I just won the permit lottery to do Vogelsang the week after July 4th. I have been trying to win a permit for this trailhead for the last 5 years or so and am VERY excited to have won. I need to submit my itinerary within the next three days and I am looking for some feedback on routes from anyone who is familiar with the area

What I'm looking for:

• I am not a mountaineer by any stretch. So I would be staying on established trails -- no cross country trekking.
• Have 4-5 days to commit. Would probably max out around ~40 miles and ~5000 ft in elevation.
• Looking for the best views and scenery possible.
• Would need to start out of Tuolumne and head up Rafferty Creek Trail for the first night.

Route Options (Open to other suggestions)

1. Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley via Vogelsang, Lake Merced, and Little Yosemite.

~30 miles with ~3500ft of elevation depending on the exact route I choose. Would need to catch the bus from the Valley up to Tuolumne to start.

Question: Would this be better to do the leg from Lake Merced to Little Yosemite following the Merced River or taking the John Muir Trail? JMT would be a little longer with a bit more elevation, but I am concerned that in a high rainfall year (like the one we are having) hiking along the Merced River be an issue.

2. Loop from Tuolumne Meadows via Vogelsang, Lake Merced, Sunrise High Sierra Camp, and back to Tuolumne.

~35 miles and ~5000 ft in elevation.

3. Out and back to Vogelsang from Tuolumne Meadows.

~15 miles and 1600 ft in elevation minimum. Would likely set up camp near the Vogelsang High Sierra camp and then do day hikes from there.

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Some other background:

I have done tons of hiking and backpacking around Yosemite, but somehow have never really explored the area east of Little Yosemite Valley and south of Tioga Rd. So the whole Vogelsang, Sunrise Lake, Merced Lake, Cathedral Lakes area will be mostly new exploration for me. I've tried and failed to get permits for this area for years, so I want to make the most of this opportunity.