Overview
Yosemite National Park is California's granite cathedral — a seven-mile valley where El Capitan's 3,000-foot face, Half Dome's sheer shoulder, and five major waterfalls converge in a space you can walk across in an afternoon. The Valley is the park most visitors picture. But Yosemite is also Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows at 8,600 feet — the high country that opens in late spring and closes with the first snow, quieter, and a genuinely different landscape. The trip planning question is which one you came for, because they require different timing, different gear, and different logistics.
Map
Current conditions
Active alerts and closures for Yosemite, updated daily.
Headline Hikes
17.2 mi 5,305 ft gain
The premier Yosemite hike: 17.2 miles and 5,300 feet of gain along the JMT to the Half Dome summit cables, rewarding with unobstructed 360-degree views of the Sierra. A day-hike permit via lottery is required to access the cable section — secure one or the trip ends at the base of the subdome.
5.9 mi 2,125 ft gain 3.9 hr
A 5.9-mile Mist Trail climb past Vernal Fall's spray wall to Nevada Fall's 594-foot drop — the signature Yosemite hike for visitors who want a substantial waterfall experience and can handle granite staircase climbing at altitude.
5.2 mi 1,108 ft gain 2.7 hr
A 5.2-mile Glacier Point Road loop hitting both Sentinel Dome (360° Sierra panorama) and Taft Point (sheer Valley-edge overlook with slot fissures) — two very different viewpoint characters in a single moderate day hike that requires no permit.
Trail descriptions are field-tested summaries; verify current conditions and closures with NPS before hiking.
Permits & Reservations
Recreation.gov runs every permit listed here — Half Dome cables and wilderness overnight. Missing the preseason Half Dome lottery usually means waiting until the next season. Apply in the window.
Reservation
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Parking
A parking reservation for commercial and tour buses over 20 feet visiting the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias — not a park-entry or general-visitor reservation. Operators reserve a three-hour bus parking slot on Recreation.gov at least a day ahead. Most visitors reach the grove on the free shuttle from the Welcome Plaza and need nothing here.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
Permit listings sourced from the Recreation Information Database (RIDB). Confirm current dates, fees, and how to apply on Recreation.gov or at the park before you go — some permits are first-come or issued in person.
Inside the Park
The lodges actually inside Yosemite — you wake up at the trailheads, skip the morning drive in, and stay after the day-trippers leave. They are concessioner-run, seasonal, and book months ahead; you are paying for where you sleep, not always for the room itself, so check each one's real rating below.
In-park lodge
Yosemite Valley floor
Season Open year-round; rooms release 366 days out and the prime dates go immediately.
The 1927 grand hotel on the valley floor — granite, timber, and stained glass under the Royal Arches, the architectural landmark of the valley. Rooms are dignified but historic, and at the price reviewers expect more polish than the dated bathrooms deliver; the public rooms and setting are the real draw.
Booked direct through the park concessioner (Yosemite Hospitality). Not an affiliate link.
In-park lodge
Yosemite Valley floor, near Yosemite Falls
Season Open year-round; the most practical valley base and the first to sell out for waterfall season.
Motel-style room blocks a short walk from the base of Yosemite Falls — the practical mid-range way to sleep on the valley floor, with a food court and the shuttle at the door. The rooms are plain and the buildings dated; you book it for standing in the valley at dawn, not the room.
Booked direct through the park concessioner (Yosemite Hospitality). Not an affiliate link.
In-park lodge
Yosemite Valley floor, on the Merced River
Season Seasonal — roughly spring through fall.
Three-sided concrete-and-canvas units on the Merced River — you bring or rent bedding and cook at the site, half a step up from camping. It is the cheapest way to wake up on the valley floor, and reviewers who arrive expecting roughing-it rate it well for exactly that.
Booked direct through the park concessioner (Yosemite Hospitality). Not an affiliate link.
In-park lodge
High country, off Tioga Road (8,600 ft)
Season Seasonal — summer only, once Tioga Road opens (roughly late June to September).
Canvas tent cabins with wood stoves in the high country at 8,600 feet, near the Tuolumne Meadows trailheads and far above the valley crowds — open only in the short Tioga Road season. Communal bath house, no electricity in the cabins; the best-rated of the rustic Yosemite options for travelers who want the high country, not a hotel.
Booked direct through the park concessioner (Yosemite Hospitality). Not an affiliate link.
Hotel / inn
Curry Village
Season
Half Dome Village (formerly Curry Village) is the only lodging option directly on the Valley floor — park your car once, walk or take the free shuttle to every major Valley trailhead and viewpoint, and avoid the summer parking scramble entirely. Tent cabins and standard rooms are spartan, but the access is unmatched: Mist Trail and the shuttle depot are steps away. Reserve through Yosemite Hospitality, the park's authorized concessioner — book far in advance, as in-valley lodging sells out well ahead.
