Yosemite National Park, a crown jewel of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, offers an awe-inspiring blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. Known for its towering granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, ancient sequoia groves, and diverse wildlife, Yosemite is a haven for nature lovers and explorers. Whether you’re hiking the iconic Mist Trail, gazing at El Capitan’s majestic face, or soaking in the serenity of Yosemite Valley, this UNESCO World Heritage Site provides unforgettable experiences year-round. In this travel guide, you will find all of the best things to experience during your visit to Yosemite National Park. You will also find a free sample itinerary to help you plan your adventure.
When to Visit
To fully experience the park, the best time to visit is between June and October when the higher elevation areas (i.e., Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows, and Tioga Pass) of the park are accessible. The crowds are the largest from May to September, especially on the weekends. Spring and fall are beautiful times to visit and bring in less crowds than the summer months. Winter is the quietest season at Yosemite but still attracts visitors for ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding.
Know Before You Go
During certain time periods throughout the year, the National Park Service requires visitors to obtain a reservation to enter the park. It is important to check in advance of your visit to see what is required. You can find reservation information here.
Where to Stay
For a full list of Yosemite accommodations, visit the National Park website.
Yosemite Lodging
Curry Village
Families tend to enjoy their stay at Curry Village for all of the dining options and activities available. At Curry Village, you will find a cafeteria, pizza deck, coffee shop, ice cream parlor, and grocery store. There is also an outdoor swimming pool, bike and raft rentals, and walking tours. Curry Village is within proximity to several trailheads including Mirror Lake, Happy Isles, Vernal, and Nevada Falls. There are a few accommodation options to choose from, including standard hotel rooms, wood cabins, and canvas tents. You can make Curry Village reservations here.
Yosemite Valley Lodge
The location of Yosemite Valley Lodge makes it a favorite choice for families, as it is situated in the heart of the valley. The major highlight of Yosemite Valley Lodge is the proximity to Yosemite Falls. A few of the rooms even have excellent views of the falls right from the balcony. Unfortunately, you cannot make reservations for any particular room. However, most of the rooms have decent views of the woods or meadows. You can make Yosemite Valley Lodge reservations here.
The Ahwahnee Hotel
Built in 1927, the Ahwahnee is a National Historic Landmark. The rooms are small but the views tend to override any size complaint. One side of the hotel faces Glacier Point and Half Dome, whereas the other side faces Yosemite Falls. The higher the room, the better the view. This full-service hotel offers a world-class restaurant, gift shops, cocktail lounge, tennis courts, and a tour desk. Make sure to book early as the Ahwahnee often sells out quickly. Even if you are not staying here, seeing the impressive interior design and architecture is well worth a stop.
Wawona Hotel
This National Historic Landmark was established in 1856 and is one of California’s original mountain resort hotels. The Wawona Hotel gives off southern Victorian vibes with a wide veranda out front as well as porch chairs scattered around the green lawn. Accommodations consist of 50 standard hotel rooms with private bathrooms and 54 standard hotel rooms with shared bathrooms. In addition, the hotel dining room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A stay here puts you about an hour away from Yosemite Valley, which can be a plus if you are trying to avoid large crowds. This is a good spot to stay if you are visiting Glacier Point Road or the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. You can make Wawona Hotel reservations here.
Note that Wawona Hotel closed on December 2, 2024, for a comprehensive assessment. At the time of this writing, there is no planned opening date.
Yosemite Campgrounds
Pines Campground (Upper, North, and Lower)
These three centrally located campgrounds in Yosemite Vally are collectively known as “The Pines.” Only Upper Pines is open year-round, whereas the other two are open from April to October. Of the three, Upper Pines is the largest with 238 sites. All three campgrounds are pretty similar, although North Pines has a somewhat nicer setting. The Pines offer easy access for hiking to Mirror Lake, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and Half Dome. You can make campground reservations here.
Bridalveil Creek Campground
Consider yourself lucky if you can secure a site at Bridalveil Creek Campground. The only campground on Glacier Point Road, Bridalveil Creek’s 110 sites offer proximity to excellent hiking trails and world-famous overlooks. One advantage to staying at this campground is being within proximity to the best sunset spot in the park, Taft Point. The campground is open July through September and reservations can be made here.
