Rocky cliffs and forests overlooking a misty valley under a partly cloudy sky in a mountainous landscape.

Explore Yosemite National Park

A Landscape That Redefines Scale

Yosemite National Park is one of the most iconic and visited national parks in the United States, known for its towering granite cliffs, ancient giant sequoias, powerful waterfalls, and vast wilderness. Spanning more than 750,000 acres in California’s Sierra Nevada, the park offers a diverse range of landscapes—from the dramatic walls of Yosemite Valley to high alpine lakes, meadows, and scenic mountain passes.

Visitors come to explore miles of hiking trails, scenic drives, and year-round outdoor activities. Spring brings peak waterfall flows and wildflowers, summer opens access to high-country adventures, fall offers quieter trails and golden meadows, and winter transforms the park into a peaceful, snow-covered landscape.

Sunlight illuminates the sheer granite face of Half Dome at sunset in Yosemite National Park.

Park Information

From entrance fees and reservation requirements to seasonal weather patterns, transportation options, and peak visitation trends, a little preparation allows for a more seamless, more intentional experience inside the park. Explore key details to help you navigate Yosemite with confidence.

Plan Your Visit

Wooden boardwalk through a grassy meadow with pine trees and a rocky mountain in the background.

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley is the park’s central hub and the starting point for many of its most iconic experiences. From here, access legendary landmarks like El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls, along with trailheads, scenic viewpoints, and riverside paths that lead deeper into the Valley’s landscape.

Explore Yosemite Valley

Dramatic granite cliffs and mountains under a cloudy sky, with Half Dome visible in the background.

Glacier Point

Glacier Point offers one of the most expansive views in Yosemite, overlooking Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, and the High Sierra beyond. Accessible by car in warmer months, it’s a must-visit for panoramic vistas, sunrise and sunset views, and access to high-country trails.

Explore Glacier Point

A field of purple wildflowers with a single orange poppy standing tall in the background.

Wawona

Located near the park’s south entrance, Wawona blends history, forested landscapes, and a quieter pace of exploration. Visit the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, enjoy peaceful trails along the Merced River, or spend time at the Wawona Golf Course—one of the few courses set within a national park.

Explore Wawona

Sunlight falls on giant tree trunks with a sign reading Bachelor and Three Graces at their base.

Mariposa Grove

Walk among some of the largest and oldest living trees on earth in Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Home to over 500 mature sequoias, this area offers peaceful trails and unforgettable encounters with Yosemite’s most ancient inhabitants.

Explore Mariposa Grove

Two hikers walk on rocky terrain by a river, with pine trees and mountains in the background under a clear sky.

Tuolumne Meadows

Set along Tioga Road, Tuolumne Meadows reveals Yosemite’s high-country beauty with alpine lakes, granite domes, and wide-open landscapes. In summer, it’s a gateway to hiking, backpacking, and a quieter side of the park shaped by elevation and awe.

Explore Tuolumne Meadows