When you hear stories of heart-stopping vistas, towering cliffs, and cascading waterfalls, you should call to mind one of our favorites: Yosemite. Tunnel View is Yosemite’s most iconic vista, but other quintessentially Yosemite sites include Yosemite Falls, the continent’s tallest waterfall; El Capitan, the world’s largest granite monolith; the towering sequoia trees, the oldest living things on Earth; Half Dome, whose sheer cliff is the largest on the continent; moonbows (lunar rainbows) that put on a kaleidoscopic nighttime light show; and the Mist Trail, which climbs 1,900 feet to the tops of Vernal and Nevada Falls. A week here won’t seem like enough. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your time in one of our favorite national parks!

Yosemite National Park - Yosemite Valley

When to Visit Yosemite

Yosemite is beautiful no matter the time of year, with each season offering a unique set of views and experiences. Our favorite times to visit Yosemite are May or September when every area of the park is open and accessible, the trails are snow-free, the weather is comfortable, and the crowds are lighter. While there is no bad time, the decision of when to visit Yosemite depends on what you want to see and do.

Summer

Summer is the peak season in Yosemite, which means you can expect heavier crowds and traffic, especially in busier areas like Yosemite Valley. Additionally, lodging options tend to sell out far in advance during peak season. Despite the crowds, summer in Yosemite is truly fantastic! Summer showcases lush meadows, rushing waterfalls, and dry, snow-free trails, making it the perfect time for hiking. During this season, the entire park is open and accessible, making it the prime time to explore the high country. Tuolumne Meadows, a more remote area of the park which is only accessible from May to November, offers a quieter alternative to Yosemite Valley, and with lighter crowds and spectacular backpacking routes, a greater sense of solitude.

Pro Tip: To avoid long lines at the entrance stations, try to arrive before 10:00 AM, or visit on a weekday if possible!

Fall

As the fall season arrives, the crowds begin to thin out, offering a more serene atmosphere in the park. This time of year is a dream for photographers, as the vibrant colors set the landscape ablaze. During the early fall, you can still access the majority of the park, with the higher elevation areas typically remaining open and accessible until mid-October. Yosemite Valley, which is open year-round, showcases its beauty in the fall. It’s important to note however that some of the park’s smaller lakes, streams, and waterfalls may have dried up by this point, which is a major downside to visiting during this season.

Winter

Like many other national parks, Yosemite experiences a quieter season during winter, offering uncrowded trails, lower lodging rates, and serene winter landscapes. Once the snow blankets the mountainous terrain, Yosemite transforms into a breathtaking winter wonderland, offering a whole new perspective of the park. While several of the park’s higher elevation areas close – including the park’s eastern entrance, Tioga Pass – Yosemite Valley remains open with a seasonal attraction: Curry Village Ice Rink provides visitors with an opportunity to ice skate with stunning views of Yosemite’s towering granite cliffs, including the iconic Half Dome.

Yosemite even boasts its own ski resort, Badger Pass Ski Area, conveniently located within the park. Here, visitors can enjoy downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing, complete with a complimentary shuttle service available from Yosemite Valley to the ski area. Additionally, several hiking trails departing from Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Grove, and Glacier Point Road transform into a snowy wonderland, perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Yosemite’s winter season offers excellent opportunities for snow sports and a more relaxed experience in Yosemite Valley. It’s important to note however that it may not be ideal for hiking or exploring more remote areas of the park; While some trails remain open for hiking, popular hikes like sections of the Mist Trail, Four Mile Trail, and Half Dome close when icy conditions become hazardous. Additionally, many of the park’s waterfalls run dry during this time.

Note: Winter weather in the park can change unexpectedly and tire chains can become required with little notice, so be sure to pack them in your car when visiting in the winter!

