Yosemite Trail & Visitor Guide
Yosemite · United States · About 1,187 square miles (roughly 759,620 acres) in the central Sierra Nevada, California. Yosemite Valley itself is about 7 miles long.
Why Visit Yosemite
Yosemite Valley, carved by glaciers over millions of years, is defined by iconic granite monoliths — El Capitan and Half Dome — and some of the tallest waterfalls in North America. The park covers 1,169 square miles of Sierra Nevada wilderness, ranging from oak woodlands at 2,000 feet to alpine peaks above 13,000 feet. John Muir called it a temple of nature.
Free Yosemite Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Yosemite audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, plus quieter spots like Taft Point and Tuolumne Meadows. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada FallsAbout 3 miles round trip to the top of Vernal Fall; about 7 miles round trip continuing to Nevada Fall · Strenuous
Climbs the granite staircase beside Vernal Fall (317 ft) and Nevada Fall (594 ft); spray soaks hikers in spring. Steep, wet stone steps.
- Half DomeAbout 14-16 miles round trip with roughly 4,800 ft elevation gain · Very strenuous
Summit via the cable route on the final 400 ft of granite. A permit is required (lottery through recreation.gov); cables are typically up late May to mid-October. Do not attempt if storms threaten.
- Upper Yosemite FallAbout 7.2 miles round trip, roughly 2,700 ft gain · Strenuous
Reaches the top of North America's tallest waterfall (2,425 ft total drop), with views over the valley.
- Mirror LakeAbout 2 miles round trip (paved) or 5-mile loop · Easy
Flat walk to a seasonal lake reflecting Half Dome; best water in spring, often dry by late summer.
- Sentinel Dome and Taft PointAbout 2.2 miles round trip to Sentinel Dome; about 2.2 miles round trip to Taft Point (off Glacier Point Road) · Moderate
360-degree summit views from Sentinel Dome (8,127 ft) and cliff-edge fissures at Taft Point. Road open summer only.
Must-See in Yosemite
- •Yosemite Falls — a 2,425-foot cascade, one of the tallest waterfalls in North America
- •Half Dome — an iconic granite dome rising 4,737 feet above the valley floor
- •El Capitan — a 3,000-foot vertical granite monolith popular with climbers
- •Mist Trail — a steep trail passing Vernal and Nevada Falls with constant spray in spring
Best Viewpoints
- •Tunnel View on Highway 41 (head-on view of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome)
- •Glacier Point (about 3,200 ft above the valley floor; road open summer only)
- •Valley View along Northside Drive (El Capitan and Bridalveil from the Merced River)
- •Olmsted Point on Tioga Road (granite domes and the back of Half Dome; summer only)
- •Tuolumne Meadows on Tioga Road (high-country meadows at about 8,600 ft; summer only)
Quieter Corners of Yosemite
- •Taft Point — a less-visited viewpoint with a sheer drop and views of El Capitan from across the valley
- •Tuolumne Meadows — a high-elevation subalpine meadow at 8,600 feet with granite domes and fewer crowds than the valley
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$35 per private vehicle, valid for 7 days. $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person on foot or bike. An annual Yosemite pass is $70. The $80 America the Beautiful interagency annual pass is also accepted. In peak season a separate timed-entry reservation is often required to drive in during daytime hours; check nps.gov/yose before arriving.
Getting There
No commercial airport inside the park. Nearest large airports are Fresno Yosemite International (FAT), about 2.5 hours from the valley via Highway 41, and Sacramento or San Francisco Bay Area airports, about 3.5-4.5 hours' drive. Four road entrances: Highway 140 (Arch Rock, west, lowest and most snow-free), Highway 41 (south, via the Mariposa Grove), Highway 120 West (Big Oak Flat), and Highway 120 East (Tioga Pass, 9,945 ft, open summer only). YARTS public buses run to the valley from Merced, Mariposa, Fresno, and Sonora seasonally. A free shuttle circulates within Yosemite Valley.
Where to Stay
Inside the park: The Ahwahnee (historic 1927 hotel, high price), Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village (tent cabins and rooms), and Wawona Hotel near the south entrance. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge and White Wolf Lodge operate in the high country in summer only. Thirteen campgrounds total; valley campgrounds (Upper, Lower, North Pines) require reservations months ahead via recreation.gov and fill quickly. Gateway towns with lodging: El Portal and Mariposa (Highway 140), Oakhurst and Fish Camp (Highway 41), and Groveland (Highway 120).
Best Time
Waterfalls peak May through June from snowmelt; many (including Yosemite Falls) slow to a trickle or dry by August. Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the high country) and Glacier Point Road are closed by snow, typically from November until late May or June. Summer (June-August) has the most access but the largest crowds and timed-entry requirements. September-October offers lighter crowds with most roads still open.
Safety
The top hazard is fast, cold rivers and waterfall tops. People are swept over falls or drown in the Merced every year; stay behind railings and out of the water above and near waterfalls, especially during high spring flow. Store all food in bear-proof lockers; never leave food in your car. Carry layers and check weather before high-country or Half Dome hikes, as afternoon thunderstorms are dangerous on exposed granite. The Half Dome cables are deadly when wet. High-elevation trails (8,000-10,000+ ft) can cause altitude effects.
Scenic Drives
- •Tioga Road / Highway 120 (the valley to Tioga Pass, about 46 miles; summer only)
- •Glacier Point Road (about 16 miles from Chinquapin to Glacier Point; summer only)
- •Highway 41 / Wawona Road from the south entrance to Tunnel View
Start Your Yosemite Park Tour
Get a trail route with narrated stories —
personalized to your interests, ready in seconds
Your personal guide in 5 seconds