I’ve been to Yosemite National Park multiple times over different seasons, and it’s a magical place to visit, no matter the time of the year. There is always something new to explore every time I return!
In this post, you’ll find a list of incredible sights to see and things to do in Yosemite for first-time visitors.
This list includes day hikes, picnic areas, viewpoints, and easy-to-access photography locations. Let’s dive in!
Here are 20 best things do in Yosemite National Park:
- 1. Tunnel View
- 2. Yosemite Village
- 3. Lower Yosemite Falls
- 4. Upper Yosemite Falls
- 5. Curry Village Tent Cabins
- 6. Cook’s Meadow Loop
- 7. Mirror Lake
- 8. Sentinel Beach Picnic Area
- 9. Sentinel Bridge
- 10. Yosemite Valley Chapel
- 11. The Ahwahnee Hotel
- 12. Mist Trail
- 13. Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
- 14. Wooden Boardwalks
- 15. Bridalveil Fall
- 16. Tioga Road
- 17. Yosemite Valley View
- 18. Glacier Point
- 19. Mariposa Grove
- 20. Ansel Adams Gallery
1. Tunnel View
Tunnel View is one of the most popular Yosemite attractions and the first stop that you’ll see after entering the park through the Wawona Tunnel.
Tunnel View is located high up on a mountain and overlooks the Yosemite Valley below it. From this viewpoint, you can see most of Yosemite’s landmarks and famous rock formations such as El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Falls.
Yosemite was once covered by a glacier ice field, but as it receded a large U-shaped valley and granite cliffs formed around it. What we now see as Yosemite Valley is the work of natural forces over millions of years.
Location: Tunnel View
2. Yosemite Village
If it’s your first time visiting Yosemite National Park, you should start at the Yosemite Village where you will find everything you need including the Visitor Center and Wilderness Center.
The Visitor Center has information on what to do around Yosemite, including trail maps and information booths during the busy seasons. Wilderness Center is where you can go to get walk-in backpacking permits and to rent bear canisters.
At Yosemite Village, you’ll also find the Village Store that sells souvenirs and food, a coffee shop, public restrooms, a post office, a museum, and other various buildings.
My favorite location in Yosemite Village is Degnan’s Kitchen which was established in 1981.
I look forward to stopping by this café in the mornings for a freshly baked croissant and coffee before hitting the trails. They also have an adjacent room with a cozy fireplace for hanging out.
Location: Yosemite Valley Visitor Center
3. Lower Yosemite Falls
Trail Highlights:
- Length: 1.2-mile loop
- Time Needed: 30 minutes – 1 hour
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead
Yosemite National Park offers trails for any type of outdoor enthusiast – from short day hikes to long multi-day backpacking trips.
If it’s your first time visiting Yosemite National Park, there are a few great day hikes to choose from that will take you to jaw-dropping views for very little work.
One of the best hikes to do in Yosemite is the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail. This is an easy 1-mile-long loop that takes you to multiple vista points of the stunning Yosemite waterfall.
You can see the scale of the waterfall peeking through the trees as you start the hike. The trail continues along a wide pathway that leads up close to the waterfall base and then loops around back to the starting point.
Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the United States, so you don’t want to miss this one!
The best time to hike the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail is in spring or early summer when the waterfall is flowing full from fresh snowmelt. Seeing Yosemite Falls rush down the cliff in spring is quite the sight!
Yosemite Falls is a seasonal waterfall, so usually by late summer, it’s down to a few trickles. I’ve been to Yosemite in October when it’s completely dry, and the only remains of the waterfall are the shadows cast into the granite cliffs in its place.
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4. Upper Yosemite Falls
Trail Highlights:
- Length: 7.2 miles round trip
- Time Needed: 6-8 hours
- Difficulty: Hard
- Location: Yosemite Falls Trail
If you’re looking for a challenging day hike, you can also hike to the top of Yosemite Falls, where the waterfall plunges down the cliff.
The trail to Upper Yosemite Falls is 3.6 miles long, each way, and gains over 2700 feet in elevation. It’s not an easy trail to do, but it is a popular one, especially in the summer.
The Upper Yosemite Falls trail follows an old river path carved along the slope of the mountain until it reaches the top.
We hiked the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail as part of our Eagle Peak backpacking trip, and calling it difficult would be an understatement. My husband’s legs started cramping up halfway through, and we somehow managed to (basically) crawl to the top.