Spring

In the spring, Yosemite becomes a must-visit destination for waterfall enthusiasts as the snow-melt fills the park with roaring cascades and the Merced River reaches its fullest flow. The high river levels create the perfect conditions for rafting adventures on the Merced River and offer picturesque views at Mirror Lake. During the early spring, certain higher elevation areas may remain inaccessible. But by late spring (typically by May), the entire park opens up, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the entirety of Yosemite. May in particular is a fantastic time to visit as you can experience the entire park while the waterfalls are at their peak and flowering trees are in bloom, all before the summer crowds start to arrive.

Getting to Yosemite

Entrance Stations

Located in eastern-central California, Yosemite National Park is massive, covering nearly 1,200 square miles of high, mountainous Sierra Nevada terrain! Due to the sheer-size of the park, traveling from one side of the park to the other can be time consuming, so it’s important to determine which parts of the park you want to visit when planning your trip.

There are five different entrances into Yosemite, and the travel times to park attractions can vary drastically depending on the entrance that you choose. Most first-time visitors flock to Yosemite Valley, so we have included the average driving time to Yosemite Valley from each entrance station.

Hetch Hetchy: This northwest entrance is off of Highway 120 and is open year-round, but only during daylight hours in the winter. This quieter entrance sees fewer crowds, with most people coming from the Sacramento area and is 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley.
Big Oak Flat: This western entrance off of Highway 120 passes through Groveland, and is the closest entrance if you are coming from the Bay Area and is 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley.
Arch Rock: This second western entrance off of Highway 140 passes through El Portal and Mariposa and is another common entrance for visitors from the Bay Area. This is the closest entrance to Yosemite Valley, with just a 25 minute drive.
South Entrance: The only southern entrance, South Entrance is located off of Highway 41 and passes through the town of Fish Camp. This is the closest entrance for visitors coming from San Diego and Los Angeles and is about an hour from Yosemite Valley.
Tioga Pass: The only entrance on the east side of the park and accessed via Highway 120, Tioga Pass is only open May-October and closes in the winter. This entrance is the most common for visitors traveling from Las Vegas and the Reno/Lake Tahoe areas. Lee Vining is the closest town to the entrance station. From the Tioga Pass entrance it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to Yosemite Valley.

Airports

Yosemite is accessible from several nearby airports, but the closest and most convenient major hub is the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT). From there, you can easily rent a car and reach the southern Wawona entrance in just 1.5 hours or Yosemite Valley in 2.5 hours.

Many travelers who plan to visit Yosemite National Park as part of a larger trip to California often choose the larger Bay Area airports for cheaper and more frequent flights. San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland International (OAK), and Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International (SJC) are all approximately 4 hours away from Yosemite Valley.

If you’re planning to visit Yosemite without a car and prefer to use the park shuttles, Greyhound and Amtrak provide service to the Yosemite area, departing from various nearby towns as well as the Fresno and Bay Area airports. Once you reach the outskirts of the park, Greyhound and Amtrak will arrange a transfer to a regional bus operated by Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) that will take you into the park.

Getting Around Yosemite

Once you arrive in Yosemite, you have several options for getting around the park. One of the convenient ways is by utilizing the park’s free shuttle system, which operates in specific areas of the park during select seasons.

The Yosemite Valley Shuttle System is the most comprehensive option for getting around the park. It operates year-round, stopping at all major trailheads, viewpoints, and facilities in the valley. While riding the shuttle is optional, it can make your experience much easier, especially during the summer when trailhead parking lots tend to fill up quickly. Additionally, the valley offers a fantastic bike path that spans throughout, providing a great alternative to driving or using the shuttle. If you don’t have your own bikes, you can conveniently rent them at Curry Village within the valley.

During the summer season – typically from mid-June to early September – the complementary Tuolumne Meadows shuttle comes into play. It offers easy access to the Tuolumne Meadows area between Tioga Pass and Olmstead Point.

While the shuttle routes within the park are helpful for exploring specific sections, it’s important to note that they don’t connect with each other. However, for a fee, YARTS operates several routes that connect different sections of the park, making it possible to visit Yosemite without a car. If you’re planning a car-free visit, you can find all the shuttle and YARTS bus routes offered within the park on the NPS website.

