Gateway: Mariposa, CA (1h)
Regional Hub: Fresno, CA (2.2h)
Accessibility: High
Difficulty: Easy – Extreme
🗓️ When to Visit: Seasonal Guide
🔼 Peak Season: June – Aug
🔽 Low Season: Jan – Feb
Avg Highs: 88°F Summer / 48°F Winter
✅ Must Do: Hike Valley Floor; Horsetail Fall “Firefall” (Feb)
✅ Iconic Landmarks: Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point
✅ Notable Wildlife: Black Bears, Mule Deer, Bobcat, Peregrine Falcons
⏱️ Time Required: 3-4 Days
🧠 Trivia: Yosemite Falls is among the tallest waterfalls in the world (2,425 ft).
Our Expert Insights for Visiting Yosemite National Park
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With Expertise on Yosemite National Park
Not Everything You Need to Know, But a Good Place to Start
The best time to visit depends on what you want to see. May and June are the absolute best months to see the waterfalls at their peak flow and the dogwood trees in bloom. September is the best month for hiking, as all roads (including Tioga Road) are open, the summer crowds have thinned, and the weather is mild, though waterfalls will be lower. Winter offers solitude and snow-covered beauty, but many roads are closed.
Read our season-by-season guide on choosing the right time to visit Yosemite National Park.
Yes, for specific dates. In 2025, a timed-entry vehicle reservation is required to drive into or through the park on:
The closest commercial airport is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), located about 1.5 to 2.5 hours from the South Entrance. Major international hubs like San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC), and Oakland (OAK) are about a 4-hour drive away. Merced Regional Airport (MCE) is a smaller option with limited flights but is served by the YARTS bus.
You do not need a car if you use the YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) bus, which runs from gateway cities like Merced, Fresno, and Sonora directly into Yosemite Valley. Once in the valley, the free park shuttle system is excellent for getting to trailheads and lodges. However, having your own car is highly recommended if you want to explore areas outside the main valley, like Glacier Point or Tioga Road, on your own schedule.
Inside the Park: Staying in Yosemite Valley (e.g., Yosemite Valley Lodge, The Ahwahnee, or Curry Village) is the best way to beat traffic, but reservations book up 12 months in advance.
Outside the Park: Gateway towns like El Portal (Highway 140), Mariposa, and Oakhurst offer more availability and often lower prices, but you must factor in a 45-to-60-minute drive into the park each morning.
Lower Yosemite Fall is an easy, paved 1-mile loop with an iconic view. The Mist Trail to Vernal Fall is the park’s signature hike—a moderate-to-strenuous climb up wet granite stairs with incredible waterfall views. Sentinel Dome off Glacier Point Road offers the best “bang for your buck” with 360-degree views of Half Dome and El Capitan for relatively little effort.
Tunnel View at midday in July is less of a viewpoint and more of a parking lot traffic jam. To avoid the frustration, go at sunrise when it is peaceful. Similarly, Mirror Lake in late summer (August/September) is often just “Mirror Meadow” as the water dries up; check water levels before hiking out there to avoid disappointment.
Yosemite is famous for its black bears; roughly 300 to 500 live in the park. You are also likely to see mule deer grazing in the meadows, coyotes, bobcats, and Steller’s jays. It is illegal and dangerous to approach or feed any wildlife.
Not really. Yosemite is very restrictive for dog owners. Leashed pets are allowed only on paved roads, sidewalks, and bicycle paths. They are strictly prohibited on all unpaved trails, including wilderness areas and the hike to Vernal Fall. If you want to hike, you should leave your dog at home or use the kennel at the Yosemite Valley stable (if available).
The hike to Half Dome is a strenuous 14-to-16-mile round trip that ends with climbing steep steel cables. You absolutely need a permit to climb the cables. Permits are distributed via a preseason lottery in March and a daily lottery two days in advance of your hiking date. Rangers strictly enforce this, and hiking without a permit carries a heavy fine.
Firefall is a natural phenomenon that occurs in mid-to-late February when the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall at a specific angle, making it glow like flowing lava. To see it, you generally need a reservation (even on weekends), and you must walk about 1.5 miles from the parking area to the viewing spot near El Capitan Picnic Area.
Yes, swimming is allowed in most bodies of water. The Merced River in Yosemite Valley has popular sandy beaches like Cathedral Beach and Sentinel Beach. Tenaya Lake on Tioga Road is another stunning, albeit cold, alpine swimming spot. Swimming is prohibited above waterfalls (like the Emerald Pool above Vernal Fall) due to extreme danger.
Yosemite bears are active and clever. You must store all food and scented items (toothpaste, lotion, chapstick) in the metal bear-proof lockers provided at trailheads and parking lots. Never leave food in your car overnight; bears can peel open car doors like tin cans to get to a granola bar.
Glacier Point is one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the world, located about an hour’s drive from the valley floor. It offers a bird’s-eye view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the High Sierra. The road to Glacier Point is usually open from late May through October or November, weather permitting.
Traffic can be heavy, so pack patience. Bring layers, as morning temps can be freezing even in summer. Bug spray is essential in early summer (mosquitoes can be fierce). If hiking the Mist Trail, bring a rain poncho or prepare to get soaked by the waterfall spray.
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