Myer

I'm trying to get a feel for inpark driving times from:

Yosemite Lodge to Glacier Point
Yosemite Lodge to Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove to Glacier Point

Thanks.

spirobulldog

Lodge to Glacier Pt--45 minutes to an hour

Lodge to Maripossa 1 to 1.5 hrs

Mariposa to Glacier Pt.--45 minutes to an hour

The big determining factors are when you are visiting(what month), what time of day, and any road construction.

We were there for the first time this 3rd weekend of May. This is not considered a busy time of year. We only encountered problems around 3:00PM to 6:00PM driving in the valley a couple of times. I think it would be a nightmare in July/Aug. I would suggest, the earlier you can start your day the better off you will be. Some parking areas fill up quickly and it may be better to use the shuttle. Even at Maripossa Grove, you may need to shuttle. Glacier Pt. wasn't open yet, due to snow. So, I am estimating it. I am sure other people can give you a much more accurate view. I would say my times are probably under good circumstances.

weimarer

The NPS site has a chart for all the driving times between various areas. I wouldn't worry about it. You don't want to be on a schedule. The last time I was there a couple years ago in late May there weren't that many people there and the times were not important. It may have taken an hour from Mariposa to Glacier point or it may have been less. It was irrelevant to me, I don't think I ever looked at the time.

Myer

This trip is planned for the 3rd week of June. I wanted to wait for Glacier Road to be open but early enough for the waterfalls to have a good flow.

In addition, I've got another trip planned for the second week of July. So there isn't much room.

I'll be going on this trip with my daughter (last September we spent 3 days in Utah) and 4 1/2 year-old granddaughter.

If I was alone I wouldn't have a problem starting early and ending late each day. But I don't want the granddaughter to get antsy spending too much time driving.

With 4 1/2 days in the Park we should be able to get in quite a bit. If anything is too long or difficult for her I'll leave them behind and go alone. However, I'll try to avoid that if possible.

spirobulldog

Any driving you do in the Valley has plenty to look at. It does take some time to get from the valley--Yosemite Lodge to the park entrance. Anywhere from 10 minutes to 25 minutes. depending on traffic/time of day. But, then the road to Glacier Point or Maripossa is just nice, not spectacular. Have her keep an eye out for bears, to occupy her time, as we saw several in the valley .

She will be able to walk up to Bridal Veil Falls, and Yosemite Falls( very short walks). I think she would do ok on The Mist Trail. If she is really into it, you might even consider Panorama Trail that connects with the Mist Trail(probably a little long for a child). The Mist Trail is a little slick right as you go up the waterfall step area, so that would be a place you would want to watch her or hold her hand. The Mist Trail does take a few hours. It is semi hard on the way up, and easy on the return. That may or may not be to far for her.

If you go on your own. You might take the early shuttle to Glacier Point and hike down The Panorama, or all of you drive up and let the two of them drive back down into the valley and you can meet them there a few hours later.

Another thing that we wanted to do was rent a raft and float along the river for a couple of hours. They don't rent the rafts unless the river is flowing pretty mildly. I think that at the time you will be there that the Falls won't be at there absolute peak, but still going plenty darn good. But, I bet that you will be able to rent a raft if you wanted to do that.

I wonder if there is any age appropriate kid ranger programs for her. A lot of kids like that type stuff. I don't know if you know park ranger Sheldon Johnson(he is on tv a lot), but I was taking a little stroll in the valley by myself early one morning and he walked and talked along with me for 15 or 20 minutes one morning. We witnessed a very small "rock fall" and he was getting excited about it.

In Mariposa Grove, you can take the tram for a little ways and then just walk back or continue on the tram. Of course, you can walk the entire thing. The further you walk, the less the crowds.

I think I remember you saying that food wasn't a big interest of yours. But I did want to mention that Brunch in The Awahnee was very good. Lunch or Breakfast is a bargain there compared to Dinner. We didn't eat at Yosemite Lodge, but the restaurant there is supposed to be good. We did get a very very good pizza at the little pizza place.

Myer

spiro,
I've been researching what I think the granddaughter can do and what not to try.

For several hikes we can use a stroller on the flat parts and then leave it to pick up on the way back. The Mist Trail is probably that way. We leave the stroller at the Bridge and she'll walk as far as she wants/can. I may leave her and my daughter and do the stairs alone.

Glacier point also has a flat area if she doesn't want to walk.

I think she'll enjoy the big trees of the lower part of the grove.

I may do the upper part of the Panorama trail until the falls and then go back up. I'm not sure if I'll leave them to picnic around Glacier Point or back at the Valley at some activity. This hike is a decision. Down is hard on the knees but then you have to go back up and that's when you're winded.

Another decision will be one or both of Sentinel Dome and/or Taft Point. Depending upon time maybe we'd break them into shorter picnics. Or maybe I'll do them alone.

I checked last year's Guide for planned activities at the same time and they have some.
There's a childrens photo walk but she has her own camera and knows how to use it (I think she takes after her mother). Maybe we'll all go on the morning photo walk for adults.

They also have a ranger walk and an evening star thingy. She really enjoys when we go on a nocturnal (her words not mine) walk and have a picnic.

I'm not concerned about what they'll do if we decide that I'll do some things alone.

What I'd like to find out about is if any of the hikes I'm interested in have at least a partial flat/paved part so she doen't have to walk the full distance.

