National Parks
Three days in Yosemite: waterfalls, tent camping, and the trail to Sub Dome
We flew into San Francisco with a tent and the rest of our camping gear, spent one night in the city, then traded pavement for three nights beneath Yosemite’s granite walls during peak waterfall season.
Yosemite was one of those trips where the logistics became part of the story. We checked our tent and camping gear for the flight to San Francisco, gave ourselves one night in the city, then picked up the car and headed east for three nights in the park. Arriving during peak snow runoff meant the waterfalls were not simply scenery—they were everywhere, loud and bright against the granite.
The shape of the trip
- Night 1: San Francisco
- Nights 2–4: Tent camping inside Yosemite
- Trip rhythm: One major hiking day, shorter valley explorations, and time to enjoy camp
- Why this timing worked: Snowmelt made the waterfalls especially memorable
This simple structure is one we would use again: arrive through a city, stay in one campsite for the full park visit, and resist moving accommodations once the hiking begins.
Getting there with camping gear
Flying with a tent made the trip more involved, but it also let us spend three nights inside the landscape we had come to see. We packed around the realities of air travel, rented a car after our night in San Francisco, and treated the drive into Yosemite as the true beginning of the trip.
Add the airline baggage strategy, rental-car notes, grocery stop, drive time, and anything you would pack differently here.
Our three-day rhythm
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake gave us a quieter way to experience the valley and a useful counterpoint to the trip’s bigger climbing day.
Add the route you took, approximate time, what surprised you, and the Mirror Lake photograph here.
Yosemite Falls
Visiting during heavy runoff made Yosemite Falls one of the defining sights of the trip. The volume of water changed the sound and atmosphere of the whole valley.
Add which portion of the trail you completed, crowd and timing notes, and the waterfall photograph here.
Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Sub Dome
This was the ambitious day: a route shaped by climbing beside waterfalls and continuing upward toward Sub Dome. It deserves its own honest account of distance, elevation, exposure, water, timing, and how the day actually felt—not just the view at the end.
Add the exact route, turnaround point, permit details that applied to your trip, what you carried, and photographs from Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Sub Dome here.
Camping in Yosemite
Staying in a tent kept us close to the park’s daily rhythm. Mornings began at the campsite, and there was no long drive separating the end of a hike from dinner and rest.
Add the campground name, reservation process, food-storage routine, nighttime temperatures, meal setup, shower or restroom notes, and the campsite photograph here.
What we would repeat
- Spend the first night near the airport instead of forcing the park drive after flying
- Keep one campsite for the entire Yosemite stay
- Visit when the waterfalls are active, while allowing for changing conditions
- Pair one demanding trail day with slower valley time
- Leave room to enjoy camp rather than treating it only as a place to sleep
What we would tell a friend
Three nights was enough to experience several distinct sides of Yosemite without changing campsites, but not enough to exhaust the park—which was part of the appeal. The trip worked because it had one clear base, a mix of effort levels, and a season that made the familiar views feel alive.
Finish with the one recommendation, warning, or small detail you would most want a friend to know before booking.