Arguably the highlight of the national park system, Yosemite National Park has world renown landscapes and seemingly limitless adventure opportunities!  Situated in the stunning Sierra Nevada Mountains, the rock here is a brilliant white, and the glacier sculpted rock formations are iconic and known around the world.

Best known for the legendary Yosemite Valley, Yosemite is a massive park that has multiple distinct regions, each with their own unique flavor and look.  There’s tons of info out there about Yosemite to sort through, and it can be a bit overwhelming!  However, we think we have all the information you need to plan an awesome trip to Yosemite right here!

What Yosemite National Park is Known For:

Consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass if you’re visiting Yosemite!

The most well known feature of Yosemite National Park is Yosemite Valley and the gigantic rock formations and waterfalls that line this incredible place.  When you think about the most iconic places in the National Park System, Yosemite Valley ranks right at the top with the likes of the Grand Canyon and Zion Canyon!  

The biggest draws in Yosemite Valley have to be Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls.  Half Dome is probably the most famous postcard image people have seen from the park.  It’s literally half a dome, with one vertical face plunging thousands of feet into the valley!  

Probably the most physically impressive feature of the valley is El Capitan.  This cliff face is about 3,000 feet of vertical white marble!  Yosemite is also world famous for its incredible waterfalls, headlined by Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest in North America!

Yosemite is also widely considered to be the mecca of rock climbing in the United States.  Visitors can often see climbers thousands of feet up on the walls as they make their way up Yosemite’s classic climbs!  El Capitan is the true prize for climbers here, and a number of excellent climbing documentaries have been made around climbing El Capitan (most notably Free Solo).  

Climbing El Cap is probably a bit too much for most people, and fortunately Yosemite has tons and tons of amazing hiking trails to be enjoyed!  Arguably the most famous (and possibly best) hiking trail in the United States is the hike up Half Dome.  This massive sixteen mile undertaking climbs over 5,000 feet to the summit, and climaxes with the infamous Half Dome cables!  Beyond Half Dome, there are dozens of other fantastic hikes to be completed!

Why You Should Go:

If you are looking for a place with incredible natural beauty, world renown landscapes, and seemingly limitless hiking and climbing opportunities, Yosemite National Park is for you.  Many visitors already know what hikes they want to do here, especially true for Half Dome hikers, but anyone who wants a good hiking experience in the mountains will love it here!

Beyond the excellent hiking trails and the stunning natural beauty, Yosemite is blessed with fantastic weather!  Summers at lower elevations tend to be in the high 80’s to 90’s, and at higher elevations you can expect highs in the 70’s and 80’s!  And the really great thing is it storms much less here than many other mountainous areas (cough Colorado cough)!  

If you want great scenery, great hiking, great weather, great climb, and tons of options, you should definitely visit Yosemite!

The Good:

• The views.  It probably seems like I’m harping on this at this point, but seriously Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Whether you’re at Tunnel View, Glacier Point, the summit of Clouds Rest, or just some random pull out in the road, you’re probably going to have an incredible view!  
• The hiking.  I think this is about the only place I have ever been that legitimately has 30+ awesome hikes.  Most national parks have five or ten really good hikes, anything after that is pushing it.  Yosemite however legitimately has dozens and dozens of awesome trails.  If you want great hiking, and lots of different choices, this is the place for you.
• The climbing.  If you’re a rock climber, you probably don’t need me to tell you that Yosemite is a world famous climbing destination.  But for everyone else, if you didn’t know, Yosemite is an incredible climbing destination!  Even if you don’t plan on strapping in, it’s an activity in itself to go to El Capitan and watch people make their way up!
• The trees.  California has some of the most incredible forests in the world, and the giants here are the Sequoias.  While the trees in Sequoia National Park are a little bigger than the ones here, it’s hard to complain when you’re walking through one of Yosemite’s three Sequoia Groves!  If you’ve never seen one, this needs to be on your bucket list!

