I am planning a trip to Yosemite and possibly Lassen & Redwoods either the end of May, beginning of June. I will be traveling with parents in their upper 70's so we will not be doing much hiking. How much time should I allow to see Yosemite? I realize the Tioga Pass may still be closed. Thanks.

Just got back from 3 full days and still wished I had more time.

One day for Wawona area, two days for Yosemite Valley. Add another day if Tioga Pass is open.

Utahtea

I agree with utahtea. We spent 3 full days there in March of 2003. We could have easily stayed longer. There's so much to see and do--even with Tioga Pass closed. Just sitting in one spot for awhile where you can admire the valley is a wonderful experience. We drove to the overlook outside of the tunnel each morning and evening just to take in the changing views. You will love Yosemite!

Utahtea, thanks for your reply.
So there are enough pull-offs, scenic drives & short walks to keep us busy?? I was also considering taking them to the NP's in Utah but the drive from the L.A. area would be long! I visited the Moab area 6 mos. ago and loved it.

They should be able to ride the shuttle bus around the valley, the short walk to Bridal Veil Falls and Yosemite Falls. If Glacier Point is open that's a great view and you can also stop at the tunnel view.

There is a tram bus ride you can pay to take you to see the giant sequioas near the Wawona entrance. We did part of the hike, but the tram bus went all the way to the top.

Like BayouGal said, just sitting and enjoying the views is a wonderful experience. I would either pack or buy a lunch and go find a scenic spot to have a picnic.

Can your parents still ride bicycles? If so, they have a lot of great bike paths and they rent bikes in Yosemite Valley.

As for Utah, Bryce and Zion are not that far from Los Angeles. There's a lot that can be seen from the vehicle, shuttle buses and short walks.

Utahtea

Thanks to both of you for your replies!!

End of May, around Memorial Day, is Yosemite's biggest weekend of the season. It is also the best time to go, because the waterfalls are gushing and it is spectacular. I hope you have a place to stay, because places at that are booked almost a year in advance.

If you don't, keep checking back on the reservations website, because there are cancellations. Good luck!

I always recommend a minimum of 3 days for Yosemite, and an ideal of 5 days for people who aren't planning on doing any hiking. (If you are hiking you need a couple of weeks).

One day for the valley itself. One day for the Mariposa Grove giant sequoias, take the tram to the top (the museum) get off there and walk to the restrooms. Seriously, this is the best part of the grove, and there's a short interpretive trail in between. After that, go up to Glacier Point, or vice versa.

The 3rd day, drive up to Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Pass, and Mono Lake (outside the park on the east side, but well worth visiting). This should really be broken into two days.

And then you're really going to wish you had another day to return to the valley or Glacier Point or both.

You could drive to all these places in a single day, but you wouldn't have much time to spend at any of them that way.