Guide to visiting Yosemite Park (California), the best things to see and do

One of the most popular visits in a trip to the west coast of the United States is the Yosemite National Park, a California.

In this park you will find lush forests, where you will have the opportunity to see the gigantic sequoias that can be seen in various areas of California.

In this regard, I remind you that you also find these impressive trees in the sequoia national park.

Also, in Yosemite The great granite rocky mountains are also protagonists, the most famous being the so-called El Captain.

And if you decide visit Yosemite in spring, you can enjoy mighty waterfalls, of course, which in summer significantly reduce their volume of water until they almost disappear.

Below I detail different helpful tips to take into account for visit Yosemite National Park.

Where is and how to get to Yosemite in California

Yosemite is located east of San Francisco, towards the interior of california.

In your California car trip, the usual thing would be to access from San Francisco awarded by the 49 Route, but if you come since the Angeles, you should go to Ash, and then take the 41 Route that will take you to the park.

Another option when plan the route to visit the Yosemite National Park is to consider it an intermediate stage in the travel between San Francisco and Las Vegas.

This option can take you to cross the national park along the route called Tioga Road, and then take the 345 Route that leads you to the national park death Valley (Death Valley), already on the way to Nevada.

This route along Tioga Road It is only viable in spring and summer because during the winter the high mountain road will be closed due to snow.

What is the best time to visit Yosemite?

Precisely when planning your Yosemite visit, it is important to know that circumstances change depending on the time of the year.

You have to keep in mind that in a large part of it you do not have access to some of the most interesting areas due to the Road closures due to inclement weather.

Specifically, the aforementioned mountain road of Tioga Road or the area of Mariposa Road, also located at altitude and where the sequoias are found.

The best things to see and do when visiting Yosemite

Yosemite National Park has various areas that are susceptible to your visit.

Yosemite Valley, the heart of the national park

The central area of Yosemite National Park is called Yosemite Valley, whose access is located to the west of the park.

After entering the park at 49 Route, you will find a gazebo from which you will enjoy the first panoramic views of the Yosemite Valley.

How to see El Capitan, Yosemite's iconic rocky mountain

From this first viewpoint, in the distance you will already see the rocky promontory known as El Captain.

On your route to the center of the valley, where the Yosemite National Park Visitor Center, you will have the opportunity to pass by El capitán and check the majesty of the 914 meter high rock.

Waterfalls in Yosemite

From the Visitors Center, in spring it is worth taking a path and approaching the Yosemite waterfalls, which in three different waterfalls complete a height of 740 meters.

Don't be surprised if you travel in August or in later months that you will find these waterfalls already dry.

Mirror Lake, the Half Dome viewpoint

From the Visitors Center You can also go to the place known as Mirror lake.

It is a small lake that is the best place to contemplate the Half dome, the other iconic rocky promontory of Yosemite, which rises 1.500 meters above the base of the Yosemite Valley.

Tunnel View in Yosemite

When you leave the Yosemite Valley and you head south along the 41 Route, on the way to Fresno, right at the exit of the valley is the gazebo tunnel view.

It is possibly from this enclave where you have the best panoramic views of Yosemite Valley.

Glacier Point, the best panoramic views of Yosemite

Shortly after leaving the valley, you can take the road that turns left to ascend the so-called Glacier point.

From this location you will have beautiful panoramic views of the Yosemite Valley, including those mentioned Rocky Mountains El Captain and the Half dome.

And from there you can also see the waterfall Nevadaa, whose most spectacular moment occurs in the month of May.

Mariposa Grove, where to see giant sequoias in Yosemite

Before arriving at the Yosemite National Park South Exit, be sure to come to the place called butterfly grove.

Going up to this enclave will take you to a large and leafy forest where you will see the spectacular giant sequoiasWithout a doubt, one of the main attractions of visiting Yosemite National Park.

Tioga Road Route in Yosemite

In the northern part of the Yosemite Valley There is the road that crosses the entire national park at the top of the mountains.

In this Tioga Road route, and as we approach the east exit of Yosemite, you will find Tulumne Meadows, a large meadow in the highlands that shows the visitor a beautiful landscape of the national park, as it is very flowery in spring.

Tuolumne Meadows is located 90 kilometers from Yosemite Valley, which amounts to an hour and a half through Tioga Road.

This large meadow in the Yosemite highlands is located at 2.600 meters above sea level, so it is only open to visitors from mid-May until the first snows of November, as happens along the entire route of Tioga Road.

The great meadow of Tulumne Meadows It is crossed by the Tuolumme River and is surrounded by large peaks with a height of more than 4.000 meters.

When we arrived at Tuolumne Meadows we found a campground, a visitor center, and some shops and restaurants. This meadow is also accessible in winter to practice Nordic skiing.

This route is only accessible from spring to fall.

Yosemite National Park Entrance Fees

El entrance fee to visit Yosemite It is $35, and it includes access to a car with all its occupants, as many times as you want for seven consecutive days.

If you go by motorcycle the price is 30 dollars per vehicle with its occupants, and if you go by bicycle...or on foot, the entrance price is 20 dollars per person.

Now, if in your trip along the west coast of the United States you are going to visit several national parks, you can consider the option of purchasing the Annual Pass.

It is a tourist pass valid annually for $80 for a vehicle and four passengers, which allows you to access the vast majority of the aforementioned parks.

How to take a Tour from San Francisco to Yosemite

If instead of driving on your own you prefer to sign up for a organized excursion To visit this national park, you have the option of tour from San Francisco to Yosemite.

This 14-hour excursion will allow you to spend 5-6 hours in the national park, where in a single day you will see its most notable corners.

Distances to Yosemite National Park in California

It will be useful to know the driving distances from Yosemite National Park to notable places in the West Coast of the United States:

• Distance from San Francisco to Yosemite: 304 kilometers, three and a half hours
• Distance from Los Angeles to Yosemite: 497 kilometers, five hours
• Distance from Las Vegas to Yosemite: 793 kilometers, eight hours
• Distance from Death Valley to Yosemite: 468 kilometers, six and a half hours

More information about Yosemite National Park

• Official website of Yosemite National Park
• El Capitan Rocky Mountain in Yosemite National Park
• Giant sequoias at Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park
• Road closure times due to inclement weather in Yosemite
• Tour in Spanish from San Francisco to Yosemite in one day

Map: how to get to Yosemite

On this map you have the location of the Yosemite National Park in California, and you can see how to get there from San Francisco by car.