18 Things to Do in Yosemite National Park (Sorted by Area)
There are so many things to do in Yosemite National Park that planning your first trip can quickly become overwhelming. The park is huge, and its best hikes, viewpoints, waterfalls, and alpine lakes are spread across several different areas.
I spent seven days camping and exploring Yosemite, from the famous sights of Yosemite Valley to the quieter trails along Tioga Road. I hiked to waterfalls and alpine lakes, swam in the Merced River, watched the sunset at Tunnel View, walked among giant sequoias, and still left wanting to come back.
In this guide, I’ve organized my favorite things to do in Yosemite by area so you can spend less time driving back and forth and more time actually enjoying the park.
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Standing on Sentinel Dome with Half Dome in the background
My Top 5 Things to Do in Yosemite
- Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls
- Watch sunset at Tunnel View
- Hike Cathedral Lakes
- Walk among giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove
- Swim at Tenaya Lake
Looking for Yosemite hikes? I cover every hike mentioned in this post in my complete Hikes in Yosemite National Park guide. You’ll find trail stats, difficulty, firsthand tips, and what I thought of each hike.
Nevada Fall from Clark Point
Things to Do in Yosemite Valley
1. Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls
This was my favorite hike in Yosemite Valley. It’s certainly not the easiest, but the climb was worth the payoff. Standing at the top of not one, but two waterfalls, plus seeing all the views along the way, exceeded my expectations.
I highly recommend completing the entire hike to Nevada Falls rather than turning around at Vernal Fall.
Emma’s Tip: I stayed at Upper Pines Campground the night before and after this hike. From the campground, I could walk directly to the Mist Trail without worrying about taking the shuttle.
➡️ See my Vernal and Nevada Falls guide for all the firsthand details you’ll need to plan your hike.
2. Stop at Valley View
Valley View is another beautiful roadside viewpoint, but it has a completely different perspective from Tunnel View. Here, you’re right beside the Merced River with El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall rising above the valley.
You don’t need long here, which makes Valley View easy to add between other activities in Yosemite Valley.
Emma’s Tip: Visit later in the day to catch the warm evening light on Bridalveil Fall.
3. Walk to Bridalveil Fall
Bridalveil Fall was low when I visited, but I still found joy in watching it ebb and flow as the wind pushed it around.
The walk to the base of the falls is short, making this one of the easiest stops to fit into a day in Yosemite Valley. Depending on the sunlight and water levels, you may even catch sight of a rainbow in the mist.
Funny enough, I could see a rainbow from the parking lot during my visit but not from the trail at the bottom of the falls.
Tunnel View at sunset
4. Watch Sunset at Tunnel View
I actually watched the sunset at Tunnel View twice. The first evening was cloudy and blocked the alpenglow I was hoping for, so I returned another night when the sun cooperated a little more.
From Tunnel View, you can see El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall all at once. It’s one of Yosemite’s classic viewpoints for a reason.
Expect crowds around sunset, and keep in mind that parking is limited.
Emma’s Tip: Arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset and stay about 15 minutes afterward. Some of the prettiest color appeared in the clouds after the sun had already gone down.
5. See Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls is one of the most iconic sights in Yosemite Valley, although there’s one big catch: it doesn’t flow year-round.
When I visited in August, Yosemite Falls was completely dry. Water flow is typically strongest in spring and early summer as the Sierra snowpack melts, then decreases significantly later in the summer.
Even if you don’t want to tackle the strenuous trail to the top of Upper Yosemite Fall, you can take the much easier walk to Lower Yosemite Fall for a close-up view.
Emma’s Tip: If seeing Yosemite Falls is high on your Yosemite bucket list, consider the time of year you’re visiting. By late summer, you may find little water, or, like me, no waterfall at all.
Side of the road Merced River
6. Swim or Relax Along the Merced River
Some of my favorite afternoons in Yosemite weren’t spent hiking at all. My husband and I would grab our chairs, find a spot along the Merced River, and spend a couple of hours swimming and relaxing.
One afternoon, we parked at Sentinel Beach Picnic Area and followed a small path down to the river, where we set up our chairs in the shade. It was the perfect way to recover after hiking.
