Things to do
Yosemite Valley, giant sequoias, and high country
The Valley concentrates granite walls, meadows, and waterfalls. Mariposa Grove adds giant sequoias, Glacier Point looks over the Sierra crest, and Tioga Road reaches lakes and alpine trailheads when open.
Park regions and walks
Beyond the Valley: sequoias, overlooks, and high country
Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point, and Tioga Road lead in different directions from Yosemite Valley. Each occupies a separate day or a deliberate arrival or departure route.
Yosemite Valley
A first full day can connect Tunnel View, El Capitan Meadow, Lower Yosemite Fall, Cook's Meadow, Sentinel Bridge, and one longer walk suited to the group.
Waterfall walks
Spring and early summer are the big-water months. Lower Yosemite Fall is the easy start; Mist Trail and Vernal Fall need more time, traction, and crowd patience.
Mariposa Grove
The giant sequoias stand near the south entrance and fit naturally with a Highway 41 arrival or departure. The current shuttle status determines how visitors reach the grove trailhead.
Glacier Point
When the road is open, Glacier Point looks across Yosemite Valley to Half Dome and the Sierra crest. The long spur from Wawona Road makes it a separate outing rather than a brief Valley stop.
Tioga Road
During the open high-country season, Tioga Road links Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, granite domes, and alpine trailheads. Its winter closure removes the east-side crossing from the route entirely.
Meadows and river bends
Cook's Meadow, El Capitan Meadow, designated picnic areas, and Merced River pullouts provide level walks and waterside stops away from the steepest trails.
Hetch Hetchy
The separate Highway 120 spur reaches O'Shaughnessy Dam, a reservoir ringed by granite walls, and the trail toward Wapama Falls. The entrance road has limited operating hours and does not connect through to Yosemite Valley.
Wawona and park history
Near the south entrance, Wawona combines the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, a covered bridge, meadow walks, and access toward Mariposa Grove. It adds settlement and park-history context that the Valley's cliff-and-waterfall circuit does not cover.
Mariposa Grove rises beside the south entrance.
The giant sequoias stand near Highway 41, far from the heart of Yosemite Valley. From Fish Camp or Oakhurst, the grove fits naturally at the beginning or end of the visit. From the north or west gateways, it requires a cross-park drive that should not be folded into an already full Valley day.
Tioga Road opens a different Yosemite.
When Tioga Road is open, Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point, and Tuolumne Meadows trade the Valley's crowds for granite domes and high-elevation trails. Check the current road page before committing to the east-side crossing; winter closure makes this an entirely different trip.
Bookable experiences
Yosemite tours and bookable experiences
Compare guided valley trips, hikes, scenic tours, and park-adjacent outings by gateway, departure point, and season.
GetYourGuide activities
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National parks pass
One pass to check before Yosemite National Park
Compare Yosemite's entrance fee with the America the Beautiful annual pass. Yosemite does not require an entrance reservation in 2026; camping, lodging, wilderness, Half Dome, and tour reservations or permits remain separate.
Verify pass acceptance and any timed-entry rules before you go.