Yosemite National Park 【2024】A Complete Travel Guide

Yosemite National Park is located in California, the entire park is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and streams that can be seen everywhere.

As long as you hear the name “Yosemite”, you know that this is a beautiful national park, and it is also one of the most visited national parks in the United States, with more than 3.7 million tourists visiting each year.

• Tickets: $35/car/7 days, or purchase an annual pass to the National Parks of the United States
• Opening hours: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• The best tourist season: June to September is the best, and there are unique snow scenes in winter  [check the current weather forecast]
• Main scenery: granite mountains, green trees, green hills, waterfalls, streams
• Main activities: hiking, climbing, camping, swimming, watching animals
• Nearest airports: San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC)
• Pre-departure preparations: book air tickets, rent a car, book a hotel
• Precautions: Go as early as possible, there will be a lot of people, pay attention to sun protection and insect protection in summer, fill up the car before entering the park, book accommodation in advance, download Google offline maps, and do not get close to wild animals [View current park alerts]
• Google Maps: Yosemite Valley Visitor Center
• Paper map: Download and Print
• NPS official website: Please click here

The park covers 761,268 acres, most of which are complete wilderness.

There is only a small area of ​​the entire park for visitors to explore, the most famous of which is called “ Yosemite Valley. “

Visitors hike, climb, camp, swim, and watch wildlife here.

Yosemite Weather

The most suitable season for visiting the park is from June to September. It is cool in the morning and evening, and the temperature is not too high at noon. It is the best time for outdoor hiking and enjoying nature. You can see almost all the waterfalls.

At the same time, the green trees, green hills, and beautiful streams are all very beautiful.

Although summer is the prime time to visit Yosemite, the snow-covered beauty of Yosemite is also unique in winter. Tourists come here for skiing and snowboarding in winter.

The core area of ​​Yosemite National Park is called “Yosemite Valley”. The average temperature (in degrees Celsius) for the twelve months of the year is shown in the figure below (See more weather data):

Transportation in Yosemite

The closest airports to Yosemite are:

• San Francisco International Airport ( SFO ): 4 hours
• San Jose International Airport ( SJC ): 4 hours
• Sacramento (SMF): 4 hours
• Los Angeles International Airport ( LAX ): 6 hours
• Las Vegas International Airport ( LAS ): 8 hours

Yosemite National Park is about a 4-hour drive from SFO, SJC, and SMF.

You can also drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) to Yosemite Valley, which takes 6 hours and 8 hours respectively.

What are the entrances to Yosemite Park?

There are five entrances to Yosemite National Park: A, B, C, D, and E (as shown in the picture below).

• If you are driving from San Francisco, you generally enter from Port A (#120 Freeway) or Port B (#140 Freeway).
• If you are driving from Los Angeles, you generally enter from the southernmost Port C (Highway #41).
• If you are flying directly to the local Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH), you can enter from port D (highway #395), which is not open in winter.
• Yosemite Park also has the Eth entrance (Hetch Hetchy entrance), near the small town of Mather. 

What are the precautions for visiting Yosemite National Park?

• Although the weather in Yosemite is cool, the sun’s ultraviolet radiation is very strong. The UV index value here is 10 during the day. Therefore, sun protection work cannot be ignored, especially if you have children, must do a good job of sun protection and carry sun protection with you. For example, EltaMD and Australian Gold Botanical are good choices.
• When you go in summer, you should also be prepared to prevent mosquitoes. Among them, Sawyer and Repel are good choices.
• There are two gas stations in Yosemite Park, one near the fork of Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road, and one near the South Gate entrance. Before entering the park, consider filling up the gas tank in the car.
• Black bears can also be seen in Yosemite. They are less aggressive, but please stay away if you encounter them. Bear spray is prohibited in the park.
• Pay attention to storing food in the park. You can’t put food in the car at night, since there are bears in the park at night. If you live in a hotel, bring it into the hotel. If you live in a camp, you need to place it in a special Food Locker.
• There are so many tourists in Yosemite, especially near Yosemite Valley, the core area of ​​the entire park, and parking is very difficult. Therefore, it is recommended that you enter the park before 10:00 in the morning or after 2:30 in the afternoon. Check out the video below from the National Park Service (NPS) to see just how hot this park is.

