Top 15 Things to do in Yosemite + Map & Tips

Top Attractions to see in Yosemite

To organize your visits in Yosemite, it's best to divide the park into five areas: Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point Road, Mariposa Grove, Hetch Hetchy, and Tioga Pass. Let's go with the best places to see in each of them!

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1. Tunnel View and Valley View viewpoints

We start with Yosemite Valley, the most popular and visited area in the entire park! At the beginning of the valley there are two viewpoints, each located on a different road but both offering similar (yet different) views. Keep in mind that the road through the valley is a loop and one-way, so even though these viewpoints may appear to be very close together on the map, you actually have to drive the entire loop to get from one to the other.

Tunnel View is a must-see during your visit to Yosemite. This viewpoint is located next to the Wawona tunnel and, although it's usually crowded, the views it offers of the immensity of the valley are unbeatable, as you can see at a glance El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls in all its splendor (only in spring and early summer), and Half Dome in the distance.

It's an elevated viewpoint next to the road that offers bird's-eye views. Many people come here to watch the sunrise or sunset! 🌄

Valley View is located on Northside Drive and also offers views of El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall, but from a much lower perspective at the foot of the Merced River. Half Dome cannot be seen from here, but if you are lucky enough to be there on a windless day, the reflections are stunning. It's a quieter spot than the previous one, and if you visit at sunset, you can see El Capitan bathed in golden light.

2. Bridalveil Falls

There're many waterfalls in Yosemite Valley, but Bridalveil Fall, at 189 meters high (620 feet), is usually the first one you see when you enter the valley. If you visit in spring or early summer, you'll be amazed by its flow! Otherwise, you may only see a trickle and be a little disappointed.

In any case, you can reach its base by following a very easy 400-meter path (one quarter of a mile) just one way. Be prepared to get wet when it's full of water!

3. El Capitan and its waterfalls

The first granite massif you'll see when you enter the valley is the famous El Capitan, which at 914 meters (almost 3,000 feet) has become a challenge for climbers from all over the world. If you have seen the documentaries "Free Solo" or "The Dawn Wall," you'll know what we mean. 😮

Ribbon Fall cascades down the west face of El Capitan. Visible only in spring, it's considered the highest single-drop waterfall in North America at 491 meters (1,612 feet).

On the east side is Horsetail Fall, a 304-meter (1,000 feet) waterfall that only flows from December to April, as its water is formed when the snow at the top of El Capitan melts during the day in winter. If you go to Yosemite at any other time of year, you'll hardly see it!

The most spectacular feature of this waterfall is the fire effect that occurs for a few days in mid to late February, lasting 5 to 15 minutes at sunset. It turns orange, looking like a waterfall of lava! For this to happen, three conditions must be met:

• Perfect alignment of the sun with the waterfall
• Sufficient water in the waterfall: depends on the amount of snow and whether the daytime temperature is high enough to melt it.
• Clear sky

It's a unique phenomenon that attracts photographers from all over the world!

4. Cathedral Beach

A beach in Yosemite? Located on the banks of the Merced River, Cathedral Beach is a perfect place to take a dip and have a picnic in Yosemite.

Unlike waterfalls, it's best to visit here in the height of summer (July and August). Before then, you may not find a beach, as the river tends to have a lot of water due to the snowmelt, and it can be dangerous to go in.

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5. Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls are another of the must-sees in Yosemite Valley, as it's one of the highest waterfalls in North America with a drop of 739 meters (2,425 feet). It has the highest flow in spring and early summer, and it's impressive! Unlike the previous ones, this one is divided into two sections: Lower Yosemite Fall and Upper Yosemite Fall.

If you don't feel like walking far and want to take the easy route, a 1.6 km (1 mi) circular trail takes you to the bottom of Lower Yosemite Fall, where you can see the entire waterfall head-on during the walk.

It's also possible to reach the top of Upper Yosemite Fall, but as you can imagine, you'll work up quite a sweat here. A trail of almost 6 km (3.7 mi) starts at Camp 4 and, with its 823-meter elevation gain (2,700 feet), offers spectacular views of the valley and its iconic granite formations. Allow 6 to 8 hours round trip to complete it.

