Best Things to Do in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is a familiar name in lists of the best national parks in the US and the world. This big-name national park in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains has been perennially popular thanks to its proximity to major cities like San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno, Las Vegas, and Reno. 

Its 94% wilderness status further adds to its awesomeness. Yosemite National Park is where all the gorgeous gifts of nature, including waterfalls, soaring granite domes, clear streams, and giant sequoia groves, remain almost untouched by humans. A popular destination for hiking, biking, white water rafting, boating, and camping, Yosemite is a huge playground where visitors forget about the real world. 

Ready to explore this majestic corner of The Golden State? Let's dive into the nine best things to do in Yosemite National Park. 

Key Takeaways

• There are five entrances to Yosemite National Park: Hetch Hetchy, Big Oak Flat, Arch Rock, South Entrance, and Tioga Pass. Except for Tioga Pass, which is on the east side, all other entrances are located on the park's west side. 
• 3-4 full days are the perfect time to experience the top things to do in Yosemite. 
• Yosemite National Park has seven in-park lodges and 13 campgrounds to choose from. Reservations are highly recommended and can be difficult to get. 
• The five top places to visit in Yosemite include Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, Tunnel View, and Glacier Point. 

Things to Consider Before Visiting Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is located in eastern central California. It’s deep in the Sierra Nevada mountains near the Nevada state border. This park was established on October 1, 1890, making it America’s third national park. 

To give you a map of Yosemite, major cities like Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Jose are to the west. Reno, Nevada, is north of the park, while Los Angeles lies to the south. To the southeast of the park is the notorious Sin City, a.k.a. Las Vegas, Nevada.  

An important thing to keep in mind is that Yosemite National Park is huge, covering nearly 1200 square miles. Luckily, there are five entrances to choose from based on your starting point: 

• Hetch Hetchy - the best entrance for accessing Yosemite’s quieter areas on the northwestern side. Open year-round during daylight hours. 
• Big Oak Flat - best if you’re driving from the Bay Area (San Francisco and Oakland) and Sacramento. Open year-round. 
• Arch Rock/El Portal/Central Entrance - the most direct entrance if you drive from San Jose. Also, it’s an alternative entrance for visitors coming from the Bay Area. Open year-round. 
• South Entrance (a.k.a Wawona/Fish Camp) - the best Yosemite entrance when driving south of the park, including Fresno, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Typically open year-round. 
• Tioga Pass/East Entrance - best entrance when driving to Yosemite from Reno, Mammoth Lakes, Lake Tahoe, Death Valley, and other areas east of the park. 

Tioga Pass is the only Yosemite National Park entrance located on the more remote eastern side. The rest are located on the west side of the park.

All Yosemite National Park entrances (except for Hetch Hetchy) lead to Yosemite Valley, the hub for most Yosemite attractions. 

How Many Days Do You Need to Spend in Yosemite National Park?

Three to four days is the perfect time to experience most of the Yosemite things to do without rushing or feeling like you left out anything.

If you’re visiting Yosemite National Park with family, four full days offer some flexibility to truly soak in the beauty, hike family-friendly hikes, and enjoy other kid-friendly activities. 

Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park has seven in-park lodges and 13 campgrounds for visitors who want to stay right in the action. The benefit of staying here is getting to Yosemite must-see sites before the crowds or after the day visitors have left. 

Yosemite National Park In-Park Lodges and Hotels

These are the best places to stay inside Yosemite National Park within the glacially carved Yosemite Valley:

• Yosemite Valley Lodge
• The Ahwahnee Hotel
• Housekeeping Camp
• Curry Village

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (60 miles from Yosemite Valley) and White Wolf Lodge (30 miles from Yosemite Valley) are the best places to stay along the Tioga Road area of Yosemite.

Lastly, the Wawona Hotel (27 miles from Yosemite Valley) is your best option if you want to stay in the southern part of the park.

Yosemite National Park Campgrounds

Camping a few nights in Yosemite National Park is a magical experience. And why not? There’s no better way of soaking up the beauty of this natural wonder than pitching a tent beneath its towering trees and jaw-dropping granites. 

Lower Pines, Upper Pines, North Pines, and Camp 4 are considered the best campgrounds in Yosemite National Park. That’s because they are all located in Yosemite Valley, where most of the top things to see in Yosemite are. Secondly, they are near the Merced River and close to Curry Village, which offers shower facilities. 

Camping fees in Yosemite range from $10 per person to $36 per site per night. Almost all sites require advanced reservations of between two weeks and five months. 

