Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places we have visited. Located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, this amazing park is home to granite cliffs, groves of giant sequoias, waterfalls, lush meadows, and flowing rivers and streams. Yosemite is so much fun to explore and has something to offer for everyone. By simply driving through the park, you will quickly discover why Yosemite is one of the most visited parks in the United States. For those that enjoy hiking, there are over 750 miles of trails to explore so there are many options for all ability levels. You can also rent bikes and ride them through the Yosemite Valley. And if you are into climbing, this should be on the top of your list of destinations.

The park is open year round, with a majority of the traffic in the summer months. When planning your visit, we recommend visiting when the crowds are a little lighter while also being mindful of how weather impacts the park. In the winter, snow will impact which parts of the park are open. Our favorite time to visit is in late spring while the snow is melting from the mountains, creating amazing waterfalls.

At first, the park can seem a little overwhelming, but once you are there, you can quickly navigate which options are best for you.

One thing to note about driving through Yosemite Valley is that it has many areas where traffic can only drive one-way. Mapping out your plan before driving through the valley is a good idea during high traffic times since you can’t turn around.

The Yosemite Valley is a beautiful walk or drive, with numerous viewpoints throughout. The Valley itself is only one mile-wide and seven miles long. Within the valley, there are a handful of easy stops that require a short walk. The park also has 12 miles of paved bike paths in Yosemite Valley which makes renting bikes a great option.

Below are the top spots we recommend seeing during your visit. Also, check out our sample itinerary for more guidance.

Tunnel View

This iconic viewpoint is at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel along Highway 41. From the parking lot, you can see El Capitan, Bridevail Falls and the entire Yosemite Valley. It is a fantastic stop for photos.

Bridevail Fall

You will see Bridalvail Fall during your drive through the park.
For a closer look at the falls, you can hike a short, easy trail directly to the falls (1.2 round trip). It is famous for the mist that blows from the falls, resembling a bridal veil.

El Capitan Meadow

Located along the one-way Northside Drive, this beautiful meadow provides straight up views of El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks. It is a great spot for a quick stop on the way back out of the park.

Lower Yosemite Falls

This is a easy hike located within the Yosemite Valley loop. It is a short .5 miles roundtrip from the trailhead at Yosemite Village. In the spring, the water is at its fullest and by fall, it often dries up.

Upper Yosemite Falls

This steep 7.2 mile round trip hike provides close-up views of Yosemite Falls. Along the trail, you can also enjoy views of Yosemite’s meadows, the Half Dome, and the Merced River.

Sentinel Meadow & Cooks Meadow

You will see several meadows in Yosemite Valley. Sentinel Meadow is the meadow south of the Merced River and Cook’s Meadow is to the north. You can see Yosemite Falls and Half Dome from many different parts of the meadows.

Sentinel Beach

This sandy beach is located on the Merced River next to the Swinging Bridge. It is a great spot to enjoy the sun and water while looking at some amazing views of park.

Mirror Lake

This short 2 mile round trip hike looks up at Half Dome directly from its base. It also provides great views of Tanaya Canyon and Mount Watkins. Please note that the lake does dry up in summer months.

Mist Trail (Vernal and Nevada Falls)

This hike was our favorite. The trail provides a couple different options depending on how far you want to hike. We recommend at least going to Vernal Falls.

Half Dome

The Half Dome is an iconic Yosemite hike that draws avid hikers to the park. It is a challenging hike which can be dangerous if you are inexperienced or do not have the proper gear. Also, in order to hike the half dome, you must obtain a permit which is available by lottery.

Glacier Point

This amazing overlook is one of the most popular spots in the park. It provides views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and the high country.

Taft Trail

This was another one of our favorites. The 2.2 mile round trip hike takes you through the woods and is a pretty easy hike. Once you get to Taft Point, you will not be disappointed by these huge cliffs.. You can walk right to the edge and peer straight down.

Sentinel Dome

This 2.2 mile round trip hike takes you to a giant granite dome. Once you get to the top of the dome, you will be greeted with amazing views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan.

There are other parts of the park that we did not get a chance to visit. We did not visit the high country or the Mariposa Grove area. We have heard great things about these areas as well but chose to stick to the main part of the park since we were only there for a few days.

For additional information on the park, please visit the National Park Systems website. The NPS provides in-depth details about the park. For 2021, reservations are required to enter the park. You can book here at recreation.gov.