30 Epic Things to Do in Yosemite for First-Timers (2024)

I am a big fan of lists (and photos!). In this post, I list the best things to do in Yosemite: the best landmarks to visit, the best views, and best hiking trails in the park. Take a look, and then pick and choose what you want to do (there’s enough here to fill five days of your time). At the end of the post, I give recommendations on how to piece this all together so you can have the best experience here.

Yosemite Entrance Reservations

Before we get started on the best things to do in Yosemite, it’s important to know that for a major portion of the year you will have to make a reservation in order to enter Yosemite National Park.

In 2023, there were days where visitors waited in line for over 3 hours in order to enter Yosemite. To address this, in 2024 a new reservation requirement is being instituted.

There are two periods of time when a reservation is necessary: in February to see Horsetail Fall and from mid-April through October, when visitation is at its peak.

February 2024 Reservations

February is a busy time to visit Yosemite, when Horsetail Fall is illuminated at sunset, giving in an orange, fiery glow.

Visitors must have a reservation to enter the park on the weekends of February 10 and 11, February 17 to 19, and February 24 and 25. Even if you have no intention of seeing Horsetail Fall, you must still make a reservation.

April through October Reservations

Here are the dates and times when it is necessary to make a reservation to enter Yosemite National Park:

• April 13 through June 30: A reservation is required on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (May 27 and June 19) to enter the park between 5 am and 4 pm.
• July 1 through August 16: A reservation is required every day between 5 am and 4 pm.
• August 17 through October 27: A reservation is required on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (September 2 and October 14) to enter the park between 5 am and 4 pm.

If you have a lodging reservation within the park, a wilderness or Half Dome permit, or a vacation rental in Wawona, Yosemite West, or Foresta, you do not need a reservation to enter the park.

You are allowed to enter the park before 5 am and after 4 pm with a permit.

How to Make Your Reservation

Horsetail Fall Reservations

For February reservations, 50% of reservations become available on December 1 at 8 am Pacific time on recreation.gov. The remainder of the reservations become available two days prior to the reservation date, at 8 am Pacific time. For more information, visit the National Park website and click on “Horsetail Fall Reservations: When and how to get them.”

Peak Season Reservations

For reservations from mid-April through October, reservations become available on January 5, 2024 at 8 am Pacific time on recreation.gov. Most of the reservations will be released at this time (the official website gives no indication how many this will be). The remainder are released seven days before the arrival date (for example, for an arrival date of July 10, the reservation is released on July 3).

These reservations cost $2 and are valid for 3 consecutive days.

Get more information on the National Park website.

Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Famous Yosemite Landmarks

The heart of Yosemite is Yosemite Valley. There is one road that loops through the Valley, linking car parks and villages to the hiking trails and viewpoints. If you drive this loop (or take the Yosemite Shuttle) you can see about halfof these landmarks. Getting to them all requires some hiking and a drive on Tioga Road.

1. Half Dome

Half Dome | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Half Dome is Yosemite’s most famous icon. Rising 4,800 feet above the valley floor, photograph it from the viewpoints sprinkled throughout Yosemite (you can see it from everywhere!), hike to the top, or even rock climb up the face of Half Dome.

2. El Capitan

Photo credit: Mike Wooldridge

Proudly sitting on the other side of Yosemite Valley from Half Dome is El Capitan. This massive rock is a playground for rock climbers. El Capitan made it on the news in 2017 when Alex Honnold became the first person to free climb it without a rope.

3. Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Yosemite Falls is the 5th tallest waterfall in the world. During the spring months, when the winter snows are melting, this waterfall is literally roaring. Later in the season the flow can be just a trickle. If you want to see Yosemite’s waterfalls at their peak, plan to visit during the spring and early summer months.

4. Bridalveil Falls

Bridalveil Falls | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

This is another popular waterfall in Yosemite. You can walk to the bottom of it on a short, paved hiking trail, or for one of the best views, go to Tunnel View.

5. Vernal Fall

Vernal Fall | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Vernal Fall sits in the back of the park, near Half Dome Village. Most people who see this waterfall hike to it on the famous Mist Trail. You can also see it from Glacier Point.

6. Nevada Fall

Nevada Fall | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Nevada Fall sits above Vernal Fall. To get to the top of Nevada Fall, it’s a 7+ mile round trip hike up the Mist or Muir Trail. Don’t feel like hiking that far? Take in the view from Glacier Point, where you can see Nevada Fall, Vernal Fall, and towering Half Dome all in the same view.