How much are tickets for Yosemite?

The parking ticket is $35 for a car, which can be used for 7 consecutive days, so you can consider staying near Yosemite for one or two nights so that you can visit Yosemite National Park many times.

At the entrance of the park, there will be a park staff to collect fees, and the park is accessible 24 hours a day. If you enter the park too late and there is no staff to charge you, you can voluntarily make up the ticket when you leave the park.

How to arrange accommodation in Yosemite?

How to stay in Yosemite National Park?

You can choose to live in the park, or in the towns surrounding the park.

• Living outside the park: It takes about 30-60 minutes to drive to the park every day, but the accommodation conditions are relatively good and life is more convenient.
• Living in the park: It is very convenient to visit the park, and the time required to reach the scenic spot is short, but the accommodation cost is relatively expensive, and the accommodation conditions are relatively ok.

Here are a few places to stay inside and outside the park:

Accommodation outside the park

In the small towns around the park, you can find cheap and convenient hotels, first look at the map around the park.

Ports A, B, and C are the best choices for accommodation.

Among them, Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite at Port A, Yosemite View Lodge at Port B, and YoBee at Port C are all closer to the core area of ​​the park.

Hotels with better accommodation conditions are concentrated in Mariposa at Port B and Oakhurst at Port C.

For example, the Best Western Plus Yosemite Way Station in Mariposa and the Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn in Oakhurst are good choices.

Drive from Exit A to the park

You will pass through Groveland, where there are many accommodation options, click to view the hotel list, this small town is about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Yosemite Valley.

Between the town and Exit A, there is a Yosemite Westgate Lodge, which is only ten minutes away from Exit A of the park.

• Hotel Charlotte ⭐⭐⭐ 8.8/10 (475 ratings)
• Yosemite Westgate Lodge  ⭐⭐⭐ 8.1/10 (1045 ratings)
• Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite 9/10 (969 ratings): Very close to Exit A of Yosemite, only a 10-minute drive.

Drive from Exit B to the park

You will pass through two important towns: Mariposa and El Portal, click to view the hotel list ( Mariposa, El Portal ).

El Portal is about 30 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Of these, Yosemite View Lodge 7.9/10 (7351 ratings) is an option.

Mariposa is about an hour and 10 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Among them, Best Western Plus Yosemite Way Station 8.1/10 (1094 ratings) is about $250 a night, and the hotel provides free breakfast, WiFi, and parking.

Drive from Exit C to the park

You will pass two Yosemite Southgate towns: Oakhurst, Fish Camp, and Yosemite West, click to view the hotel list ( Oakhurst, Fish Camp ).

near Oakhurst

Oakhurst is about an hour and a half away from Yosemite Valley. There are many big-brand hotels in this city, such as Marriott’s Fairfield Inn and Suites and
Hyatt’s Hounds Tooth Inn.

• Fairfield Inn and Suites, save points when you book with a Marriott credit card
• Hounds Tooth Inn 9.1/10 (500 ratings), save points when you book with a Hyatt credit card
• Yosemite Southgate Hotel & Suites 8.7/10 (1445 ratings)
• Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn 8.7/10 (1749 ratings)

Accommodation near Fish Camp: Fish Camp is about an hour away from Yosemite Valley.

• Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite 8.3/10 (2429 ratings)

Accommodation near Yosemite West: about half an hour away from Yosemite Valley.

• YoBee! : 9.5/10 (61 ratings)

Take Exit D to the park

You will pass through the small town of Lee Vining, about 2 hours from Yosemite Valley.

There are not many accommodation options here, consider Lake View Lodge (7.8/10, 663 ratings).

Accommodation in the park

If you plan to live in the park, please go to the NPS homepage to make a reservation.