Tuolumne Meadows Campground
The largest campground in Yosemite, Tuolumne Meadows Campground is located along Tioga Road. Visitors tend to seek out a campsite here due to its proximity to Tuolumne Meadows and popular hiking trails. A forest of lodgepole pine offers a sense of seclusion to campers, even though in reality, it tends to be pretty packed. Some sites are located close to the Tuolumne River while others provide excellent views of Lembert Dome. Given its high elevation (8,000 feet), this campground is open seasonally. You can make reservations here. Note that at the time of this writing, Tuolumne Meadows Campground is reportedly closed for all of 2024 and 2025.
What to See and Do
Bridalveil Fall
This is often the first waterfall that you will see when entering Yosemite Valley. It is at peak flow in the spring. During the rest of the year, it has a light, swaying flow. A .5-mile paved trail leads from the parking area to the base of the waterfall. This is a must-do sight for Yosemite visitors.
El Capitan
The largest single piece of granite rock on earth, El Capitan is the grand and impressive icon of Yosemite National Park. I will never forget the first time I saw El Capitan while driving into the park. Goosebumps. At over 3,000 feet above the valley floor, it is the most famous rock climbing site in the world. It was made even more famous by the incredible documentary, Free Solo, which profiles rock climber Alex Honnold on his quest to perform the first-ever free solo climb at El Capitan. The best spot to view El Capitan is from El Capitan Meadow. Be sure to bring binoculars so that you can watch the rock climbers make their ascent.
Half Dome
Another famous icon of Yosemite National Park, Half Dome rises over 5,000 feet above the valley floor. There are several good spots to see Half Dome. You can stand at the base of this massive granite dome from the Mirror Lake Trail. Other good places include Stoneman Meadow, Tunnel View, Washburn Point, and Glacier Point. A strenous 16-mile round trip hike will lead you to the top of Half Dome.
Mirror Lake
When the lake is calm, it reflects a beautiful mirror image of Mount Watkins. The best time to see the lake is in late spring or early summer when it is at its fullest. However, by late summer, it looks more like a meadow. A trail leading around the lake has exhibits that tell the story of Mirror Lake. It is also from this trail that you can stand at the base of Half Dome.
Tunnel View
This overlook provides one of the best views of Yosemite Valley including El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridalveil Fall. It is even more spectacular during sunset or after the clearing of a storm. The tunnel leading up to this scenic viewpoint is over four thousand feet in length, making it the longest highway tunnel in California.
Glacier Point
This world-renowned overlook gives visitors a panorama of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome. This viewpoint is located 30 miles from either Yosemite Valley or Wawona. Given its high elevation, the road to Glacier Point is typically closed from October through May due to snow.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Mariposa Grove is the largest grove of sequoias in the park and home to over 500 mature giant sequoias. The grove is divided into two areas: Upper Grove and Lower Grove. Most visitors stroll through the Lower Grove to see the popular named trees, including the Fallen Monarch, Grizzly Giant (largest tree in the grove), and the California Tunnel Tree. To see both the Upper and Lower Groves, expect a 6.6-mile round-trip hike with 1,200 feet in elevation gain. To access Mariposa Grove, visitors must take a shuttle bus from the Welcome Plaza or hike two miles (each way). The shuttle bus schedule and trail information can be found on the National Park website.
Olmstead Point
From this viewpoint, you can spot Yosemite Valley’s granite domes and cliffs from a much different vantage point than anywhere else in the park. From here you can see Half Dome, Tenaya Lake, and Clouds Rest. However, you may not immediately recognize Half Dome because it looks so different from this angle. A .25-mile interpretive trail provides information regarding the park’s geology. If you are lucky, you may even see a marmot or pika poking out from the rocks. This viewpoint is located on Tioga Road, approximately 10 miles west of Tuolumne Meadows. Note that Tioga Road closes after the first significant snowfall each year and typically opens by late May or early June.
Tenaya Lake
The beautiful and inviting blue water of Tenaya Lake is hard to pass up. Surrounded by scenic beauty, Tenaya Lake is the largest lake in Yosemite’s front country and a popular summer destination for visitors. On a clear summer day, you will find throngs of visitors picnicking, sunbathing, swimming, or kayaking. Tenaya Lake can be reached via Tioga Road, which is open from late May or early June through late October to early November.