If you prefer something in between, you can simply go to Columbia Rock, a viewpoint located at kilometer 1.6 (1 mi). Although it's also tiring, because the cumulative elevation gain is 330 meters (1,000 feet), you can enjoy views of the valley along with Half Dome and Sentinel Rock.

6. Cook's Meadow

This beautiful meadow is located very close to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and it's one of the easiest hikes in Yosemite, as you just have to follow a flat 1.6 km (1 mi) circular trail known as Cook's Meadow Loop.

From the meadow, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Sentinel Rock. Incredible! Along the way, you'll also pass Sentinel Bridge, a bridge over the Merced River with direct views of Half Dome.

Since you're here, you can stop by Yosemite Chapel from Sentinel Bridge. This chapel is the oldest building in the valley and is very photogenic!

7. Vernal and Nevada Falls

Of all the best hikes in Yosemite, the one to Vernal and Nevada Falls is definitely one of our favorites. We had such a great time when we did it! The good thing about this hike is that it has several levels, so you can make it longer or shorter depending on your physical condition and how much time you have.

These waterfalls, located in the eastern part of the valley, have their highest flow in May and June. We visited in June and got soaked at Vernal Fall! 💧Keep in mind that in other months they won't have as much water, so if they're very dry, it may not be worth doing the entire trek.

To get there, head to the Happy Isles area, where the John Muir Trail (named after the Scottish naturalist) begins and takes you 1.3 km (less than a mile) to the Vernal Fall Footbridge. From this bridge, you'll have perfect views of Vernal Fall, and if you want, you can turn around.

If you continue along the path, it will soon split into two: the Mist Trail begins on the left and the John Muir Trail continues on the right. We did an 8.7 km (5.4 mi) circular loop with a 610-meter (1,000 feet) elevation gain: we took the Mist Trail, reached the top of Vernal Fall, continued on to Nevada Fall, and returned to the starting point along the John Muir Trail. You can reach the top of Vernal Fall and return by the same route. You won't see the other waterfall, but you'll save yourself almost 5 km (3 mi).

It's a tiring hike that takes about 5 hours, but when the waterfalls are at their best, the views are breathtaking!

8. Half Dome Trail

This is definitely the most difficult hike in Yosemite and only suitable for adventurers and people without vertigo. Half Dome needs little introduction, as it's the most photogenic granite monolith in Yosemite due to its half-dome shape that looks as if it has been cut with a knife.

And yes, it's possible to climb to the top, but you need a permit and a lot of determination, especially to complete the last 120 meters (400 feet), which are up a vertical wall with only cables to hold on to. That's why this trek is also known as "The Cables".

This adventure takes around 12 hours to complete, as it covers almost 26 km (16 mi) round trip with a 1,475-meter (4,800 feet) elevation gain. To do it, you have to complete the John Muir Trail and then connect with the Half Dome Trail. If you're interested in finding out how to get one of the 300 daily permits, you can find all the information here.

9. Mirror Lake

The hike to Mirror Lake is much easier, as after 1.5 km (1 mi) and a slight incline, you arrive at a beautiful lake that reflects the surrounding cliffs. It's also one of the favorite spots for visitors to take a dip!

⚠️We recommend this hike especially in spring and early summer, when the lake has the most water, as it's fed by the Tenaya Creek. When the snow has completely melted, the flow begins to decrease, leaving it practically dry by the end of summer. At this point, it's renamed Mirror Meadow!

10. Yosemite Museum

If you want to complement the natural experience with the cultural and historical context of the valley, take a stroll through the Yosemite Museum, located in Yosemite Village.

Its goal is to preserve and disseminate the legacy of the native peoples who inhabited the valley for thousands of years, especially the Ahwahnechee tribe, who were violently expelled from the valley during the California Gold Rush.

