Your Travel Guide to Yosemite National Park
Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the United States. Hey, there’s a reason Apple had all of their desktop wallpaper photos from here! There are so many amazing hikes, waterfalls, camping grounds, and iconic structures like Half Dome and El Capitan. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the park a few times throughout the past decade and have narrowed it down to the best things to do in Yosemite for your next visit.
If you’re also interested in accommodations while visiting Yosemite, I stayed in Autocamp for the true “glamping” experience. My detailed review can be read here.
Yosemite Falls
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Yosemite Falls are arguably the most iconic waterfalls in the park. There are two – Upper Falls and Lower Falls. Lower Falls is extremely accessible with a flat walking path to the bottom of the falls as you can see in the righthand photo. This is very family-friendly, and you’ll even see many people swimming at the bottom of the falls in the summertime.
Upper Falls, on the other hand, is a much more intense hike with a steep and rocky trail end. If you decide to take on the challenge to hike to Upper Falls, you will be met with one of the most beautiful views of Yosemite Valley and likely feel the mist of the waterfall directly. There are two routes you can go to Upper Falls: 1) To Columbia Rock, 2 miles roundtrip or 2) To the top of Yosemite Falls, 7 miles roundtrip. To learn more about these trails, I recommend viewing this page.
Glacier Point
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Glacier Point is my favorite viewpoint in Yosemite National Park. It’s perfect for those who want a view of the whole valley without embarking on a strenuous hike. This viewpoint is accessible by car or free park shuttle between the months of May to October/November, about 13 miles up Wawona Road.
Vernal and Nevada Falls (Mist Hike)
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This hiking trail is one of my favorite’s and most famous in the park as you hike to two different waterfalls on the same trailhead. The hike can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours to complete as you have the option to hike to Vernal Falls, the lower of the two and the one pictured above, or to continue on up to Nevada Falls. Overall, the hike leans more on the strenuous end at a 2,600 foot climb and the 600+ rock stairs being quite slippery from the waterfall mist. Be prepared to get wet or bring a rain coat! If you are going to do one hike in Yosemite (except the famous Half Dome hike) this is the one to plan on doing. You get the most scenic views and experience within one hike. Tip: Do the trail loop if hiking to Nevada Falls so you do not need to climb down the stairs which can be even more slippery downhill. You’ll go up the Mist Trail and come back down via the John Muir Trail.
Tunnel Viewpoint
This iconic viewpoint offers a view of the Valley Floor, Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, and Half Dome. It is accessible by car or free shuttle, and is located east of the Wawona Tunnel. The crowds here can get pretty crazy so I recommend coming earlier or a little closer to sunset to avoid them. This is an absolute must on your to do list as it can be a quick stop but so memorable.
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Taft Point
I unfortunately don’t have any photos of Taft Point because the Glacier Point Road was closed in 2022 during my last visit, but this is one of the greatest photo opportunities in the Park. This viewpoint is a 2.2 mile hike from Glacier Point. Yosemite Park rates the hike a 3/10 in terms of difficulty so not a casual stroll but also not a difficult hike. The viewpoint itself is spectacular, with the opportunity to walk out to the edge of the 7,500 foot cliff with no guardrails. For context as to how high this cliff point is, you will be looking down onto El Capitan.
Cook’s Meadow
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Cook’s Meadow is an easy walk to embark on in the park, at about a 1 mile loop with flat paths. The meadow is nearly impossible to miss as it starts at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and goes along Northside Drive, one of the main roads in the park. The trail is accessible from many points along the road so I recommend walking along the wooden path if even just for a moment in the day or to eat lunch! This is such a peaceful walk and you’ll get to see Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, pass the creeks, and sometimes see some deer or wildlife.
Rent a Bike!
There are so many activities to do throughout the Park, but one that I can’t recommend enough is to bike along many of the paths throughout the park. It’s a great way to see a lot more than walking, yet gets you more immersed in the nature than when in your vehicle. Bike rentals in the park are located in Curry Village, Yosemite Valley Lodge, and Yosemite Village. They offer traditional, tag-along, and tandem bikes on a first-come basis for $10/hour or $28/day.
Half Dome
Half Dome. Need I say more? Named for it’s unique formation which appears like a dome cut in half, it’s arguably one of the most famous landmarks in Yosemite and the U.S. overall. I personally have just marveled at Half Dome from below, but for the 50,000 people each year willing to take on the challenge, you can embark on the very challenging 14-16 mile hike up with a $20 permit to take the hiking cables up to the summit. This hike starts with Vernal and Nevada Falls, and continues up to the 4,737 foot summit.
Note: You should be an experienced hiker to embark on this hike and start prior to or at sunrise. Make sure to get your hiking permit before visiting as these sell out quickly.
Merced and Tenaya River Kayaking
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If visiting Yosemite between May and September, I highly recommend renting kayak on either Merced river or Lake Tenaya. Note that Merced is typically much more crowded so Tenaya is the better option if you’re looking for that relaxing, lake experience.
El Capitan
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El Capitan is the landmark in Yosemite that you can’t miss, both because it is one of the most famous rock formations in the world and it’s height of 7,573 feet. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see rock climbers embarking on one of the hardest rock climbs known to mankind up this nearly sheer granite rock. I highly recommend watching the documentary Free Solo before visiting, which highlights Alex Honnold’s mindblowing journey of climbing to the top of El Capitan with no harness or ropes.
Note: there are hikes to the base and peak of El Capitan, but I personally recommend just marveling in its beauty from the road to leave time for the other countless trails in the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the entrance fee?
Entrance to the park costs $35 per vehicle which gives you access to the park for 7 days.
Do I need a reservation into the park?
No reservation needed!
When is the best time to visit?
Each season brings its own specialness to the park, however, Summer is overall the best time to visit for warm weather and clear skies. May to October is also when Glacier Road is typically open which is the only way to get to Taft Point and Glacier Point.
What is the best way to get around in the park?
There are free shuttles throughout the park taking you to all the major areas, bike rentals, and then of course parking lots throughout for your own car. Just remember to not leave food out in your car as the park is home to 300-500 black bears who will break in for food!
Is there phone service in Yosemite?
There is both wifi and phone service throughout the park, however it is more limited and can go dark on many hiking trails or camping grounds.