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A visit to Yosemite National Park is an unforgettable adventure that should definitely be at the top of your bucket list! Known for its stunning landscapes and natural beauty, you’ll find yourself surrounded by towering granite cliffs, flowing waterfalls, vibrant wildlife, and beautiful meadows. From the first look at the valley at Tunnel View, you will quickly realize why this is one of our favorite national parks to explore!
Below, you will find this guide is packed with helpful information about entrance fees, accommodations, dining options, and activities. So, gather your gear, and get ready to immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty and wonder of Yosemite National Park!
Entrance Fee:
$35 for a 7-day vehicle pass
*This park does not accept cash.
Another option, especially if you plan on visiting California’s other national parks, is an America the Beautiful Pass. It covers the entrance fees for over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including entrance to all national parks.
If you have a 4th grader in your crew, check out Every Kid Outdoors for a free National Park Pass instead!
Lodging:
Yosemite National Park offers a wide variety of lodging options. There are three lodges within the park- The Ahwahnee (Yosemite Valley), Yosemite Valley Lodge (Yosemite Valley), and Wawona Hotel (Glacier Point Road/Mariposa Grove). The Wawona Hotel is currently closed for reservations.
There are also several Cabin and Tent options- Curry Village (Yosemite Valley), Housekeeping Camp (Yosemite Valley), White Wolf Lodge (Tioga Road), Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (Tioga Road), and High Sierra Camps. There are 5 locations for the High Sierra Camps throughout the park, and all locations require hiking to reach camp.
Yosemite Hospitality manages all hotel, cabin, and tent options within the park. Reservations can be made up to 1 year in advance, here- Yosemite Lodging.
There are 12 campgrounds within the park:
North side- Hodgdon Meadow (year-round), Crane Flat (seasonally), Tamarack Flat (seasonally), White Wolf (seasonally), Yosemite Creek (seasonally), Porcupine Flat (seasonally), Tuolumne Meadows (seasonally).
Yosemite Valley- Upper Pines (year-round), Lower Pines (seasonally), North Pines (seasonally), Camp 4 (year-round)
South side- Wawona (year-round), Bridalveil Creek (seasonally)
Reservations are required for all campgrounds from April through October. Reservation openings vary by campground. Please check the park’s website for more information about campground reservations. Reservations for all campgrounds can be made at Recreation.gov.
If you are looking for options outside the park, check out the towns of Fish Camp and Oakhurst to the south and El Portal, Midpines, and Mariposa to the west.
Dining:
Yosemite National Park offers a large variety of dining options, primarily located in Yosemite Valley. Visitors can choose from fine dining restaurants to grocery stores. Yosemite Hospitality manages all food services. For details on menus and hours of operation, please visit Yosemite Dining.
Yosemite Valley Food Options (year-round):
- The Ahwahnee Dining Room- fine dining, breakfast & dinner. For dinner, reservations are recommended, and a dress code is required.
- The Ahwahnee Bar- casual, lunch & dinner
- Base Camp Eatery- fast casual, breakfast, lunch, & dinner
- Mountain Room- upscale casual, dinner
- Mountain Room Lounge- casual, dinner
- Starbucks
- Housekeeping Camp General Store- groceries
- Village Store- groceries
- Village Grill- fast casual, lunch & dinner
- Degnan’s Kitchen- breakfast & lunch
- Curry Village Coffee Corner- fast casual, breakfast
- Curry Village Seven Tents Pavilion- fast casual, lunch
- Curry Village Pizza Deck- fast casual, lunch & dinner
- Curry Village Gift & Grocery- groceries
- Mountain Shop at Curry Village- dehydrated food and snacks
- Meadow Grill- fast casual, lunch & dinner
- Bar 1899- fast casual, lunch & dinner
Food Outside the Valley (seasonally):
- Wawona Hotel Dining Room- family casual (closed for renovations)
- Crane Flat Gas Station & More- groceries
- High Seirra Camps- variety of options
- Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Dining Room- family casual
- Tuolumne Meadows Grill- fast casual
- White Wolf Lodge Dining Room- family casual
- Wawona Store- groceries
- Tuolumne Meadows Store- groceries
- El Portal Market- groceries
- Glacier Point Snack Stand- snacks, limited groceries
If you are looking for options outside the park, check out the towns of Fish Camp and Oakhurst to the south.