We’ve rounded up the best Yosemite camping grounds, including their amenities and nearby attractions. 

What to Wear When Visiting Yosemite National Park

Most people visit Yosemite National Park in summer, from late May through early September. The weather is typically warm during this season. However, occasional afternoon rain storms can sneak up on you, causing dramatic temperature drops. 

When visiting Yosemite National Park in summer, bring outfits you can wear in layers. This way, you can adapt easily to the weather around you by adding or subtracting layers. Consider clothes like vests, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, shorts, leggings, a sweater, and a lightweight rain jacket. 

Dressing in layers is particularly crucial when visiting Yosemite in winter. It’s important to bring thermal underwear (top and bottom), fleece outerwear, a couple of layers of thick polyester socks, quality gloves, and waterproof hiking boots. 

Kuhl’s categories of women’s hiking clothing and men’s outdoor wear are good places to start your search for the ideal clothes for visiting Yosemite. 

What to Do and See in Yosemite National Park

See Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls is not only one of the best waterfalls in California but also the highest in North America. Tumbling a staggering 2,425 feet over its three cascades, Yosemite Falls is also among the top 10 tallest waterfalls in the world. No wonder visiting it is voted by many as one of the top things to do at Yosemite National Park. 

This waterfall falls over the north rim of Yosemite Valley west of Sentinel Rock. There are two ways to access Yosemite Falls. The first option is via the Lower Yosemite Falls trail, which starts on Northside Drive across from Yosemite Valley Lodge. This is an easy one-mile walk leading to Lower Yosemite Falls' base. 

Adventurous hikers may prefer the Upper Yosemite Fall Trail, which starts across from Camp 4 Campground. Be warned that this is a challenging 7.2-mile round-trip hike comprising 2700 feet of elevation gain and countless switchbacks. The Upper Yosemite Fall Trail takes 6-8 hours to complete. But if you have the energy to do it, the panoramic views of Sentinel Rock, Half Dome, and Yosemite Valley can’t be beaten. 

Note that Yosemite Falls is seasonal. The best time to see it is during spring when it roars from freshly melted snow. 

Hike Half Dome

Half Dome is an icon on the Yosemite landscape and a must-see when visiting the park. Towering 5000 feet above Yosemite Valley and 8846 feet above sea level, it’s easy to see why hiking this granite legend is one of the Yosemite National Park things to do among daring hikers. 

The trail to the top of Half Dome is 14-16 miles and takes 10-12 hours (or even more) to complete. It’s a challenging hike, but the most famous/infamous part is ascending the last 400 feet at a relentless 45-degree angle. There are cables running through a set of poles and 2x4 pieces of wood to help you with the climb. Nevertheless, this is not a hike for the mentally and physically unprepared people who fear heights.

Note: A permit is required to hike Half Dome. Bring your grippiest gloves and hiking shoes. 

Stand on Top of Yosemite’s 3000 FT El Capitan 

No one wonders what to do in Yosemite National Park if they haven’t trekked the El Capitan trail yet. The famed El Capitan is a granite monolith towering 3600 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor, with the Merced River running at its base.

You’ve probably seen it in movies and documentaries like Free Solo, where Alex Honnold scaled its vertical walls without ropes. But did you know it’s possible to hike up to the summit and enjoy the jaw-dropping views of Yosemite from the top?

There are two possible routes for hiking El Capitan. The Upper Yosemite Falls Trail is the most popular as it’s more scenic and has more parking spaces at the trailhead. On the other hand, the Old Big Oak Flat Road Trail is less trafficked and, therefore, much quieter. 

Either trail requires 8-12 hours of climbing to reach the summit. Expect a long and strenuous hike, but the stunning views of North Dome, Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Dewey Point, and Taft Point are worth the effort.

Admire the Views from Glacier Point

Thanks to its extraordinary views, Glacier Point is among the most famous viewpoints and places to see in Yosemite.

This awe-inspiring overlook is about 30 miles or an hour’s drive from Yosemite Valley. It’s considered a must-see because of the unforgettable views of iconic Yosemite landmarks that it commands. Glacier Point gives you a grand view of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, Vernal Falls, Yosemite’s high country, and much more. 

If you're visiting with kids, the best way to get to Glacier Point is by driving or taking the Yosemite Valley Shuttle Bus. You can also hike to Glacier Point via the Four Mile Trail (4.8 miles, one way) or the Panorama Trail (8.7 miles, one way). 