There is a great viewpoint along the way called Columbia Rock that offers sweeping panoramic views of the park. Many people just hike to the Columbia Rock vista point and then turn around.
Hiking the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail is an all-day adventure so if you plan to attempt it, make sure to bring along plenty of water and snacks.
5. Curry Village Tent Cabins
If you’re looking for a unique camping experience, I highly recommend staying at the Curry Village Tent Cabins. These canvas tent cabins are located at the heart of Yosemite Valley, offering easy access to all the top attractions within the park.
I love to stay in these canvas tent cabins in the spring or fall season when it’s much easier to reserve them. In the summer, they get booked up very quickly, so it’s important to reserve them as soon as they become available.
Check Curry tent cabin rates & availability here!
6. Cook’s Meadow Loop
Trail Highlights:
- Length: 2-mile-long loop
- Time Needed: 1-2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: Sentinel/Cook’s Meadow Loop
One of my favorite trails at Yosemite National Park is Cook’s Meadow Loop. This is a picturesque hike that features lush meadows, scenic walkways, and towering granite domes.
Cook’s Meadow Loop is a 2-mile-long trail that goes through some of the best parts of the park. If you have the time, you can hike the entire trail or just do a portion of it.
The first section of the trail goes through Cook’s Meadow, a grass field at the center of Yosemite Valley that is an essential part of the park’s ecosystem. The second part of the trail loops around Lower Yosemite Falls and its vista points.
Cook’s Meadow Trail is flat and is an especially great hike to do with kids.
There are plenty of places to park along Cook’s Meadow. It can also be accessed from the Visitors Center within a short walk.
The grass field that is considered Cook’s Meadow was once the location of Old Yosemite Village. While now it mostly consists of grass, trees, and shrubs, back in the 1800s, this meadow was full of cottages, hotels, saloons, farm animals, and other amenities for Yosemite travelers.
Eventually, these buildings and farms were relocated. The meadow still keeps its original name in honor of a local businessman, J.J. Cook, who owned a hotel and a farm in the early days of Yosemite.
Along this trail, you will find lots of information about Yosemite National Park’s history, how this meadow was once almost destroyed, and the restoration projects over the years to bring it back to its original state.
7. Mirror Lake
Trail Highlights:
- Length: 3 miles round trip
- Time Needed: 2-3 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is another popular day hike that starts in Yosemite Valley. This 3-mile round-trip hike leads to Mirror Lake, a pond that earned its name for the perfect reflections in the water. From this trail, you can also see Half Dome up close from its base.
Mirror Lake trail starts on the far east part of Yosemite Valley, just past the Pines campgrounds.
This trail follows Tenaya Creek, and you can do the hike from either side of the river. The trail on the left of the creek is wide and paved, while the trail on the right is narrow and rugged. You can also hike it as a loop, taking one way up and the other way down.
This pond formed a few hundred years ago after a rockfall dumped boulders into the creek, creating a natural dam that stops the water flow.
Mirror Lake is a shallow pond that dries out in the summer & fall months. If you hike the Mirror Lake Trail in late summer or fall, expect the lake to be completely gone. Instead of being greeted with glassy reflections, you will arrive to see white sand beaches.
Mirror Lake has been admired for its reflections by early park visitors but it has also been used for practical reasons.
In the 1800s and 1900s, Mirror Lake ice was cut out in the winter months and used to store food for park visitors. The river sand was also dug up and used to cover roads as visitor traffic started to increase.
Read More: How To Hike Mirror Lake Trail In Yosemite National Park
8. Sentinel Beach Picnic Area
Sentinel Beach Picnic Area is one of the top places to visit in Yosemite for photography.
The picnic area has large tables and BBQ grills, but if you keep walking down towards the river, you will come across incredible views of the Merced River and Yosemite Valley.
I love to come here in the mornings before Yosemite Valley gets busy with tourists to capture sunrise photography. You might even spot deer crossing the river or a cub roaming through the meadow – both of which I’ve witnessed during the quiet morning hours.
The beach itself has white sand that looks almost like snow against the dark evergreen trees. If you walk along the river, you will eventually come across the Swinging Bridge – another picturesque location in Yosemite.
Location: Sentinel Beach Picnic Area
9. Sentinel Bridge
Yosemite has a few historic bridges, but no bridge in Yosemite comes close in popularity to the Sentinel Bridge.
