overnight backpacking trip april 4

[stusinc]

planning to head to yosemite valley for an overnight backpacking trip first weekend of april. looking for 5-10 miles/day either out-and-back or point-to-point. trying to maximize views/scenery and minimize crowds (realizing these are usually mutually exclusive). also, looking for a camping location with reliably flat land for tents and easy access to water. does anyone have any experience or advice with any of the following areas in the valley?
north rim: top of snow creek falls/mt watkins, north dome, yosemite point (potential point-to-point from mirror lake to camp 4?)
south rim: glacier point (hoping this will be relatively quiet due to road closure? or is this area overrun regardless of time of year?), sentinel dome, dewey point

any tips/advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

[balzaccom]

Both are lovely routes, but unless you do them as out and backs, they will go beyond your five miles a day by quite a bit.

Snow Creek is one steep trail, with great views of Half Dome, Glacier Point, Cloud's Rest on the way up. You'll notice those, because you'll be stopping to catch you breath....once you get to the top. Watkins, North Dome, etc are wonderful areas to explore.

Dewey Point is one of my all-time fave day-hikes for Yosemite. The views can't be beat. You'd leave the Valley near the Tunnel, and it's about five or six miles up to Dewey Point. Bear in mind that the views along this trail are not great unless you get out on one of the points. Most of the trail is back from the rim a bit.

A third option you might consider would be Hetch-hetchy to Rancheria Falls...lovely hike along the reservoir, waterfalls, etc. And the elevation is lower, so if we are lucky enough to get a big snow between now and then, you might still have a clear route.