It is indeed possible to explore Yosemite without a car. However, based on our experiences of visiting both with and without a car, we have found that the best way to get around Yosemite is by car. It requires less pre-planning, allows you to explore the park at your own pace, and provides easy access to remote areas that are not serviced by buses or shuttles. During the park’s peak season in Yosemite Valley, you can park your car in one of the parking lots and utilize the shuttle bus within the valley to avoid traffic. This way, you can enjoy the freedom of leisurely exploring other parts of the park as well.

Story Time
The first time that we visited Yosemite, we were in college, and decided against renting a car because the underage rental fees were so expensive. We were staying with relatives in San Francisco, and to get to Yosemite, we took a train to Merced, then jumped on a YARTS bus into Yosemite Valley. During our trip, we were able to see so many amazing things! However, it took a lot of planning to get around without a car. during peak-season, several of the bus routes sell-out, so you can’t wait until the day of to book! We spent the first few days of our trip in the valley, and used the shuttle to get around and were able to see almost all of the highlights that way.

After exploring the valley, we took the Yosemite Valley-Tuolumne Meadows hiker bus to Tuolumne Meadows where we had booked a night at Tuolumne Lodge. After checking in, we immediately jumped on the shuttle and set-out to hike, Glen Aulin, which was absolutely gorgeous! Unfortunately though, we got off of the trail too late and the shuttle had already stopped running for the day. So, we walked an additional 1.5-miles along the dark highway back to our lodge. We were so hungry and so tired after the hike, so it felt like so much longer.

The next day, we checked out and had a few hours left to explore Tuolumne Meadows before catching our hiker bus back to Yosemite Valley. per the recommendation of our bus driver, we rode the shuttle to Tenaya Lake, where we spent some time swimming and marveling at the ridiculously clear, sparkly lake! We didn’t want to miss our bus back to the valley, so after swimming for a bit, we went to the shuttle stop an hour earlier than the driver had recommended, so that we would be sure to catch the shuttle scheduled in that time window. Unfortunately, the shuttle scheduled for that hour never arrived. So, we waited an another half hour for the next shuttle, and nervous-sweatted the entire ride back to the lodge. As we pulled into the lodge parking lot, we watched as the hiker bus that we were supposed to be on passed our shuttle, heading back to Yosemite Valley.

Since we had missed the final bus going back to the valley for the day, we tried booking an additional night at the lodge, but they were sold out. So, we walked to the ranger station to see what our options were. The ranger told us that no one was going back to Yosemite Valley that day, and also advised that we would be fined if we camped in the wilderness without a permit (Thanks for all the help, buddy!). He recommended that we head to the market down the street and try hitch-hiking back to the valley. So, out of options, we walked down to the market and asked for a piece of cardboard from the store so that we could make a sign to hold-up along the highway. We sat down, made our sign, and walked over to the side of the road where we were getting ready to hold up our sign when a man stopped us.

The friendly stranger let us know that he was heading back towards the valley on his way out of the park, and offered us a ride. We jumped in the back of the man’s car (Sorry, mom and dad!) and chatted with our new friend during the hour and a half drive back to Yosemite Valley. Once making it back, we checked into our canvas-tent in Curry Village, grabbed some ice cream, and discussed how we would never visit the park without a car again!

True to our words, on all subsequent trips to Yosemite, we have brought our car and have never dared venture without it.

Where to Stay in Yosemite

Camping

There are 13 developed campgrounds in Yosemite National Park that can be reserved through recreation.gov. Campgrounds in Yosemite tend to fill-up far in advance, so you will want to make a reservation as early as possible. Additional information on each campground and its operating season can be found here.

If you obtain a permit, you can also take advantage of the renowned backpacking routes and backcountry camping options available in Yosemite.

