Yosemite Road Trip: 15+Must-Visit Places and Unforgettable Experiences

More than 3 million people travel every year to visit Yosemite National Park, the first “conservation area” designated by the United States back in 1864.

Yosemite National Park is part of the Yosemite Valley, a valley that was created by the erosion of the Merced River glaciers and the detachment and crumbling of some blocks of granite, which have produced the fascinating monoliths found throughout this beautiful natural area today.

Yosemite (which has its rightful place on the “must-see” list on a California tour) is surrounded by nearly vertical rock walls and offers a unique landscape, with spectacular rocky peaks, roaring waterfalls, shining lakes and giant sequoias. Here are some tips for visiting Yosemite: things to do, top attractions and places to see around the park.

Best Things to Do in Yosemite National Park

Here is a list of the most important things to see within Yosemite National Park.

Glacier Point: The Most Beautiful View of the Yosemite Valley

So… what to do in Yosemite National Park? Let’s start with an overlook point: Glacier Point is the best view point to admire the Yosemite Valley. It is a rock face that overlooks a truly extraordinary view. To get there, you have several options to choose from. You can go on a nice hike (with an elevation of about 3000 feet) or you can drive to the viewpoint with a rental car or, alternatively, you can be comfortably transported by the shuttle guided by the park rangers. All the details are found in our article on Glacier Point.

El Capitan: the King of the Monoliths

Yosemite is home to 8 granite monoliths, and El Capitan is one of its landmarks, as it is one of the tallest granite boulders in the world (3600 ft). In order to view it, just drive along El Portal Road (Highway 140), the road from the Arch Rock Entrance to Yosemite Valley. As you approach El Capitan you will see many tourists stopping, several parked cars and a huge monolith piercing the sky.

It is worth noting that from the summits of El Capitan, the famous Horsetail Fall flows (though only for a few weeks each year). In the last part of February, thanks to the reflected sunlight during sunset, it appears to transform into a flowing river of lava.

Please note that due to the high influx of visitors wanting to witness this phenomenon, it is necessary to book your visit to the park during this period.

Tunnel View: a majestic view of the valley.

Tunnel View is one of the most famous viewpoints in Yosemite National Park. The view offers a picturesque frame for some of the park’s most iconic attractions: El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall. The viewpoint is located on State Route 41 (Wawona Road) and can be accessed from two parking areas, one near the Artist Point Trail and one at the viewpoint itself.

Half Dome: A Spectacular Cliff-side Face

A smooth rock face that is 7 degrees shy of being perfectly vertical. Hiking to the summit are exhilarating. First you head on the Mist Trail, pass by Vernal Falls (found 3 miles into the trail with an elevation of 984 ft) and finally begin a steep and challenging climb. Your exertion will of course be rewarded by a splendid view (which you can also enjoy during the walk).

The hike is long and it’s best to start at dawn. If you want to hike Half Dome during the time of year that Highway 120 is open, you will need a permit to climb to the top. You can find all the necessary information in our Half Dome article.

Yosemite Falls: The Roaring Falls of Yosemite

In addition to the aforementioned Vernal Falls, there are other waterfalls you can see in Yosemite National Park. If you don’t like walking and prefer to see waterfalls that are easily accessible, you can go to Bridal Veil Falls, which can be reached by taking an easy 15-minute walk, or to Yosemite Lower Falls, which are not as majestic as the Upper Falls, that can be reached after long and demanding hike. If you visit the park in the winter, many waterfalls will resemble huge slabs of ice, whereas during the summer Yosemite Falls may be dried out.

If waterfalls are you primary interest, don’t miss this article on Yosemite Falls.

Tioga Road: Traveling through Lakes, Sequoias and Magnificent Scenery

What could be so interesting to see while driving on Tioga Road? Well, for starters, it’s one of the highest in the USA, and it’s also scenic, which makes it a perfect setting to view some spectacular places from the car: the Tenaya and Tioga Lakes, the redwoods of Tuolumne Grove and Tuolumne Meadows.

If you drive all the way east along Tioga Road to the park exit, take the opportunity to stop at Mono Lake, a large lake characterized by unique tufa formations and two islands (one white and one black) that stand in the middle of the basin. Want to know more? Take a look at this article on the Tioga Pass Road.

Mariposa Grove: The Place to See the Majestic Giant Redwoods

It’s not in Yosemite Valley, but it’s a place you absolutely want to visit if you want to see giant sequoias. Mariposa Grove is accessible by trail. If the weather is nice and you have little time, you can also take a shuttle service that shortens the route from the parking lot. Among the most famous specimens you can see here is Grizzly Giant, which is approximately 2700 years old. To learn more, read our article about Mariposa Grove.

Yosemite National Park Trails

While many viewpoints and panoramas can be enjoyed from the car, to get up close to many of Yosemite’s wonders, you’ll need to do some hiking! The park has an almost infinite number of trails, ranging from easy and accessible walks to challenging climbs suitable for experienced hikers. To have a basic understanding of the park’s divisions can help with orientation.

• Yosemite Valley: The central area of the park. Read our guide to the most beautiful trails in Yosemite Valley.
• Wawona and Mariposa Grove: The best area to admire the magnificent giant sequoias. Here are the best trails in Mariposa Grove.
• Glacier Point Road: Along this road that leads to the famous viewpoint, there are various trails, with the most popular being the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop, a 5 miles roundtrip hike (1122 feet of elevation gain) that offers incredible views of the valley. The two trails can also be done separately. The more adventurous can experience the thrill of reaching the summit of Glacier Point on foot by hiking the Four Mile Trail or the Panorama Trail. Here are all the details.
• Trails along Tioga Road: Along the renowned scenic road, there are three areas rich in trails: Crane Flat, White Wolf, and Tuolumne Meadows. The most popular route is the aforementioned Tuolumne Grove (2,7 miles roundtrip with 656 feet of elevation gain), located in the Crane Flat area, which allows you to stroll through a forest of giant sequoias.

There is also another area in the park that offers several trails, Hetch Hetchy, but it is usually less visited as it is a bit off the main routes of the park.

How many days to visit Yosemite?

If you want to have a thorough visit to Yosemite that includes all the main areas, viewpoints, and trails, you should plan for 3 days. However, often due to limited time on a road trip, it’s not possible to dedicate more than 1 day to the park. By skipping longer hikes and some areas, you can still have a great experience. Here’s my suggested itinerary:

Visiting Yosemite in one day

Dedicate the morning to exploring Yosemite Valley, stopping at its numerous viewpoints and taking the short trail (0,5 miles roundtrip) to Bridalveil Fall, one of Yosemite’s most scenic waterfalls. To navigate, you can input these destinations into your GPS:

• Tunnel View
• Bridalveil Falls Trailhead
• Hanging Valley Viewpoint
• El Capitan Meadow
• Cathedral Beach Picnic Area

Next, take the road to reach the Glacier Point viewpoint, which will take about an hour to reach. From here, you can admire Yosemite Valley from above, especially the famous Half Dome, the park’s iconic granite formation.

If your itinerary continues east towards the Eastern Sierra, take the scenic Tioga Road. Stop to admire the views along the way and take the opportunity to hike the 2,7 miles trail to Tuolumne Grove, a grove of giant sequoias.

If you plan to return south or head towards the coast, you can skip Tioga Road but make up for it by visiting Mariposa Grove, a forest of Giant Sequoias.

Tips for an Overnight Stay in Yosemite National Park

Finding accommodations in Yosemite (e.g. at Curry Village or Yosemite Lodge) can be convenient but it’s also quite expensive. However, there are a number of alternatives outside the Yosemite should definitely be considered, given their proximity and affordability.

All accommodations in Yosemite

Because Yosemite is so vast, the making the decision of where to stay also depends on the itinerary and the starting point or the direction you’re headed. There is ample information on this topic, so we have created a special post with all the advice on where to stay the night in Yosemite…with tips for accommodations both inside and outside Yosemite, with options depending on the route.

Yosemite… how do you pronounce it?

One last curiosity: if one day you find yourself asking for directions to the park, some people might not understand you… perhaps because you mispronounced the name of the park? Yosemite is pronounced as yoh-SEM-ih-tee.

Video of Yosemite

Map of Yosemite National Park

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa