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The Best of Yosemite National Park: An American Icon

Program No. 19237RJ
Discover the wonders of Yosemite National Park alongside naturalists as you learn about and explore Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, Mariposa Grove and many other iconic treasures.
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  • Yosemite National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Yosemite National Park
National ParksMost PopularSmall Group
Length
6 days
Rating (4.86)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,149
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
12 meals ( 5B, 4L, 3D )
6 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:30 p.m. After you check in at the hotel front desk and have your room assignment and key, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Introductions: 6:30 p.m. We’ll gather for introductions to begin getting to know our fellow Road Scholars and discover what we share beyond a love of lifelong learning. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 275 miles, approximately 5.5 hours riding time; one rest stop en route. Walking about 1/2 mile throughout the day; dirt and paved paths. Bring binoculars if you have them. Highest elevation for the day is 5,288 feet in Yosemite Valley.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and ride to Yosemite National Park in central California. The “gold rush” of 1849 along with the period of extensive commercial exploitation that followed it wreaked havoc on the environment. In response, President Lincoln designated Yosemite Valley a public trust in 1864, the first time the U.S. government protected land from private development and for public enjoyment. Today, it is one of America’s most beautiful and most visited national parks.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will board our private coach to the historic Ahwahnee Hotel where our naturalist will tell us about the classic architecture and the various historic characters that stayed at the elegant hotel. Next, our naturalist will lead a field trip via private motorcoach through Yosemite Valley, world-famous for its impressive waterfalls, cliffs, and unusual rock formations. We will learn about the valley’s glacial past that carved the grand walls we see today. Our first stop will be El Capitan Meadow. From the meadow, use binoculars to scan for climbers on one of the world’s most popular climbs. Rising more than 3,000 feet above the Valley floor, it is the largest granite monolith in the world. The first ascent on El Capitan was made by Warren Harding in 1958 and records continue to be broken. We will ride on to Tunnel View that gives us a bird’s eye view of the Valley with El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome. It is one of the most iconic scenes of Yosemite. Riding by Bridalveil Fall, we’ll see it plunge 620 feet. Bridalveil thunders in the spring but during the rest of the year its light, swaying flow resembles a “bridal veil.” It is one of the many waterfalls that can appear in Yosemite Valley. After our exploration of the Yosemite Valley, we will check in and get our room assignments at the hotel.
Dinner:
At Basecamp Eatery located in the lodge
Evening:
At leisure. There are many opportunities to enjoy the park independently after dark. Use the “Yosemite Guide” to find out what programs are being offered. Programs offered by the National Park are free of charge. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm Programs at the Yosemite Theater require a ticket that can be purchased the day of at the visitor center bookstore or on-line at https://yosemite.org/experience/theater/.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time; curvy mountain road. Hiking up to 3 miles, approximately 3 hours; wooden boardwalk, paved path. Potential crowded conditions at Mariposa Grove. Mariposa Grove road is closed seasonally, please see note about Yosemite Seasonal Road Closures. Mariposa Grove starts at 5,600 feet with elevation gain up 500 feet, Wawona Hotel is at 4,000 feet.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and ride to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias that contains some 500 mature giant sequoias. We will park near the shuttle stop at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Center where restrooms are located. We’ll then board a National Park Service bus that will take us into the grove and to the start of the wooden boardwalk to see the sequoias. Our naturalist will lead us through the grove and explain giant sequoia ecology and our connections with these large trees. Giant sequoias are perhaps the largest living things on Earth and may exceed 3,000 years in age. The grove may be closed due to snow early in the season. Note: The park is likely to be crowded with others who also want to see these wonders of nature. Please exercise patience.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will board our coach after lunch and return to Yosemite Valley. Free time has been scheduled for the remainder of the afternoon. The Group Leader will be happy to make suggestions.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Dining choices will be listed in the “Yosemite Guide” park newspaper published several times a year and available on line at https://www.travelyosemite.com/dining/yosemite-dining-experience/.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling 60 miles, up to 3 hours roundtrip depending on traffic; Walking less than 1/2 mile; paved trail with inclines. Elective hike is about 1/2 mile loop on paved walkways to a series of terraced viewpoints reached via granite steps overlooking the Valley. Extent and duration of free time activities according to personal choice. Glacier Point Rd is closed seasonally, please see note about Yosemite Seasonal Road Closures. Glacier Point elevation is 7,215 feet.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
