S/F Yosemite Trip next August
 

10 of us are going out next August. 5 kids 11-16, 3 adults 40-44, 2 seniors 71-73.All in good shape.
Would appreciate critiquing this itinerary and where to stay in SF. Can we fit anything else in? Switch anything?

Wed-Arrive Noon, Embacadero, Ferry Building, Chinatown
Thurs- Golden State Park, Japanese Gardens,, Academy of Sciences
Fri. - Fisherman's wharf, Alcatraz, Lombardo St,, Cable Car and museum
Sat - Golden Gate Bridge, Sausilito, Muir Woods
Sun - Drive to Yosemite 2 hr tram ride around valley.
Mon - El Capitan, Half Dome hikes
Tues. - Glacier Point, Yosemite and Bridalveil Falls - horseback riding
Wed - Mariposa Grove. Return to SF airport.
Thurs - fly home

For the Half Dome hike, you need to have permits if you want to accend the dome itself. Is everybody in the group planning to do this hike?

At least 8 will do it -not sure of the seniors, depending on how strenuous and how long it is.

>>At least 8 will do it - <<

Not unless you win the pass lottery in March - and you can only apply for 6 spots so you would have to win the lottery twice. It is about 15 miles with nearly 5000 feet elevation gain . . . it is very strenuous.

What do you mean by an El Capitan hike? If you mean the trailhead off the Big Oak Flat Road - that is another strenuous hike of at least 7 hours - likely more.

I guess those hikes are out. Would like to do 2 hikes each day, moderate 1/1/2 hrs -2hrs each. What do you recommend?

OK -- you really aren't talking 'hikes' but walks really. That short you'll mostly just be walking in the Valley.

This link lists the main walks/hikes in the Valley

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/valleyhikes.htm

The short/easy ones take much less than 2 hours. But most are longer/more strenuous. Yosemite Valley is surrounded by rugged/steep mountains rugged mountains -- so for relatively easy and short duration you'll most be walking on the Valley floor.

Or you can drive up the Glacier Point Road and do Sentinel Dome or Taft Point which are moderate and take about 2 hours each.

http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/may-lake-yosemite-hike/

2.4 mile hike with 475 feet of elevation gain; wide trail with beautiful views

It would be a longer hike than you looking for but it would take you away from the valley floor. When we did it in late May a number of years ago, we saw very few other hikers. Maybe six others all told.

Re the hike k_marie linked: it is wonderful . . . but it is off Tioga Road and nearly a 90 minute drive from Yosemite Village.

there wouldn't be a big crowd, but there will certainly be more hikers in August than she experienced in May

(actually, frequently in May there will be NO hikers because the road is still closed).

Good points, janisj. There were only patches of snow where we walked but the lake was nearly covered. It was the week before Memorial Day.