Inside, you'll find exhibits on traditional Native American life, original basketry, tools, and everyday objects, as well as explanatory panels on the arrival of the first European explorers and the creation of the national park. Right next door is a reconstruction of the Yosemite Indian Village of Ahwahnee, where you can see replicas of traditional dwellings and ceremonial structures.

11. Glacier Point Road

We move on to another area of the park, specifically Glacier Point Road, a road that is open from approximately May to November, depending on weather conditions. During peak season, this route is very busy with traffic, causing parking lots to fill up and even leading to traffic being cut off until congestion clears.

The most interesting part is at the end of the road, where you'll find the famous Glacier Point Overlook, a viewpoint very close to the parking lot that offers one of the most legendary panoramic views in the park: Yosemite Valley with the impressive Half Dome in the foreground, waterfalls cascading down the granite walls, and the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.

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This viewpoint is usually crowded (especially at sunset) due to its easy access. If you want equally impressive views with a fraction of the people, we recommend going to Washburn Point. It's very close by, but higher up and offers more direct views of Vernal and Nevada Falls. And it's right by the road!

Other alternatives are Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. The hike to each of these viewpoints separately can take between one and two hours, and you can even link one to the other. From Sentinel Dome, you'll have views very similar to those from Glacier Point Overlook but higher up, offering a more complete panorama. From Taft Point, on the other hand, you have a different perspective of the valley, with El Capitan in front of you.

💡If you want to forget about the car and not worry about traffic and finding parking, you can book the Glacier Point Tour, a paid tour that departs from Yosemite Valley Lodge and ends at the Glacier Point viewpoint without any stops in between. You can book just the one-way trip and walk back along the Four Mile Trail, a scenic hike of almost 8 km (4.8 mi). This is a cheaper option and you get to enjoy the views on the way down. 

12. Sequoias in Yosemite

Did you know that there are 3 places in Yosemite where you can see giant sequoias? If you're also visiting Sequoia National Park during your West Coast road trip, we think you can skip the sequoias in Yosemite if you're short on time and spend more time in this national park. To give you an idea, there are 550 sequoias in Yosemite and around 8,000 in Sequoia!

Otherwise, it's a good way to see sequoias during your trip, especially if you want to go from Yosemite to Death Valley without passing through Sequoia National Park.

These are the areas where there are sequoias in Yosemite:

• Mariposa Grove: this forest is located in the southern part of the park and has around 500 sequoias. When the road is open, which is usually from mid-April to November, you must leave your car at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and take the free shuttle that will take you to the forest in a few minutes. Once there, you can hike several trails, the most interesting being the Big Trees Loop Trail and the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail.
• Tuolumne Grove: this much smaller forest is located in the Tioga Road area. To reach it, you have to walk 2 km (1.2 mi) with a 150-meter (500 feet) elevation loss.
• Merced Grove: also small, this forest is located on Big Oak Flat Road and to reach it you have to walk 2.4 km (1.5 mi) with a 150-meter (500 feet) elevation loss.

13. Wawona Swinging Bridge

If you've been to see the sequoias in Mariposa Grove or are passing through the south entrance of the park, a good plan is to visit the Wawona bridge. You only have to walk 500 meters (0.3 mi) to reach this suspension bridge over the South Fork Merced River, a place where natural pools form, ideal for a refreshing swim.

While you're there, stop by the Wawona Hotel, a historic Victorian lodge dating back to 1879. It's currently closed for renovations, but hopefully it will reopen soon!

14. Tioga Road

Tioga Road is one of the most impressive places to see in Yosemite, but it's not always possible to drive along it. This road is the only connection to the eastern part of the park and is only open from mid-May to mid-October, with dates varying depending on the amount of snowfall during the year. To give you an idea, the highest point is Tioga Pass, at 3,030 meters (9,945 mi).

Driving along it's an attraction in itself, as its high altitude offers incredible views of the Sierra Nevada mountains and Yosemite Valley in the background. You can stop at its various viewpoints, such as Olmsted Point and Tenaya Lake (which you can walk down to), or go for a hike in the Tuolumne Meadows area, which is full of high mountain lakes. Remember that there is also the sequoia forest we mentioned earlier!

