Yosemite National Park Yosemite Valley, California
There are places that photography has made so familiar you think you already know them — and then you arrive and realize the photos lied, because they couldn't convey the scale. Yosemite Valley is a mile wide and seven miles long, walled on both sides by sheer granite rising 3,000 to 4,000 feet. El Capitan is the largest exposed granite monolith on earth. Half Dome is impossible. Bridalveil Fall drops 620 feet and you can feel it from the trail. None of it matches what you expected, because what you expected wasn't big enough. Yosemite is one of the great parks on the planet, and it earns that every single time.
Cost $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. Motorcycles $30, individuals on foot or bike $20. America the Beautiful Pass accepted. Note: as of 2026, international visitors face an additional $100 per-person surcharge.
Reservations — Good News for 2026 Yosemite dropped its timed entry reservation system for 2026 — no advance booking required to enter the park. Show up, pay your fee, drive in. That said, this is one of the most visited national parks in the country with over 4 million visitors annually. Arrive before 8 AM on busy days to secure parking in the valley. Campground and lodging reservations are a completely separate matter — those open on the 15th of each month at 7 AM Pacific, five months in advance, and sell out within minutes. Set your alarm.
Best Times to Visit Spring (April–June) is peak waterfall season — snowmelt feeds Yosemite, Bridalveil, and Vernal Falls to their most powerful. Late May and early June hit the sweet spot of full water flow with manageable crowds. Summer is the busiest period — go early in the day regardless. Fall brings fewer crowds and beautiful light on the granite. Winter closes Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road but opens a quieter, snow-dusted version of the valley that photographers love.
Cell Service Works in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Tuolumne Meadows. Drops out in most other areas of the park, especially in the backcountry. Download offline maps before heading anywhere remote and don't rely on navigation once you leave developed areas.
Gas & Food Gas is available inside the park at Wawona and Crane Flat — convenient but pricier than gateway towns. Fill up in El Portal, Mariposa, or Groveland before entering if you can. Food is widely available inside the park: the Ahwahnee dining room for a special occasion, Valley Lodge food court for quick meals, Curry Village for casual options. Pack snacks and water for hikes regardless.
Lodging — The Most Competitive Booking in the Park System The Ahwahnee Hotel is one of the great historic lodges in America and sells out almost instantly when the booking window opens. Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village, and Housekeeping Camp are more accessible price points but equally competitive. Gateway communities — Mariposa, Groveland, Oakhurst, El Portal — offer a wide range of alternatives within 30–60 minutes of the valley. Book as far in advance as humanly possible.
Bear Country This is serious bear country and the park enforces food storage rules strictly. All food, scented items, and coolers must be stored in bear boxes or bear canisters — not left in your vehicle. Violations result in significant fines. Bears here have learned to associate cars with food and will break into them if given the chance.
Don't Miss Tunnel View — the classic valley panorama as you emerge from the tunnel on Highway 41 — is genuinely worth stopping for every time. The Mist Trail to Vernal Fall is the best introductory hike, ending at a thundering waterfall where the spray soaks you completely. Half Dome permits are required for the cables section and available via lottery — plan well in advance if that's your goal. And if Tioga Road is open, drive it — the high country above the valley is a completely different and equally stunning park that most visitors never see.
