!