💡Taking Tioga Road is ideal for connecting Yosemite with places such as Mono Lake, Death Valley National Park, and Mojave.

15. Hetch Hetchy

Hetch Hetchy is the least visited area of Yosemite, probably because it's somewhat isolated from the rest of the park. You even have to leave the park and re-enter to get there! It's a peaceful place with scenery just as impressive as Yosemite Valley, with granite mountains and spectacular waterfalls such as Wapama Falls, Tueeulala Falls, and Rancheria Falls.

As soon as you arrive, you'll come across the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which is surrounded by granite walls that was formed by the construction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam in the early 20th century. Interestingly, this reservoir supplies water to the entire city of San Francisco!

The most popular trail is the one that runs along the reservoir to Wapama Falls. It's about 8 km (5 mi) round trip and has little elevation gain, making it an accessible and highly recommended hike, especially in spring. Alternatively, a shorter option is the Lookout Point Trail, which has more elevation gain but offers good views of the area.

⚠️Remember that Hetch Hetchy Entrance is the only in the park that isn't open 24 hours a day, only from sunrise to sunset.

Yosemite 1-day itinerary

Do you only have one day to enjoy Yosemite? Don't worry, that's the time 90% of people have on a road trip along the USA West Coast!

We would definitely try to get to the park as early as possible to do the Yosemite Valley Loop by car, visiting the main sites and going on short hikes:

• Tunnel View viewpoint
• Hike to Bridalveil Fall
• Cathedral Beach
• Walk through Cook's Meadows, stopping at Sentinel Bridge
• Visit The Ahwahnee Hotel
• Stop in Yosemite Village to visit the museum
• Hike to Lower Yosemite Fall
• Valley View viewpoint

You can eat at any of the picnic areas scattered throughout the valley if you have brought your own food, or you can try one of the restaurants, such as The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge, or those in Curry Village.

Then head to Glacier Point Road to reach the end, where Glacier Point Overlook is located. If you feel like it, you can visit any of the other viewpoints we have recommended, and finish off by watching the sunset from one of them.

🏨 For accommodation, we recommend staying at one of the hotels in Yosemite Valley, although availability is limited. Alternatively, if you're heading to Sequoia the next day, you can stay in El Portal area (specifically at the Yosemite View Lodge) or in Oakhurst. If you're going to Death Valley, it's best to go to Buck Meadows (we stayed at the Yosemite Westgate Lodge and really liked it).

Yosemite 2-day itinerary

If you have two days to visit Yosemite, you'll have time to enjoy the park at a much more leisurely pace. Here is what we suggest you do:

Day 1: Yosemite Valley

Spend the entire first day in Yosemite Valley. Start at Tunnel View and nearby Bridalveil Falls, continue along Southside Drive, and take the short hike to Cook's Meadow.

Then head to the end of the valley, to the Happy Islands area, to begin the hike that takes you to Vernal and Nevada Falls. As mentioned earlier, you can do the entire hike or just parts of it, depending on your physical condition and how you feel. If you do the entire hike, it's almost 9 km (around 5 mi) and will take you around 5 hours, so to end the day, we recommend following Northside Drive to watch the sunset at Valley View.

If you only want to go as far as Vernal Falls Footbridge because you don't feel like doing the whole hike, what we would do for the rest of the day is take other shorter walks through the valley and enjoy more relaxed visits:

• Walk to Mirror Lake
• Visit The Ahwahnee Hotel
• Enter the Yosemite Museum
• Hike to Lower Yosemite Falls (if you're feeling adventurous, you can hike to Columbia Rock).
• End the day watching the sunset at Valley View

🏨 For accommodation, we recommend staying at one of the hotels in Yosemite Valley or in El Portal area (the Yosemite View Lodge is our favorite).

Day 2: Glacier Point Road and southern part or Tioga Road

Start the second day early to avoid traffic jams on Glacier Point Road. Take the opportunity to enjoy the views from both the popular Glacier Point Overlook and Washburn Point. Be sure to spend a couple of hours visiting another of the viewpoints we recommended earlier. If we had to choose, we would go for Taft Point, as it offers unique views of El Capitan.

