Jim,
Steve is correct about the passes are likely to still be closed through May - which honestly makes the recommendations about any locations on the east side of the Sierra kinda pointless since Tahoe would be the only practical route (hw 88/89) to get there and you don't really have the time. It's a complete crapshoot at that time of year about road openings and so it's probably not a good idea to make plans for that side.
Besides, there is MORE than enough to take in on the west side. In fact I believe you could satisfy all you want to do just within YOsemite NP itself. You have the Sequoias, (Mariposa, Merced(open for sure), and Tuolumne groves) which have a good chance of being opening before the mountain passes.
Personally, I think you can really maximize your visit with the 5 days you have. From your description, there are many, many short, reasonable walks to get your fill, again, all within the confines of the park.
Arriving and departure cities. Fresno is a typical launching point to the southern entrance to Yosemite. Alternatively, Oakland or San Jose are the next best options and I suspect cheaper and more flights to those airports. Some notes about these routes. From Fresno to the park you would be coming in via hw 41 through Oakhurst and the south entrance. It's not a bad drive, infact it might be what you want in terms of a Sierra mountain drive; but it's long and windy. Considering your time and agenda, I would probably recommend making that drive on either your arriving or departing end of the trip. That gives you access to Wawona (the hotel - check in to reservations there too!) and the Mariposa Grove is there. AND, if open, the Glacier point road, and Glacier point. It often opens up well before Tioga or other high Sierra passes. You could easily spend a day in the southern/Glacier Pt/Wawona area as one of your days.
Yosemite Lodging.The other entrance I would recommend is the Arch Rock entrance on Highway 140. This is out of Merced/Mariposa. A few miles after Mariposa, 140 drops down in to the Merced River Canyon and you follow the Merced all the way in to the park. This drive by itself IS a scenic drive. Along this drive are two great hotel/motels I would highly recommend if you don't have lodging inside the park. The Yosemite View and Cedar Lodges are literally 15/25min respectively from Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite lodging just outside the part on 140.. Yosemite View lodge is RIGHT ON the Merced river - Get a "river room."
The other entrance is highway 120 going through Groveland and eventually connecting with highway 140 just a few miles before Yosemite Valley. Great scenic drive on 120 where you have access to the Tuolumne and Merced Sequoia groves, both of which should be open. It also would be where you would catch 120 East, Tioga Pass Road giving you access to the east side, Lee Vining, Mono Lake, Bodie, etc. as Steve described. If this road is open, MOST DEFINITELY spend one of your days in the high country.
Ok, that's the layout and so here's what I would do. First 3 days/nights - get a reservation at the Yosemite View Lodge IF you can't get reservations at YOsemite Lodge in Yosemite Valley. For now, avoid Curry village as they've had problems with the hantavirus(although it's limited to tent cabins.) Anyway.... Yosemite View Lodge is the closest lodging that is not within the boundary of the park. It is literally .2 mile from the park boundary.
I'm assuming you've never been to Yosemite? Since it's your first, and perhaps only visit, I would highly recommend the first thing you do is make reservations for the
Valley shuttle tour. Now this is completely a touristy thing and I personally have never done this and it may not be your thing, but consider the following. Get the very first tour for your first morning. You will get an entire run down - and view of the entire valley during a reasonably short period of time. You'll learn lots about the park, it's history, yada, yada, yada, but also you can use this as a scouting trip to decide which parts of the valley you want to explore most. AFter that, I recommend that be your LAST visit to Yosemite Village. Mid-late May that place is already a ZOO.
So, speaking of the zoo. I recommend any of your hikes or things you want to do in or near Yosemite Village - you do so as your first thing in the morning and exit the area before lunch. From the east end of the Valley, you have places to visit like Yosemite Falls. This is HIGHLY recommended - no required, and fits your short, <.5 mil hike requirement. There's also the Awahnee, Mirror Lake - short, easy hike, and there is also the Happy Isle Nature Center/walk starting out of Curry Village. Do those in the AM, to avoid crowds.