To the west, check out the towns of El Portal, Midpines, and Mariposa.
Know Before You Go:
- The toughest place to find parking will be Yosemite Valley. If you are visiting on a summer weekend, I recommend entering the park early, then finding a spot in a Day-Use Lot, and using the park shuttle, the main walking paths, or bikes to get around for the rest of the day. Moving your car to each new location is doable, but pack your patience.
- SHUTTLE INFO: Yosemite Valley has two park shuttles- Valleywide (green) and East Valley (purple). Both are free and run from 7 am to 10 pm. The Mariposa Grove Shuttle is also free and begins running each morning at 8 am. The last shuttle of the day varies seasonally. There are also several paid shuttles (YARTS) that begin in the park’s surrounding communities. For more information on all shuttle systems, click here- Yosemite National Park Shuttle System.
- Lots of wonderful wildlife, including hundreds of black bears, call Yosemite home. Please review the wildlife safety guidelines before heading out. Bear spray is NOT permitted in Yosemite National Park.
- Road Closures: Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road, and Mariposa Grove Road are typically closed from October/November through May due to snow. To complete this entire itinerary, I highly recommend a May through September visit.
- I recommend downloading an AllTrails map for trails on this itinerary. (Want to check out AllTrails+? Use this link for a discount- AllTrails+.)
- Please remember to follow Leave No Trace principles.
Best advice if you don’t live on the West Coast and need to make the most of your visit:
During our last visit at the end of May, despite the current reels on social media, we really felt like we had the place to ourselves. There was one exception- the Mist Trail. But more on that beast of a trail below😊. I even felt like Yosemite Valley was busy but very doable. The rest of the park- Tioga Road, Hetch Hetchy, Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point Road- felt completely empty. This is what we felt helped us escape the “crowds”. Our crew is from the Midwest, so we stayed on EST for our entire visit. We were up at 5:30 (8:30 our time) and into the park by 6:30. We never had any parking issues; in fact, we were the only ones on most trails. Plus, we saw a ton of wildlife at that time, which was pretty awesome.
6 DAY ITINERARY
Day 1: Yosemite Valley
Tunnel View
This is a fantastic introduction to Yosemite National Park. While morning is not the best time to photograph this view, I do think it should be the first thing you see today. You will spend the rest of the day exploring the valley you are looking at, and seeing it from above first is truly an incredible sight. You will pass this view many more times throughout this itinerary, so you can always stop again when the light is better for a photo. This parking lot is busy, but it’s a quick stop, so people are always coming and going, so you shouldn’t have to wait long if you can’t find a spot.
Bridalveil Falls
Distance: 0.5 miles round-trip
Trail Route: Out-and-back
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 50+ ft
Trail Access: Park in the Bridalveil Falls Lot via Wawona Road
Pet Friendly: No
Restroom at Trailhead: Yes
This next stop is just 1 mile down the road from Tunnel View. The parking area is large, so if you arrive early in the day, you should be able to secure a spot pretty quickly. Since this is a brief stop, there’s a constant flow of visitors, so even if the lot is full, you won’t have to wait long for a parking space.
If you prefer to stay dry, I recommend bringing a rain jacket. The spray from the 600-foot waterfall is truly impressive, and you will get wet! Follow the paved path up to the viewpoint, but please use caution—the pavement can become slick from water running off the falls. This short trail offers beautiful views of both the waterfall and Bridalveil Creek, is easy to follow, and is definitely worth the short trek!
Sentinel Meadow/Cook’s Meadow Loop
Distance: ~2 miles round-trip
Trail Route: Loop
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 80+ ft
Trail Access: Park in the Visitor Lot near the Lower Yosemite Falls Picnic Area and Yosemite Valley Lodge. If you parked elsewhere, take the Valleywide Shuttle (green) to STOP 6.
