In a nutshell
- We cover all the essential info for your visit to Yosemite National Park: entry fees, opening hours, and how to get there.
- We walk you through our top 6 highlights — from Glacier Point to Mariposa Grove — plus the best hikes in Yosemite for every fitness level.
- We also share our honest hotel recommendations and show you how to visit Yosemite as a guided day trip from San Francisco if you’re short on time.
Orientation: Our Map of Yosemite National Park
Let’s start with where the most important spots in Yosemite National Park are located. We’ve marked everything on a map so you can get your bearings quickly.
Yosemite is located on the US West Coast in California, about a three-hour drive from San Francisco.
The heart of the park is Yosemite Valley, sitting between Yosemite’s most famous rock giants: El Capitan and Half Dome.
This is also where you’ll find Yosemite Village, which has accommodations, restaurants, a grocery store, and the Visitor Center.
Three roads run through Yosemite. We’ve marked them on our map below for easy reference.
Admission to Yosemite National Park
Entry to Yosemite National Park costs $25 per vehicle and all passengers inside. If you’re traveling solo, you’ll only pay $15.
Our tip: If you’re planning to visit two or more additional national parks, the America the Beautiful Pass is absolutely worth it. It costs $80 and gives you twelve months of free admission to almost all national parks in the USA.
Hours & Getting There
Yosemite National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day.
Important: Between December and June, roads are often closed due to snow. Check the Yosemite website before your visit for up-to-date road closure info.
There are four entrances to Yosemite National Park via Highways 120 (e.g., from San Francisco), 140 (e.g., from San José), 41 (e.g., from Los Angeles), and again 120 on the east side (e.g., from Las Vegas).
The eastern entrance crosses the Tioga Pass, which is typically closed between December and June.
Our Top Highlights in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley & Yosemite Village
Yosemite Valley is the centerpiece of the park. You’re standing right between the massive rock walls of El Capitan and Half Dome, with the Merced River winding through below.
The valley is beautifully flat with plenty of easy hiking trails — and most of the park’s waterfalls are here too. The meadows are perfect for a picnic, and with a bit of luck, some deer might wander over to join you.
Yosemite Village is right in the valley — a real little town with cafés, restaurants, shops, and places to stay.
Parking is available near all the major sights in the valley. Just know that this is the most touristy part of the park, so spots can fill up by midday.
Glacier Point
Glacier Point and Tunnel View (No. 3) are the two most important viewpoints in Yosemite. You seriously cannot leave without a photo from both of these spots.
Glacier Point sits at just over 7,200 feet in elevation. Due to snow, you can only drive up during the summer months.
The drive from Yosemite Valley takes about an hour, and there’s parking at the top. Several hikes also start here — including the one to Sentinel Dome and the Panorama Trail back down into the valley (more on that later).
Tunnel View
The vista from Tunnel View is Yosemite’s quintessential postcard shot: El Capitan on one side, Half Dome with the gorgeous Bridalveil Fall on the other — all perfectly framed by the tunnel opening.
The viewpoint is right along Wawona Road (Route 41). There are two parking areas on both sides of the road just past the Wawona Tunnel. Spots are limited, though, so you may need to circle a few times before one opens up.
Our tip: The best time to visit Tunnel View is early in the morning, when the crowds are far thinner.
Waterfalls in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite has four particularly well-known waterfalls — and we’d recommend seeing all of them.
- Bridalveil Fall: the most popular waterfall in the park, easily reached via a short paved path.
- Yosemite Falls: the tallest waterfall in the US! It’s divided into three tiers, all visible from the Yosemite Falls Trail.
- Nevada and Vernal Falls: Visit both together via the Mist Trail or the John Muir Trail.
If the waterfalls are your main draw, visit in spring — that’s when they’re running at full force. In summer, they can dry up considerably.
Important: Standing near the waterfalls will get you soaking wet. If it’s cold, bring a rain jacket.
Tioga Pass
The Tioga Pass Road is the continuation of Highway 120, running east-west through Yosemite National Park. You can also reach it from Yosemite Valley.
At over 9,900 feet in elevation, this is the highest paved road in California — and the panoramas of the Sierra Nevada are truly breathtaking.
The most beautiful stops along Tioga Road:
- Olmsted Point: the most famous vantage point along the pass — an absolute must-see!
- Tenaya Lake: a stunning alpine lake
- Tuolumne Meadows: colorfully blooming grasslands, especially beautiful in spring
- Mono Lake: a lake with a wild, otherworldly lunar landscape at the very eastern end of the Tioga Pass
Important: The Tioga Pass is typically closed from December through June due to heavy snowfall. Check in advance whether the road is open before you plan your route.
Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove is a forest of enormous giant sequoias — some of them rank among the largest trees in the world.