The Sentinel Bridge is one of the most photographed locations in Yosemite, especially for capturing Half Dome at sunset.
This is an iconic spot, depicted in photos and postcards since 1940 as a symbol of Yosemite.
I remember driving through Yosemite on my first visit and seeing this bridge packed full of landscape photographers. Now I’m one of them – and I still get excited every time I come to this location for sunset!
Location: Sentinel Bridge
10. Yosemite Valley Chapel
It’s not every day that you come across a chapel at the center of a National Park. I recommend making a quick stop by this historic church as you drive through the park.
Yosemite Valley Chapel was built in 1879 and is still an operating church with Sunday services and wedding events. All other buildings from old Yosemite Village have been removed or relocated for the restoration of the natural landscape.
With granite peaks and Yosemite Falls as its backdrop, this is also a great location for photography. You can walk around the chapel for different dramatic perspectives of Yosemite Valley behind it.
Location: Yosemite Valley Chapel
11. The Ahwahnee Hotel
The Ahwahnee Hotel is an interesting Yosemite landmark that often gets skipped on visits. The Ahwahnee is a luxurious hotel in the eastern part of the park with top-rated rooms and dining.
If you’re not staying at the hotel, you can still visit it, walk around the gardens, and enjoy lunch at their restaurant.
The Ahwahnee Hotel is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Over the years, it has been visited by presidents, movie stars, and celebrities.
This hotel was built in 1927 and cost over 1.5 million, with the hope of attracting wealthy park patrons and donors. Now the Ahwahnee Hotel is a world-class resort and an architectural marvel.
Location: The Ahwahnee
Read Next: 20 Amazing Places To Stay Near Yosemite National Park
12. Mist Trail
Trail Highlights:
- Length: 6.4 mile long loop
- Time Needed: 4-5 hours
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Location: Mist Trail & John Muir Trail Trailhead
The Mist Trail is one of the most popular day hikes at Yosemite National Park. This trail is long in distance, but it passes two of the most gorgeous Yosemite waterfalls – Vernal and Nevada Falls.
The Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail is 6.4 miles long with 2,200 feet of elevation gain. If you are not able to do the entire distance, you can also hike to a foot bridge that overlooks Vernal Fall for a total of 1.8 miles round trip.
13. Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
Of all the stops at Yosemite, the Cathedral Beach Picnic Area is one of the most scenic ones. At this location, you can set up a picnic, BBQ, or enjoy water activities in the glacier-carved Merced River that flows next to it.
The water level by the Cathedra Picnic Area is shallow, so it’s a great spot to access the river and come hang out with the family and kids.
If you walk down the river to the left, you can also catch a direct view of the El Capitan rock formation. I love to come here during sunrise when the morning light illuminates this enormous rock surface.
Location: Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
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14. Wooden Boardwalks
Yosemite has a few scenic wooden boardwalks that you’ll spot in the meadows as you drive through the park. These boardwalks are great for photography, especially in spring with the Yosemite Waterfall as the backdrop.
Originally, the park walkways were made of asphalt, but in recent years, they were replaced with wood to help with the water flow. Not only are the boardwalks very picturesque, but they also help keep the park lush and green!
15. Bridalveil Fall
Bridalveil Fall is one of the first waterfalls that you will see upon entering Yosemite National Park. There is a short pathway that goes up to a viewpoint of it. You can also spot this waterfall from Tunnel View or while driving through Yosemite Valley.
Unlike most Yosemite waterfalls, Bridalveil Fall is a year-round waterfall. Even in the fall months, this waterfall has some water flow while all other waterfalls in Yosemite can dry out down to a few trickles.
In the spring months, Bridalveil Falls flows in full force. If you plan to visit it, expect to get soaked in the waterfall mist.
Location: Bridalveil Fall
16. Tioga Road
If you’re spending a few days at Yosemite National Park, you may want to set aside a day to explore the back part of Yosemite along Tioga Road.
Tioga Road cuts across the Sierra Nevada mountain range and connects Yosemite with Mammoth.
Some of the most popular stops along Tioga Road are:
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Olmsted Point
- Tenaya Lake
In this area, you can also find a lot of great backpacking trails like the North Dome Trail and the Cathedral Lakes Trail.
The North Dome Trail is one of my favorite multi-day hikes to do in Yosemite’s backcountry because it leads to a direct view of Half Dome from it.