Pet Friendly: Yes, on leash.
Restroom at Trailhead: Yes
There are numerous entry points along this trail, but I recommend starting at the Lower Yosemite Falls Picnic Area and walking in a clockwise direction. The first stunning view you’ll encounter is of both Upper and Lower Falls. From there, head to the base of Lower Falls; the perspective from the bridge is truly spectacular.
About 0.4 miles past the bridge, you’ll come across a short spur trail that leads to another lovely viewpoint of the falls. After exploring this spur trail, return to the main path and continue across Northside Drive to visit the beautiful Cook’s Meadow on the other side. The views from the meadow are breathtaking, offering a mixture of meadows, mountains, rivers, and waterfalls. This area is indeed a fantastic introduction to Yosemite.
Eventually, the path will loop back around, leading you right back to where you started, and it will be time to head to our next stop.
For your next stop, I would leave your car where it is and walk to Yosemite Village. There, you can check out the Exploration Center and Museum before walking to the East Valley Shuttle (purple) Stop 2. There are also plenty of food options in this area if you are looking to grab lunch before heading to Mirror Lake.
Mirror Lake
Distance: 2 miles round-trip
Trail Route: Out-and-back
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 100+ ft
Trail Access: Take the East Valley Shuttle (purple) to Stop 17.
Pet Friendly: No
Restroom at Trailhead: Yes
Once you disembark from the shuttle at the trailhead, you have two options.
The first option is to take the dirt path to your right, which leads to a 4.5-mile loop around the lake. This route features an elevation gain of about 300 feet and offers stunning views of the lake and the surrounding area.
The second option is to follow the paved road that leads directly to the lake. This route is approximately 2 miles round-trip with an elevation gain of 100 feet. While this road is used by rangers and vehicles with handicap stickers, it is also open for walking. Along the way, you’ll enjoy lovely views of Tenaya Creek before reaching Mirror Lake.
Both paths are easy to navigate and are doable for most, so it’s really just how much you want to see and how long you’d like to hike. Once you’ve completed your hike, head back to the shuttle. Take it to the stop closest to your vehicle.
El Capitan
On the way out of the park, we stopped at the El Capitan viewing area- it’s a VERY long pull-off. You’ll see people on top of their cars or with chairs out. We stopped to watch the climbers for quite some time. The valley views at this stop are beautiful in general, but our kiddos were pretty obsessed with finding climbers on the massive rockface😊
Day 2: Glacier Point Road
Taft Point/Sentinel Dome Loop
Distance: 5.2 miles round-trip
Trail Route: Loop with a spur trail to Taft Point
Trail Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1100+ ft
Trail Access: Park in either lot via Glacier Point Road.
Pet Friendly: No
Restroom at Trailhead: Yes
There are two parking lots along Glacier Point Road. You can park in either one, but be sure to remember which lot you used! I recommend hiking this loop counterclockwise, starting with Sentinel Dome. The ascent to the top of Sentinel Dome is the most challenging part of the trail, so tackling it earlier in the hike was preferable to our crew.
To begin, take the Sentinel Dome Trail for 1.1 miles. The final ascent up the dome will be the most difficult section, but it’s manageable for most hikers. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with stunning 360-degree views of the incredible landscape, particularly Half Dome. I probably could have enjoyed this view for the entirety of the day. However, at some point, we had to move on. After enjoying the views from the top of Sentinel Dome, we headed back down and continued to Taft Point.
About 0.4 miles from the summit of Sentinel Dome, you’ll encounter a trail junction. Stay left at the junction to continue toward Taft Point via the Pohono Trail. Proceed along the path for another 0.6 miles until you reach another junction. At this point, you can take a quick side trip to Roosevelt Point by heading right, or continue straight for Taft Point. The Roosevelt Point trail is a loop and will drop you off a little further along the Pohono Trail, adding only 0.1 miles to your overall distance.
