I am going to Yosemite for 2 days in July. My friend and I would like a moderate, but challenging bike ride tour and hike/tour. I would rather not pay to have someone show me the way. Is it easy enough to do it on our own or should I pay for a guided tour? We are not expert hikers (beginners, but in good physical shape).

mbockman,

I can't help you with the bike thing, although I do know they rent bicycles at Yosemite. As for the hiking. You can google hiking Yosemite and come up with some ideas, also check the nps website for Yosemite. They list the hikes and give info on distance, difficulty, etc. There are also several good books about hiking in Yosemite. Do a search here on Fodors, too. That's what I did when planning our trip to Yosemite 2 years ago and I found tons of useful info.

This would help you do a bit of advance planning and when you get there, if you're still undecided just ask a ranger. I find if I just tell them what I'm interested in (geology, plants, whatever) they're very helpful in pointing me in the right direction. We've gone on some great hikes that the rangers told us about.

I highly recommend the two short hikes to Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. Great views and the sunset from Sentinel Dome is gorgeous.

Enjoy.

Fran

The two hikes I would do are the Panorama Trail and Vernal Falls and the Mist Trail. Vernal Falls and Mist Trail are not long but steep going up. Panorama Trail is great out of Glacier Point but strenuous so maybe you want to do something else. If Panorama is too difficult you could do as suggested above, Sentinal, or you could do Taft which has great views of the valley!

You don't need somebody to guide you on trails-they're pretty well marked. Just get some info on length and level of challenge from a ranger, or a hiking guidebook.

We rented bikes in the valley and did the bike-trail loop-it's surprisingly flat (well, not hilly) and very scenic. It's not really "challenging", but I highly recommend it-it was very peaceful even on the busy July day we did it. I don't think there are trails open to bikes, at least I don't recall seeing any.

~Liz

Thanks for your help everyone. Ok...so I don't need to pay for an organized tour? I can do it on my own. Thanks for suggesting some hikes...I'll go check them out.

The main road into Yosemite is now closed "indefinitely" because of a rock slide. Don't know the impact on your plans; there are other ways in.

Here's a link to a news story about it: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...osemite02.html

Thanks, Sheila
Family Travel blog at http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Seafarer

140 is not the main road unless it's the one you always use. There are 4 entrances to Yosemite. One at Big Oak Flat near Groveland on 120, which is used by Bay area and northern CA visitors, one at the east on Tioga Pass near Lee Vining in Mono County, which is used in the summer by those coming from Tahoe and Vegas, one at the south on 41 out of Oakhurst/Fish Camp which is used by those coming from the south who can't use Tioga Pass and the Arch Rock entrance on 140. The rock slide has closed 140 which is the road between Merced/Mariposa and teh Arch Rock entrance. Visitors with reservations in Mariposa or west of the slide must use the entrance at Big Oak Flat or on 41. Those who are staying in El Portal can use the Arch Rock entrance from El POrtal to the park as that entrance is open for traffic east of the slide. If you are staying in El Portal or east of the slide you would have to get to the valley through one of the other entrances and then exit through Arch Rock to El Portal. The good news is that the plowing is nearly completed on Tioga Pass but there are still outstanding avalanche issues to resolve and road widening before the road is open. Here's a link for that:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/now/tioga.htm