7. Tuolomne Meadows

Tuolomne Meadows | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Tuolomne Meadows is located on Tioga Road, a fairly long scenic drive away from Yosemite Valley. This is a much less popular spot to visit, since it is not located in the heart of Yosemite, so it’s a good place to leave the crowds behind, especially in the summer months.

8. Tenaya Lake

Tenaya Lake | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Also located on Tioga Road, this is another quiet place to visit. This is also where the trailhead to Clouds Rest is located.

10. Horsetail Fall

Horsetail Fall is a waterfall in Yosemite that appears to be on fire when it is backlit by the setting sun. This event only happens during the month of February and it typically draws huge crowds. You now need a permit to enter Yosemite in February, since Horsetail Fall is such a popular sight to see.

Horsetail Fall is a small waterfall that is only flowing during the winter months. In order to see it “on fire,” you need clear skies, so it doesn’t happen every evening. The best time to visit Yosemite to see this phenomenon is mid to late-February.

Horsetail Fall | Gregory B Cuvelier/shutterstock.com

The Best Views in Yosemite

1. Glacier Point

Let’s just start with our favorite view. From Glacier Point, you can pretty much look out over all of Yosemite. Stunning!

Glacier Point View | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

The view of Yosemite Falls from Glacier Point

There are several ways to get here. The easiest way is to drive here on Glacier Point Road. During the busy summer months, between the hours of 10 to 4:30, you may be required to take the shuttle from the Yosemite Ski Resort (Badger Pass). Expect this drive to take 30 – 40 minutes one way, longer if you have to take the shuttle. Or you can hike up Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point, for an 10 mile round trip excursion.

2. Washburn Point

Many people skip this viewpoint, going right to Glacier Point. But Washburn Point is worth it, if you want a slightly different angle of the Glacier Point view. For those who are planning to hike Half Dome, this viewpoint lets you see most of the route.

Half Dome, Nevada Fall, and Vernal Fall can all be seen from Washburn Point.

Washburn Point is located on Glacier Point Road, 0.7 miles before you arrive at the Glacier Point parking lot. We walked between the two viewpoints and enjoyed ever-changing views of Half Dome. It’s a mostly downhill walk if you go from Washburn Point to Glacier Point.

3. Taft Point

Photo credit: shutterstock.com/Morgan Brooks

Taft Point is also located on Glacier Point Road. It’s a rewarding 2-mile round trip hike to a viewpoint with a stunning view of Yosemite Valley and El Capitan.

4. Tunnel View

Tunnel View | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Take in this iconic view with very little effort. From the Tunnel View parking lot the view is amazing, but expect to share this space with lots and lots of other visitors. This view is best in the afternoon, when the sun is at your back. We tried this viewpoint early in the morning and I had terrible photos filled with sun glare.

5. Artist Point

If you don’t like the idea of sharing Tunnel View with lots of people, consider the short hike up to Artist Point. It gives a slightly different view and you will leave the crowds behind. It is a 2-mile round trip hike that begins at the Tunnel View parking lot.

6. Columbia Rock

Columbia Rock | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

This view lets you capture Yosemite Falls and Half Dome in the same photograph. If you are hiking to the top of Yosemite Falls, you will pass this viewpoint during the hike. If you just want to go to Columbia Rock, it’s a 3-mile hike round trip with 1000 feet of climbing.

7. Yosemite Point

Yosemite Point | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

For a vantage point high above the valley floor with one of the best views of Half Dome, consider the hike to Yosemite Point. Getting here is not easy. It’s almost 10 miles round trip with 3,700 feet of climbing. However, very few people hike this far. We did this hike in July and shared this viewpoint with just a few other people.

8. The View from Half Dome

Starting the hike down Half Dome | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

The view from the top of Half Dome is magnificent, but the real thrill lies in the fact that you are standing on top of this world famous landmark. Getting here is not easy and requires advance planning (only those with a permit can climb the Half Dome cables) but it so rewarding for your efforts.

9. The John Muir Trail near Clark Point

This is another one of our favorite views of Yosemite. It’s surprisingly awesome. On the John Muir Trail between Clark Point and the Nevada Fall footbridge, you can see Liberty Cap, the backside of Half Dome, and Nevada Fall.