For the rest of the day, choose a plan based on your next destination:

• Heading to Sequoia National Park? Then visit the southern part of the park (Wawona and Mariposa Grove) and stay at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp or Oakhurst, for example at the Yosemite Southgate Hotel or the Best Western Yosemite Gateway.
• Heading to San Francisco? Visit the southern part too, but stay overnight in Buck Meadows (we stayed at the Yosemite Westgate Lodge and really liked it) or Groveland (The Groveland Hotel is the best). Before leaving the valley, stop at Tunnel View to watch the sunset from there.
• Heading to Death Valley? Drive to Tuolumne Grove to see the sequoias in the northern part of the park and take a trip along Tioga Road if it's open, stopping at the various viewpoints. Spend the night in Lee Vining (for example, at Murphey's Motel) or Mammoth Lakes (the Alpenhof Lodge is a very good option).

Yosemite 3-day itinerary

Three days are perfect for visiting the park's lesser-known and quieter areas, as well as not missing out on the places that everyone else goes to. This is the itinerary we would do:

Day 1: Yosemite Valley

Start by enjoying Yosemite Valley, stopping first at Tunnel View and nearby Bridalveil Falls, then continue along Southside Drive and take a walk through Cook's Meadow.

Then head to the Happy Islands area of the valley, where the hike to Vernal and Nevada Falls begins. If you do the entire hike, it's almost 9 km (5 mi) and will take you about 5 hours, so end the day by watching the sunset at Valley View.

🏨 For accommodation, we recommend Buck Meadows area. We stayed at the Yosemite Westgate Lodge and really enjoyed it. Be sure to eat at the nearby Lucky Buck Cafe!

Day 2: Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valley

Take advantage of this opportunity to visit the lesser-known area of Yosemite! From Buck Meadows, you can reach Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in less than an hour, where you can hike to Wapama Falls, the Lookout Point Trail, or simply stay in the area and enjoy the peace and quiet.

In the afternoon, return to Yosemite Valley to see the places you didn't get to see the day before:

• Reach Mirror Lake
• Visit The Ahwahnee Hotel
• Step inside the Yosemite Museum to learn about the indigenous and cultural history of the area.
• Walk to Lower Yosemite Falls

🏨 Although you could stay at Buck Meadows again, the distance is a bit far. To avoid wasting hours behind the wheel, spend the night in El Portal, specifically at the Yosemite View Lodge.

Day 3: Glacier Point Road and southern part or Tioga Road

Start your last day on Glacier Point Road, where you'll be amazed by the views from the world-famous Glacier Point Overlook and other less popular viewpoints such as Washburn Point. Spend a couple of hours hiking to Taft Point (our favorite) or Sentinel Dome. You can even walk between both viewpoints!

To end the day, we would choose the plan based on your next destination, so you can head in one direction or another:

• Heading to Death Valley? Visit Tuolumne Grove to see the sequoias and take Tioga Road if it's open, stopping at the viewpoints along the way. Spend the night in Lee Vining (for example, at Murphy's Motel) or in Mammoth Lakes (the Alpenhof Lodge is a good option).
• Are you heading to Sequoia National Park? Then it's best to stay in the southern part of the park (Wawona and Mariposa Grove). Stay at Tenaya Lodge or Oakhurst, here the Yosemite Southgate Hotel and Best Western Yosemite Gateway are good places to stay here.
• Heading to San Francisco? Stay on the south side of the park, but go back to El Portal for the night or, if you want to cover a few more miles, Buck Meadows or Groveland. Before leaving the valley, stop at Tunnel View to marvel at the sunset.

Map of places to see in Yosemite

All the places we've recommended throughout this post, as well as the lodging options, are on this map divided into areas of the park:

We hope you enjoy Yosemite National Park with all our tips!

Mirror Lake: Mike McBey, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Tioga Road: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Hetch Hetchy: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons