How much hiking do you want to do or can do?

You might consider taking the shuttle up to Glacier Point and then hiking down on the Panorama Trail and connect it up with The Mist Trail back down to the valley.

Good pictures at Mirror Lake. Personally, I think sunset and sunrise times are best for reflections, but the last time I said that on here,I had several disagree with me.

I would have a meal at The Awahnee, maybe Sunday Brunch.
I would also have a meal at The Wawonna while visiting the Maripossa Grove.

Spend a day maybe in Tioga Road/Tuomlumne Meadows area. Perhaps go see Hetch Hetchy.

It's all good!!

Have fun!

Alot of people skip Hetch Hetchy so it's a great place to go in the park to get away from crowds.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hetchhetchy.htm

More info about Hetch Hetchy:

http://www.hetchhetchy.org/

We just returned from Yosemite. Great photo opps are literally everywhere. The most spectacular views were at Glaciar Point, the view area prior to Glaciar Point, the tunnel view, and various view points in and around Tuolome Meadows. However the entire park is a photographer's paradise. You will be surprised how many of the buildings in the valley have not changed since you were last there. Have fun.

Hi, I am going in June and am a semi-pro photographer. I bought "The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite" by Michael Frye off of Ebay for $10.00. It is out of print as it is about 10 years old so you will have to get a used copy from Ebay or Amazon.(his new version comes out in August.)
True there are 2 out of date pages on film and sunrise/sunset charts are old but all other pages still apply to digital cameras.
The reason I got it is because he has maps with descriptions of good spots to go to for great views. He also mentions night sky and waterfall suggestions. I studied photography before the digital age so it doesn't bug me to see film mentioned. I think the location info and suggestions for settings in certain situations are helpful.
Don't forget a tripod, polarizing lens, and maybe graduated or neutral density filters. Some of the contrast/saturation can be tweaked in photo-editing though of course. Also don't forget protection for equipment on trails with really wet waterfalls. I am taking my little 6" tabletop tripod with me also to use when we do 2 really hard long hikes instead of my big one. I will use my regular one on short walks and in the valley.
There are plenty of photography forums out there discussing Yosemite, and Flickr and other such sites have great photo ideas.
I am gettiing my sunrise/sunset info ahead of time. On another thread, posters said they got lovely reflections of Mirror Lake in the afternoon as well. Unfortunately the amount of rain/snow is really down this year so I am crossing my fingers that the waterfalls are still flowing hard at the end of June.

I forgot to say that they do have a 4hr photography walk given by the Rangers but I read someone's post say that they spent 2 hours helping people learn how to use their cameras so if your wife knows what she is doing, that would be a waste of time.

We were there two summers ago for 4 days. If you skip Tuolomne Meadows you are missing half of the beauty of Yosemite. It is an Alpine Meadow environment and virtually above the tree line. You feel like you are on top of the world. There are magnificent granite half-domes to climb on and Waterwheel Falls is the most lovely, peaceful walk/swim. We hardly saw a soul versus the Valley which is magnificent, but crowded. It is a very special place.

Really appreciate the comments and suggestions!


Also interested in hiking suggestions (moderate rather than difficult), must see sights (only there 4 days), evening lectures with Rangers and any suggestions for our one night in Sonora.

Thanks!

I was there last June and also stayed at the Yosemite Lodge.

You already have reservations so I would call them and ask not to be placed in the building directly opposite the office. We were in that building. You're not allowed to park in "your" parking lot from 8AM to 8PM as it's reserved for tour busses. WHAT A PAIN!!!!! The rangers ticket you.

I had Frye's booklet and it was helpful.

Tioga Road/Tuomlumne Meadows wasn't open yet due to snow so I wasn't there.

I was somewhat disappointed with the sequoias as in my mind I thought there would be many more. Still, it's worth the visit.

Traffic can be a nightmare so plan your travel to not drive around between 4 and 6PM.

Go up to Glacier Rd and you can hike Sentinel Dome and Taft Point (couldn't get there and got lost in the snow) for some spectacular views. We also saw a bear up there.

Parking at Glacier Pt was impossible after early morning. For some reason most people pass Washburn Pt and tried for Glacier Pt. Very much the same views and in some respects better.

I drove around very early and avoided traffic that way and did very well. The valley is quite deep so sunrise and sunset may or may not be what you want.

I was there with my daughter and granddaughter so photography wasn't always first on the list.

I attended a photography walk put on the the Ansel Adams Gallery. The fellow who conducted the walk spent a lot of time trying to teach people with point-and-shoot cameras how to use them in manual mode. That didn't work out very well.

I wasn't interested in climbing to the top of Vernal Falls and beyond so I just went up half way to get photos. I had a rain jacket but I got drenched and each time I swung around to take a photo my camera got it as well. I kept drying it.

On the way back from Vernal Falls towards the bridge I noticed a small path about halfway. I wish I had seen it on the way out. It leads onto a very large rock and provides excellent views of the Falls.

You can see my photos at:

www.travelwalks.com

forgot to mention.

Other than for any distant wildlife you may see, your 18-105 is all that you need.

I used a Canon 15-85 lens.

We are staying in Sonora the night before we arrive in Yosemite and then 4 nights at Yosemite Lodge.

1. Can you suggest any hiking and/or photo ops for us in Sonora? Things to do?

2. Can you suggest an itinerary leaving early from Sonora and eventually ending at Yosemite Lodge?

Panorama Trail might be a good one for you. You take a shuttle to Glacier Point then hike back down to the valley. The last couple of mile are on the Mist Trail.

Still interested in our Day 1 itinerary considering that we will be coming from Sonora and leaving early in the morning.

Also anyone have any first hand experience hiking the Mist Trail?

Mist Trail is AWESOME!! Slightly strenuous going up. A bit slick at the waterfall. But nothing really to bad, IMOP. You don't notice the strain as the falls are that amazing. It is a crowded trail. To avoid the crowds, start as early as possible. If you can be at there at around 10:00am, chances of seeing rainbows(if sunny) are very good.

Hiking the Panorama Trail is much longer, but you don't have the elevation gain. Plus you get to see an additional waterfall and great views from Glacier Point. Hiking the Panorama would be better part of a day deal, because you have to take the shuttle and then a longer hike. Hiking just the Mist Trail can be done in 1/2 day or less. I

If you do just Mist Trail. I would go up on the Mist Trail and then back down on the John Muir Trail. We actually had sleet and snow at the top of Vernal Falls when we were there May 23 a couple of years ago.

Take snacks/or picnic lunch and eat at falls for a good long break and enjoy the view.

DO IT!!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0IatW7FqybsWV5

Link to my photos from that week. Several of the Mist Trail, starting on PIC #19 and ending on 38

Thanks Spirobulldog for the wonderful photos and the helpful info on Mist trail! How many miles roundtrip would you estimate the Mist Trail/John Muir Trail is?

I see that you use a walking stick. How helpful is this and where can I purchase one or two since we don't live in California.

Also saw the photo of what looked like an incredible Pizza! Where is this place and do you have any other dining suggestions?

Thanks for the encouraging words!

You can buy hiking sticks about any sporting goods store-Academy, Dick's Sporting Goods, etc. Places like REI have the better poles. Even Walmart has some.
My wife uses one. It is a bit helpful, but I don't use one as it seems just something else to carry. Some people like to use two. It is a good while on slick rocks caused by the mist. Do take some type of rain protection, as it is pretty darn misty. Same can be said at Bridal Veil Falls too.

There is a little Pizza spot right in Yosemite Valley. I think it was at Curry Village. The pizza was as good as it looks. Very good pizza for a walk-up national park place.


Here is a website with good hiking suggestions.
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/mist-trail/mist-trail.htm

I use a walking stick for hiking - one. I got my first one at Big 5 and when I lost that I got a pair (which I share with my DD) at REI. the former was cheaper and definitely adequate.