After passing the second junction for Roosevelt Point (0.4 or 0.5 mi. from the first junction, depending on your route), it’s another 1.5 miles to Taft Point. As you approach Taft Point and explore the edge, please be cautious of the fissures. These drops can be difficult to see until you are almost right in front of them. The entire Taft Point area is situated on the ledge, offering incredible views of the valley below, so please exercise extreme caution when exploring. After checking out the area, head back toward the main trail and hike 1.2 miles back to your vehicle.
*If you want a shorter hike, pick either Taft or Sentinel. Either out-and-back is just over 2 miles. Taft Point is the easier of the two.
Glacier Point
At the end of Glacier Point Road, you’ll find a large parking area for Glacier Point. A paved path leads to several breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the valley, which lies over 3,000 feet below. We had a fantastic time trying to spot all the places we visited the day before. This area is also an excellent spot to preview the trail for the next day, offering stunning views of Vernal and Nevada Falls from above. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, grab an ice cream from the snack stand and enjoy it while soaking in the beautiful views.
Washburn Point
On your way back down Glacier Point Road, stop for one more quick look at the sweeping mountain and valley views from Washburn Point.
Day 3: Yosemite Valley
Mist Trail
Vernal Falls (3.3 mi., 1100+ ft) +Nevada Falls (+3.3 mi., 1000+ ft)
Distance: 6.6 miles round-trip
Trail Route: Out-and-back
Trail Difficulty: Hard
Elevation Gain: 2100+ ft
Trail Access: Park in Curry Village and take either shuttle to Happy Isles (Stop 16)
Pet Friendly: No
Restroom at Trailhead: Yes
The Mist Trail is the busiest trail in the park, taking you to two stunning waterfalls—Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls—as well as providing access to Half Dome. It’s best to start your day early and pack a rain jacket or poncho if you want to stay somewhat dry. Waterproof shoes with decent traction are also recommended since the “mist” portion of the trail can be very wet and slippery.
To begin, find a parking spot in Curry Village. From there, you can either walk the 0.8 miles to the trailhead or take the shuttle (green or purple) to Happy Isles (Stop 16).
Once you reach the shuttle stop, cross the bridge and turn right at the sign to start walking parallel to the Merced River. This short section will be the only flat portion of the trail, and let me tell you, I didn’t appreciate it enough. 😊 Once you see the brown trail sign detailing where the trail leads, the paved path begins to climb. And not just a gradual climb—this is a steep ascent that will have you catching your breath every few minutes. The silver lining is that the trail is mostly shaded, with plenty of places to stop and rest along the way.
At about 0.8 miles, you’ll reach the footbridge. Here, you’ll not only enjoy gorgeous views of the river but also get your first glimpse of Vernal Falls. On the other side of the bridge, there are restrooms and large boulders to rest on before tackling the staircase section of the trail, which leads an additional 0.8 miles to the top of Vernal Falls. The walk between the bridge and the staircase section is one of my favorite parts of the trail. The roaring river crashing over the large boulders with massive mountain walls as a backdrop is simply beautiful.
Before long, you’ll reach the staircase section of the trail. While this part offers some of the best views, it is also the most crowded. Currently, the John Muir Trail is closed for construction, so this portion must be an out-and-back. However, the staircase section is not designed for two-way traffic, especially in spring and early summer, when the mist saturates the entire trail, visibility is low, and water splashes in your face the entire way. You’ll need to be patient; it is a slow climb because the views are incredible, but everyone must ascend in a single-file line. We witnessed many fast hikers refusing to slow down in this area and often passing others unsafely, which resulted in several falls on the stairs when we were here last.
As you climb higher and get closer to the falls, there are several platforms where you can step off the main path to enjoy phenomenal views of the 300-foot waterfall and get some great photos. Once you’re sufficiently soaked, continue climbing the stairs until you reach Emerald Pool at the top of Vernal Falls. This is a great spot to rest and dry off before taking on the next section to Nevada Falls. The path to Nevada Falls feels easier and is less crowded; while there are still plenty of stairs, they are wider and less steep than those at Vernal Falls.