For the afternoons, this is where scouting on the shuttle tour will pay off. Plan a picnic lunch in El Capitan Meadow and watch the rock climbers on El Cap. It's an amazing "human" feature of the park. There are numerous pullouts in the west end of the park where you can literally park your car, walk 5 min and get away from people and enjoy the beauty of the Merced river.
The Valley proper is only like 7 miles long and for the most part it's a one-way loop - the Southside drive heading in to the valley, turns to the Northside drive heading west out of the valley.
On the west end of the valley you have stops at: The Pohono Bridge and Fern Springs. Take a drink from the spring (it's very good, and safe.) From Fern Spring you can walk across the road and catch a trail that follows the river. YOu can walk this as far as you want and it's a nice walk along the river. A couple more pullouts with views of Bridal Veil Falls and then the turnoff for the Bridal Veil parking lot. It will get crowded there, a morning visit will be less crowded, but an afternoon visit will be warmer and perhaps prettier as you can catch rainbows on the falls. From this parking lot you can travel west up highway 40 which takes you to Tunnel View (must see) and beyond goes to Wawona and on to Oakhurst/Fresno (Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove along the way.)
Oh, before I forget. Make sure for your visit to Tunnel View, your timing is late in the afternoon, after 4 pm or so. The late afternoon sun and angle will produce rainbows at the base of Bridal Veil falls that can be seen from Tunnel View (as well as the Bridal Veil parking lot around 5pm-6pm.)
But turning right/west from Bridal Veil brings you immediately to a long, long pullout for cars and buses with a grand view of El Capitan ahead ofyou and Bridal Veil to your right. Once you pass this popular (and crowded) location, there are numerous pullouts between there and Yosemite Village. Approx .4 mi from the end of this long pullout, there will be a much smaller pullout on your left - enough for 5 or 6 vehicles. Park there and take the short walk to the river. Another, short getaway that takes you along the Merced with a grand view of El Capitan and the large meadow of black oaks. Beautiful view.
Further along, stops at Cathedral Beach and then Swinging Bridge. Park there if you can, if not there is a long pullout a very short distance past. You are now nearing the very crowded end of the valley. But from here, there are many paved walkways through the meadows where you can walk for a while, bring a sack lunch and just enjoy the views. Watch for deer and coyote.
So I can see 2-3 days just exploring the main part of Yosemite, and including the northwest part ofthe park which is on 120 and includes the Tuolumne Grove (short hiking.) And if Tiogo Pass is open, there's another day for you. You could spend at least a day, or perhaps two, exploring the points along highway 41 as you travel west out of the park. If Glacier Point is open, definitely hit that and preferrably around sunset. Can't beat the view and experience there. In fact, they usually have a ranger talk at sunset on Glacier point. recommend that for sure.
Timing. Mother's Day weekend starts the madness and really kicks off summer traffic by Memorial weekend. The earlier in May, the fewer (relative) crowds. The earlier in May, the better chance of catching the end of the dogwood bloom, which would be a nice treat. But May in Yosemite is just beautiful - everything turning spring green and the falls roaring.
Ok, I'm tired now. Didn't mean to ramble and I know I kind of jumped all over the place. I'm sure you're doing your research - and it's never too early. Have a great time.
jereece wrote:I am planning a week trip to Yosemite from the east coast for mid to late May 2013 so I will have 5 full days in the area. In addition to Yosemite, I would like to drive some scenic routes in the Sierra Nevada mountains and see the giant sequoias. My wife and I are 55 years old so we are mostly looking for scenic drives and views with a short walk (up to half mile). I am looking to fly into a city, drive, see, stay, drive more see, stay, drive, and so on. So I am looking to fly into one city and maybe depart from another. I am considering flying into Fresno, CA. That seems closest but I am unsure. So, I am looking for ideas of where to fly into, what drive path to take, what are the "must see" areas, about how long to plan at each location, motels to say along the route and where to fly out of to return. Any suggestions or recommendations is appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim