“I want to see fall colors today, so I’m thinking about doing a day trip to Yosemite today. Want to come? I’ll do all the driving.” This was presented to me at Sunday breakfast by Cousin R. My husband had work to do, but my oldest and I saw this as a fun, unexpected adventure. Plus, I would not have to do any of the driving. That is how we found ourselves doing a day trip to Yosemite National Park in October, one of the most famous National Parks in the country. That day, we saw the grand Sierras, the breathtaking granite cliffs and waterfalls, the famous Half Dome, and a gorgeous array of fall colors. We got to enjoy one of the most picturesque areas of the world and appreciate why we love living in California.
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- Why We Went
- About Yosemite National Park
- What We Saw
- What I Would Do Differently
- What to Bring
- Other Tips
Why We Went
Our trip to Yosemite was a completely impromptu day trip. For some reason, in the 20 years I have lived in California I never made it to Yosemite. My husband is not the outdoorsy type, I was always scared off by the summer crowds, and I thought Yosemite required a lot of planning. When Cousin R came over suggesting the trip, knowing where to go, and offering to do all the work, I was sold. I convinced my reluctant oldest that the drive would not be that bad (I may have underestimated it), and they agreed to join us. That is how we found ourselves leaving the Bay Area in the late morning for a day adventure.
About Yosemite National Park
One of the first National Parks to be declared as a protected federal land area by Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and then declared a National Park by an act of Congress in 1890. Yosemite is known for its spectacular granite spires and sheer cliffs cut by glaciers in the last ice age. While driving through the famous Yosemite Valley you see granite cliffs, tall waterfalls that fall from nowhere, and miles and miles of trees. It is one of the most visited National parks and saw over four million visitors in 2024.
What We Saw
Yosemite Valley
Once you enter the park, the main roads take you to Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is actually only 1% of the park but the most visited part. Here you will find roads lined with the shear granite cliffs and give you the best views of the major geographical sites of the park. While driving through the Valley you not only see all the beautiful cliffs looming overhead, but you also see the Merced River that flows through.
Since we were there in October, this was when we saw the vast array of fall colors. This is different than fall on the east coast. Since much of the vegetation is always green, you see a mix of colors and a lot of green, unlike in the East, where you see a much great fix of various colors. However, for someone who misses east coast fall, it was nice to see it here in California.
Bridal Falls
We did get out and do the Bridal Falls Trail, which was a short ½ mile round trip hike that was easy and paved. At the viewpoint, you can see the light stream as it plunges over the edge of the high cliff. From the end of the trail, there are rocks that several tourists (including my oldest and cousin R) scrambled out to get a closer look.
Swinging Bridge Picnic Area
We stopped at this area because it was close to the water and Cousin R wanted to go in. From here you get a stunning view of Yosemite Falls, but what is fun is walking the bridge, and getting close to the Merced River skipping rocks with the granite cliffs in the background.
Yosemite Falls
Another beautiful falls, from afar you think you are looking at one waterfall. But as you get closer, you see it is closer to Multnomah Falls, where there is actually an upper and lower waterfall. We got out and hiked on the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, which was another easy, paved trail that is one-mile round trip. At the end, you get a closer look at the lower falls, and more rocks for your adventurous ones to climb and get a closer look at the falls.
Half Dome
Half Dome is one of the most famous mountains in Yosemite. This is the formation serious rock climbers and hikers come to conquer. Most casual tourists, like us, stop at various places in the valley to see the massive rock that towers almost 5,000 feet over the valley floor. It gets its name from the round side that seems cut in half by nature millions of years ago. We stopped at a few places to get photos of the massive structure towering over the rest of the cliffs and valley.
Curry Village
At the end of the Valley is Curry Village. We stopped here originally to get photos of Half Dome, but by the time we got there the sun was setting and we were not able to get as much as we wanted. We were also hungry, so we went in and discovered this was a great place to stop. Started by David and Jennie Curry in 1899, this was the locations of one of the first permanent lodgings at Yosemite. Now it contains the lodging and several different eateries. We were at the park during the government shutdown, but the overnight accommodations and food locations are run by private contractors and were up and running. Everyone was able to get food that fits their desire, and the adults got local beers that were on tap. It had clean restrooms and plenty of seating. It was the perfect place to get dinner and soak in all we had seen during the day.