10. Olmsted Point

Olmsted Point | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Olmsted Point is located on Tioga Road. From here, enjoy another view of Half Dome, this time from the east side. If you zoom in with your camera, you may even get to see hikers climbing the Half Dome Cables.

11. Yosemite Valley

As you drive along the Yosemite Valley floor, enjoy the views looking up at all of the famous landmarks. Mirror Lake is a popular spot for photography in Yosemite Valley.

Best Hikes in Yosemite

Yosemite National Park has a hiking trail for everyone. From short, easy walks to the waterfalls and viewpoints, to epic, all day hikes, there is no better way to explore Yosemite than on your own two feet.

1. The Mist Trail

Distance to Vernal Fall: 3.4 miles round trip; 3 – 4 hours
Distance to Nevada Fall: 6.6 miles round trip; 5 – 6 hours

The Mist Trail is one of Yosemite’s popular hiking trails. This trail climbs alongside Vernal Fall on long, stone staircases. The views of this waterfall are unbeatable from here and if the flow rate for Vernal Fall is high, there is a very good chance you will get wet (hence the name).

Mist Trail | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

You can turn around at Vernal Fall, or keep hiking until you reach the top of Nevada Fall. Here is the view from the top of Nevada Fall.

2. The John Muir Trail

Distance: 8 miles round trip to Nevada Fall
Length of time: 5 to 6 hours

The John Muir Trail (JMT) is a long distance hiking trail 211 miles in length. It shares the same trailhead with the Mist Trail at Happy Isles, climbs up to Nevada Fall, and continues on to the eastern part of Yosemite National Park.

One of the best reasons to hike the JMT is to have this view of Yosemite:

John Muir Trail | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

If you have plans to hike up to Nevada Fall (or to the top of Half Dome) we recommend hiking up the Mist Trail and down the John Muir Trail.

3. Half Dome

Distance: 17 miles
Difficulty: Extremely strenuous
Length of time: 10 – 14 hours
Permits: You must have a permit to climb the subdome and the Half Dome cables

The hike to Half Dome is one of Yosemite’s most challenging and most memorable hikes. On this hike you get to walk on some of Yosemite’s most popular hiking trails, view the Vernal and Nevada waterfalls, and walk through shady forests of Sequoia trees. But the best part of the trail is the final climb on the Half Dome cables and your reward from the top, one of the best views of all of Yosemite.

Half Dome cables | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

Bonus! If you hike to Half Dome from Yosemite Valley, you will also hike on the Mist Trail and the Muir Trail, so it’s like getting three hikes in one!

4. Yosemite Falls

Distance: 7 miles round trip; 3,000 foot elevation gain
Difficulty: Very strenuous
Length of time: 6 to 8 hours

There are a lot of great reasons to hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls.

From the trail, the views of Yosemite Falls are magnificent. For part of the hike, you are close enough to feel the spray and hear the waterfall thundering down the mountain. Halfway up the climb you get an amazing view of Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome in the distance.

Once at the top, watch as the falls plummet down the side of the mountain and get a greater sense of just how far you hiked. And if you have the energy to continue onto Yosemite Point, your reward is one of the best views of Half Dome in all of Yosemite Park.

5. Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point

Distance: 4.8 miles one-way, 3,200 foot elevation gain
Difficulty: Very strenuous
Length of time: 3 to 4 hours one-way

From Yosemite Valley you can hike 4.8 miles up to Glacier Point on Four Mile Trail. It is a very strenuous climb but offers wonderful views of the valley as you go. It’s almost 10 miles round trip to hike to Glacier Point and back to the Valley Floor.

It is possible to hike one way from Glacier Point down to Yosemite Valley. There is a shuttle service from Yosemite Valley Lodge that goes to Glacier Point. The shuttle is offered daily at 8:30 am and 1:30 pm from late May to early November (depending on weather conditions). This costs $25 per person. Click here to learn more.

6. Panorama Trail

Distance: 8.5 miles one way
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length of time: 4 – 6 hours one-way

Panorama Trail connects Glacier Point with Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls. You can hike this one way, starting at Glacier Point and ending at Happy Isles for a total distance of 8.5 miles, or hike it round trip for a total distance of 17 miles.

7. Clouds Rest

Distance from Yosemite Valley: 19 miles round trip
Distance from Tenaya Lake: 14.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: strenuous
Length of time: 8 – 14 hours, depending on your starting point

Go off-the-beaten-path on this all-day affair. Enjoy views out over Yosemite and back to Tuolomne Meadows. You can hike to Clouds Rest from Tenaya Lake or from Yosemite Valley, starting at the Mist Trail or John Muir Trail.