The Bad:

• The crowds.  Yosemite can honestly get pretty overrun by people.  On a summer weekend, good luck finding parking in Yosemite Valley after about mid-morning.  It can be pretty annoying trying to get into nature but the trail has hundreds of people on it.  This can be avoided by choosing trails that are less popular and more remote, but nonetheless, most people’s biggest complaint about Yosemite is the crowds.
• The remoteness.  It’s not that Yosemite is really hard to get to.  It’s not.  The park is only 3-4 hours from the Bay Area.  The annoying thing is that there are no towns close to Yosemite Valley or the other popular areas of the park.  This means that you either need to get a place to stay in the park (hard to do), stay just outside the park (not a ton of choices and expensive), or stay near a town an hour or more from Yosemite Valley.  It’s just annoying to have to drive an hour or more each day if you aren’t staying in the valley.
• The heat.  A lot of people enjoy the heat.  I am not one of those people.  Don’t get me wrong, I fully enjoy a nice 80 degree day, but hiking in the summer heat that Yosemite often gets can be a real challenge.  This can be avoided by going to the higher elevation parts of the park, but that can be annoying and a long drive.  When it’s 95 degrees in the valley, it’s great for swimming, but not so great for hiking.
• Road closures.  All of Yosemite’s high elevation roads close during the winter, and do not open until the snow has been cleared.  This can mean that large areas of the park do not open until late May, or June in big snow years.  Spring has some fantastic weather, but visiting in spring means you will not be able to access many areas of the park.  This is not unique to Yosemite, it happens in most high elevation parks, but it can be annoying.

How Much Time to Spend in Yosemite National Park:

I’m starting to lose count of how many times I have been to Yosemite, and I still have a list of hikes I want to do but haven’t gotten too.  So based on that, I don’t think you really can spend too much time here.

While you could easily spend a month in Yosemite, you can get to the highlights in a much shorter amount of time.  If you really just wanted to drive through, take a couple pictures, and move on, you could make it through in a day, but I really wouldn’t recommend it.

To get the full Yosemite experience, I think you need at least three days, and four or five to really see all areas of the park.  The way I see it, you need to see Yosemite Valley, the Sequoia’s are worth a day, Tuolumne Meadows is worth a day, Hetch Hetchy is worth visiting, and driving up to Tioga Pass is incredible.  

So I think to really experience everything the park has to offer, you need four or five days!

What Time of Year to Visit Yosemite:

Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!

Hiking in Yosemite is a three season activity.  Winter usually brings quite a bit of snow, and the entire park is liable to experience winter storms.  While lower elevation areas of the park may be hikable in winter, I really wouldn’t say Yosemite is a four season hiking destination.

Purely in terms of weather, fall and spring are the best times of year to hike in Yosemite.  Summer can get extremely hot, and hiking in 95 degree heat isn’t fun for most people!  The one issue with fall is that fire season can either close down areas of the park, or more likely will blanket the park with smoke.  In good years, it’s hardly an issue, but some years it’s harmful to even be outside.

It is also worth considering when Yosemite is busiest.  This is one of the busiest parks in the country, so be ready for crowds if you visit in peak season, namely summer.  Some people are really turned off by the crowds, and I agree if you only visit the valley, but there are always places to get away from the big crowds.  This can cause issues with finding campsites in the park though.

Overall, I would say that late spring is probably the best time of year to visit Yosemite.  The temperatures are comfortable, rain is rare, and the crowds are lighter than summer.  Autumn is also a great time to visit as spring may still have snow lingering on the trails.

The last thing to consider when planning your visit is that the high elevation roads through the park close for snow.  Tioga Pass and Glacier Point Road both close from winter to whenever the snow melts (usually May or June but it varies).  Spring will limit where you can go in the park, so if you really want to explore the high country, wait at least until late June!

Top Things To Do:

Go for a hike.  There are dozens of incredible hikes to do in Yosemite.  From flat and easy walks to massive technical routes, there is a trail here for everyone!  And not only are trails of every difficulty, you’ll be hiking through some of the most incredible landscapes in the world!