The distance from the top of Vernal Falls to the footbridge at the top of Nevada Falls is approximately 1.6 miles with another 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Once you reach the top, take a moment to rest. Grab a drink and some snacks, and soak in the views before starting the long descent down all of those stairs.
The most challenging part of the descent is, again, the stairs by Vernal Falls. The stairs would be difficult even if you had the trail to yourself, but trying to navigate the high, slick steps while surrounded by hundreds of other hikers is certainly an experience. Luckily, you get to enjoy bucket-list-worthy views the entire way. After retracing your steps all the way back to the shuttle stop, you can either hop on the shuttle or walk the 0.8 miles back to the parking area. The shuttle line was extremely long; we were looking at over an hour wait, so we opted to walk the flat (thankfully) path back to our vehicle.
Cathedral Beach
After the toughest climb of the week, head over to Cathedral Beach. We parked the car and spent the rest of the day relaxing on the beach. The views of the water and mountains are incredible. Also, if you squint hard enough, you can even see the climbers on El Capitan. Our kids bounced back quicker than we did, so they even went for a swim! 😊
Day 4: Tioga Road
While this is an easy hike day, if your legs are still wiped from yesterday, this drive alone is still worth doing! The sights from the car window are absolutely incredible! Also, this part of the park is at a much higher elevation. Bring layers, as it tends to be much cooler.
Soda Springs/Parson’s Lodge
Distance: 1.5 miles round-trip
Trail Route: Out-and-back with a small loop at the end
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 40+ ft
Trail Access: Park in the Soda Springs Trailhead Lot via Tioga Road.
Pet Friendly: No
Restroom at Trailhead: Yes, in the Visitor Center.
This Yosemite trail offers a little bit of everything: stunning mountain landscapes, beautiful water views, a historic site, and the chance to see plenty of wildlife. Start by following the path through the meadow. After you cross the river, there’s a small loop that will lead you to Soda Springs and Parson’s Lodge. And as a bonus, you’ll even have a brief jaunt on the PCT.
Tenaya Lake
Distance: 3 miles round-trip
Trail Route: Loop
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 100+ ft
Trail Access: There are several parking areas for this trail. We parked in the East Beach Lot on the northeast side of the lake.
Pet Friendly: No
Restroom at Trailhead: Yes
I can’t fully express how beautiful this lake is; it’s absolutely incredible. There are several parking areas, but we chose to park on the northeast side of the lake and took the short connector trail to the loop because my kids were eager to visit the beach first. 😊 Both parking areas at either end of the lake have restrooms. My kids could have played on the beach all day! We played, then walked the loop, and then returned to the beach for more fun. The trail is easy to follow and alternates between dirt, pavement, and sand. It was the perfect way to get our legs moving while still having an easy-going day after yesterday’s trail.
Olmstead Point
There are many fantastic overlooks along this drive, but this is one you cannot miss. It offers stunning views of Clouds Rest, Half Dome, and Tenaya Lake, all from over 8,000 feet.
Day 5: Hetch Hetchy
Wapama Falls
Distance: 5.2 miles round-trip
Trail Route: Out-and-back
Trail Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 600+ ft
Trail Access: Park in the day-use lot, near O’Shaughnessy Dam at the end of Evergreen Road. To begin the trail, walk across the dam and through the tunnel.
Pet Friendly: No
Restroom at Trailhead: No. Restrooms are 0.5 miles before the parking lot. Stop on your way in.
This trail has it all—a tunnel, stunning water views the entire way, two massive waterfalls (over 800 ft and over 1000 ft), abundant wildflowers, and plenty of wildlife!
Hetch Hetchy is just over an hour from Yosemite Valley. While the road leading in is paved, it can be rough. Note that vehicles longer than 25 feet or wider than 8 feet are not permitted. Remember to bring sun protection; aside from the 500-foot tunnel at the beginning of the trail, there is no shade, and it can get quite warm even in the spring or fall. Once you reach the waterfall section, you will get wet. We brought rain jackets but didn’t wear them because we were hot, and the cool water was refreshing!
