Yosemite National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains is a place that is known throughout the world for its impressive granite cliffs, waterfalls, and untamed wilderness. From hikers to amateur photographers or those yearning to sit and breathe in the sights, scents and sounds of nature, Yosemite has something for everyone. In this article we’ll take a look at the best places to visit and the top things to do in Yosemite.
Best Places to Visit in Yosemite National Park
- Yosemite Valley – The Heart of the Park The park’s most famous and easiest-to-reach area is the valley itself. This iconic spot offers the most stunning vistas, its most famous landmarks, and easiest access to trails. When you first enter Yosemite Valley, you’ll see a 3,000ft wall of granite dominating the skyline, frosted in bright patches of snow – the North Dome and Half Dome. To the right is El Capitan, a sheer 3,000ft face that looks virtually impassable. The valley is also home to some of Yosemite’s most famous waterfalls. Yosemite National Park.
Key landmarks in Yosemite Valley:
El Capitan: Rising 3,000 feet, it is the world’s most famous granite monolith and the home of the toughest rock-climbing routes. Even for those who prefer to stay on the ground, looking up at this sheer vertical wall at its base is a humbling experience.
Half Dome: A skyline rock star at 8,800 feet above sea level, Half Dome is one of Yosemite’s most well-known granite icons.
Bridalveil Fall: One of the first of the waterfalls you see when you enter the Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Fall plunges 620 feet and flows year‑round. The short hike to the base offers close-up views and is particularly attractive in spring, when the flow is briskest. Yosemite National Park.
- Glacier Point – Panoramic Views of Yosemite For the most spectacular long-range views in the park, head to Glacier Point, which offers panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and many waterfalls. The Glacier Point Road is open to vehicles from late spring to autumn. In winter, the road is closed to vehicle traffic but cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trips are still an option. In the warmer months, this is one of the best places to watch the sunset, with the granite cliffs glowing in the evening light. Yosemite National Park.
- Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias With more than 500 giant sequoias, the Mariposa Grove is a ‘must see’ for those wishing to view some of the world’s largest and oldest living trees. The Grizzly Giant, at 209 feet tall, is said to be more than 2,000 years old, and is just one of many giants that can be viewed on trails of varying distances. Yosemite National Park.
- Tuolumne Meadows – High Country Bliss If you’re looking for a quieter, less crowded Yosemite experience, Tuolumne Meadows is the place for you. Nestled high at an elevation of 8,600 feet and ringed by snow-capped peaks, the subalpine meadow is scattered with clear and pristine rivers and lakes. Away from Yosemite’s crowds, Tuolumne Meadows is perfect for those looking for a quiet getaway, with ample opportunities to hike, picnic and fish. Some of the best hikes in the park, including the trail to Cathedral Lakes or the nearby Lembert Dome, start here. Yosemite National Park.
Best Things to Do in Yosemite National Park
- Hiking – Explore Yosemite’s Diverse Trails My favorite way to enjoy Yosemite is to hike it. There are trails for everyone from the novice who just wants to take a stroll to the hardcore climber. Mist Trail: Perhaps the most well-known and beautiful hike in the park, as well as one of the most popular, this trail skirts the base of Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. Its name is apt, as the trail gets you so close to Vernal Fall that you’re going to get wet. The strenuous hike is worth it, however, as you’re rewarded with views of those roaring falls and their surrounding cliffs.
- Four-Mile Trail: Hike up to Glacier Point on this steep trail. Don’t climb the entire four miles from Yosemite Valley! If you start at Glacier Point and walk down, you’ll be rewarded with views of Yosemite Falls, El Capitan and Half Dome. Half Dome Hike: For the experienced hiker, the Half Dome hike is the ultimate bucket list experience. This 14- to 16-mile round-trip hike, the most popular in the park, takes you from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Half Dome with the final mile scrambling up a steep granite wall aided by metal cables. It’s one of the most strenuous but rewarding hikes in the park with magnificent panoramic views. Yosemite National Park.
- Waterfall Watching – Yosemite’s Natural Showstoppers Yosemite is also home to some of the tallest and most majestic waterfalls in the world. Spring is the best time to visit when the waterfalls are at their most spectacular, as the snowmelt powers their flows. Yosemite Falls: A total of 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America. You can access the falls from the valley below, or undertake the strenuous hike to the summit of the falls. Vernal and Nevada Falls: This popular hike, accessed by the Mist Trail, leads to Vernal and Nevada Falls, two of the most recognisable cascades in Yosemite. Vernal Fall (at 317 feet) and Nevada Fall (at 594 feet) crash into striking pools. Yosemite National Park.
- Rock Climbing – World-Class Granite Walls Yosemite is the Stones of El Capitan among rock-climbing destinations. The pilgrimage of climbers from every continent is in no danger of slowing down. Anyone who can climb will want to try Yosemite’s climbing routes, which range from the extremely easy to the insanely difficult. For those who want to watch, El Capitan is the place for that too.
- Stargazing – Yosemite’s Dark Night Skies Aside from being away from city lights, Yosemite also is one of the best places for stargazing in California. The high mountain air keeps things clear, and the darkness is as dramatic as anything you will see in a galaxy far, far away. When the darkness turns deep, check the calendar for ranger-led astronomy programmes at Glacier Point, or simply lie down in one of the park’s many open meadows and stare up into the Milky Way. Yosemite National Park.
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t been to Yosemite National Park in California, you’re really missing out. Not only do they have some of the most stunning landscape features and amazing waterfalls, but you can also go hiking up Half Dome, chill at Yosemite Falls, or simply sit at Tuolumne Meadows. This place is nature’s way of showing off, and you should definitely add this to your travel list.