Yosemite Valley has designated beaches and picnic areas, but you don’t need a proper beach to enjoy the river.
Emma’s Tip: We found a quiet stretch of the river from one of the roadside pullouts and had it entirely to ourselves. Several large boulders in the water were perfect for sunbathing.
What I’m Wearing: I wore my Branwyn merino wool bra and underwear for swimming in both the Merced River and Tenaya Lake. I love how versatile these pieces are for hiking and traveling, especially when I want to pack less. Shop my Branwyn favorites.
7. Drive, Bike, or Shuttle Around Yosemite Valley
Not everything in Yosemite Valley needs to have a destination attached to it. Leave yourself some time to simply explore.
Drive the valley loop, hop on the shuttle, rent a bike, stop for a picnic, or pull over when a view catches your attention. Half Dome and El Capitan seem to appear from completely different angles as you move around the valley.
Some of my favorite moments in Yosemite came from having enough time in my itinerary to wander without rushing to the next hike or viewpoint.
8. Explore Yosemite Village
Yosemite Village is a great place to spend a slower afternoon between hikes. You can visit the Yosemite Welcome Center, Yosemite Museum, and Ansel Adams Gallery, along with several shops and places to grab food.
I always like to get a national park passport stamp and a sticker when I visit a park. Moseying around the Ansel Adams Gallery and Yosemite Museum also gave me a greater appreciation for the landscape I had spent the week exploring.
Emma’s Tip: Cell service in Yosemite Village was surprisingly fantastic during my visit. There weren’t many places in the park with a reliable signal, but this was one of them.
Bonus: Take a Shower at Curry Village
Taking a shower might not make most lists of the best things to do in Yosemite Valley, but after several days of camping and hiking, it certainly felt like a highlight to me.
Paid public showers are available at Curry Village, and we used them twice while camping in Yosemite.
The women’s showers usually had a wait when I visited, so factor in a little extra time. The good news? The hot water was unlimited.
Things to Do Along Glacier Point Road
9. Visit Glacier Point
Glacier Point is one of Yosemite’s classic viewpoints, with an iconic perspective of Half Dome and the surrounding landscape. You do need to walk a short distance on a paved trail to reach the main viewpoints, but I think most people will find it well worth the effort.
We grabbed ice cream from the small store and sat on a bench for a while, just soaking in the landscape.
If you’re planning to hike Vernal and Nevada Falls, I recommend visiting Glacier Point afterward. Seeing both waterfalls from high above gave me a completely different appreciation for their scale after hiking to the top.
Emma’s Tip: I’d also pair Glacier Point with a hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. We did the hike first and visited Glacier Point in the afternoon. Parking can fill up during popular times of day, especially around sunrise and sunset.
10. Hike Sentinel Dome and Taft Point
Personally, I thought the views from Sentinel Dome were more impressive than those from Taft Point, but I still thought the full loop was an excellent hike.
Many people hike to Sentinel Dome or Taft Point individually as out-and-backs, so the connecting trail was surprisingly quiet. After spending several days in Yosemite Valley, it was refreshing to hike through the forest with hardly anyone else around.
Emma’s Tip: Hike the loop counterclockwise and head to Sentinel Dome first. You’ll save yourself a significant uphill climb later.
Things to Do Along Tioga Road
11. Visit Tuolumne Grove
Tuolumne Grove, with its giant sequoia trees, is a convenient stop if you’re heading up Tioga Road into Yosemite’s high country. It’s smaller and quieter than Mariposa Grove, yet still quite impressive.
You can walk through the Dead Giant Tunnel Tree and even peer through the massive trunk of a fallen sequoia. Keep in mind that the trail does have some elevation gain, especially on the hike back out.
Emma’s Tip: If you only have time for one sequoia grove in Yosemite, I’d pick Mariposa Grove. It’s larger and home to the Grizzly Giant, the biggest sequoia in Yosemite.
12. Drive Tioga Road
I loved driving Tioga Road. We entered Yosemite through Tioga Pass, so this was actually my first impression of the park.
