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Hikes and backpacking
Hands down, the best way to get out and see Yosemite is to go for a hike, and this park is home to some of the most spectacular trails in the country. If you’re looking for quick, family-friendly options, take in the powerful spray of California’s tallest waterfall on the one-mile, wheelchair-accessible Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, then head to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and go for a romp along the 0.3-mile Big Trees Loop or the two-mile Grizzly Giant Loop.
Yosemite is also a bastion of calf-burning all-day adventures for serious hikers. Along the road to Glacier Point, trekkers can soak up gobsmacking views of the valley on the five-mile Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop. Or, head for the high country on a seven-mile round trip up to Cathedral Lakes, two postcard-worthy sapphire tarns that sit beneath a toothy granite summit.
Want to escape the crowds? Planning an overnight backpacking trip is a surefire way to experience the pristine magic of Yosemite’s wilderness, and at 747,956 acres, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Reserve a wilderness permit for your preferred trailhead, double-check your gear, and be sure to pack (or rent) a bear canister to store your food (it’s required by law). Need some inspiration? I recommend the stunning, 6.5-mile alpine journey to Ten Lakes or the 4.5-mile romp to Sunrise Lakes.
Get more tips on Yosemite hikes in our complete guide.
Scenic drives
For travelers who don’t want to dirty their sneakers on a national park visit, Yosemite is full of top-notch stretches of scenic pavement. In summer, when Tioga Road is open, visitors can motor across the “range of light,” from Lee Vining all the way to El Portal, on the western edge of the park. Along the way, enjoy purple spider lupine and brilliant pink penstemon in Tuolumne Meadows, stopping to admire the sweeping view of Half Dome and Clouds Rest from Olmstead Point.
If you’re dead set on exploring Yosemite Valley by car, go early in the morning to avoid traffic jams and enjoy the peaceful light as deer graze in Cook’s Meadow. Be sure to stop at the incomparable waterfalls (Vernal, Yosemite, and Bridalveil are my top picks), then pull over at El Capitan and try to imagine Alex Honnold scaling the 3,000-foot-tall cliff face, sans rope.
You could go way off the beaten path and avoid crowds altogether in Yosemite’s gorgeous Hetch Hetchy area, which sits in the park’s northwestern corner and features that aforementioned massive reservoir, punctuated by cascading waterfalls.
Valley Loop cycling
Yosemite’s breathtaking valley is home to one of the best (and flattest) multi-use bike paths in the national park system. Bring your own bicycle or rent one at Curry Village, Yosemite Village, or Yosemite Valley Lodge, then wheel onto more than 12 miles of designated bike trails, which wind past Half Dome, Happy Isles, Mirror Lake, Merced River, and Lower Yosemite Fall.
Guided tours
For travelers hoping to dig a little deeper or venture a little further, there is a wealth of expert-led guided tours in Yosemite, too. Those hoping to follow in Honnold’s footsteps (roped up, of course) should check out Yosemite Valley Mountaineering School, which has been in business since 1969 and offers courses ranging from the beginner-focused “Welcome to the Rock” to big wall seminars for experienced granite aficionados. Nearby, Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides also offers day- and weekend-long outings for budding climbers, plus day hikes and backpacking excursions.
If you’ve only got one day inside the park, book a Grand Tour with Aramark, the park’s licensed concessionaire, for an all-day adventure (lunch included) that takes in the majestic rock domes of Yosemite Valley, the skyscraper-sized trees of Mariposa Grove, and panoramic views at Glacier Point. Just outside the valley, Rush Creek Lodge offers a bevy of great day trips as well, ranging from sunset happy hours to view-filled snowshoe excursions.
Don’t want to overnight alone, or just prefer to hike in a group? REI offers a pretty fantastic lodge-based hiking tour that explores the park’s most noteworthy nooks and crannies, from Budd Lake and Glacier Point to the Middle-earth-esque Mist Trail. However, the best stargazing (and most pristine solitude) can only be soaked up on an overnight backpacking trip, and Wildland Trekking can throw down with the best of ‘em. Test your nerves and attempt to summit Half Dome’s slick spine or do a deep-dive into Yosemite’s high country on the seven-day “Wonders of Yosemite” journey.