You’re in bear country, so be sure to always be bear safe!

Go for a swim.  Yosemite Valley can get really hot.  Fortunately, the Merced River flows right through and is a great place to cool off!  Whether you are smack dab in the middle of the valley, at Mirror Lake, or somewhere below the valley, there are tons of places to go for a swim!  And if you’re bold enough, there are countless crystal clear alpine lakes to test your mettle in!

Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!

Go for a climb.  Climbing here isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you want to rock climb in the mecca of rock climbing, you’re there!  From multi-day expeditions up El Capitan to short easy routes, the climbing here is iconic, and you’ll always have a great view to enjoy on the way up!

Like this article?  Check out our full guide to Yellowstone National Park too!

Go rafting.  Yosemite may not be known for its rafting, but there are rafting options out there if you look for them!  The Merced River and the Tuolumne River both offer whitewater opportunities outside of park boundaries!  For a more relaxed float, the Merced River through Yosemite Valley is about as good a place to float down a river as you can ask for!

Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park:

Driving to Yosemite?  Make sure you have our ultimate road trip playlist to keep you company!

We have entire articles on the best hikes in Yosemite National Park, so we aren’t going to rewrite everything here, but here’s a few short excerpts to go along with the links to the full articles!

Yosemite’s 10 Best Difficult Hikes 

Half Dome Trail

16.3 miles

5,318 feet vertical gain

Forget Yosemite, I would make the argument that this is the best hike in North America!  The summit of Half Dome is Yosemite’s iconic image, and it makes for one of the absolute best days on trail in the world!

Starting from Yosemite Valley, this trail gains about 5,000 vertical feet on its way up to the summit!  It makes for a very long day, but this trail is no slog through the woods.  Most start their day with an ascent of the Mist Trail, an iconic Yosemite trail in its own right!  After hiking past two amazing waterfalls, you’ll head into Little Yosemite Valley, a picturesque backcountry valley, before finally making your way up to Half Dome.

The real wow moment of this hike is the legendary Half Dome Cables.  Somewhere between a hike and an idiotic sort of rock climb, the route to the summit goes straight up the smooth granite slopes of the dome!  Because it’s so steep, you cannot simply walk up the side.  Rather, steel cables are drilled into the rock for you to hold onto as you pull yourself up towards the summit!

This is certainly not for the faint of heart, and there is real danger here as fatalities are not unheard of.  If you’re unsure, it’s ok to turn around, but the payoff at the summit is amazing!  This is definitely the best hike in Yosemite, and arguably the best in North America!

Yosemite’s 10 Best Moderate Hikes

Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop

5.1 miles

1,122 feet vertical gain

This loop between Sentinel Dome and Taft Point will give you some seriously epic Yosemite views, and that’s the big reason it’s my number one moderate hike.  This trail falls right in the sweet spot for a moderate hike, 5 miles, 1,122 feet, about two or three hours of hiking.  You’ll be breathing hard in spots, but it’s never overly difficult.

Located above Glacier Point, this hike gives you huge views of all the major features of Yosemite Valley.  The view from the summit of Sentinel Dome is basically a better version of the Glacier Point view, and Taft Point is another iconic vista point.  The views combined with the drop offs of Taft Point and the summit dome of Sentinel Dome make this Yosemite’s number one moderate hike!

Yosemite’s 10 Best Easy Hikes

Mirror Lake via the Valley Loop Trail

6.1 miles

337 feet vertical gain

This is definitely the best easy hike in Yosemite because it provides huge Yosemite views, water, waterfalls, and is way less busy than a lot of the other trails on this list.  The first and last miles will be fairly busy, but beyond Mirror Lake you’ll have the trail to yourself!

Located in Yosemite Valley, you shouldn’t have a long drive to get here.  If you’re already in Yosemite, the valley is about as easy to access as it gets.  The trail leaves right from Curry Village, and can easily be accessed from the other parts of the valley as well.

