3-4 day Yosemite trip help

[billyOTS]

Me and my friends, 4-5 in total, are trying to plan out a trip in late july and early august and would appreciate suggestions for a trip. We're looking to do 20-30 miles round trip and are all beginner hikers. We're trying to find somewhere a little less crowded.

Thank you

[AlmostThere]

Define "less crowded." In terms of crowds, Yosemite is more likely to have more people on the trail than other wilderness areas. Not the sort of crowds you get in the valley, but more people than you'll see in say, southwestern Ansel Adams wilderness.

You could try for permits that take you around the High Sierra Camp loop - don't need reservations to eat there or stay in the camps, just a wilderness permit, and you would be seeing some awesome scenery. Not going to escape crowds, but it would be a nice introduction to backpacking.

Another option might be going up Chilnualna Falls and out to Chilnualna Lakes and back. Would be easier to get permits from that trailhead, and it would be less likely to be crowded. But it's not going to be as scenic either, in terms of Big Granite and alpine lakes.