Reservations via Yosemite Hospitality, the park's authorized concessioner (travelyosemite.com). Book far in advance — in-valley lodging sells out well ahead.
In-park lodges book direct through the park concessioner unless a booking partner carries real availability. Rooms are limited and release on a fixed window — reserve early.
Where to Stay
El Portal sits just outside the Arch Rock entrance and offers the closest non-park lodging to the Valley. Wawona is the southern gateway near the Mariposa Grove. The full list across all gateways sits below.
Hotel / inn
Fish Camp
Season
A full-service resort 0.9 miles from Yosemite's south entrance — multiple restaurants, a spa, and two pools mean you don't have to leave the property on recovery days. You'll need your car to reach the Valley floor (about 35 minutes), but for a comfort-first trip with the south section as home base, nothing else near the park matches the amenity package.
Top pick for comfort-first travelers
Booking.com via Awin affiliate (advertiser 6776). Prices indicative; vary by date.
Hotel / inn
Fish Camp
Season
A small B&B just 1.4 miles from the south entrance with three rooms, a hot tub, and breakfast included — the kind of place where the innkeeper hands you hiking tips with your coffee. You need a car to reach the Valley, but the intimate scale and personal service set it apart from every other option in this price band.
Top pick for one-of-a-kind stays
Booking.com via Awin affiliate (advertiser 6776). Prices indicative; vary by date.
Hotel / inn
Yosemite West
Season
A mid-tier retreat in the Yosemite West community, about 3.8 miles from the Arch Rock entrance on Hwy 140 — practical for a Hwy 140 approach, but the 7.0 review score signals it as a backup option rather than a destination stay. Worth considering if the Arch Rock corridor is your entry point and Cedar Lodge is full.
Booking.com via Awin affiliate (advertiser 6776). Prices indicative; vary by date.
Hotel / inn
Wawona
Season
A vacation rental home in the Wawona district, 6 miles inside the south entrance — you're already in the park and a short walk from the Wawona Hotel and golf course. The house format makes it a natural fit for groups or families who want kitchen and living space rather than a hotel room.
Booking.com via Awin affiliate (advertiser 6776). Prices indicative; vary by date.
In-park lodges book direct through the concessioner; gateway-town stays surface through partner search.
Where to Base
El Portal is the closest basecamp to Yosemite Valley — 15 minutes from the Valley floor on Hwy 140 to the Arch Rock entrance. Wawona is the quieter southern approach, right for Mariposa Grove trips and southern access.
Arch Rock entrance basecamp
Tioga Pass east basecamp
South entrance sequoia base
Areas of the Park
Yosemite splits into a handful of distinct areas, each with its own entrance, season, and trip. Yosemite Valley is the granite core most visitors come for; Tuolumne Meadows is the high country along Tioga Road; Wawona is the southern sequoia gateway; and Hetch Hetchy is the quiet reservoir valley in the northwest. Once you know which one you're building your days around, its page has the trails, camping, and timing scoped to just that corner.
Multi-day routes
The multi-day and big-commitment routes that take real planning — sequenced stop by stop, with the logistics and the bail plan answered before you go.
Camping
Yosemite's Valley campgrounds (Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines) book through Recreation.gov and fill within minutes when reservations open 5 months ahead. Camp 4 is walk-up only — bring a flexible arrival plan.
In-park · Frontcountry
A high, summer-only campground off Glacier Point Road — the base for Glacier Point's trails and views; sites release on a rolling two-week window.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Horse Camp
Stock sites off Glacier Point Road for travelers bringing horses or mules — summer-only, reserved with your animals.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
The historic walk-in climbers' camp on the valley floor — tent-only and budget; reserve a week ahead in season, first-come in winter.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
A quieter mid-elevation forest base near the Highway 120 junction and the sequoia groves — summer-only, two-week rolling reservations.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
Just inside the Big Oak Flat (Highway 120 West) entrance — handy for Bay Area arrivals and open year-round, away from the valley crush.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Backcountry
The backcountry staging camp for Half Dome — it needs a wilderness permit (among the hardest to get), not a drive-in reservation.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
A smaller valley campground on the Merced River, central to Half Dome and the valley floor — reservations release five months out and sell out in minutes.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
A valley campground by Mirror Lake and the Half Dome trailhead — in 2026 its sites are awarded by the recreation.gov early-access lottery.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
A primitive, rustic high-country camp on Tioga Road — summer-only with limited facilities, for self-sufficient campers wanting an alpine base.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
A remote, primitive tent camp down a rough road off Tioga Road — summer-only and not for RVs or trailers; quiet and basic.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Horse Camp
High-country stock sites on Tioga Road for travelers with horses or mules — summer-only, reserved with your animals.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
Yosemite's largest campground and high-country hub at 8,600 feet on Tioga Road — base for the meadows, Tioga Pass, and the JMT/PCT; summer-only and sells out in minutes.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
The valley basecamp — largest valley campground, open year-round, shuttle at the entrance, Half Dome and Curry Village walkable; reserve the instant the five-month window opens.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
Southern Yosemite near the Mariposa Grove sequoias and the south entrance — open year-round and away from the valley crowds.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Horse Camp
Stock sites in southern Yosemite near Wawona for travelers bringing horses or mules — reserved with your animals.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
A small, forested high-country camp off Tioga Road — summer-only and quieter than Tuolumne, with the Lukens and Harden Lake trails nearby.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
In-park · Frontcountry
The most remote Tioga Road campground, down a long rough dirt road — summer-only, primitive, and tent-only; for solitude over convenience.
