Yosemite National Park

Destinations

Yosemite National Park: Granite, Waterfalls, and Giant Sequoias

Everyone remembers their first look at Yosemite Valley. For most people, it happens at Tunnel View, where El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome suddenly fill the windshield. The valley is magnificent, and it is also where nearly everyone goes. The trick is to see it smartly, then get out of it.

Know Before You Go (2026)

Yosemite does not require an entrance reservation in 2026. Expect full parking lots and entrance lines on summer weekends and holidays, so arrive early.
Hiking the Half Dome cables requires a separate permit through a lottery on Recreation.gov.
Starting in 2026, visitors who are not U.S. residents pay an additional $100 per person at Yosemite unless they hold the nonresident annual pass.
Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are seasonal. Check road status before you build a plan around them.

Three Days in Yosemite

Give it two to three days. Each day below stands on its own, so shuffle them to fit the season and the roads that are open.

Day One: The Valley

Start at Tunnel View at sunrise. Walk to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall, wander Cook’s Meadow for views of Half Dome, and finish at Valley View along the Merced River. Park once and use the free valley shuttle.

Day Two: Go High

Glacier Point puts Half Dome right across from you and explains the whole park in one view. In summer, drive Tioga Road to Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows for granite domes and alpine meadows.

Day Three: The Big Trees

Mariposa Grove is home to hundreds of giant sequoias, including the Grizzly Giant. Go early, walk slowly, and take the Big Trees Loop if you have little ones.

Waterfall Timing

Yosemite’s waterfalls are fed by snowmelt. They roar in May and June, and Yosemite Falls often slows to a trickle or goes dry by late summer. If waterfalls are the reason for your trip, go in spring. If you want the high country, go in July through September, after Tioga Road opens.

Bears and Food Storage

Ranger Tip

Black bears in Yosemite know what coolers look like. Store all food and anything with a scent (including sunscreen and trash) in the metal food lockers at trailheads and campsites, not in your car. Never leave food unattended, even for a few minutes at a picnic table.

Where to Stay

In the park: Valley lodges and campgrounds book months ahead. If you can get a spot, it saves hours of driving.
West side gateway towns: El Portal, Mariposa, and Groveland.
South: Oakhurst and Fish Camp, closest to Mariposa Grove.
East: Lee Vining, open when Tioga Road is open.

The YARTS regional bus connects several gateway towns to Yosemite Valley in summer, so you can skip the parking hunt entirely.

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