This is a park that begs for an extended visit, but those with a limited amount of time will also have an enjoyable experience, especially if they make use of the park's shuttle bus. The bus is free, easy to use, and operates year-round, with fewer stops in winter. For that reason, we've included shuttle-bus stop numbers wherever possible throughout the valley sections in this book. Bus stops are well marked and within easy walking distance of all parking lots.
You can get on and off the shuttles at any point, but be sure to stop in the Valley Visitor Center (shuttle-bus stops nos. 5 and 9) for an orientation on the forces that carved the valley.
If you're not interested in taking off and exploring alone, take one of the guided tours.
The base of Lower Yosemite Fall (shuttle-bus stop no. 6) is an easy walk from either Yosemite Village or Yosemite Lodge. From the base, you can see a portion of the magnificent water show. During peak runoff, it's not uncommon to get wet, as the force of the fall sends spray in every direction. In late winter and early spring, a huge snow cone caused by freezing water rises up to 200 feet from the base of this fall. The hike up the fall is described in detail in chapter 4.
Happy Isles (shuttle-bus stop no. 16) is another major attraction. Located at the convergence of several inlets, the valley's nature center is an especially great stop for those traveling with kids, but the area gets most of its traffic because it is also the trailhead for Vernal and Nevada falls, two picturesque staircase waterfalls that can only be reached by foot. Both hikes are described in chapter 4.
Next, we recommend a visit to Mirror Lake (shuttle-bus stop no. 17), a small lake named for the near-perfect way it reflects the surrounding scenery. It's slowly filling up with silt and is less dramatic and mirror-like than it used to be, but its shore still offers a beautiful view of Half Dome. This short stroll is well marked.
If you still have more time to explore, choose anything that piques your interest from a variety of hikes and activities. To make the most of your time, stick with the recommendations we list throughout the following chapters.