Data Source: Recreation.gov
You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov
Campground listings sourced from the Recreation Information Database (RIDB). Recreation.gov is the only authorized booking site — confirm fees, dates, and site counts there before reserving.
Experiences
Guided tours that fill out a Yosemite trip — a Valley naturalist walk, a Glacier Point stargazing session, or a day trip from the Bay Area without the Valley parking problem. The full set sits below.
adventure-tours
A 3-hour naturalist-led walk inside Yosemite Valley that covers the park's glacial geology, ecological history, and conservation story — rated 4.9 and led by a professional naturalist rather than a tour-bus driver.
Experience powered by Viator.
nature-walks
A door-to-door day trip from San Francisco hitting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias — the right call for Bay Area visitors who don't want to drive Hwy 120 or find Valley parking on a peak day.
Experience powered by Viator.
full-day-tours
A 9-hour small-group highlights tour covering the Valley's major viewpoints — Tunnel View, El Capitan, Half Dome views — with a 4.9-equivalent rating built over 700+ reviews, making it the most consistently reviewed guided option for Yosemite.
Experience powered by Viator.
Getting There
Most visitors drive in from the Bay Area (3.5h via Hwy 120) or LA (5.75h via Hwy 41). YARTS buses run year-round from Fresno and Merced — a genuine alternative on peak summer days when Valley parking is full by 9am.
San Francisco, CA 3h 30m
via I-580 E + CA-120 E (Big Oak Flat entrance)
Most common Bay Area approach. CA-120 through the Big Oak Flat entrance is the fastest route to the Valley. Tioga Road access also via CA-120.
Los Angeles, CA 5h 45m
via I-5 N + CA-99 N + CA-41 N
Hwy 41 enters via the South Entrance (Wawona Tunnel) — the first view is Tunnel View, one of the park's best. Add 30–60 minutes for summer congestion near Fresno.
Fresno, CA 1h 30m
via CA-41 N
Closest major airport approach. Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) buses run from Fresno to the Valley year-round.
Sacramento, CA 3h 0m
via CA-50 E + CA-99 S + CA-120 E
Can approach via CA-120 or the Tioga Pass Road (CA-120 east, seasonal) if doing high country.
Year-Round Valley Gates (Arch Rock · Big Oak Flat · South)
Three entrances stay open all year and all lead to Yosemite Valley: Arch Rock on Hwy 140 from the west (the most snow-free route, past El Portal), Big Oak Flat on Hwy 120 from the Bay Area, and the South Entrance on Hwy 41, where the Wawona Tunnel delivers the Tunnel View. There is no timed-entry reservation in 2026 — the park dropped it for the season.
Season Open year-round (carry chains in winter)
Best for Yosemite Valley any time of year; Hwy 41 for Mariposa Grove, Hwy 140 for the easiest winter approach
Tioga Road (Crane Flat → Tioga Pass → Lee Vining)
The high-country drive itself — CA-120 climbing from Crane Flat past Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows to the Tioga Pass entrance at 9,943 feet, then down to Lee Vining beside Mono Lake. It is the only Yosemite entrance that closes for the season, and the drive is the reason to come.
Season Closed for snow roughly November–late May; opened May 15 in 2026
Best for Tuolumne Meadows, the high country, and the Eastern Sierra / Mono Lake side
Optional, runs seasonally
A free Valley shuttle (the blue-line system) loops the Valley floor year-round, connecting the Visitor Center, campgrounds, trailheads, lodging, and Happy Isles. Private vehicles can drive into the Valley; Yosemite is not requiring a timed-entry day-use reservation for 2026, though the requirement has returned in past peak seasons — confirm the current status on the NPS Yosemite page before you go. The shuttle is the easiest way to move between trailheads once you're parked.
Season Year-round (free Valley shuttle); no timed-entry reservation required for 2026 — confirm current NPS status
Yosemite is not using a timed-entry reservation system for 2026, but the requirement has come and gone year to year (full 2023, none 2024, peak-hours 2025) — confirm the current status on the NPS Yosemite page before your trip.
