Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is home to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the United States. The park has miles of trails, lakes, and unbelievable views. It's one of America's most popular national parks. 

These pages provide details about trails, lodging and other information to make your trip easier and more enjoyable while visiting Yosemite. The information below pertains to Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, and Mariposa Groves areas only.

 
Aerial photo of Half Dome

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Yosemite National Park is huge, almost 800,000 acres. Most of Yosemite is not accessible by car and many areas are not quickly gotten to by car.  Many of the peaks in the backcountry are multi-day hikes. 
This site focuses on hikes in Yosemite Valley, home to most of the waterfalls and Half Dome; Glacier Point, great views within a 100 yards of the parking lot; and Mariposa Grove, home to the famous Sequoias trees.

Shuttle Bus

Yosemite has a shuttle bus system, which I recommend. Cars are allowed on the roads, but driving in Yosemite Valley is confusing and can be crowded. Be aware that only shuttle buses can drive to some trailheads. By using the shuttle bus, you can hike open loop trails and catch the shuttle bus back to the trailhead. Map of stops and Yosemite Valley: http://www.yarts.com/pdfs/shutmap.pdf
Be aware the shuttle bus is not the same as the trams. The shuttle buses are free, the trams are not. The shuttle bus run every 15 minutes. The drivers are very knowledgeable about the trails. There are shuttle buses that run from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point. Try the link above for more information.

Best Season

Although many people visit the park during the summer, it does get warm. The average daily temperatures in July and August is 90 degrees. The best time to visit is late spring when the waterfalls are roaring. However, some of the backcountry peaks might still have snow on them in late spring.