She's got to take a lot of steps to do the same distance.

spirobulldog

Wapama Falls--
It is a little bit of a drive to Hetch Hetchy. We hiked all the way to Wapama Falls and it flat pretty much the entire way. I am sure there is shade somewhere, but I remember it being pretty wide open and not many trees. So if they waited on you, they might not have a lot of shade, I just don't remember much. This is basically a hike around the manmade lake. But it is very pretty. It starts out by walking over the dam and then through a tunnel that they blasted(she might think that was cool to walk through). Then it meanders through some nice wildflowers and finally at Wapama. I think it took us probably 1.5 hours one way. The first waterfall Tuelalala(spelling) was a trickle, but Wapama was rolling. You get right close to it and is an easy hike.

She may be a go getter one day and then not the next. Probably best to plan it like you are doing and just go with the flow. I remember taking our daughter to Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon at age 6. I could tell it didn't impress her at all at that age. She just thought we were driving and looking at rocks. The big trees and waterfalls she will probably like. Your right, picnicing, finding a little sandbar along the river usually entertains kids and thats what they find fun.

Just about everywhere at Maripossa is just a slight incline, finding flat areas there would be easy. I imagine there are some flat spot along the mist trail, but it seemed like we did go up a lot(can't remember exactly).

If your knees are bothering you at the top of the Mist Trail, you can always take the John Muir Trail down)longer but easier). But do try to do the stairs at least up or down, if you can(awesome sight). We did the Mist trail up and came back down the JMT. It ranks as my wifes favorite hike ever. There is a toilet at the top of falls and snacks at the bottom. I remember getting a M&M ice cream cookie sandwich at the end. Toilets and snacks on a 3 miles trail, go figure. I haven't seen to many toilets on my hikes and never a snack stand.

Myer

spiro,
From what I'm reading it appears the Mist Trail until the bridge is flat and strollerable.

Wapama Falls is on my list but I want to make sure the drive isn't too long and worth it.

I think walking the dam, tunnel and a bit of the way to the falls would be good. These things are different and I think she'd find them fun. I think you can see the falls from the dam. I did some research and have maps of the area printed.

I think Mariposa is something she'll enjoy. I spoke with a ranger and he suggested we leave early that day so we get there before the parking lot is full. He said the shuttle adds quite a bit of time since it runs every 30 minutes.

He suggested it might be an idea to do Mariposa and then on the way back sunset at Glacier Point.

Glacier Point area seems to have the potential for a few visits. Am I thinking too much of it?

spirobulldog

I think Wapama/Hetch Hetchy is worth it, but I would put it towards the bottom of you list. So don't feel cheated if you miss it. We didn't see Glacier Point or any of the Tioga Road/Tuolmne Meadows area, so I will probably go back and do it sometime(I felt cheated). Halfdome was high on my list to hike, but was still closed. Now that the permit system is in place for that, it may be difficult to get.

I think seeing Maripossa early or late would be the best. I don't think there are many people there late in the day. I imagine sunset would be great from GP unless she is tuckered out. The third week in June is one of the longest days(I think I'm right about that). So sunset will come pretty late (probably like 9:30ish) and then you wouldn't get back to the lodge until 10:30 or so. Wawonna Lodge does have a BBQ that is pretty cool on weekends. I thought the food was good at the lodge. You might want to park there and take the shuttle from there anyway. Even there burgers are good at lunch. Lodge is pretty interesting.

I would Wapama as probably the 6th best fall that we saw. You can get close enough to all of them to get the rolling mist off of them. As a matter of fact, you will probably want to take a poncho or something to most of them. You can see the falls from the dam, but they are much bigger when you get closer.

I think you are on the right track about everything that you mention you have read. Sounds like you have it very well planned out and know what you want to do and taking into consideration that you might have a 4 year old a lot of the way.

I actually had planned on being there myself that 3rd week of June (taking my nephew). But my wife and I decided to do a bit of the coast instead. We are going to be driving from San Fran to Monterey that week. I am doing a short little driving trip to Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns with my nephew instead. We will tent camp. My daughter is doing a couple of summer classes in college in between her Junior and Senior year in HS. So, we are taking a couple of short trips with her. These are just long weekend trips of 4 or 5 days. But really, that is usually enough for me anyway. I am anxious to hear what you think about Yosemite. I think I am up to 25 parks now, and I would rate it #1, even with the crowds. My wife and daughter rate it #2 or #3. My daughters favorite is Arches and my wifes is Yellowstone. Have a great trip!!!

Myer

The drive from the Valley to Hetch Hetchy is about 1:20. If I was alone I'd get up early one morning and do it. I'll have a plan of sights/activities for me alone and then prioritize them.

I think we'll all do at least most of the Mist Trail with me walking the stairs (the granddaughter may surprise us).

If we all make it to Sentinel Dome / Taft Point and Glacier Point that would only leave the upper part of the Panorama trail and Hetch Hetchy that may be problems.

It's possible that we'll all do a bit of the Panorama trail and they can picnic while I go on a bit more.

If it all works out that way then I could do Hetch Hetchy early while they stay in the Valley.

I'm probably dreaming but I'll discuss all of this with my daughter and see what she thinks is possible. At the end of it all we're dealing with a 4 1/2 year old.