Tioga Road is seasonal and has plenty of scenic pullouts worth stopping at. Olmsted Point was my favorite. I recommend walking down to the scenic viewpoint rather than only taking in the view from the parking lot.
You can also stop at the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center to attend a ranger program, learn more about this part of Yosemite, or browse the small shop.
Emma’s Tip: Give yourself plenty of time for this drive. Don’t treat Tioga Road as simply a way to get from one side of Yosemite to the other; it’s an attraction in its own right.
Swimming at Tenaya Lake
13. Swim at Tenaya Lake
Tenaya Lake sits at 8,150 feet of elevation, so even in mid-August, the water has a little bite. After a hot, sweaty hike, though, swimming in the chilly water feels amazing.
My husband and I spent a couple of afternoons here relaxing on the beach, sunbathing, and swimming. It’s also the perfect spot to bring a picnic and slow down for a few hours.
Emma’s Tip: The Tenaya Lake Picnic Area parking lot was packed when we visited. If you can’t find a spot, there’s additional parking along the road. You can walk to the beach or find a quieter spot on the rocks along the shoreline.
14. Hike North Dome and Visit Indian Rock
We found some of the best solitude of our entire Yosemite trip while hiking to North Dome. It’s a longer trail, which I think deters a lot of people, but the payoff is an incredible face-on view of Half Dome.
You can also take a short detour to Indian Rock, Yosemite’s only known natural arch. Seeing the arch frame Half Dome in the distance felt surreal.
➡️ Learn more about the route, mileage, and what to expect in my detailed North Dome hiking guide.
Cathedral Peak
15. Hike to Cathedral Lakes
Cathedral Lakes was one of my favorite hikes in Yosemite, with incredible alpine scenery and beautiful views of Cathedral Peak.
We chose the shorter Medlicott Dome approach rather than starting at the traditional Cathedral Lakes Trailhead.
➡️ In my complete guide to hiking Cathedral Lakes, I cover the route, parking, and whether hiking to the Upper Cathedral Lake is worth it.
16. Hike to May Lake
May Lake is an excellent option if you’re looking for a short hike to a gorgeous alpine lake. We even saw several families with kids on this trail. My husband and I made it up the roughly one mile to the lake in about 25 minutes.
Because the hike is relatively short, you can easily combine May Lake with other stops along Tioga Road. Just be aware that the trailhead parking lot is small and was nearly full when we arrived mid-morning.
If You Continue to Lee Vining
Lee Vining is outside Yosemite National Park, just beyond Tioga Pass. If you’re heading that way, I wanted to share a few places that came in handy during our trip.
- The Basin Cafe — some of the best French toast I’ve ever had.
- Tierra Antigua Cafe — amazing coffee and free wifi.
- Mono Vista RV Park — paid public showers; water was hot!
Lee Vining is a useful place to eat, shower, grab supplies, and regroup before heading back into Yosemite or continuing your road trip.
Things to Do in Southern Yosemite
17. Walk Among Giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove is home to more than 500 mature giant sequoias, including the famous Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree. If you only visit one sequoia grove in Yosemite, this is the one I recommend.
A free shuttle takes you from the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza to the main trailhead. From there, you can choose anything from a short walk to the Grizzly Giant to a longer loop through the grove.
I wish we’d allowed more time here. We initially focused on seeing the Grizzly Giant, but some of my favorite parts of Mariposa Grove came as we continued farther along the trail. The crowds also thinned considerably once we got beyond the major landmarks.
Emma’s Tip: Don’t walk to the Grizzly Giant and immediately turn around. If you have time, keep going past the California Tunnel Tree and explore more of the grove. I thought the full loop was well worth the extra walking.
➡️ Read my complete Mariposa Grove guide for the route we followed, what to see, and everything I wish I’d known before visiting.
18. Hike Chilnualna Falls
Our original plan was to hike all the way to Upper Chilnualna Falls, but we turned around early. It was extremely hot and buggy during our visit, and continuing the climb just didn’t sound particularly appealing that day.
We did hike to the lower cascades, which I thought were worth the short walk. I’d come back and attempt the entire trail under better conditions.