If you don’t have time to visit Sequoia and Redwood National Parks, a stop at Mariposa Grove is well worth it. The trees in those parks are even more enormous, but Mariposa Grove still gives you a real sense of just how massive these giants are.
Mariposa Grove sits just inside the south entrance to Yosemite. If you’re entering or exiting from this direction, it’s super easy to work into your route.
The Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park
Mist Trail
The Mist Trail is the classic hike in Yosemite — and one of the best hikes in Yosemite for good reason. Starting in Yosemite Village, it takes you up to Vernal and Nevada Falls.
There are two natural turnaround points (Vernal Fall Footbridge and Vernal Fall itself) if you want a shorter outing. The full hike to Nevada Fall takes about four to five hours.
The John Muir Trail runs parallel to the Mist Trail and intersects it multiple times, so you can do a loop by switching between the two.
Fair warning: the Mist Trail is always busy. There can even be a bit of a bottleneck at the stairs leading up to Vernal Fall.
Cook's Meadow
Cook’s Meadow is ideal if you want a very easy walk. It’s a loop through Yosemite Valley with great views of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.
The trail is only about a mile long with almost no elevation gain — you can knock it out in 30 minutes.
It runs parallel to the bike path (also marked on the park map you receive at the entrance). You can start from just about anywhere in the valley, including the Visitor Center.
Cook’s Meadow is also great for strollers.
Yosemite Falls Trail
The Yosemite Falls Trail is for experienced hikers with solid fitness. It climbs all the way to the Upper Yosemite Falls and takes between six and eight hours round-trip.
If you want to do this trail but aren’t quite up for the full thing, you can hike as far as Columbia Rock instead — that’s a two to three hour outing.
Just want a great view of the falls? The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is enough. It’s more of a 30-minute walk, starting a bit further east, and puts you right in front of the Lower Yosemite Falls with a view up to the Upper Falls.
Panorama Trail
The Panorama Trail is one of the most beautiful hikes in Yosemite. It leads from Glacier Point down into the valley — mostly downhill, which makes it a lot more manageable.
Most visitors take a shuttle bus run by a private tour operator from Yosemite Lodge up to Glacier Point and then hike the Panorama Trail back down. A one-way ticket costs just under $30.
You can buy the ticket at the Visitor Center — the rangers there are happy to help. There’s no free shuttle to Glacier Point.
The Panorama Trail is 8 miles long with a descent of about 3,900 feet. Plan for four to six hours.
At some point the Panorama Trail merges into the Mist Trail, so you’ll also pass Nevada and Vernal Falls on the way down.
Really hardcore hikers can take the Four Mile Trail up to Glacier Point themselves. Climbing roughly 3,900 feet straight uphill, it’s only suitable for very experienced hikers and takes a full day.
Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park
There are several lodging options right inside Yosemite National Park. The location is beautiful, but honestly, the value for money is pretty extreme. That said, if you really want to treat yourself, we recommend the The Ahwahnee hotel. You can find the other hotels in the park on the official Yosemite lodging website.
Alternatively, there’s a wide selection of hotels surrounding the park. They’re not far away and considerably cheaper.
Guided Day Trips to Yosemite National Park
You can easily visit Yosemite even without doing a full road trip through the American West.
There’s a great selection of guided day trips from San Francisco to Yosemite. You’ll be picked up right at your hotel and won’t have to worry about a thing — your guide will take you to the most important viewpoints, and you’ll still have free time to explore on your own.
Book a day trip from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park
Frequently Asked Questions About Yosemite National Park
When is the best time to visit Yosemite National Park?
Honestly, there’s no single perfect time — it depends on what you’re after.
In April and May, the waterfalls are at their most spectacular. The downside: the Tioga Pass is still closed due to snow.
From July through October, all parts of the park are accessible. That said, many waterfalls and even some lakes dry up completely, and it’s peak tourist season — the park gets seriously crowded.
We’d generally advise against visiting in winter. It’s very cold and many roads are closed.
How many days do you need in Yosemite National Park?
Plan for at least two full days in Yosemite. That’s enough time to hit the main attractions and squeeze in a shorter hike.
If you have more time, even better — the park has plenty of longer trails and quieter corners to explore.
Are there bears in Yosemite National Park?
Yes — but they don’t tend to show up at the busy tourist spots.
That changes if you’re hiking remote trails or camping in the backcountry. When camping, never leave food in your tent. Store it in one of the provided bear boxes or securely in your car.
What should you pack for a hike in Yosemite National Park?
Here are the most important things to bring on any hike in Yosemite:
- Hiking boots, warm and weatherproof layers, an extra pair of socks
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Plenty of water and snacks
- Sunscreen
- A map of the park
- Fully charged smartphone (and a power bank)
- ID