Pothole Dome
A short and easy hike takes you to the top of Pothole Dome with amazing views of Lembert Dome, Mount Dana, Mount Gibbs, and Tuolumne Meadows. This trek is approximately one mile out and back with less than 200 feet in elevation gain.
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne Meadows is the largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada. It is over 8,000 feet above sea level and extends for more than two miles. The scenery surrounding the meadow is stunning. Rugged mountain peaks and impressive granite domes can be seen in the backdrop. The scenic Tuolumne River meanders through the meadow adding even more beauty to this scenic expanse.
Hiking Trails at Yosemite
Upper Yosemite Fall
This strenuous 7.4-mile round-trip hike takes you to the top of Yosemite Falls. This beautiful waterfall is the highest in North America and the fifth highest in the world. A steep climb (2,700 feet) rewards hikers with close-up views of Yosemite Falls and distant views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley. There is a popular bridge in which you can go over the waterfall. Once you reach the top, you can climb another .75 miles to reach Yosemite Point. This breathtaking viewpoint even further showcases the valley and surrounding mountains. You can find more information about the hike by visiting the National Park website or All Trails.
Lower Yosemite Fall
This short and easy trail to Lower Yosemite Fall is a must-do for visitors. The waterfall is at peak flow in late spring and early summer thanks to the snowmelt. It often dries up by autumn. The paved loop trail gives you a close-up view of Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Creek. You’re so close to the falls that you may even get a little wet when standing on the footbridge at the base. There are exhibits along the way if you are interested in learning more about the history of the area. This trail is approximately one mile in length and is relatively flat with only 50 feet of elevation gain. For more information, visit the National Park website or All Trails.
Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail
This popular hike is approximately 6.8 miles and offers up-close views of two incredible waterfalls and a beautiful vista of Yosemite Valley along the way. You can make this trail your own adventure by selecting a point that you wish to turn around or by completing the full round trip. Either way, expect some truly breathtaking views on this trek. The 6.8-mile round-trip hike is generally considered hard with an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet. For more information, visit the National Park website or All Trails.
Half Dome
Arguably the most popular trail in the park, Half Dome is one of those once-in-a-lifetime bucket list items. This trail is not for the faint of heart. The Half Dome Trail is a very strenuous 16-mile round-trip hike with 4,800 feet of elevation gain and a large amount of hiker traffic. Half Dome’s famous cables are usually in place from May to October, so that is the only recommended time to complete the hike. These cables allow hikers to climb the last 400 feet to the summit without rock climbing equipment. Most hikers make the trek as a day hike, whereas others opt for an overnight backpacking trip. Either way, you are still required to have a permit. For more information, visit the National Park website. You can also find trail information at All Trails.
Bridalveil Fall
Bridalveil Fall is another must-do hike in Yosemite. This paved trek is short and easy, approximately .5 miles round trip with no elevation gain. Bridalveil Fall flows year-round but is at peak flow in late spring and early summer. The trail leads you to the base of the waterfall, where you get up close views of the water flowing 620 feet from the creek above. For more information, visit the National Park website or All Trails.
Sentinel Dome
This 2.2-mile round-trip hike offers big rewards as views from the dome’s summit are absolutely stunning. From the overlook, you are provided 360-degree views of the surrounding mountain peaks and domes. It is one of the best spots in the park to watch the sunset. This trail is considered a moderately challenging route with 459 feet in elevation gain. For more information, visit the National Park website or All Trails.
Taft Point and the Fissures
This 2.3-mile out-and-back trail is generally considered easy to moderate. From this overlook, you get a head-on look at El Capitan, as well as magnificent views of Yosemite Valley below. Look for the impressive fissures in Taft Point’s granite. Some of these huge cracks have drops of up to 2,000 feet. There is only about 250 feet of elevation gain on this hike. For more information, visit the National Park website or All Trails.
Lembert Dome
This 3.4-mile round-trip trail climbs through the forest to the granite rock of the dome. Once you reach the rock, follow the easiest path to the top. The top of the dome provides excellent views of Tuolumne Meadows and the surrounding peaks. This trail is considered moderately strenuous with 850 feet in elevation gain. For more information, visit the National Park website or All Trails.
Yosemite Travel Itinerary
Ready to start your Yosemite adventure? Use our free Yosemite sample itinerary. Like our other sample itineraries, this one is packed with things to do and see. You can easily make changes to the template to make it fit your interests.