A Stop-By-Stop Afternoon Schedule
Stop first by Bridalveil Fall for a view of water streaming for 620 feet before crashing into the ground below. Make your way east along the one-way road that weaves through the valley until you get to a scenic viewpoint of El Capitan. Look for it on the left, you can't miss it—El Capitan is the largest piece of exposed granite on earth.
Low angle view of Bridalveil Fall
Grab binoculars or a telescope to watch people the size of ants slowly make their way up the 3,593-foot slab. Insider tip: the best view is from the northern, westbound part of the road.
Look around for the Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge here as well. Next head to Yosemite Village, where you'll find a museum, visitor center (a great place to get acquainted with the park through audiovisual programing and ranger recommendations) and an art gallery.
Not far from here is the must-see Ahwahenee Hotel. Don't forget to check out the sweeping views of Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America (fifth-highest on the planet).
Bonus: Stop at Curry Village to find good food and fun activities like ice-skating in the winter.
More: 10 Free Things to Do at National Parks
Hiking
Yosemite National Park is dotted with nearly 800 miles of trails, all of which will lead you to a variety of other exciting destinations.
For Beginners
An easy hike for people of all activity levels is the .75-mile trail leading through the Mariposa Grove. From the parking lot, you can see 20 massive sequoias. The culmination of the walk is the Grizzly Giant, which you'll reach as you venture deeper into the trail.
Another beginner hike is a 1-mile path from the Yosemite Falls parking lot, through forestland and over a footbridge to the site of John Muir's cabin. This walk also gives you great views of the falls.
More: How to Choose the Right Hike
For Intermediate Hikers
Try the John Muir Trail from the Happy Isles Nature Center, accessible by shuttle. This trail (1.5-miles round trip) provides great views of Vernal Falls. If you want to continue on further, take the Mist Trail, which adds a 1,050-foot elevation gain and an additional 1.5 miles to the journey.
For Experienced Hikers
For a long and exciting adventure, plan to hike the Mist Trail all the way up to Half Dome (a 16.75-mile round trip journey with a 4,900-foot elevation gain). Get a permit online, before you go. Permits are required to hike Half Dome. Note: a lottery system is used for permits, so it may be some time before you're given one.
One of the best hikes is the Yosemite Falls Trail. Though the hike is steep and rigorous, you're rewarded with views of the falls and can hike to the top of the falls. This is a 7-mile journey that will take 6 to 8 hours.
Beyond hiking, other activities at Yosemite National Park include biking, fishing, rock climbing, swimming, and horseback riding. Winter sports include snowshoeing, skating, and skiing.