Accessibility:

Yosemite is working to make the park more accessible, and on their accessibility page it outlines many of their services.  Yosemite has a deaf services program, a visual guide for visiting Yosemite Valley for people with aphasia, and an audio description for the park brochure.  There is also a 28 page accessibility guide with a full description of the park’s services. 

Top Tips:

If you like this article, you might like our guide to Grand Teton National Park!

• Go beyond the valley.  Many come to Yosemite and never explore the park beyond Yosemite Valley.  While the valley is definitely the highlight of the park, and you should 100% visit it, the park has much more to offer.  Crowds are thinner in other parts of the park as well!
• Find lodging near the things you want to do.  This is a mistake I have made multiple times, but the thing to remember is that Yosemite is really big!  If you stay near the southern entrance to the park, it is more than a two hour drive to Tuolumne Meadows.  If possible, decide beforehand what parts of the park you want to visit and what hikes you want to and then find places to stay near there!
• Bring plenty of water.  Yosemite is really dry, and it gets very hot.  What that means is you will be sweating, but the dry air means your sweat will be evaporating quickly, and you may not notice how much you are sweating.  People need assistance and rescue quite frequently, and dehydration and heat stroke/exhaustion are two major causes of rescues.  Know your limits, and bring plenty of water on hikes!
• Beat the heat.  The lower elevations of Yosemite regularly get very hot during summer, but there are ways to beat the heat!  Travel to some of the high elevation reaches of the park on hot days, and stay around the valley on cooler days!  It’s also important to get out early if you are hiking on a hot day!  Most hikes start with the climb, and getting your ascent done by 9 am means as it gets hot, you’ll be coming back downhill!
• Get out early, especially in the valley.  Building on the last point, getting out early in Yosemite Valley is a good idea for multiple reasons.  As already mentioned, beating the heat is really important!  Additionally, Yosemite Valley gets really busy, especially in the afternoon, so getting out early will help you beat the crowds and the heat!  Plus, then you can go for a swim in the afternoon!

Where To Stay When Visiting Yosemite National Park:

Camping:

In the Valley:

When thinking about camping in Yosemite Valley, there are a few things you should know.  First, reservations will generally sell out within seconds of when they are available.  Plan ahead and know when to reserve!  Also, while the campgrounds do not have showers, stores, or restaurants, all of these amenities can be found throughout the valley, specifically Curry Village and Yosemite Village.

North Pines Campground:

• Reservations required
• 80 sites
• No showers
• Flush toilets

Upper Pines Campground:

• Reservations Required
• 235 sites
• No showers
• Flush toilets

 Lower Pines Campground:

• Reservations required
• 73 sites
• No showers
• Flush toilets

Camp 4

• Sites available by lottery
• 25 sites
• No showers
• Flush toilets

Along Tioga Road:

Hodgdon Meadow Campground

• 103 sites
• Reservations required
• No showers
• Flush toilets

Crane Flat Campground

• 162 sites
• Reservations required
• No showers
• Flush toilets

Tamarack Flat Campground

• 52 sites
• First come first serve
• No showers
• Vault toilets

White Wolf Campground

• 74 sites
• First come first serve
• No showers
• Flush toilets

Yosemite Creek Campground

• 75 sites
• First come first serve
• No showers
• Vault toilets

Porcupine Flat Campground

• 52 sites
• First come first serve
• No showers
• Vault toilets

Tuolumne Meadows Campground

• 304 sites
• ~Half by reservation, ~half first come first serve
• No showers
• Flush toilets

Southern Yosemite:

Bridalveil Creek Campground

• 115 sites
• No reservations for most sites
• No showers
• Flush toilets

Wawona Campground

• 97 sites
• Reservations required
• No showers
• Flush toilets

Outside The Park:

Yosemite Lakes RV Campground

• 490 sites
• Reservations required
• Showers
• Flush toilets
• Laundry

McCabe Flat Campground

• 14 sites
• First come first serve
• No showers
• Vault toilets

Yosemite Pines

• Tent sites, RV sites, cabins, yurts, glamping available
• Reservations required
• Showers
• Flush toilets
• Laundry
• Pool

Tioga Lake Campground

• 13 sites
• First come first serve
• No showers
• Vault toilet

Lower Lee Vining Campground

• 51 sites
• First come first serve
• No showers
• First come first serve

Big Bend Campground

• 17 sites
• First come first serve
• No showers
• Vault toilets

Ellery Lake Campground

• 12 sites
• First come first serve
• No showers
• Vault toilets

Not Camping:

In the Park:

Yosemite West

Yosemite West is a region inside Yosemite National Park with a number of lodges and vacation rentals.  It is located south of Yosemite Valley.