One thing that surprised me was how quiet this area was. There was practically no one at the Chilnualna Falls trailhead when we visited. You also drive through a residential area in Wawona to reach the trailhead, which felt a little strange for a national park hike.
Emma’s Tip: If you’re planning to hike the entire trail in summer, start early. The heat was ultimately what made us change our plans.
How Many Days Do You Need in Yosemite?
I recommend spending at least three days in Yosemite if you want to experience more than Yosemite Valley. The park is huge, and many of its best hikes, viewpoints, and scenic areas are spread surprisingly far apart.
With one day, I’d focus almost entirely on Yosemite Valley. See Tunnel View, Valley View, and Bridalveil Fall, then add a short hike or walk.
With two to three days, you’ll have enough time for Yosemite Valley, one major hike, and at least one other area of the park, such as Glacier Point Road, Tioga Road, or Mariposa Grove.
With five or more days, you can slow down considerably. You’ll have time for multiple hiking days, Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point Road, Tioga Road, Mariposa Grove, and afternoons swimming or relaxing along the Merced River or Tenaya Lake.
I spent seven days in Yosemite and still didn’t run out of things I wanted to do. If you enjoy hiking and don’t want to rush from one attraction to the next, Yosemite is an easy place to fill an entire week.
Getting Around Yosemite
Yosemite is much larger than it might look when you’re planning your trip. One of the best things we did was group our activities geographically rather than driving back and forth across the park.
The free shuttle makes getting around Yosemite Valley relatively easy, and you can also walk or bike between many attractions. Outside the valley, you’ll generally need your own vehicle to explore areas like Glacier Point Road, Tioga Road, and southern Yosemite.
Parking can be difficult at popular trailheads and viewpoints, especially later in the day. Start major hikes early when possible and allow extra time to find parking at busy stops.
We actually moved between four campgrounds during our seven-day trip: Upper Pines, Wawona, Tamarack Flat, and Porcupine Creek. This kept us closer to whatever part of Yosemite we were exploring. Moving camp wasn’t particularly glamorous, but in a park this large, I appreciated not having to make the same long drives every day.
Find Places to Stay Near Yosemite
Where you stay can make a big difference in how much driving you do each day. I recommend looking for accommodations close to the areas you plan to explore, especially if you’re visiting Yosemite for several days.
Use the search tool below to compare places to stay near Yosemite National Park.
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FAQs About Things to Do in Yosemite
What can you do in Yosemite if you don’t hike?
There are plenty of things to do in Yosemite besides hiking. Drive Tioga Road, watch sunset at Tunnel View, visit Glacier Point and Valley View, swim at Tenaya Lake, relax along the Merced River, or explore Yosemite Village and its museums, and galleries.
Is Yosemite worth visiting if you only have one day?
Yes. With one day in Yosemite, I recommend concentrating on Yosemite Valley rather than trying to see the entire park. You can visit Tunnel View, Valley View, Bridalveil Fall, and other major sights without spending most of your day driving.
What are the best free things to do in Yosemite?
Once you’ve entered the park, most of Yosemite’s attractions don’t cost extra. Hiking, swimming in Tenaya Lake or the Merced River, visiting Glacier Point, driving Tioga Road, exploring Yosemite Village, and stopping at scenic viewpoints are all included with park admission.
Can you see Yosemite without a car?
You can explore much of Yosemite Valley without a car using the free shuttle, walking, or biking. However, having a vehicle makes it much easier to reach other parts of the park, including Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road, and Mariposa Grove.
What is the best thing to do in Yosemite?
For me, it was hiking the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls. If you aren’t looking for a strenuous hike, I’d choose to drive Tioga Road or explore Yosemite Valley instead. There isn’t one attraction I’d recommend to everyone. The best experience depends on how much time you have and whether you want to hike.
What is the most beautiful part of Yosemite?
Yosemite Valley has the park’s most iconic scenery, but I personally loved Yosemite’s high country along Tioga Road. Tenaya Lake, Cathedral Lakes, North Dome, Olmsted Point, and the quieter alpine landscape made this one of my favorite parts of the park.