At the heart of Yosemite National Park is the “Yosemite Valley,” a visitor center that is the hub of traffic for the entire park, and parking is often difficult to find.

There are two hotels (Ahwahnee, and Yosemite Valley Lodge) in the park, both concentrated in Yosemite Valley.

• Ahwahnee (formerly called Majestic Yosemite Hotel): The only 4-star hotel in the park, built in 1921, the price is relatively expensive, generally needs to be booked in advance, and the accommodation price in August can reach $600/night.
• Yosemite Valley Lodge (formerly Yosemite Lodge): There are a total of 241 rooms here, and the accommodation price in August is around $300/night.
• There are also some campgrounds and cabins to choose from on the grounds: Curry Village, White Wolf Lodge, Tuolumne Meadows, and High Sierra Camps.
• Park camp: 13 in total, 4 of which are in Yosemite Valley, 2 in the south of Wawona and Bridalveil Creek, and 7 in the north, including Hodgdon Meadow, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat and Tuolumne Meadows

Note: The High Sierra Camps mentioned above are not tent houses or log cabins, but campgrounds to be hiked into. There is only water and toilets, and tents can be set up, but cars cannot reach the camp, and tents and everything else have to be carried in steep steps. (Contributed by reader Turlock)

Yosemite Valley Map (Core Area)

Yosemite Valley is the core area of ​​activities, and its surrounding map is shown below, you can directly reach it from #120, #140, or #41 highway.

There are two main traffic lanes in Yosemite Valley: one-way eastbound and one-way westbound (pictured above).

The southbound one-way street is the way into the valley, while the northbound one-way street is the way out of the valley.

The roads marked with green circles in the picture above are two-way streets. If you need to turn around or go wrong, you can make corrections from these roads.

Therefore, no matter whether you enter the park from Exit A, B, C, D, or E, you will first enter the southbound one-way street first, then make a big circle and exit the park from the northbound one-way street.

What are the attractions in Yosemite?

Yosemite National Park attractions include waterfalls, boulders, streams, valleys, century-old trees, and wildlife.

The suggested schedule is as follows, please adjust according to your itinerary.

• Day 1: Attractions #1~#5, mainly Yosemite panoramas, waterfalls, and relatively easy hikes
• Day 2: Attraction #6, the hiking distance is far, but you can reach Half Dome in the end. It takes 12 hours to go back and forth, and you will pass Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall as well.
• Day 3: Attractions #7 and #8, viewing Glacier Point and the Giant Sequoias to the south.
• Day 4: Scenic spots #9~#11, drive on Tigua Road, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of mountains and prairie along the way.

Many waterfalls in Yosemite are among the highest in the world. Check out all the waterfalls in the park.

The Sierra Nevada Mountains run through Yosemite National Park. Many mountains are high and steep, and endless waterfalls fall from the mountains, which is very spectacular.

Most of the Sierra Nevada mountains are made of granite (Granite. These granites are conducive to the formation of very steep cliffs. Among them, the most famous Half Dome (Half Dome) is the iconic view of Yosemite National Park.

#1~#7 These seven attractions are located in the core area of ​​Yosemite Park, which is near Yosemite Valley.

It should be noted that #7 seems to be next to #6, but it cannot be reached directly. You need to return to Yosemite West from #6, and then go there. The drive takes about 1 hour.

It takes about 2 to 3 days to explore activities #1～#7.

Consider spending one day at attractions #1-#5 and another day at attraction # 6.

#7 (Glacier Point) is an hour’s drive from #6 (Vernal Fall). You might consider enjoying #8 (Mariposa Grove) on the way back.

1. Tunnel View

Tunnel View is an extremely famous and spectacular viewpoint in Yosemite National Park.

Get a glimpse of Yosemite’s most famous landmarks, including El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall.

Standing in Tunnel View, you can see the panorama of Yosemite Valley. On your left is El Capitan, a massive granite wall that rises more than 3,000 feet (about 914 meters) and is a challenge for rock climbers.

Directly in front of you, is the Half Dome, a unique dome that looks like a giant half-dome loaf.

