When to go
- Time
- Early morning or late afternoon for Yosemite Valley viewpoints; arrive before 8 am when driving spring through fall to secure parking. · Near sunset for Tunnel View or Glacier Point, allowing for heavy outbound traffic afterward. · Morning for waterfall hikes, when trails are shadier and cooler.
- Avoid
- Avoid committing to high-country or east-side plans in winter/early spring; snow, chain controls, road closures, rockfall, and wildfire smoke can rapidly change access.
A good route
- Start
Yosemite Village or Yosemite Falls parking15 min
Arrive before 8 am in spring through fall; park once and use shuttles, walking, or cycling.
- +15 min
Lower Yosemite Fall loop30 min
Use the paved loop; its eastern section is accessible.
- +55 min
El Capitan Meadow30 min
Ride the Valley shuttle or cycle rather than moving the car.
- +1 h 35
Valley View or Tunnel View30 min
Choose Tunnel View for a broad classic panorama; sunset is especially strong.
- +2 h 35
Yosemite Village visitor center, museum, and food45 min
Refill water and pick up information before the afternoon hike.
- +3 h 30
Happy Isles and Mist Trail to Vernal Fall Footbridge120 min
Go farther only if prepared for a steep, wet, exposed hike; most waterfall hikes are not accessible.
- +5 h 40
Sentinel Bridge or Cook’s Meadow30 min
Finish with Half Dome views and late-day light.
Trails
Lower Yosemite Fall loopeasy
A short Yosemite Valley loop; its eastern section is paved and accessible.
Mist Trail to Vernal Fall Footbridgemoderate
Begin at Happy Isles. Continue beyond the footbridge only if prepared; most major waterfall hikes, including the Mist Trail, are not accessible.
Sentinel Domeunknown
A Glacier Point Road hike when the road is open.
Taft Pointunknown
A Glacier Point Road hike when the road is open.
Mariposa Grove walksunknown
Allow at least two to four hours for the grove, including shuttle or road access.
Trailheads
Lower Yosemite Fall
In Yosemite Valley; use the free Valleywide shuttle or walk/cycle from Yosemite Village or Yosemite Falls.
Park once at Yosemite Village or near Yosemite Falls; Valley parking is usually full after 8 am in spring through fall.
Happy Isles / Mist Trail
Take the free East Valley shuttle to Happy Isles; service operates about 7 am–10 pm.
Glacier Point trailheads
Reach Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, and Taft Point via Glacier Point Road when it is open.
null
Mariposa Grove
Approach from the South Entrance/Wawona area; allow two to four hours including shuttle or road access.
null
Tuolumne Meadows / Tioga Road trailheads
Accessible from Tioga Road, including from Tioga Pass when the road is open.
null
Closures: Tioga Road/Tioga Pass is usually closed roughly November through May or June; when closed, there is no east-side park entry and no road access to Tuolumne Meadows. Glacier Point Road has seasonal winter closure; from mid-December to early April it is generally plowed only as far as Badger Pass, with the remainder closed. Storms, snow, chain controls, wildfire smoke, rockfall, and other conditions can cause rapid road or trail changes. Hetch Hetchy Road is sunrise-to-sunset only, and day visitors must leave by sunset. Check current conditions before departing.
Visitor centers
Yosemite Valley Welcome Center
Open year-round
Wawona Visitor Center at Hill's Studio
The visitor center is typically open from late May to early October.
Big Oak Flat Information Station
Open approximately late May through early October.
Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center
Open approximately late May to late September.
Campgrounds
Upper Pines Campground
Reservations are required all year for Upper Pines. Campground reservations are available in blocks of one month at a time, up to five months in advance, on the 15th of each month at 7 am Pacific time. Be aware that nearly all campground re
236 reservable sites
Hodgdon Meadow Campground
Reservations are required from April 15 through October 26, 2026. During the rest of the year, the entire campground (other than the group sites, which close) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Campground reservations are av
104 reservable sites
North Pines Campground
North Pines Campground reservations are available by early access lottery; any available reservations after the lottery are available up to five months in advance starting February 15. Successful lottery applicants will have an opportunity
81 reservable sites
Lower Pines Campground
Reservations are required seasonally when Lower Pines is open (mid-April through late October). Campground reservations are available in blocks of one month at a time, up to five months in advance, on the 15th of each month at 7 am Pacific
74 reservable sites
Wawona Campground
Reservations are required in 2026 from April 15 until October 26 for the B and C Loop (then they close) and from April 15 until November 29 for the A Loop. During the rest of the year, Loop A is available on a first-come, first-served basis
95 reservable sites
Tuolumne Meadows Campground
During the campground's open season (approx. July - September), all sites are only available by reservation. About half the campsites are available in blocks of one month at a time, up to two months in advance, on the 15th of each month at
289 reservable sites
Crane Flat Campground
Reservations are required when Crane Flat is open (approximately June through mid-October). Campground reservations are released two weeks in advance on a rolling daily window (i.e., 14 days in advance of arrival date) at 7 am Pacific time.
148 reservable sites
Camp 4 Campground
Camp 4 is open all year. Sites are shared, with up to 6 people per site. In 2026, from April 15 to November 29, reservations are required and available one week in advance of your arrival date. Up to six people can be registered for a site
61 reservable sites
Maps & links
Good to know
Bring
- Layers and rain shell
- Sun protection
- Physical or offline map; GPS can misdirect here
- Headlamp for long hikes
- Emergency food
- More water than expected for exposed routes
Food & breaks
- Bring a picnic and refill water; Valley food service should not be your only plan.
- Do not leave food, toiletries, coolers, or trash unattended or overnight in a car.
Skip it if
Postpone if you need spontaneous summer parking, cannot start early, or require reliable high-country access despite changing road and weather conditions.