So many options...Need help with a Basic trip plan please

Hi all.

i have been reading A LOT of the topics here in the last few weeks,and the amount of info got me confused at times :)

All i need is a basic 2 nights stay trip plan at the start of october in yosemite.

i want to see the sites and take some short walks where possible.

i%26#39;m coming in on the 120 from SF at the 29th of september - probably will stop at manteca or somewhere else along the road for the night+supplies the next morning.

I than plan to head into the park from old oak.

i read the ';what to see when you drive into the park'; page,which looks really helpfull.

I mostly can%26#39;t decide what to do than:

i thought about heading straight to the saqouia grove at the entrence of the park (120 side), than do the ';left part'; of the park , glacier point, spend a few hours there and start heading to my hotel at yosemite west.

next morning i thought i do the middle part of the park,half dome, and the vally , and than back to the room.

the last day i thought about doing the fish camp entrence area and head out towards my long drive to LA.

things i%26#39;m not sure about:

1.the big trees are at the vally? the fish camp area? the sequoia grove near the 120 entrence? - if i see them at the 120 entrence than i can skip them on the way out towards LA or at the vally??

2.how far are the medows from yosemite west area? should i had over there on my firat day?

thanks a lot

gil

So many options...Need help with a Basic trip plan please

If you are going out through the south entrance then you really should see the Mariposa Grove. It is well worth it. The trees are fabulous.

The trees at the Tuolumne and Merced Groves near Crane Flat are less accessible. You must hike to see them.

You could do the 39 mile trip from Crane Flat to Tuolumne Meadows on this day. It would be a nice time of year to visit. The views are incredible and the fall is so pretty. I tcomes very early in the higher elevations so you may see the leaves turning. A good resource for the drive is Yosemite Road Guide by Richard P. Ditton and Donald E. McHenry. $3.50 from Amazon or chack your local bookstore.

The 2nd day you can do the valley as you suggested.

So many options...Need help with a Basic trip plan please

thanks suzie-travels,

How long do you think it%26#39;s going to take me to drive up there from yosemite west area?

i%26#39;m looking at taking a horse ride tour starting at 1pm...

thanks again.

gil

I assume that means you%26#39;re taking the horse tour at Tuolumne Meadows? I would count on at least 2 hours from Yosemite West to the meadows, especially since you will want to stop and see some of the amazing views at Olmstead Point and Tenaya Lake.

hi mackjack,

just called the meadows stables - they are no longer running the tour (it was the last day yesterday).

They did recomend the vally stable tour - Have you been on it?

I now wonder if going all the way to the meadows is worth the 4 hours drive (2 way).Since i only have about 2 days at the park mybe i should setle for the meadows at the vally area?

BTW is the weather tend to be very cold after sunset in early october? I think it was -1 (c) last night?!?

thanks again,

gil

Definitly make the trip to the meadows it is so worth the drive. Everytime I go it still takes my breath away its so beautiful. Fall is especially lovely and you%26#39;ll have a great time. Yes, it will get COLD at night . Wear layers so you can take off and put on as needed.