On your right is Bridalveil Fall, a 620-foot (about 189-meter) waterfall that gently falls like a bridal veil, especially in spring, when the waterfall is full of water and the scenery is particularly magnificent.

The video below was shared by YouTuber “Walking Introvert” and captures the beauty of Tunnel View.

2. Bridalveil Fall

This waterfall is as beautiful as a bride’s veil. This might be where the name comes from.

This waterfall is the first waterfall you can see when you enter the park, and it is also one of the most famous waterfalls in Yosemite.

The height of Bridalveil Fall is 188 meters, which is equivalent to a skyscraper, and the waterfall can be seen all year round.

How to find this waterfall?

This waterfall is just off the eastbound one-way street.

Below, follow the lens of YouTube “Amy Darling” to this Bridalveil Fall.

You can’t miss this location as when you drive into this lot the traffic can get very heavy with cars parked on both sides of the road.

You need to find a parking space and then walk for 20 minutes to find this beautiful waterfall.

3. Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Fall is located next to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center on a northbound one-way street.

Yosemite Fall is divided into upper and lower parts: Upper Yosemite Fall and Lower Yosemite Fall.

After you park your car, you need to walk about 1 mile to see Lower Yosemite Falls. This trail is called “Lower Yosemite Fall Trail”. The road is very flat and even the elderly and children can walk.

If you want to see Upper Yosemite Falls, you need to hike the extremely difficult Yosemite Fall Trail, which may take a day.

The starting point of this Trail is slightly different from the Lower Yosemite Trail. The Yosemite Fall Train starts next to Yosemite Valley Lodge, a hotel in the courtyard. The distance is about 3.2 kilometers and the height is about 328 meters. If you want to hike this Trail, please check the NPS details provided.

Let’s follow the lens of YouTuber “Dan Treks” to walk into these two Yosemite Falls step by step.

4. El Capitan

Many of Yosemite’s mountains are granite, the most famous of which can be seen at El Capitan.

El Capitan is the largest monolith of granite in the world. Its name is derived from Spanish and means “captain” or “chief”.

At about 3,000 feet (about 914 meters), El Capitan’s vertical rock walls are a challenge for rock climbers.

Because the mountain is a granite structure, it is very steep and is often the first choice for rock climbers. The following is a documentary film of a pair of rock climbers climbing the Yellow Granite Mountain in Yosemite.

Since American rock climbing pioneer Warren Harding and his team first successfully climbed this huge rock wall in the early 1960s, El Capitan has become a holy place for rock climbers around the world.

Every year, many rock climbers from all over the world come here to try to climb this magnificent natural wonder.

5. Valley View

Valley View, also known as the Gates of the Valley, is located at the western end of the beautiful Yosemite Valley.

Standing at the viewing point of Valley View, visitors can enjoy the Merced River meandering through the greenery, the wide valley bottom, and the two major landmarks in Yosemite Valley – El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall.

Here, El Capitan, a massive granite cliff, stands on the left. Bridalveil Fall is the spectacular waterfall on the right, gently hanging down like a bride’s veil.

Valley View is an excellent photography location in Yosemite National Park, especially at sunset, when the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkles on the peaks and rivers, the entire valley presents a dreamlike view, which makes people linger.

6. Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall & Half Dome

Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Half Dome are all on the east side of the entire Yosemite Valley, and their positions on the map are shown in the following figure:

You need to park your car at the red circle in the picture above, and then walk for 2 hours via the Mist Trail to reach Vernal Fall.

If you still want to see Nevada Fall, you need to walk for about 4 hours to reach it.

With this trail, you can not only enjoy the views of Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, and continue on, you can also rock climb Half Dome.

However, this requires a special climbing permit before it can be carried out. For details, please refer to the official content of NPS.

Below is a video of Half Dome rock climbing filmed by NPS. In the video, the park staff said: “It could be dangerous”.

So please note that you need to apply for a climbing permit, and you must be 100% prepared and have a clear understanding of the conditions you may encounter before you can start your Half Dome rock climbing trip.