What I Would Do Differently
As I mentioned, this was an impromptu trip. It was not planned. Due to the last-minute nature, there were a few things we had done differently, and would do next time.
- I would leave earlier: We did not leave until 11 am because we decided to go as we were out for breakfast. With charging stops (Cousin R has an electric vehicle) we did not get into Yosemite until almost 4pm. That gave us only two and a half hours of sunlight in the Valley. We got to see a lot at that time, but if we had left earlier, we would have had much more time to explore. I saw on GetYourGuide that they do have day trips from San Francisco. They leave at 6 AM and are 15 hours long.
- I would check out where things are on the drive: Because I was embracing the impromptu road trip, I had conversations, played our tunes, and bought snacks at the rest stops. I did not take any time to even glance at the website to see what to see. I somehow missed El Capitan. I think I have pictures of it, but I am not sure. I would at least glance at the website to see what to see when I’m there.
What To Bring
There is not much you need to bring for a day trip, but there are lots of things that could make it a much more pleasant trip:
- Good shoes for walking and/or hiking: While we did a lot of driving, we also did a little hiking. There are fun rocks to climb if you have the right shoes as well. If you are doing some of the more strenuous hikes, you will want to have proper hiking shoes. My oldest and I went in our normal Sketchers Go Walk sneakers and that worked for our level of hiking.
- Layers: The weather changes quite a big in the Valley and during the day. Make sure you have layers to take off and put on. We each brought sweatshirts to have with us that helped keep us warm as the sun started to set.
- A good raincoat: In case of rain or getting close to the waterfalls, my oldest and I brought our trusty Columbia raincoats. Unfortunately, we ended up needing them.
- Plenty of snacks: There are not many places to stop and get food in the park. Be prepared with some granola bars, some trail mix, or some chocolate for a treat. Just remember never to leave any trash on the trail.
- Your best camera and a tripod: If you have a DSLR this is the place to take it out. I used my husband’s Nikon D5600 and grabbed some gorgeous shots. I also used this Camstrap Voyager camera strap I actually got for him for Christmas, and it was awesome for distributing the weight of the camera from the neck. I also brought my trust selfie stick/tripod for timed shots. I wish I had brought the tripod for the DSLR to take some shots at night that require a steadier hand.
- A headlamp: It gets really dark at night. But what can take you by surprise is when the sun is setting and parts of the trails get dark. I wish we had brought along our headlamp to use.
- A hiking bag: It is always good when you are on the trail to have a few essentials (snacks, water, headlamp, phone, etc.). We took easy hikes, so I used this sling bag that doubles as a camera bag. For longer hikes, you might want a proper hiking backpack with a camelback.
Other Tips
- If you are going to make this a Day Trip, leave early in the morning and either have someone who loves driving (like I did), more than one driver, or book a day tour from San Francisco through a tour company like GetYourGuide. It is really about four hours from the Bay Area, so it is a really long day trip. Otherwise, consider booking accommodation early in one of the lodges in Yosemite.
- Consider bringing sandwiches or another picnic lunch with you. Food and eateries within the park are far apart, and there are so many beautiful picnic areas in the park. Enjoy sitting under the granite cliffs and the trees all around as you enjoy your lunch.
- Check out the hikes and trailheads ahead of time. The Yosemite website has many of the hikes listed and have how easy or strenuous they are. It will help you figure out what you want to see and do when you are in Yosemite.
As we were leaving Curry Village it was dark and long past sunset. We stopped at a pullout along the way back and turned off the car lights to see all the array of stars in the sky, more than we would ever see at home. Standing in the dark I got to appreciate this beautiful state we live in and understand where I stand in this vast world. I never do impromptu. The day brought lessons in beauty, in nature, in flexibility, acceptance, and appreciation for the world we live in. I now understand why so many are obsessed with this beautiful park. I cannot wait to return and explore more.
Edited by: SKS