Lodges & Hotels

There are several lodging options within the park, ranging from traditional lodges to canvas tents:

The Ahwahnee: The historic Ahwahnee Hotel was built in 1927, and offers panoramic views of Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley Lodge: A traditional lodge that is located right across from Yosemite Falls
Wawona Hotel: Historic victorian lodge located in Mariposa Grove
Curry Village: Canvas tent cabins located right in the heart of Yosemite Valley
Housekeeping Camp: Three-sided concrete structures with a canvas roof located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge: Canvas tent cabins located in Tuolumne Meadows
White Wolf Lodge: White Wolf Lodge offers canvas tent cabins in addition to traditional cabins with attached bathrooms
High Sierra Camps: Located along the John Muir Trail, there are six remote tent-cabins that are only accessible by hiking

Outside of the Park

Tenaya at Yosemite: Resort offering cabins rentals and rooms at the lodge, and the property includes several fun amenities from nightly s’mores to game rooms and complimentary bikes
Beetlebark Bungalow: We stayed here on a visit with Jake’s parents, and it was such a beautiful and cozy cabin, we especially loved stargazing from the hot tub in the backyard! There are also several other vacation rentals located in and around the park on Airbnb and VRBO.

What to See and Do in Yosemite

With over 3.5 million annual visitors, Yosemite is one of the most visited parks in the system and is a hub for tourists, climbers, and backpackers from all over the world. With so much to see and do, there really is something for everyone.

Tunnel View

Tunnel View is Yosemite’s most iconic vista, offering a panoramic view of Yosemite Valley while showcasing some of the park’s most famous landmarks in a single frame: El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridalveil Fall.

To reach Tunnel View, you’ll drive through the Wawona Tunnel on Wawona Road (Highway 41). As you emerge from the east-end of the tunnel, you’ll be greeted by the heart-stopping vista. Designated parking is available on both sides of the road.

The best times to visit Tunnel View are in the early morning or late afternoon, when the lighting is soft and the colors are vibrant. Tunnel View is an ideal location for photography, but it’s also a great spot for simply taking in the beauty of Yosemite and reflecting on the park’s grandeur.

Yosemite Falls

At 2,424 feet, Yosemite Falls is the continent’s tallest waterfall. Comprised of three distinct sections, Upper Yosemite Fall, the Middle Cascades, and Lower Yosemite Fall, you can see this cascading waterfall from several locations within Yosemite Valley:

Sentinel Bridge: Located next to Sentinel Meadow, this location offers a breathtaking view of the falls.
Swinging Bridge: A short walk from Sentinel Bridge, this suspension bridge offers an even closer view of the falls.
Valley View: A viewpoint located on Northside Drive providing a spectacular view of the waterfall and its surroundings.

To get even closer look, walk the Lower Yosemite Falls trail, an easy 1-mile paved loop trail that leads you directly to the base of this massive waterfall. For an elevated view, make the strenuous 7.2-mile round trip hike along the Yosemite Falls Trail to the top of Upper Yosemite Fall. No matter how you choose to experience Yosemite Falls, you’ll be left in awe of the raw beauty and power of nature.

El Capitan

Rising more than 3,000-feet above the Valley floor, El Capitan is the world’s largest granite monolith. This notable landmark attracts rock-climbers and adventure-enthusiasts from around the world that dream of conquering the challenging climb to the top. The best views of El Capitan can be seen from Tunnel View and El Capitan Meadow. If you look closely, you can usually spot climbers along the wall, and at night, you can see the headlamps of courageous climbers camping out on the granite cliffs.

If you want to do some climbing of your own, but aren’t quite ready to tackle El Capitan, you can sign-up for a class with Yosemite Mountaineering School, offering lessons and guided climbs around the park.

Pro Tip: Visit in mid-February to witness Horsetail Fall, a phenomenon that occurs when light hitting this small waterfall flowing over El Capitan glows orange, making it look like lava! You can find more information about Horsetail Fall on the NPS site.

Mariposa Grove

Mariposa Grove is home to the towering sequoia trees, the oldest living things on earth. In Mariposa Grove, visitors can walk amongst some of the country’s most famous trees on trails ranging from easy to strenuous. The 2-mile Grizzly Giant Loop takes you past the famed 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant and the California Tree Tunnel, a tunnel cut through a sequoia in 1881 for horse-drawn carriages. To explore the grove deeper, and with fewer crowds, continue on to the strenuous Mariposa Grove Trail.

