Yosemite
Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is so beautiful that it was a driving force in the establishment of the National Parks. The first tourists visited the area in 1855 and they haven’t stopped since – Yosemite sees an average of 4 million visitors each year, most of whom stay within Yosemite Valley, the site of the most popular and iconic views, waterfalls, and hikes.
If you’re coming to Yosemite for the first time, I highly recommend approaching via State Route 41 (the Wawona Tunnel entrance). This provides the classic, sweeping view of Yosemite Valley (shown at the top of this page). It’s been photographed millions of times since the park first opened, but this doesn’t diminish its appeal. There’s something almost heartbreaking about driving through a dark passageway and seeing that view appear in front of you, framed by the mouth of the tunnel. And while I do recommend spending some time in Yosemite Valley, I also highly recommend getting out and seeing more of the park, like the Tuolomne Meadows area. Click on any of the destinations below to learn more.
Destinations in Yosemite Valley
Destinations in and around Tuolomne Meadows
Where to Stay
We always camp when we’re in the area, but you have to make reservations for campgrounds in Yosemite (especially Yosemite Valley) immediately when they become available if you’re going during a popular time (weekends in early June will book up within minutes of becoming available)
Itineraries
3 Day Rough Itinerary
Day 0: Arrive in the Yosemite area, staying outside the park.
Day 1: Head to Yosemite early in the morning, arriving via the Tunnel Road entrance. Hike Bridalveil Falls, the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall, Mirror Lake/Meadow, Lower Yosemite Falls, and Sentinel Meadow. Camp in Yosemite Valley.
Day 2: Hike Upper Yosemite Falls to Yosemite Point. Depart mid-day and drive Tioga Road to Tuolomne Meadows. Hike to the Cathedral Lakes, then hike Tuolomne Meadows for sunset. Camp in Tuolomne Meadows.
Day 3: Exit via Tioga Road at Lee Vining. If you have time, plan on spending a couple of days seeing some of the Eastern Sierras.
Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Yosemite