A hazy sunrise at Tunnel View, Yosemite National Park / Rebecca Latson
Most people who visit Yosemite National Park in California only drive down into Yosemite Valley to take a short hike while marveling at the iconic views of El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Mirror Lake. While that is a great introduction to one of the most popular units of the National Park System, there is so much more to see and explore in this national park’s 1,200 square miles (3,108 square kilometers) of rivers, meadows, forests (including giant sequoia trees), and rounded granite mountains of the High Sierra.
Because there is so much to do and see, it can get a little overwhelming. More than 800 miles (1,287.5 kilometers) of trails beckon day-hikers and backpackers alike. Rock climbers will be tempted to test their mettle with Yosemite’s big granite walls. The park’s many lakes, streams, and rivers provide opportunities for rafting, paddling, and fishing. There’s bicycling, scenic driving, photography, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, and star gazing, too, in addition to all the winter sports on tap: downhill skiing and snowboarding at Bager Pass Ski Area (closed for the 2025 season), cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding in other selected areas.
While it's a no-brainer you should see Yosemite Valley, there are other areas within this national park also worthy of a visit:
- Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Merced groves for viewing giant sequoia trees.
- Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the O’Shaughnessy Dam, where water slakes the thirst of inhabitants in the San Francisco Bay Area while offering tranquil views, a hike to three different waterfalls (usually dry by late summer), and trails leading to multi-day adventures within the park’s backcountry.
- Commanding views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls await the traveler at Glacier Point. Stay awake past your bedtime to gaze at (and maybe photograph) the starry night sky above these iconic landmarks.
- Tioga Road to or from Tuolumne Meadows is a must-see, where you’ll observe up close (and can even hike on) the glacier-polished, rounded granite hills and mountains of the High Sierra.
- Along the route, stop at Olmsted Point to stretch your legs and view Yosemite Valley and Half Dome from a different perspective. Use your telephoto lens or binoculars and you might just see the tiny, ant-like figures of climbers scaling Half Dome.
- Make sure you also stop to cool your feet or paddle your kayak in clear, cold Tenaya Lake.
- Hike a trail across Tuolumne Meadows, one of the largest high-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada.
Travel to Yosemite and you might make it in time to view the incredible Firefall event, where the evening sun backlights Horsetail Fall to create what appears to be a ribbon of light tumbling down the granite cliff. Note: if you visit during this time of year, you’ll need to make a day reservation for those February weekends.
Yosemite National Park is large and there’s plenty to do, so you might want to spend more than a day in the park. Fortunately, there is a large assortment of lodging possibilities offered by authorized concessionaire Aramark Destinations, from the palatial Ahwahnee Hotel to the bare bones tent cabins of Curry Village. Lodging in-park is extremely popular, so remember to reserve your room far in advance of your trip.
Perhaps you would rather pitch a tent or park your RV directly beneath the stars? The park offers 13 campgrounds, all requiring reservations through recreation.gov.
To reduce congestion and enhance visitor experience, Yosemite National Park has utilized a timed-entry reservation system for the past few years. Note: This is not the same as the day reservations for the February Firefall event. A plan to make the reservation system permanent was placed on a temporary hold, however, so remember to the park’s website for any updates prior to your planned trip.
If you still feel inundated by so many options for visiting Yosemite, this Traveler’s checklist and Traveler article about summering in Yosemite might help you with your plans. If you pack your camera along with the rest of your travel gear, check out this Traveler article about photography at Yosemite National Park.
Traveler’s Choice For: Hiking, climbing, photography, waterfalls, families
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