After breakfast, we’ll board the motorcoach with our local expert and Group Leader and take a field trip to Glacier Point. From the end of the road, we’ll walk to an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the High Sierra. Many say this is the most spectacular viewpoint in the entire park. We’ll learn about the glacial past of this site and gain more insight into the high country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The road may be closed due to snow early in the season.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Dining choices will be listed in the “Yosemite Guide” park newspaper published several times a year and available on line at https://www.travelyosemite.com/dining/yosemite-dining-experience/.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. Visit https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/index.htm to find ranger-led programs and other events happening in the park. There are many hikes in the Valley including Mirror Lake, Vernal Fall Footbridge, Lower Yosemite Fall and Cook’s Meadow. You might also like to visit the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center or the Ansel Adams Gallery. Yosemite Valley Lodge also offers bicycle rentals for the paved, flat bike path that loops through the valley. You can find out more about bike rentals at https://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/biking/.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Dining choices will be listed in the “Yosemite Guide” park newspaper published several times a year and available on line at https://www.travelyosemite.com/dining/yosemite-dining-experience/.
Evening:
At leisure. There are many opportunities to enjoy the park independently after dark. Use the “Yosemite Guide” to find out what programs are being offered. Programs offered by the National Park are free of charge. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm Programs at the Yosemite Theater require a ticket that you can purchase the day of at the visitor center bookstore or on-line at https://yosemite.org/experience/theater/.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 round trip, approximately 5 hours riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile total (weather permitting), paved path to beach. Tioga Pass (Hwy 120) is closed seasonally, please see note about Yosemite Seasonal Road Closures. Elevation 8,000 feet. Olmsted Point is at 8,428 feet, Tuolumne Meadows elevation is 8,600 feet.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach for a full day in the subalpine environment of the High Sierras. Our naturalist will provide a narrative that touches on many aspects of the natural and human history along Tioga Pass Road to Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows. Tioga Pass Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive between Crane Flat and Tuolumne Meadows through forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. The road is one of the few roads that pass over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the eastern side into Owens Valley. It started as a dirt road in 1915 and was slowly paved and widened over the years. It was fully completed by the 1960s with the rise in car sales and families taking road trips to the national parks. Olmsted Point looks down on Yosemite Valley from the east at a unique angle. Tenaya Lake is a magnificent High Sierra lake surrounded by granite domes, lodgepole forests, and Yosemite’s vast wilderness. Tuolumne Meadows is a large, open subalpine meadow graced by the winding Tuolumne River and surrounded by majestic peaks and domes. At Tenaya Lake (weather permitting), we will walk approximately 175 yards on a paved path to the beach. Additional opportunities may be available depending on local conditions at the time of the program; the Group Leader will discuss prior to the field trip. Road may be closed due to snow early in the season.
Lunch:
At a scenic spot on Tioga Pass, we will have boxed lunches.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll set out on a stroll into lush, alpine Tuolumne Meadows. Surrounded by lodgepole forest, it is at an elevation of 8,000 feet. The Tuolumne River flows through the meadow on its way to the Hetch Hetchy Valley and Reservoir. We’ll walk about 1/2 mile walk towards Soda Springs while learning about the alpine environment.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 200 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time with a stop depending on traffic.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and begin our return trip to the hotel in Brisbane.
Lunch:
En route to Brisbane.
Afternoon:
We expect to arrive at the hotel in Brisbane by approximately 3:00 p.m. (depending on traffic). This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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