The best part about hiking in this region is that you’re already starting at the highest point in the mountains, and the trails mostly go downwards towards the valley.
17. Yosemite Valley View
Every time I exit Yosemite National Park, I try to stop by Yosemite Valley View. This viewpoint offers a clear the vista of El Capitan, Merced River, and the valley.
This section of the Merced River is very scenic because it’s full of giant rocks that were left behind by ancient glaciers as they moved through the valley carrying the boulders with them.
Yosemite Valley Viewpoint only has a handful of parking spots so parking can be pretty limited. In winter, this area can also flood when water flows outside of the river boundaries.
Car traffic in most of Yosemite Valley travels one way, so keep an eye out for this location as you exit the park. If you miss the turn, you’ll have to drive back through the entire park to get back here.
Location: Yosemite Valley View
18. Glacier Point
Glacier Point is one of the highest viewpoints within Yosemite National Park, sitting at 7200 feet in elevation. Glacier Point is located about an hour outside of Yosemite Village, but is well worth the drive!
Visitors can enjoy a quarter-mile-long trail that goes along the edge of the cliffs, offering panoramic views of sheer granite domes, winding rivers, and waterfalls. From here, you can also start the Four Mile Trail that goes from Glacier Point to the bottom of Yosemite Valley, descending 3200 feet in elevation.
The road that leads to Glacier Point is very narrow and slow. It was first built in 1872, and since then, over a million people a year travel up this road to visit Glacier Point.
Glacier Point is very popular because it overlooks a quarter of Yosemite National Park. At one point, there was even a hotel built on top of Glacier Point, but after it burned down, the park decided to keep this area natural.
Before you leave Glacier Point, stop by the Geology Hut, which was created to observe Yosemite and its always-changing landscape.
Location: Glacier Point
19. Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove is a section in the southern part of Yosemite National Park that is home to giant sequoia trees. This area is a bit different than the rest of the park, which mostly consists of granite mountains.
Mariposa Grove has over 500 mature Sequoia trees that visitors can see and marvel at from a close distance. This grove was established in 1864 to protect these giant Sequoias from being logged.
Mariposa Grove has multiple trails that range from 0.3 to 7 miles in length. Visiting Mariposa Grove in winter can be a magical experience when you can find yourself submerged in snow-covered trails passing some of the biggest trees in the world.
Note: The main Mariposa Grove Road that leads to the trailhead is often closed, requiring visitors to hike an extra 2 miles each way from the welcome center to the trail starting point. You should plan to set aside a few hours to half a day if you plan to visit Mariposa Grove.
Location: Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza
Read More: Hiking Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Trail In Yosemite
20. Ansel Adams Gallery
Two popular names have originated in Yosemite – John Muir and Ansel Adams. While John Muir is recognized for his writing and descriptions of Yosemite, Ansel Adams is known for his stunning photography.
Visitors can enjoy seeing his best work of Yosemite at the Ansel Adams Gallery located in the heart of Yosemite Village.
The Ansel Adams family photography business goes back to 1902. The gallery was started by a couple whose daughter married an aspiring photographer, Ansel Adams. The gallery still operates in Yosemite Valley every day of the week.
Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
Location: The Ansel Adams Gallery
I hope this post has inspired you to add a few new trails and attractions to your Yosemite National Park travel plans!
Looking for more Yosemite travel inspiration? Here are a few other popular posts that you may enjoy:
- The 10 Best VRBO Rentals Near Yosemite National Park
- Visiting Yosemite In October & November For Fall Colors
- The Complete Guide To Visiting Yosemite In Winter
Can’t decide which trail to hike in Yosemite? Be sure to check out these posts below that cover some of my favorite Yosemite hikes & backpacking routes:
- 10 Best Day Hikes In Yosemite National Park
- Hiking & Backpacking The Cathedral Lakes Trail
- How To Backpack The Eagle Peak Trail In Yosemite
- Hiking Yosemite Valley Loop Trail In California
This post is written by Laura Sausina. Hi, I’m the founder of the Fun Life Crisis travel blog and I’ve been traveling the world for the past 7 years. Here I share my experiences and tips to help 100,000 people a month turn their travel dreams into reality! Read more about me here.
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Where did you get the grey backpack in the November Yosemite picture?? It’s adorable!!
Hey Crystal! It’s from Kapten & Son company. Glad you like it! : )