Day Hikes for Mid April, conditions?

[davis3md]

Hello! We are very much looking forward to our first visit to Yosemite. We will be there April 16-19, staying in West Yosemite, with a rental car.

We are interested in the following hikes:

Happy Isles to Top of Nevada Fall
Mariposa Grove (loop hike ~ 6 miles)

Will we be able to do these hikes at this time of year? Do you think the Mariposa Grove road will be open by then? Would we need snowshoes?

Are there any other short hikes you'd recommend? Anything beyond moderate difficulty would be too much for some members of the family.

Thank you so much for your help, this forum has been a big help in planning our trip.

[balzaccom]

You won't need snowshoes for Mariposa Grove. We were there a few weeks ago, and the main road to the Grove is well groomed and easy to walk in regular hiking shoes. You might need snowshoes to get back into the distant corners, but the trail was clear and easy to Grizzly Giant ...with lots of great sights on the way.

I would also look at hiking Hetch Hetchy--Wapama Falls is lovely, and easy to do this time of year.

[bill-e-g]

You can get to the top of Nevada Falls although the Mist Trail may
not be open yet to the top of Vernal.

Hit these in the Valley on the first days you are there (weekday):
Mirror Lake
Top of Vernal Falls
Lower Yosemite Falls
Bridalveil Falls

If no problems to top of Vernal then maybe you want to go to the
top of Nevada and then maybe also past Columbia Rock towards
the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. Check out a map..

Take your time and really enjoy the valley on the weekdays.
The water falls are really going now. Maybe head out of the valley
on the weekends and check out the Seq. Groves and Hetch Hetchy
if you want. Wapama is starting to flow nicely and the reservoir
is filling up...

Enjoy

[bill-e-g]

Mist trail is now open...