To begin your hike, park in the day-use area by the dam. Walk across the dam and be sure to check out the impressive views from both sides—you can see Wapama and Tueelala Falls in the distance. It’s very cool to see where you’re headed. After crossing the dam, head through the tunnel. The path through the tunnel is wet and uneven, and it can be very dark, so a flashlight is definitely helpful. There are lights on the walls, but they were not on when we visited in May.
Once you’ve made it through the tunnel, turn right and start your trek along the north edge of the reservoir. The path is very straightforward. You will follow the shoreline the entire way. You’ll reach a trail junction at the one-mile mark; veer right (again, towards the water) to continue toward Wapama Falls. As you walk, keep an eye out for bears that often roam in the tall grass of the surrounding meadows.
At the two-mile mark, look up and to your right to see the stunning Tueeulala Falls cascading over a rocky ledge at over 800 feet. From there, it’s just another half-mile to the impressive Wapama Falls, which are over 1000 feet tall. At the falls, you’ll find several walkways made from old railroad tracks that were once used to transport supplies to the dam. The entire walkway is beautiful, allowing you to appreciate the multiple streams cascading over the rocks. After soaking in the breathtaking views, retrace your steps back to the dam and parking area.
* I highly recommend learning about the history of Hetch Hetchy before heading out (I think this is important for most trails). This area is gorgeous, and it’s not hard to imagine the views that once rivaled those of Yosemite Valley before the dam was built.
Optional Add-on- Day 6: Mariposa Grove/Yosemite Valley
Rafting reservation at Curry Village
Rafting is typically only open from May through August. Rafting reservations cannot be made in advance. Raft rentals must be booked in person at the Curry Kiosk on the day of your outing. The kiosk opens at 8:00 AM. Arrive early, as a line often forms well before 8:00. The cost is $36 per person, and please note that children under 50 lbs are not permitted on the rental rafts. Launch times are 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:00 PM. We chose the 2:00 PM launch time to allow for plenty of time to hike in Mariposa Grove. After you secure your launch time, head over to Mariposa Grove on the south side of the park.
Grizzly Giant Loop
Distance: 2 miles round-trip
Trail Route: Loop
Trail Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 400+ ft
Trail Access: Park in the Mariposa Grove Welcome Center Lot.
Pet Friendly: No
Restroom at Trailhead: Yes
Accessing Mariposa Grove is only possible by hiking or taking a shuttle. The shuttle service starts at 8 a.m. To catch the shuttle, park your vehicle at the Mariposa Welcome Center Lot and then make your way to the shuttle stop.
If you prefer to hike, you can start at the Washburn Trail, located on the east side of the parking lot. The trail is 2 miles long one way. Once you reach the trailhead, I recommend hiking the loop counterclockwise. Head to the Fallen Monarch first. Then continue towards the Bachelor and Three Graces, before finally arriving at the magnificent Grizzly Giant. I am continuously amazed at how massive these trees are.
From the Grizzly Giant, proceed to our kids’ favorite- the Tunnel Tree. If you want to extend your hike, walk through the Tunnel Tree. Follow the path on the other side, which leads further up towards Wawona Point and several other offshoot trails. To continue on the Grizzly Giant Trail, take the path to the left before the Tunnel Tree to complete the loop.
Once you’ve finished the hike, wait for the next shuttle to take you back to your vehicle.
Rafting on the Merced River
To begin your float through the valley, park at Curry Village. Check in to collect your rentals, attend a quick safety talk, then start your float at Stoneman’s Bridge. You’ll float for approximately 3 miles until you reach Sentinel Beach. The water is smooth and crystal clear, and you will have absolutely incredible views along the entire route. There are red buoys and a staff member at Sentinel Beach, so you know where to stop.
Please note that life jackets are required.
Sentinel Beach
End your day and your time in Yosemite at Sentinel Beach. We chose to take the shuttle back to our car and then drive back to Sentinel Beach. We relaxed on the beach, played in the sand, swam, and took in the final views of Yosemite National Park before heading home.
Have an incredible adventure!
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