We did not do this hike for various reasons. We only had three days in Yosemite and spent two of them on Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, for a combined total of 27 miles of hiking in two days. Adding on a third hike 10+ miles in length was just not in our game plan. But when we return to Yosemite, hiking Clouds Rest from Tenaya Lake will be #1 on our list to do (or maybe hiking Half Dome again…that was epic).

More Notable Things to do in Yosemite

1. The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

This is the largest grove of sequoia trees in Yosemite. There are miles of hiking trails that wander through the Mariposa Grove and you could spend hours here.

2. Ansel Adams Gallery

When you want to take a break from hiking trails and scenic drives, pop into the Ansel Adams Gallery for a quick visit.

Best Things to Do in Yosemite: On a Map

How We Spent 3 Days in Yosemite

The key to having the best experience is to arrive in Yosemite early. How early? Definitely before 8 am to avoid long lines entering the park, but even earlier is better.

We visited Yosemite during the week of July 4th.

Day 1

We arrived in Yosemite at 7 am and drove the Yosemite Valley loop. Most of the day was spent hiking to Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Point. After a late lunch at the Yosemite Lodge, we drove back to Mariposa. We didn’t want to overdue it today because tomorrow was our day to hike Half Dome.

Day 2

We spent all day hiking Half Dome (which included the Mist Trail and John Muir Trail), a day of epic proportions. This truly is a phenomenal hike and if you are up for the challenge, we highly recommend it.

Day 3

After two big days of hiking, today was spent doing scenic drives and short walks to viewpoints. We went to Bridalveil Fallsat 7 am and then drove Tioga Road to Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolomne Meadows. Tioga Road was nice but I think it’s only worthwhile if you really enjoy scenic drives or you plan on hiking in Tuolomne Meadows or to Clouds Rest.

Tioga Road | Best Things to Do in Yosemite

We spent the afternoon driving to Glacier Point and Washburn Point, then took in one final view of Yosemite from Tunnel View, and drove back to Mariposa.

If you only have one day

If you only have one day in Yosemite, I highly recommend Tunnel View, Glacier Point, driving the loop in Yosemite Valley, and picking one hike that sounds good to you.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Best Western in Mariposa. We were here in July, which is peak season. When we made our reservations, many hotels located closer to Yosemite were either sold out or ridiculously expensive. The Best Western was much better for our budget. We had a room with two queen beds and one bathroom. It was quiet and clean. My only complaint is that it took forever for the air conditioner to cool down our room. During our stay in July, daytime temperatures in Mariposa climbed well over 100 degrees and our small A/C unit took hours to cool our room down to a comfortable temperature (the cleaning staff turns off the A/C units during the day and our room would be 90+ degrees when we returned in the evening).

Staying in Mariposa was wonderful. Mariposa is a historic gold mining town and there are lots of restaurants to choose from, perfect to refuel after a day of hiking. It took between 45 to 60 minutes to drive to Yosemite.

Practical Information

Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days

Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Check road conditions and trail conditions in the park, both as you plan your trip and right before your visit to Yosemite. Click here to visit the official website.

And don’t forget to make your entrance reservation in advance!!

If you have any questions about the best things to do in Yosemite National Park or need advice planning your trip, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Yosemite

HALF DOME: Hiking Half Dome is one of the best hikes in the USA. Learn how to get your Half Dome permit and see the Half Dome cables in photos.

KINGS CANYON & SEQUOIA: Learn how to spend one day in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

PLACES TO GO IN DEATH VALLEY: Get an overview of the top sights in our article Best Things to Do in Death Valley. Learn how to visit Racetrack Playa, one of the best off the beaten path experiences in the national parks. Mosaic Canyon and the Golden Canyon – Gower Gulch Loops are two hikes to add to your to do list. See all of our articles in our Death Valley Travel Guide.

CALIFORNIA: See all of our articles about California in our California Travel Guide.

NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. You can also learn more about the national parks and get a FREE printable checklist in our US National Parks Checklist.

NATIONAL PARKS BY SEASON: Yosemite National Park appears in our Best US National Parks in May, Best National Parks in June, Best National Parks in August, and Best National Parks in October articles. For more information about the best times to visit the national parks, check out our Best National Parks Month-by-Month Guide.

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• How to Hike to Upper Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Point