2 Days One Night -- Yosemite!

[alisonrunner]

Hey there!

I am trying to plan a two day hike with one overnight in Yosemite with my boyfriend. We'd like to stay in the wilderness off a trail-- not one of the designated campgrounds. We've never been to Yosemite so definitely want to get some beautiful views, waterfalls etc with a moderately challenging hike. I thought that doing the full Panorama Trail one way on the first day, and going out and back the second day would be a nice trip, however I've learned you cannot stay anywhere on the Panorama Trail.

So, anyone have any recommendations for where to pitch a tent past the panorama trail? Is this even a good plan? I've done trips before but has always been planned by someone else, and didn't realize Yosemite had so many regulations! Would appreciate any advice/guidance anyone would like to offer! Thanks!

[balzaccom]

There are a ton of great trips in Yosemite...but only a few of them involve waterfalls and a short enough to do in a single weekend.

The first step you'll need to take: get a permit. If you are really serious about waterfalls, then your best bet will be to get a permit for SNow Creek trailhead. It is very steep for about 3-4 miles, with stunning views of Half Dome and Snow Creek Falls (go earlier in the summer for the falls) and then you can camp at the top, and hike back down the next day.

If you are negotiable--willing to give up the waterfalls for maybe a nice lake--then look at Ten Lakes Basin, Young Lakes, Cathedral Lakes . All of those will be hard to permit, because they are so popular. But you can almost always get a permit for the Murphys Creek Trailhead, and hike to Polly Dome lakes....

Or come in the East side and hike Twenty Lakes Basin, Sardine Lakes, or Virginia Lakes....lovely areas.

Check out our website for loads of hikes in Yosemite...the part is huge, and there are a million possibilties.