<HTML>Hi Jim,
A nice day hike is from the Lukens Lake Trailhead (up on Tioga Road) to the top of Yosemite Falls. It is "relatively" flat compared to walking up to the Falls from the valley floor. You are walking down TO the falls and back UP to your car, but the trail does not have the steepness of the hike up to the Falls. It's longer, but really an easy day hike. I like to have my lunch and maybe even a little nap up on the granite walls looking down on Yosemite Creek. What a beautiful view. You may only see a few other hikers all day, but this hike is one of my favorites. The trail is easy to folllow.
You follow Yosemite Creek as it runs down to the Falls part of the way and you will have some excellent scenery and places to take some great pictures.
Some people get a ride or take a bus up to the trailhead, hike to Yosemite Falls, then go straight down the last 3.2 miles to the Valley floor. That way they don't have to go back 7-8 miles uphill. I've done both.
My only caveat: If you go early this season with the snowfall, you may have to cross two minor streams. I always take off my boots and socks, but other than that I've never had any problems crossing over them. If you go later in the summer, the water is all gone (usually). I've also ran into mild mosquito annoyance some years. Not always. It's a great day hike IMO.</HTML>
Bill