Half Dome

Rising 4,737 feet above the valley floor, Half Dome’s sheer cliff is the largest on the continent and is Yosemite’s most recognizable formation. Ascending Half Dome is a bucket-list hike for many travelers, and those that make it to the summit are rewarded with unobstructed 360-degree views of the Sierra Nevadas. The 14-16-mile round-trip hike is one of the most strenuous in the park, including the final 400 foot climb to the summit – the infamous cable section – that requires you to cling to two bolted cables running straight up Half Dome’s sheer cliff face. Despite the challenging – and potentially deadly – climb to the summit, the hard-to-get mandatory permit remains one of the most sought after in the park. Those with a healthy fear of heights can enjoy views of this iconic landmark from below in several areas throughout the park. Get a unique perspective from Half Dome’s base at Mirror Lake, or head to Sentinel Bridge to capture its reflection in the Merced River.

Mist Trail

The Mist Trail climbs 1,900 feet to the tops of Vernal and Nevada Falls.

The trail starts at the Happy Isles trailhead, which is accessible by shuttle bus from Yosemite Valley. The best time to visit is during late spring or early summer when the water flow is at its peak, creating the trail’s namesake mist.

Hike the strenuous 2.4 miles round-trip to the top of Vernal Fall, or continue the full 5.4 miles round-trip to the top of Nevada Fall. For an easier trek, hike a moderate 1.6 miles round-trip to Vernal Fall Footbridge to stand over the cascading river and catch a great view of the falls from below.

Pro Tip: The Mist Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park, so expect some crowds during peak season. To avoid the congestion, try to start your hike early in the morning. Be prepared for some steep and wet steps, especially on the way to Vernal Falls. It’s a thrilling and memorable experience, and the vistas make it all worth it.

Glacier Point

At 7,214-feet high, Glacier Point is one of the highest points in the park and provides panoramic views of Half Dome, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, and the valley floor. A 45-minute drive from the valley, Glacier Point – which can be accessed along Glacier Pass Road – has a parking area with a short, easy trail to a variety of lookout points. Hikers can enjoy one of several popular trailheads that leave from Glacier Point, including the 2.2-mile round-trip hike to Taft Point or 1.8 miles round-trip to Sentinel Dome. More ambitious hikers can make the strenuous trek from valley up to Glacier Point along the Panorama Trail (8.5-miles) or deceivingly-named Four Mile Trail (9.5-miles).

The parking lot can be chaotic during the busy summer months – making shared transportation such as shuttles or tours your best bet to avoid a headache. Shuttles are also a great option for hikers that want to experience the breathtaking viewpoints found along the Panorama or Four-Mile Trail, but prefer to enjoy them with a less-strenuous, hike down.

Regardless of the route you choose, you won’t want to miss the spectacular sunset views from Glacier Point as cotton-candy skies cast a magnificent glow on Half Dome!

Tuolumne Meadows

Escape the crowds of Yosemite Valley and explore Yosemite’s spectacular backcountry in Tuolumne Meadows. Tuolumne Meadows is a hiker’s dream, with several trails that take you through the high country and provide access to some of the park’s most spectacular scenery. This high-altitude alpine meadow is accessible only in summer and early fall, by taking Highway 120 along Tioga Road.

Tioga Road winds through Tuolumne Meadows passing views of granite peaks, alpine meadows, and sparkling lakes. Along the way, be sure to stop at the Olmstead Point overlook to take in the spectacular view and enjoy a picnic along the shores of sparkling Tenaya Lake.

Some of the most popular hikes in Tuolumne Meadows include the trek to Cathedral Lakes (7-miles) and Lembert Dome (2.8-miles). We loved the hike to Glen Aulin, and the trail was gorgeous the entire way!

The Ultimate Guide to Yosemite National Park