Est. 1890 | California | 761,747 acres

Perhaps the most iconic national park, Yosemite National Park in the High Sierras of California offers a smorgasbord of stunning landscape for some four million visitors each year. Towering monolithic cliffs spill thousand-foot waterfalls feeding the mighty Merced River found winding through sunlit meadows and redwood groves. This is the beauty of Yosemite Valley, packed with stunning landmarks that have stolen the world’s attention. However, the valley is only a small portion of the park. While the sights of Yosemite Valley are enough for some, this mountain playground extends far beyond into the Sierra backcountry for those restless to escape the crowds.

There are 5 major roadways traversing the landscape. Most people enter the park from the southeast on Highway 41 and arrive at Yosemite Valley through the famous park tunnel known for its dramatic view of El Capitan and Half Dome. This road loops through the box canyon of Yosemite Valley and exits north on Big Oak Flat Road. Before the tunnel, however, visitors can turn east on Glacier Point Road servicing Glacier Point, a popular overlook with an iconic view of Half Dome. Heading north from Yosemite Valley, Big Oak Flat Road runs through meadows and forest before turning back west towards civilization. Branching off of this road are Tioga Road and Hetch Hetchy Road. Tioga Road traverses the enitre park east to west with multiple lakes, viewpoints and campgrounds along the way. And Hetch Hetchy Road climbs up to the largest body of water in the park, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. All 5 of these roads launch the network of trails to enjoy not just the famous attractions in Yosemite Valley, but the hidden gems of the backcountry as well.

Park Highlights

1. Half Dome—Perhaps the most recognizable feature of Yosemite National Park, Half Dome is a granite slab centrally located in the park rising more than 4,800 feet above the valley floor. For the adventurous, the Half Dome Cable Route winds 8.2 miles from the floor of Yosemite Valley to the summit. The final pitch employs a cable hand railing to assist hikers up the steep smooth dome rock. Because of its popularity, beginning in 2010 all hikers must enter a lottery system for a chance to hike the Cable Route.
2. El Capitan—Another granite rock face in Yosemite Valley, El Capitan rises 3,000 feet and offers some of the best big wall rock climbing. Located on the northern side of the valley, captures dramatic lighting during both sunrise and sunset. In mid-February, the sun aligns itself in conjunction with Horsetail Fall on El Capitan’s eastern flank and illuminates the waterfall causing it to glow orange like a cascade of fire. This phenomenon requires precise conditions and attracts large crowds every year.
3. Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall—On the eastern side of Yosemite Valley lie two of the park’s most powerful and accessible waterfalls. The Mist Trail takes hikers below the lower Vernal Fall showering the hikers in its windblown mist, while upstream, the John Muir Trail guides visitors past the 600-foot Nevada Fall—almost twice as tall as Vernal Falls.
4. Yosemite Falls Trail—This 7.2 mile roundtrip hike takes viewers up switchbacks to Yosemite Point, an overlook of Yosemite Valley below. The trail ascends alongside the falls, ultimately granting gorgeous views of Upper Yosemite Falls with Half Dome in the background.
5. Glacier Point—Accessed from outside Yosemite Valley along Glacier Point Road, Glacier Point is an overlook featuring picturesque views of Half Dome. Facing east, the viewpoint provides stunning alpenglow at sunset and a striking silhouette at sunrise. Parking is limited at road’s end so arriving early is highly recommended.
6. Mariposa Grove—Boasting more than 500 mature giant sequoia trees, Mariposa Grove is the largest grove in Yosemite National Park. The grove is located on the southern end of the park, near the southern entrance. Most notably, the California Tunnel Tree is the last standing giant sequoia with a tunnel. The others, including the famous Wawona Tree, have all fallen since the park was founded.

