We said it before—if you’re planning on visiting the Yosemite region, plan on staying a few days! While there are countless trails, wonders, and sights to see, there are a few things to do in Yosemite that should never be missed while visiting!
Below are a few remarkable things to see in Yosemite and do that can really be enjoyed in a single day:
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is argued to be the “heart” of Yosemite National Park. Though it spans an area of seven square miles, it is but a tiny fraction of the park’s total area.
If you arrived to Yosemite National Park via automobile, it’s recommended you park your car in the day-use parking at Camp 6 near Yosemite Village. Board one of the free Yosemite Valley Shuttle buses and get ready for a day filled of scenic beauty.
The free shuttle buses stop at practically every point of interest in the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, and they are the only means to enter the areas there that are closed to automobile traffic.
The following list will give you an idea of some of the areas the shuttle buses will take you:
- Valley Visitor Center
- Lower Yosemite Fall
- Happy Isles
- Mirror Lake
- Bridalveil Fall
- Tunnel View
For more information on any of the above spots in Yosemite National Park, or for any others that are not listed, please contact our Visitor Center
Glacier Point
A 32-mile drive from Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point is truly a “must see” for visitors! Most of Yosemite’s major peaks are identified, and exhibits explain the geologic processes that created this amazing landscape.There is probably no better view of Yosemite Valley and the surrounding high country that can be reached by automobile. Not only does Yosemite Valley lie 3,200 feet below you, but also the entire park is revealed with astounding vistas in every direction!
Mariposa Grove of Big Trees
Have you already seen Yosemite Valley? Stopped by Glacier Point and already been amazed? Well, you still might have time to stop by the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees!Located near the park’s south entrance from Highway 31, the Mariposa Grove is Yosemite’s largest displace of magnificent sequoias and includes trees that are thousands of years old. A tram system transports visitors into the grove for a small fee, from May to October; visitors may also enter on foot, but the hike up to the upper grove area is fairly rigorous).
Tuolumne Meadows and the Tioga Road
Open in summer only, the Tioga Road bisects the park and leads through Tuolumne Meadows, a beautiful sub-alpine meadow surrounded by soaring granite crags and polished domes.If your trip takes you out of the park to the east, the Tioga Road is lined with scenery and exhibits describing everything around you. Be sure to stop at Olmsted Point for its remarkable view of Half Dome, and of Tenaya Lake, the deep-blue, icy-cold waters of which form Yosemite’s largest natural lake!