Sightseeing
The Valley packs its best views into a compact corridor — Tunnel View, El Capitan Meadow, Glacier Point — and the shuttle connects most of them. High-country viewpoints (Olmsted Point, Tioga Road) require seasonal access.
Trailside
620-foot waterfall reached by a short paved path from the valley.
Best at midday
Overlook
The largest exposed granite monolith on Earth, rising 3,000 vertical feet from the valley floor. From El Capitan Meadow on the valley loop you can pick out climbers as specks on routes like the Nose; the wall glows gold in the last light.
Best at sunset
Overlook
High overlook of Half Dome, the high country, and the valley floor 3,200 feet below.
Best at sunset
Summit
Granite dome summit reached via cables on a strenuous full-day hike; permit required.
Best at midday
Overlook
Tioga Road overlook of glacially polished granite domes including the back of Half Dome.
Good all day
Overlook
Classic vista of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome from the east end of the Wawona Tunnel.
Best at sunset
Roadside Pullout
Riverside pullout framing El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall above the Merced River.
Best at sunset
Trailside
North America's tallest waterfall, viewed from a short loop to the base of the lower fall.
Good all day
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Late spring & fall. Waterfalls run hardest in late spring; Tioga Road and the high country are snowbound much of the year.
Plan Your Trip
Sweet spot
May, late September – October
Waterfalls run hardest in May from snowmelt. Fall color in October with lighter crowds than summer. Temperatures 60–75°F in the Valley.
High country
July – early September
Tioga Road open, Tuolumne Meadows accessible, wildflowers peak late July. Plan Valley visits for early morning; midday is crowded.
Avoid (Valley crowds)
June – August (Valley floor)
Campgrounds book out months ahead and the Valley can hit 90°F+. (A peak-season timed-entry reservation has been required in past years; none for 2026 — confirm NPS status.) High country is excellent; the Valley floor is a logistics exercise.
Winter (underrated)
December – February
Valley campgrounds open on a first-come basis, waterfalls run if storms are wet, and Ahwahnee and Valley Lodge book at lower rates. Snow on valley rim makes every overlook better.
Half Dome cables permit
Required to access the cable section above the subdome from late May through mid-October. Day-hike and overnight permits via lottery on Recreation.gov — the most competitive permit in the park. Apply during the preseason lottery window or try the daily lottery released two days out.
Application window Preseason lottery (March) + daily lottery (2 days prior)
Wilderness / overnight backpacking permit
Required for all overnight wilderness travel in Yosemite. Quota-managed by trailhead — most popular trailheads (Happy Isles, Tuolumne Meadows) require a reservation via Recreation.gov's lottery, open in late winter for the upcoming season.
Application window Lottery opens late winter; walk-up quota available at ranger stations
Recreation.gov is the only authorized permit issuer for Half Dome and wilderness overnight permits. Anyone selling Yosemite permits outside Recreation.gov is a scam — there is no in-person walk-up for the cables permit, and walk-up wilderness quota is limited.
What to Pack
The short list for a Yosemite hike — what earns its place in the pack for Mist Trail conditions and Half Dome prep.
Packs
Whether you're bagging peaks or on a bikepacking adventure, the men's Osprey Talon 22 pack is the ideal solution for toting all the gear you need while keeping you comfortable for the long haul.
Why it matters Carries water, snacks, and layers for a full day on trail with a comfortable hipbelt.
Footwear
Take on urban landscapes in the Merrell Moab 3 Lux shoes. These hiking shoes use full-grain leather for a traditional look that doesn't lack support.
Why it matters Grippy, broken-in-comfortable boots with a wide toe box for mixed park terrain.
Footwear
Keep confidence underfoot. With excellent grip and the same reassuring comfort as the original, the men's Salomon Speedcross 6 trail-running shoes offer a powerful connection to the trails.
Why it matters Lighter than boots for fast, dry-trail days; many hikers prefer them.
Safety
Balancing comfort and reliability, the 3-piece-adjustable Black Diamond Trail trekking poles have updated EVA foam grips and plush straps for added security and improved handling on the trail.
Why it matters Save your knees on descents and steady you across stream crossings like the Narrows.
Water
With high-flow hydration and an on/off lever at the bite valve that makes it easy to prevent leaks, there's a lot to like about like the CamelBak Crux Crux 2-liter reservoir.
Why it matters Drink hands-free on the move so you actually stay hydrated in the heat.
Water
Stay refreshed and hydrated wherever you wander with a 32 fl. oz. Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth insulated water bottle equipped with a leakproof Flex Straw cap and 24-hour insulation.
Why it matters Keeps water cold all day; the most-used item in any park daypack.
Prices and stock change often — confirm the current price with the retailer before buying.
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