Best time to visit Yosemite

Yosemite is magical any time of the year, taking on multiple personalities: a cool spring getaway, a roaring summer playground, a vibrant fall escape, a cozy winter wonderland. As with almost any national park the summer months are the busiest times of year; however, shoulder seasons (April, May, September and October) are a good workaround for those less inclined to massive crowds yet still want decent weather. If visitors are willing to brave the elements, then winter is a great alternative. Even though not all facilities are open and trail options are more limited, some lodges, campgrounds and front-country trails are open and available to visitors year round. Just keep in mind, driving through the park in snowy conditions may require extra preparations, like tire chains.

During summer months, avoid high volume traffic by visiting the park before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. This not only spreads out the visitation congestion, but also offers better chances of parking. A free shuttle system is available within Yosemite Valley once you secure a parking spot. Buses circulate nearly every 15–20 minutes.

How long should I visit Yosemite?

The highlights of Yosemite Valley are best explored in 2–3 days. But if you want to explore beyond Yosemite Valley allow 1–2 extra days to take on Tioga Road, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Mariposa Grove. Allow more time in the summer as wait times escalate and parking becomes limited.

Getting to Yosemite

Yosemite can be reached from four different approaches.

1. Highway 41 comes up from Fresno through the Southern Entrance near Mariposa Grove.
2. Highway 140 enters the park from Merced through the western Arch Rock Entrance.
3. Highway 120 (Tioga Road) arrives from Manteca in the west through Big Oak Flats Entrance.
4. Highway 120 reaches the park from Mammoth Lakes in the east through the Tioga Pass Entrance.

Many surrounding cities have commercial airports. Most notable are Fresno International Airport (FAT) to the south, Merced Airport (MCE) to the west, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose to the north, and Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) to the east. Fresno, Merced, and Mammoth are each about 2–2.5 hours from Yosemite Valley, whereas Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose are each about 3.5–4 hours from the valley.

Where to stay in Yosemite

Many surrounding towns have hotels and accommodations, but for proximity’s sake, staying in the park will offer the best experience. Yosemite has seven main lodging accommodations throughout the park—everything from the luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel to the rustic Curry Village. The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge, and Wawona Hotel offer modern hotel rooms. The other four locations—Curry Village, Housekeeping Camp, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge and White Wolf Lodge—have more primitive accommodations with canvas-sided tents and rustic cabins. The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village, and Housekeeping Camp are all four located in Yosemite Valley. For a full list of lodging options visit the official park website.

Yosemite Valley also has 440 campsites throughout 4 major campgrounds: Upper Pines Campground, Lower Pines Campground, North Pines Campground and Camp 4 Campground. Additionally, 203 sites are located throughout 2 campgrounds south of the valley, and over 800 sites are spread out over 7 campgrounds north of the valley along Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road. These 13 campgrounds are the secret to staying within the park during busy seasons. For more information regarding these campgrounds visit the official park website.

When should I book?

Lodging is once again the biggest limiting factor in Yosemite. With the exception of Camp 4, every campground in Yosemite Valley is open for reservations 5 months in advance through Recreation.gov and fill up fast for summer months. Camp 4 reservations are only available 1 week in advance. All other campsites outside the valley book 2 weeks in advance. Hotels and cabins also book up fast generally up to 6 months early. Rooms usually sell out for the summer by March. Curry Village is your best bet for later reservations.

How much should I budget?

A 3-day trip can range from $500–$1000 depending on your required needs. Here is a range of what to expect:

Roundtrip Airfare to Fresno	$200–$400
Car Rental	$50–$80/day (not including taxes/fees)
Campsite	$35–$40/night (not including taxes/fees)
Hotel Lodging	$180–$680/night
Restaurant Meals	$15–$30/meal

Packing list for Yosemite

Each park requires different gear for its unique characteristics. For Yosemite National Park, we wouldn’t want to be caught without hiking shoes, sunscreen, binoculars, camelback, and a hat.

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed trip report for a peek into our trip to Yosemite.

For more detailed information on Yosemite National Park, visit the official park website.