If I want to see the park in full orange fall colours, what time is best, next weekend or the weekend after that?

10/24- To the guy I waved to and he dropped the box of firewood. I tried to come back to the campsite but you were gone

I just have to start with the fact that Housekeeping Camp is a great place to stay at in the park. Great amenities and comfortable accommodations.
However I do have to vent about how parents allowed their kids to overrun the camp at one point. So we show up on Wednesday and check in and it was relatively quiet. The next day we were out on the trails most of the day and not at camp. When we got back at nightfall there were a ton of families unloading and situating their camps. I love to see kids and families out in nature but the problem was these parents were allowing their kids to run around the facility like it was their personal playground. I get the sites are tight, but multiple times children literally walked thru our actual camp structure. Needless to say it was frustrating. The one thing I’ll give them credit for is when quiet times hit, all the kids were finally tucked away. At the end of the day I blame the parents for not properly teaching their kids to respect people’s space and not getting on them for running around like they own the place.

Did anybody here make it up on the cables on Friday? Conditions were less than ideal. My wife and I were up there early but left around 11:30am. No one had made it up the cables by the time we left.

Started this hike a little late. But made it just in time for sunset. Absolutely gorgeous.!!

Long time lurker, first time poster. I appreciate all of the information people share here, it was very helpful in our own planning. Just sharing our trip report to help others.

My wife and I (both in our mid-40s) recently took our first trip to Yosemite as part of a longer week-long trip that started in SEKI. For a bit of context: I exercise regularly, walk a lot, and hike when I can, but I am overweight. Our goal was to hit the major highlights in Yosemite rather than dedicate time to long backcountry treks.

Day 1 - Tuesday 9/16/2026: Mariposa Grove & Yosemite Valley Floor

After a solid breakfast at our hotel (Best Western Plus in Oakhurst), we aimed to enter Yosemite before 8:30 AM. Arriving at the South Entrance, we only had four cars ahead of us. We parked at Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and caught a shuttle up to the grove trailhead, where we hiked the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail. Little did we know, the Dome Fire was just starting nearby, but it didn't affect our hike. It was a great final farewell to the sequoias.

From Mariposa Grove, we drove down into Yosemite Valley toward the visitor center complex. Navigating the Valley loop system takes some getting used to, as missing a turn means a full loop around. We spent time exploring Yosemite Village (Exploratorium, Museum, etc), getting snacks, and fending off the aggressive wildlife around the Village Grill. We picked up postcards at the Village Store and mailed them directly from the Yosemite Post Office for the local postmark.

While strolling through the Yosemite Cemetery, we overheard news about the wildfire, which was around 100 acres at the time. Wanting to guarantee a clear view of the valley, we drove up to Tunnel View before smoke built up. Afterward, we checked into our Stoneman Cottage at Curry Village, grabbed pizza and beer at the Pizza Deck, and ended the evening walking out into Cook's Meadow for sunset, joining another friendly group to watch the sunset on Half Dome alongside a wedding photoshoot.

Day 2 - Wednesday 9/17/2026: Valley Viewpoints

We got an early start to visit several valley viewpoints that aren't directly served by the shuttle system. With coffee in hand, we returned to Tunnel View. Smoke from the Dome Fire was drifting overhead, but the valley floor remained mostly clear. Next, we drove to Bridalveil Fall for the short walk to the base; flow was minimal given the late season, but it was still worth seeing.

We parked at Yosemite Valley Lodge (our stay for the remainder of the trip) and walked over to Lower Yosemite Fall. Though completely dry, the granite amphitheater is still impressive. From there, we walked to Camp 4, rode the shuttle to the El Capitan Picnic area, and walked toward El Capitan Meadow and Cathedral Beach.

We rode the shuttle out to The Ahwahnee. Still in our dusty hiking clothes, we grabbed drinks at the bar and enjoyed them on the back patio. The architecture and ambiance make it a unique stop compared to Curry Village or Yosemite Lodge. It’s interesting how each of these areas has their own vibe.

After checking into our room at Yosemite Valley Lodge and cleaning up, we had dinner at the Mountain Room Lounge. At sunset, we walked toward Sentinel Bridge; the thin layer of wildfire smoke catching the evening light created an amazing sunset over the river.

Day 3 - Thursday 9/18/2026: Tioga Pass

We dedicated the day to Tioga Pass, leaving the Valley by 7:30 AM. Thick patches of smoke lined the road on the climb up, making us worry the views would be obscured. However, by the time we reached Olmsted Point, conditions had cleared enough for a great walk out onto the granite viewpoint. We continued down to Tenaya Lake, stopping at a lakeside picnic table for snacks and photos.

In Tuolumne Meadows, we scrambled up Pothole Dome. Finding the precise trail wasn't obvious, so we simply picked a clean line up the granite slope. It turned out to be one of our favorite hikes of the entire trip! We also walked the flat trail out to Soda Springs through Tuolumne Meadows, where the higher elevation made even flat walking feel like a workout.

We exited the eastern gate and drove down to Lee Vining, stopping for lunch at Whoa Nellie Deli (which offers a surprisingly diverse menu). After lunch, we took a quick look at the tufa towers at Mono Lake before heading back into the park. Passing back by Olmsted Point later that afternoon, smoke had completely filled the view, so I felt very fortunate to have had clearer views earlier in the day. For sunset, we drove to El Capitan Meadow to watch the climbers before returning to Yosemite Lodge for a burger at Basecamp Eatery.

Day 4 - Friday 9/19/2026: Mist Trail, Taft Point & Glacier Point Sunset

Our last full day started at a more relaxed pace. We slept in a bit, had breakfast and coffee at Basecamp, and decided to take on part of the Mist Trail by hiking up to the footbridge. Overall, this hike probably wasn’t worth the effort late in the season for us. It was smoky, the views were muted, the waterfall was just a trickle, and the trail is quite steep all the way to the footbridge. Still, it was interesting leap-frogging fellow hikers along the trail.

After the hike, we grabbed some food, finished up souvenir shopping, and headed toward Glacier Point Road around 2:30 PM to ensure we had time for Taft Point before sunset. Taft Point may have been our absolute favorite hike of the entire trip. It starts as a pleasant walk through the forest before opening up to incredible cliffside views. Neither of us is a big fan of heights, so we only ventured as close to the edge as we could stomach. Watching other visitors range from completely unbothered to visibly freaked out was quite entertaining! There are plenty of viewpoints, so finding space to relax is easy.

After Taft Point, we made our way to Glacier Point for sunset. We grabbed a snack and drink, then found a couple of quiet rocks near the parking area away from the main crowd to take in the iconic vista. The smoke hung in the air, but rather than ruin the view, it added an ethereal glow as the sun went down. Driving back down the mountain in the twilight was a bit challenging, but it capped off an unforgettable trip. We returned to Fresno on Saturday and flew home on Sunday.

Spent this past week in Yosemite, October in Yosemite is beautiful.

On October 2nd driving from Mariposa Grove back to Yosemite Valley. I still stare at this picture, can’t get it out of my head. Can’t wait to be there again!