Every year, a large number of tourists injure ankles and fall while climbing.

7. Glacier Point

Glacier Point is far from Yosemite Valley, and it takes 1 hour to drive.

However, this place must not be missed, where you can see the beauty of the entire valley, and you can also overlook the Half Dome.

The map for driving to Glacier Point from the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center is as follows:

Half Dome (Half Dome) is the iconic view of Yosemite, you can see it from Glacier Point. Especially when the sun rises in the morning when the first ray of sunlight shines on Half Dome, the dollar bill is really beautiful.

Below, we take a quick look at the beauty of Half Dome, following the footage of YouTuber “Let’s Go Liz”.

8. Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza

The eighth scenic spot is located on the south side of Yosemite Park, and it takes about 1 hour to drive from Yosemite Valley.

Giant Sequoia Trees are the largest plants in the world, and many Giant Sequoia Trees are over 2,000 years old.

It’s about an hour’s drive from Yosemite Valley.

You can also see large numbers of giant sequoias in California’s Sequoia and Kings Valley National Parks.

These giant sequoias are so huge that it often takes dozens of children to embrace a giant sequoia.

The video below is also from YouTuber “Let’s Go Liz”. Let’s take a look at these giant trees together.

The following #9~#11 attractions are all located on the east side of Yosemite Park and can be reached along Tioga Road.

9. Olmsted Point 

Olmsted Point is an important viewing point in Yosemite National Park, located in the east of the park, along Tioga Road.

From Olmsted Point, visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of the Yosemite Alpine. There is a large expanse of granite outskirts, the traces of which have been scoured by glaciers and are clearly visible. You can overlook Half Dome, the most famous landmark in Yosemite, and from this perspective, Half Dome presents a completely different perspective.

Another feature of Olmsted Point is the many large granite boulders scattered around it, remnants of glacial activity. There are even trees growing on some boulders, showing the tenacity of life and the wonder of nature.

Here’s a video shared by YouTuber “Today is Someday”:

10. Tenaya Lake

Tenaya Lake is a beautiful alpine lake in the park, located in the eastern part of the park, along Tioga Road.

At an elevation of approximately 8,150 feet (approximately 2,484 meters), the lake is the largest and most accessible natural lake in the park.

Filled with icy, clear snow water, the lake is surrounded by tall granite peaks and clumps of pine trees.

On clear days, the lake reflects the blue of the sky and the colors of the surrounding mountains like a giant mirror.

In summer, people can go kayaking, canoeing, swimming or fishing, and other water activities here, and they can also relax on the beach by the lake, enjoy the scenery, or have a picnic.

In addition, there are several hiking trails around the lake that allow you to get a closer look at the lake and the surrounding nature.

The six-minute video below gives you a quick view of Tenaya Lake. The video is from YouTuber “FlyingDawnMarie”.

11. Tuolumne Meadows

Tuolumne Meadows is a prairie area located in the eastern part of the park, accessible along Tioga Road.

The grassland is about 8,600 feet above sea level (about 2,621 meters), and the scenery is beautiful and peaceful. Open grassland is surrounded by verdant pine trees and towering granite peaks.

Rivers meander through and lakes dot it. In summer, wildflowers of all kinds form a colorful tapestry.

Beyond the beauty, Tuolumne Meadows offers a wealth of outdoor activities. There are many beautiful hiking and backpacking routes from here, such as to the magnificent Waterwheel Falls or ascent to the charming Lembert Dome.

It’s also a very popular spot for picnics, wildlife watching, fishing, camping, rock climbing, and more.

12. Animals of Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is one of the best protected national parks in the pristine natural environment. Visitors can often see mule deer and skunks by the lake and bobcats, foxes, and owls in the forest.

If you’re lucky, you might also see bighorn sheep and marmots.

Yosemite National Park is one of the most attractive national parks in the United States. If you have the opportunity to visit San Francisco or Los Angeles, you might as well spend two to three days to see it. It will definitely make you linger.

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