Yosemite National Park located in California is one of America’s crown jewels. This hiking paradise offers stunning views of the mountains, waterfalls and wildlife. In this article, will guide you through must knows of Yosemite National Park. 

Yosemite practical information

• Opening hours: open 24 hours per day for 365 days per year
• Reservation required: yes, on particular days during April & October 2024
• Parking: free parking available in the National Park. Parking lot fills up quickly in the morning.
• Public transportation: shuttle buses available in the National Park.
• Entrance fee: required. If you are going to visit multiple national parks I would advise you to purchase the annual national park pass. 

Where to stay in Yosemite National Park?

There are a high number of hotel and camping options in and near Yosemite National Park. 

The best place to stay is in Yosemite Valley. The valley is located in the heart of the national park and is the perfect location to visit the park. Take into account that this experience comes with a price tag. 

More budget friendly places to stay are Mariposa, Wawona and Oakhurst. These towns offer excellent hotels and dining possibilities. If you are planning to stay here (we stayed in Mariposa), take into account that it is a 60 minutes drive to the National Park.

Yosemite National Park Map

When entering the national park, the park ranger will offer you the National Park Map. You are also able to find the map online via the official national park website.

Best hikes in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park offers a diverse variety of hikes, from challenging assessment to serene strolls among the trees. So lace up your boots and go experience the woods, mountains and waterfalls of the park.

The five trailers below are examples and impressions of the most popular hikes in the park.

• Vernal and Nevada falls via the mist trail
• Upper Yosemite falls trail
• Half dome via the John Muir trail
• Four mile trail
• Mirror lake loop trail

If you are planning to go hiking, I would advise you to consult the all trails website or app. It will show you the best rated hikes, the hike duration, starting point and impressions. The offline mode of the app allows you to monitor your progression during the hike and support you in walking the correct route. So using the app is a no brainer (btw, it is also free).

Best viewpoints in Yosemite National Park

The viewpoints in Yosemite National Park are the most awe inspiring viewpoints in the world. Join the photographers (just like me) with sunrise and sunset  and try to shoot the perfect picture.

The five viewpoints below are examples that are easily reachable by car or via a five minute walk.

• Tunnel view
• Valley view
• Glacier point
• Lower Yosemite fall

Conclusion

Are you planning to explore the USA West Coast? This three week itinerary will help you to find best places in the west coast of the states.