Will You Like It?
- Take a look at our Yosemite National Park Pictures.
- Yosemite is popular with nature lovers, photographers and hikers.
Best Time to Go
Yosemite weather is best in spring and fall, and it's less crowded then.Frankly, this beloved national park can be more crowded in summer than sale day at the local Mervyn's store, and the best strategy for a summer trip is to stay out of the valley, spending your time in cooler, less-crowded spots like Tuolumne Meadows.
Getting There
Our guide to getting to Yosemite gives all the options, from Amtrak to automobiles.Driving? Yosemite is 188 miles from San Francisco, 184 miles from San Jose, 174 miles from Sacramento, 212 miles from Reno, NV and 310 miles from Los Angeles. If you don't have one, buy a map.
Flying? The nearest aiport is in Fresno (FAT). Check airfares.
Where to Stay
Check our recommended hotels and campgrounds.5 Great Things to Do
- Yosemite Valley: This is where you'll find Half Dome, El Capitan and many other famous sights. You'll enjoy the Valley a lot more if you stop and walk, even if it's only a little distance from the road.
- Take a Hike: Any of our four day hikes are relatively easy and fun.
- Tuolumne Meadows: This is a great place to head on a hot day when the park is crowded.
- Take a Ranger-Led Tour: Check the Yosemite Today newspaper or ask in the visitor center to find out what tours are planned during your visit. They can range from winter's full moon snowshoe hike to camera walks and children's programs.
- Watch the Sunset: From Tunnel View, you'll get a view of the entire Yosemite Valley, and if you hang around for longer than the scant five minutes that most visitors give this stop, you can watch the afternoon light play across Half Dome and El Capitan. Stay longer and you may be treated to a rare alpenglow, a red glow of scattered light that can sometimes be observed in the east after the sun sets.
Best Brunch
A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a leisurely brunch. The Ahwahnee Hotel serves a very popular Sunday brunch featuring nine buffet stations, but it's so popular that reservations are a must (telephone (209) 372-1489).The Ahwahnee's brunch is also expensive, and unless you're very hungry, you may not feel like you got your money's worth. If the weather's nice, try a picnic breakfast instead.
Don't miss
The views from Glacier Point have inspired photographers from Ansel Adams to Moose Peterson. It's a short walk from the parking lot to vista points that you might otherwise have to hike hours to reach. Glacier Point is closed in winter.Annual Events You Should Know About
- The Bracebridge Dinner has been an annual Christmas tradition since 1927, transforming the Ahwahnee dining room into a 17th century English manor set up for a holiday feast. It's held in December, but you'll need to make reservations the previous February.
- The Ahwahnee sponsors special events all year long, including vintners' dinners, chefs' holidays and a New Year's Eve celebration. Most of them require advance planning and reservations.
Tips
- For the most beautiful approach to Yosemite, especially if this will be your first trip, take Highway 140 through Merced and Mariposa. The drive along the Merced River is a good warm up for sights in the Valley.
- Learn how to be a smart Yosemite tourist.
- Yosemite is almost impossibly busy during summer vacation season, with traffic restrictions and crowds seemingly everywhere.
- During the busy season, hit the most popular sights early or late. Not only will they be less crowded, but they look better when the sun is lower in the sky.
