Best Things To Do in Yosemite National Park, California

Are you looking for what to do in Yosemite National Park?

  • Glacier Point: Glacier Point offers a spectacular sight of not only the entire Park but also quite a lot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. If you don’t want to hike up to the point, you could always drive up there or take a shuttle.
  • Yosemite Falls: Made up of three waterfalls, the Yosemite Falls are North America’s highest waterfall, fifth in the world. The waterfall descends from 2,425 feet and the thunderous sound it produces is nothing short of fascinating.
  • Yosemite Valley: The Valley is a hotspot for the impressive waterfalls and the rock formations formed by the flow of the water for ages. Don’t miss out on the Half Dome, a mountain whose top looks like a shiny and polished granite dome that has been split into half.
  • Tunnel View: Yet another fantastic view point you don’t want to miss out on, the Tunnel View is the only place from where you can see all the highlight of the Yosemite Valley- El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and the Half Dome.

Below we have a list of things to do in Yosemite National Park and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Yosemite National Park getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Yosemite National Park with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Yosemite National Park

Here is the list of things to do in Yosemite National Park and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Glacier Point

    4.9 (4590 Votes)
    Glacier Point

    Geological Formation, View Point, Nature

    Go to a high point, take in the sights, come back, post the selfies on Facebook and then forget all about it – at least that’s how your typical high view-point trip goes. But you won’t do that to Glacier Point. This place is going to reach into your internet-saturated sould and pull you right back into Mother Nature’s arms. It could be the shimmering waterfalls or the ri...Read more
  2. Mariposa Grove Of Giant Sequoias

    Outdoors, Park, Hiking Trail

    Big old trees, like, really big and really old trees. I can’t stress enough how big these guys are, but lets just say that Hagrid would feel quite like a hobbit among these big boys. It’s an easy enough hike in for the first hour but the deeper you go, the harder the path becomes – but you won’t stop – because the trees go on getting more and more impressive the de...Read more
  3. Yosemite Falls

    4.9 (4261 Votes)
    Yosemite Falls

    Outdoors, Nature

    The mere fact of being North America’s highest waterfall puts this lovely natural beauty on the top of many adventure lovers bucket list. The water plunges down in three stages; down a staggering height of 739 metres, making it the seventh highest fall in the world. The fall is fuelled by the rushing waters of Yosemite Creek that plunges over the top fall with incredible force. Various tr...Read more
  4. Tunnel View

    4.8 (4197 Votes)
    Tunnel View

    Outdoors, View Point, Nature

    Sometimes Mother Nature lines up the perfect photograph and then leaves it there for us to find enlightenment in – or win photoplasty contests. The most beautiful attractions are the El Capitan on the left, the Half Dome on axis and the Bridalveil Fall on the left – this is one of the most photographed views in the world. There’s almost certainly going to be a crowd. There isn...Read more
  5. Bridalveil Fall

    Outdoors, Nature

    This is possibly the most romantically named famous waterfall in the world – and imaginative too! The trek to the fall is easy and short, a 2 kms round trip – but it’s totally worth it. It’s 189 metres drop causes a white curtain of water that only get more ephemeral when a breeze is blowing, causing long sprays of ghost like mists to waft out gracefully. Also strongly s...Read more
  6. Half Dome

    4.8 (4002 Votes)
    Half Dome

    Outdoors, Geological Formation, Trail, Nature

    This is one of Yosemite’s prime goodies and it’s most distinct rock formation. It’s one of the park’s hardest trails yet - also one of it’s most crowded. So much so that the NPS has a yearly lottery system limiting the number of people who’re allowed to get to the top. The main lotteries are held March - April, and then a lottery for 50 passes daily is held a...Read more
  7. Vernal Fall

    4.9 (3402 Votes)
    Vernal Fall
    It’s a pretty straight forward waterfall. It runs throughout the year, is visible from miles around from many directions, and hiking to the falls is one of the must do activities at Yosemite – not just because of the waterfall, but all the wonderful snaps of Mother Nature you can take along the way. Visit at spring time for the best waterfall volume (and noise and mist). Of course t...Read more
  8. Sentinel Dome

    4.9 (3047 Votes)
    Sentinel Dome

    Geological Formation, National Park

    The dome itself isn’t that great. Once upon a time there used to be a Jeffrey Pine on top of the peak but only until 2003. But the view is unbeatable – a 360 degree panorama with all of Yosemite Park spread out below you. One can see Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Waterfalls, North Dome, Basket Dome, and the magnificent Sierra Nevada in the distance when the weather is clear. And t...Read more
  9. Nevada Fall

    5 (2953 Votes)
    Nevada Fall

    Outdoors, Trail, Nature

    Nevada is a 181 metres high waterfall. Nevada means snow and it’s almost immediately apparent why the waterfall was named thusly – having cascaded a third of the height, the water is a steep slop in such a manner that it sprays out in a blindingly white mist in all directions, looking like snow. The sudden strike on rock also gives the water a strange bent shape, quite a popular pho...Read more
  10. Ansel Adams Gallery

    4.4 (2439 Votes)
    Ansel Adams Gallery

    Art Gallery, Photo Gallery

    Ansel Adams was a celebrated photographer and environmentalist whose greatest love was probably Yosemite Valley itself. Even from the very beginning of his career he took great care with his photography here and expressed keen interest in climbing to even the most treacherous spots in the Valley just for the opportunity of the perfect photograph. He joined the cause of wildlife preservation ear...Read more
  11. Yosemite Museum

    4.7 (2159 Votes)
    Yosemite Museum

    Art Museum, National Park, Specialty Museum

    So what if this isn’t the epitome of a traditional museum. The Yosemite museum was built with the philosophy that buildings must become part of their environments and surroundings, not stand out from it. The architecture is thus done in Rustic Style, giving the impression that it was built by the settlers who first arrived here. Looking at it seems to suggest horizontal gravitas rath...Read more
  12. El Capitan

    4.7 (735 Votes)
    El Capitan

    Outdoors, Geological Formation, Hiking Trail, Adventure

    El Capitan is famously seen on the quarter dollar coin of US and is the source for naming the Apple Macintosh operating system. However, its sheer adventure-sport pulse is one that truly puts it on the global map. Standing at a majestic height of 7,573 feet above MSL, the El Capitan’s beauty is magnified by its recreational use by avid rock climbers- some even timing the number of days it...Read more
  13. Cook's Meadow Loop

    4.8 (333 Votes)
    Cook's Meadow Loop Image
    ©

    Hiking Trail, Nature

    Let the imagination of your wandering soul run wild at the Cook's Meadow Loop, your perfect place for an escape, with the best that nature can offer. Located in the Yosemite Valley, California, this is an all-weather attraction that pulls flocks of travellers all year through. From an excellent view of the roaring Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, to an easy hiking trail, this place will offer you a d...Read more
  14. Swinging Bridge Picnic Area

    Picnic Spot

    Looking for a picnic area in Yosemite that is set in a stunning location and offers splendid views of the surroundings? The Swinging Bridge Picnic Area might just be the place you are looking for. Not many people know about this place and thereby it has been able to retain its serenity. The main attraction of this place, just as the name suggests is the bridge that is a sturdy wooden bridge but...Read more
  15. North Pines Campground

    4.5 (4 Votes)
    North Pines Campground

    Park, Camp

    Nestled in the picturesque Yosemite National Park at an elevation of four thousand feet, North Pines Campground is absolutely stunning and attracts a lot of people. The camping area is spacious with fire rings, adequate picnic tables and all the other basic amenities that one would need to have a pleasant camping experience. Bear can be found in this area and hence the campsite offers food stor...Read more