Unless you are really into heavy duty hiking - you can make your own hiking sticks if you want. Just drill a hole in the end of a pole and put a little piece of leather (shoelace) through it. No problemo.

Otherwise - Big 5 is always way cheaper (with adequate quality) - than REI, and the other "designer" outdoor vendors.

And you can get good pizza at the Camp Curry outlet.

And while it was years ago - we took a one hour - early morning Ranger Walk - which was to some of the better photography spots in the Valley.

I want to thank everyone for their input! We leave on Tuesday morning and will spend the day in and around Sonora and the Gold County leaving early the next morning for Yosemite!! We have our walking sticks (REI), reservations @ Yosemite Lodge and the Ahawanee Lodge for dinner, camera equipment all set for my wife and we are so very excited!!!

Re your question about your Sonora to YNP day. I wouldn't leave at the crack of dawn. Have a leisurely breakfast, maybe stop for an hour or so in Groveland and then head into the park. It is about a 2 hour drive from Sonora so you can easily be in the Valley by early afternoon. Your room at the Lodge might be available early.

We were there in mid-June, 2004. Agree with others that for some places the usual sunrise/sunset golden hours don't apply. But there are still places where it does.

One of those is Sentinel Dome just prior to, at, and just after sunset. The old tree made famous by Ansel Adams fell years ago, but the remains were still there in 2004 and we got some wonderful photos with it in the the foreground with Half Dome behind it, lit pink and gold by the setting sun. A tripod is an absolute necessity here.

Some amazing shots to be had at Taft Point and Glacier Point. Also, we stopped at Valley View and got some beautiful panoramic shots with El Capitan on one side and the Cathedral Rocks and Bridal Veil Falls on the other, with the Merced River in the foreground.

The drive along the Tioga Road is beautiful and you'll be going that way if you head to Tuolumne Meadows. If you do, stop at Olmsted Point and go beyond the parking area down the trail out onto the point. This isn't very far, not at all strenuous, and yet few people do it. From the point you see Half Dome in one direction, Tioga Lake in the other and straight down is scary yet amazing. Much more open shots from there than up above at the parking area.

If you're up to it, both physically and time-wise, the Panorama Trail hike is well worth the time and effort. It's 8.5 miles and takes about 6 hours according to the Park info. It took us closer to 8 because of all the stops to take photos and, for this flatlander to find some oxygen. This was our first trip to any place with some elevation and while my legs were fine, my lungs felt like I had a bag over my head. In the years since, we've done a lot more hiking at elevations and I've found a way to train at home that has made it easier for me to adapt to the altitude difference.

Also, while it says the elevation loss is 3,200 feet, it isn't a constant downhill trail. You go mostly down, then you switchback up a bit less. This is repeated several times before you get to the fairly constant downhill trek. As I recall, it's quite steep if you take the Mist Trail (which we did) at Nevada Falls instead of going down the John Muir.

If you hike it, take plenty of water. Unless things have changed, there was only one place along the trail to get drinking water until you reach the valley floor. Also recommend you take the earliest shuttle up there to maximize your trail time and minimize the number of people who will be on it with you.

We do hike with poles. I like them for the added stability on slippery, uneven, or sloping ground. I also find that by having my hands on the poles, my hands don't swell like they used to do when hanging down/swinging by my sides. I've also used them as an impromptu tripod. Not as good as the real thing but sure beats trying to handhold the camera steady.

We had a map - Map and Guide to Yosemite Valley - which was excellent. It only covers the valley area, but it had hikes and trails, vista points (with a brief description) and a great map which had a little icon at each vista, pointing in the direction you should be looking to see what they described for that location. That was also the direction to be pointing your camera. I don't remember where I got it, but it was published by Rufus Graphics in San Francisco and the ISBN # is 0-939666-17-0.

We want to get back out to Yosemite one day. Would love to see it in the winter. Have a fun, safe trip.