Curry Village

Curry Village, located in the heart of Yosemite Valley, besides having amenities like restaurants, stores, and showers also has a large number of canvas tents and cabins.

Yosemite Valley Lodge

A large lodge in Yosemite Valley with 245 different rooms.

The Ahwahnee 

Luxury lodge located in Yosemite Valley.

Outside The Park:

Cedar Lodge

211 room lodge located outside Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort

Resort, spa, restaurant, campground, and hostel located outside Yosemite National Park.  Best option for hostel style accommodation.  

Yosemite Westgate Lodge

Hotel style lodge outside Yosemite National Park.

Evergreen Lodge

Lodge located outside Hetch Hetchy entrance of Yosemite National Park.  Accommodations include cabins, and hotel style rooms.  Amenities include store, restaurant, and pool.

Yosemite View Lodge

Hotel style lodge just below Yosemite Valley in El Portal.

Our Favorite Spots To Eat:

Lucky Buck Cafe

Laid back, old school diner outside Groveland.  Get the onion rings!

June Bug Cafe

Restaurant in the Yosemite Bug Resort.  Menu changes everyday based on what ingredients they have.  Expect 4-6 dinner options per day, and basic burger oriented menu for lunch.

Meadow Grill

Burger stand at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley.  Skip the chicken strips and get a burger.

Must See Spots:

• Yosemite Valley.  This one is pretty self explanatory.  Yosemite Valley is the obvious highlight of the park, and 99% of visitors will eventually make their way here, but it needs to be said!
• Climb Half Dome.  If you have the ability, this is one of the absolute best hikes you can do anywhere.  It’s long.  It’s hard.  It’s a bit dangerous.  Keep all of that in mind, and if you’re still interested, think about giving it a shot!
• Tuolumne Meadows.  Everyone loves Yosemite Valley, but the unheralded Tuolumne Meadows is definitely worth a day too!  Get away from the crowds, and see a totally different face of the park!  Not to mention, many of Yosemite’s best views and best hikes are up here!
• The Giant Sequoias.  Make sure you get yourself into a Sequoia grove.  If you’ve already seen them in Sequoia or Kings Canyon, fine skip it.  But, if you have never seen these giant trees, do yourself a favor and go!
• Clouds Rest.  A great capping hike for a Yosemite visit if you aren’t comfortable with Half Dome is Clouds Rest.  It’s still tough, but it’s a degree of difficulty easier than Half Dome, and gives you just as good of views.  You’ll still get some excitement too!  The final summit push on this hike has massive drop offs on both sides!
• Hetch Hetchy.  Hetch Hetchy is in it’s own separate area of the park, and requires actually leaving and then reentering the park to access.  It’s an hour or so drive from the valley, but it’s worth a visit.  The short hike to Wapama Falls, or the longer version all the way to Rancheria Falls, are excellent, and not too difficult, day hikes!

Conclusion

Yosemite speaks for itself, and if you’ve heard of it you probably don’t need me to tell you that it’s awesome, but I’m going to again.  Yosemite is awesome.  You should go.  There’s a reason it gets so many visitors.

This place is magical, iconic, legendary, awe inspiring, impressive, intimidating.  Choose your word, and this incredible place probably fits the bill.  There are national parks, and then there are national parks.  I’m not totally sure what I even mean by that, but Yosemite is definitely a national park.  

I guess the only question that’s left to answer is, is this the best national park in the country?  It certainly has a case.