Yosemite Mariposa County is a place where scenic majesty and personal wellness meet in soul-stirring ways. With inspiring landmarks and pro wellness providers as your guides, Yosemite sends spirits soaring at the confluence of wellness and outdoor recreation.
If you’re a yoganista, devotee of meditation, curator of calm, forest bather, or simply enjoy a good soak and great massage, we have you covered. Yoga, spas, and Sierra majesty flow freely for a holistic and healing getaway. Here’s your four-day Yosemite itinerary for mind, body, and soul wellness.
Day 1: Arrive & Align
The best way to start your Sierra wellness retreat? Take time to enjoy the journey. Before you go, refer to our ode to optimizing road trips in the Yosemite Vacation Planner (page 20). On your approach to Yosemite Mariposa County, you’ll be driving by some of the most panoramic miles California highways have to offer!
Wherever you choose to stay in Yosemite Mariposa County, there are many styles of accommodations to choose from. For our specific theme of mind, body, and soul revival, lodging at the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort, Tenaya at Yosemite, and Yosemite View Lodge are in the wellness wheelhouse. Places like Yosemite West, Foresta, and Wawona offer woosa-inducing vacation rentals, where you can stretch out on a sunny deck and maybe even dip your toes into a bubbly hot tub. As the top retreats tend to book well in advance, plan ahead for the best selection.
Once you’ve arrived and settled in, find a great place to dine out or bring it in to enjoy a private look into one another’s eyes. Later, take a moonlight stroll for some stargazing and watch the planets align for you. The Calm app, IRL!
Day 2: Move & Soothe
One of the best places to find your center is on a hiking trail tucked between lush forest and mind-bending vistas. The rhythm of your relaxed stride, surrounded by awe-inducing scenery, is a fast-acting Rx for happiness. Pure Sierra oxygen rejuvenates, and the meditative motion of one foot before the other hastens the natural high.
Famous paths like the Mist Trail, Mirror Lake Trail, and Yosemite Falls will get you to where you want to be. Lesser-known but every bit as rewarding are the hikes to Foresta Fall, Chilnualna Falls at Wawona, and the Stockton Creek Preserve Trail.
The perfect complement to that returning-to-trailhead buzz? Knowing your next stop is a Yosemite spa to celebrate with some personal TLC. Top Yosemite spas include the Yosemite Health Spa at the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort in Midpines, offering full body massage, hot rocks sauna, jumbo hot tubs, and aromatic soaking baths steeped in locally-sourced herbs. Another great place to chill: Tenaya at Yosemite’s Ascent Spa, a Zen-inspired oasis with a full spa menu ranging from hot rock massage to detox wraps and the signature Firefall Body Renewal treatment. Say ahhhhhh.
Day 3: Breathe & Bend
Day three of your wellness trip is all about guided activities designed to take everything deeper. Skilled practitioners of traditional healing arts gravitate to the spiritual realm of Yosemite for inspiration. Yoga is mind/body magic, and Balanced Rock offers yoga retreats and wellness programs at AutoCamp Yosemite as well as Yosemite National Park. Yogasemite offers another stairway to Sierra nirvana, with its experienced instructors leading half-day yoga and meditation hikes to the most scenic corners of Yosemite. Park passes are included in Yogasemite journeys – even during periods when advance Park vehicle reservations are required.
An ancient means of deep green relaxation, forest bathing is trending. Through guided immersion in the natural forest environment, enthusiasts say it offers a potent way to relax and refuel. Forest bathing in Yosemite is perhaps best-practiced with Mindful Café, a provider of forest bathing tours as well as labyrinth walks, meditation, and more. Expect a soul-stirring time during Mindful Café’s guided 2.5-hour forest bathing experiences. In the words of famed Sierra sage John Muir, “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
Day 4: Reflect & Return
The best vacations leave you recharged, refreshed, and ready for more. Before checking out of your accommodations, take a moment for a morning walk, meditation, or sun salutation to integrate some of the lessons you’ve received the past few days. Grab a healthy breakfast, brunch, and car snacks at High Country Health Foods & Café, a culinary oasis near the crossing of Highway 140 and Highway 49 in historic Mariposa, and get on your way!
Yosemite has a lot to give, even more so when you’re giving back. Something to consider for your next trip to Yosemite: voluntourism, an excellent way to chill out as you contribute to a place you love. Leading local organizations for taking your volunteer turn are the esteemed Yosemite Conservancy, Yosemite National Park, and Mariposa Trails. Activities include trail maintenance, visitor services, and more.
ELEVATED R & R
Local opportunities for rest and relaxation are in abundant supply up here in Yosemite Mariposa County. For a deeper look at all the ways to find your happy place, check out our Field Guide to Feeling Good and get your vacation chi flowing!