Although Glacier Point is an incredible sight at any time of day, sunset is the perfect time to capture Insta-worthy landscape photographs. 

Soak Up Scenic Views from Tunnel View 

When driving up from the south on Wawona Road (a.k.a State Route 41), you’ll go through the historic Wawona Tunnel, which opens up to the iconic Tunnel View. The moment you come out of the tunnel and see the entire valley before you is bound to stick to your memory for a long time. 

This vista offers a jaw-dropping panoramic view of the famous features that surround Yosemite Valley. The mighty El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Sentinel Rock and Half Dome in the distance are all visible from the parking lot. 

The best season to see Tunnel View is early spring when Bridalveil Falls is gushing. Regarding the best time of day, late afternoon through sunset is a great time to snap terrific photos when the monoliths are bathed in soft light. 

Walk the Valley Floor Loop Trail 

Easy and moderate hiking trails are not easy to find in Yosemite. That’s understandable, considering its towering granite walls. That said, there are still a few trails that take you closer to the iconic features of this park without painful elevation gains. If that’s your cup of tea, consider adding the Valley Floor Loop Trail to your Yosemite National Park activities. 

The Valley Floor Loop Trail is long and relatively flat. It is 11.5 miles in length, but it can be cut into a 7.2-mile loop trail, which takes around 3.5 hours to complete. 

In addition to being family-friendly, the Valley Floor Loop Trail offers incredible views of the Merced River and meadows. You'll also see Yosemite's must-see rock formations, such as El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.

You may also like the fact that the Valley Floor Loop Trail is among the least-hiked trails in Yosemite Valley. In other words, it’s possible to enjoy some solitude on this trail, even on busy summer days. 

Experience Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Yosemite National Park is best known for its impressive rock formations, gushing waterfalls, clear streams, and lakes. But this park is also home to giant sequoias, undoubtedly some of the largest living things on earth. 

The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is located in the southern part of Yosemite, a few miles from the South Entrance. This grove boasts about 500 giant sequoias, some named after their unique features, like the Clothespin. 

Several trails allow you to walk among these giants. The Big Trees Loop Trail is an easy 0.3-mile trail that winds through notable sequoias, such as the Fallen Monarch. Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (2 miles) takes you past must-see giants, including the famed Grizzly Giant, California Tunnel Tree, and the Bachelor and Three Graces. Hikers looking to break a sweat may prefer the 7-mile (out-and-back) Mariposa Grove Trail. Before climbing the dreamy Wawona Point, the latter trail takes hikers through the upper and lower groves, past unique sequoias like the Faithful Couple, the Clothespin, and the Bachelor and Three Graces.

Discover Yosemite Museum and Indian Village

The Yosemite Museum is another must-have on your list of what to do at Yosemite. This museum was completed in 1925, making it the first museum built in the national park system. 

The building comprises a small but must-see gift shop and the museum itself. This little-known gem is full of information about the culture of the Ahwahneechee, a native American who has lived in Yosemite for thousands of years. Exit at the back of the building to see an example of a reconstructed Ahwahneechee village. 

Yosemite Museum and Indian Village are open year-round from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free for all visitors.

Hike Yosemite’s Most Popular Waterfall Trail - Mist Trail 

An alternative to the Yosemite Falls Trail hike is the Mist Trail. This is a popular hiking trail in Yosemite because it offers close-up views of two of the most powerful waterfalls in the park - Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. 

Mist Trail starts in Yosemite Valley right after Happy Isles Bridge. It shares the same footpath with John Muir Trail for about a mile. The two trails diverge roughly 0.2 miles from Vernal Falls Footbridge. The footbridge is a great viewpoint for Vernal Falls, but you may have to wait for your turn to snap a long-distance waterfall shot.

The Vernal Falls Footbridge also offers a great turnaround point if you’re tired. But we recommend continuing to the stone steps leading to the top of Vernal Falls and beyond Nevada Falls. 

The hike to Vernal Falls is three miles (round trip). If you proceed to Nevada Fall, expect a 7-mile round-trip hike. The hike to Nevada Falls takes three to five hours, depending on experience level.

Final Thoughts

There’s a reason the home of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Valley is common in most device’s lock and home screen backgrounds.Ooh, the humbling monoliths and waterfalls! The sweeping views! The quiet. In all honesty, no compilation of Yosemite National Park attractions can perfectly capture the majestic beauty of this part of California. These Yosemite sights are things you must experience first-hand to truly understand!

Featured image by: Christian B.