A street journey via the Yosemite Valley is an unforgettable expertise. As you drive via the valley, you’ll be bombarded by iconic sights that individuals around the globe will acknowledge.
I’ve traveled to the Yosemite Valley many instances all through my childhood and maturity and it’s one among my favourite locations!
The Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Nationwide Park as an entire have exploded in recognition, partially as a result of they’re not removed from a number of large cities. Fresno is simply over an hour away, and you may get to Yosemite from the Bay Space in about 4 hours. This implies there are a number of actions that now require permits so the park isn’t overrun.
From April via October, reservations are sometimes required to drive into or via Yosemite Valley. The entire campgrounds within the Yosemite Valley require reservations, and also you want a allow to hike Half Dome as nicely.
If you wish to escape the crowds at Yosemite, strive approaching weekdays within the fall, winter, or spring. Fall nonetheless has delicate climate that enables mountain climbing and different actions, and winter means sledding, ice skating, and snowboarding.
Websites to Cease and See in Yosemite Valley
Site visitors within the Yosemite Valley could be excessive, particularly in hotter months. Should you’re headed to the Yosemite Valley for the day, parking could also be full by 9 am.
RVs are allowed in Yosemite Valley, however parking for RVs is much more difficult than for different autos. There’s a free park shuttle that travels all through the Yosemite Valley, and your greatest wager is to park your automobile (if attainable) and take the shuttle across the park for the day. In case you are tenting within the valley, shuttles come near most campground entrances so that you don’t must drive your automobile.
There are lots of sights to see within the Yosemite Valley. Listed below are a couple of of probably the most noteworthy.
Waterfalls
There are a number of superior (in probably the most literal sense of the phrase!) waterfalls all through the Yosemite Valley. The falls are normally at their peak in Might every year.
Yosemite Falls truly consists of three separate waterfalls – the Higher Fall, the Center Cascades, and the Decrease Fall. It’s only a quick stroll from the parking space to the underside of the falls.
Bridalveil Fall was at all times one among our first stops after we arrived on the park, as a result of it’s one of many closest falls to the Valley entrance. It’s not as giant as Yosemite Falls, however it’s very fairly and a simple stroll from the car parking zone. Ribbon Fall is the longest single-drop waterfall in North America. From mid-to-late February, Horsetail Fall appears to be like prefer it’s on hearth when the orange glow of the sundown displays off the water.
Views
Be prepared for breathtaking views nearly wherever within the Yosemite Valley! Nevertheless, there are a couple of spots with iconic views. Chances are you’ll even acknowledge them from postcards or footage of the park.
Should you’re approaching the park from the South Entrance, you’ll be able to expertise The Tunnel View. The Tunnel View overlook subsequent to Wawona Highway encompasses the Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome within the distance.
Valley View is a spot alongside Northside Drive on the west finish of the Valley. You’ll be subsequent to the Merced River, which is framed by El Capitan on one aspect and Bridalveil Fall on the opposite.
Sentinel Bridge is a fairly spot alongside Sentinel Drive. Half Dome is correct in entrance of you, and you’ll typically see its reflection completely mirrored within the Merced River beneath.
El Capitan Meadow
El Capitan is a 3,000-foot rock that’s turn out to be a well-known vacation spot for elite rock climbers. Should you choose to maintain your ft firmly on the valley ground, El Capitan Meadow is a superb spot for viewing the cliff. It’s laborious to overstate the impressiveness of staring up at El Capitan from the bottom. You can too watch as evening falls, and see climber’s headlamps as they prepared themselves for mattress on the sheer cliff face.
Joyful Isles
The Joyful Isles space has an Artwork and Nature Middle the place you’ll be able to see pure historical past reveals or take part in artwork workshops. There are quick trails close by that target the world’s 4 totally different environments – the forest, the river, the talus, and the fen.
Joyful Isles can be the trailhead for a number of hikes of various issue. The Mist Path will take you first to a bridge – about 3/4 mile from the beginning of the path. It crosses the falls, and makes a pleasant, simple hike for households. You possibly can proceed on from there to Vernal Fall, then Nevada Fall, and ultimately, to the highest of Half Dome. You do want a allow to hike Half Dome, and people could be laborious to return by! I’ve completed the Half Dome Day Hike – it’s strenuous, and requires preparation and cautious planning forward of time.
Merced River
The Merced River flows all through the Yosemite Valley, typically meandering and typically dashing alongside. There are a selection of water actions to do alongside the river. You possibly can fish, swim, or raft all through the valley.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is an easy-to-moderate two-mile path from the trailhead at shuttle cease #17 to the lake. The lake doesn’t have a number of water, and in the summertime it’s generally known as Mirror Meadow since a lot of the water has dried up. However it’s a fairly hike alongside Tenaya Creek and throughout two bridges.
Ahwahnee Lodge
The majestic Ahwahnee Lodge was constructed within the Twenties in hopes of attracting rich guests. It labored! Presidents, royalty, and different celebrities have stayed on the lodge within the Yosemite Valley. The lodge was constructed with a watch for the Yosemite Valley views, and also you’ll be surrounded by picturesque surroundings if you stroll the grounds. The Ahwahnee Eating Room options ground to ceiling home windows so visitors can see the sights of the valley. A big hearth and comfy seating make the Nice Lounge a beautiful place to loosen up.
Yosemite Village
Together with the Ahwahnee Lodge, you could find lodging in Yosemite Village. You’ll additionally discover eating places, a village retailer with groceries and camp gadgets, and a pool. The Ansel Adams Gallery is price a cease to see the works of Yosemite’s most well-known photographer. The Yosemite Museum and Yosemite Conservation Heritage Middle can each educate you extra in regards to the park, and the Valley Wilderness Middle is the place you’ll find out about backcountry security and decide up permits.
Curry Village
Curry Village is the opposite principal village within the park. Like Yosemite Village, there are eating places and a camp retailer. You’ll find cabins and tent cabins for lodging. Curry Village additionally has ice skating in winter and a pool to get pleasure from in summer time.
RV Leases Close by
There are a number of choices for RVshare leases close to Yosemite Nationwide Park. Should you can’t discover what you need near the park, you may also search Fresno, the closest large metropolis which is simply over an hour away. Should you plan to remain solely in Yosemite Valley, you’ll be able to probably hire any dimension of RV. Nevertheless, roads together with Glacier Level Highway, Mariposa Grove Highway, and Hetch Hetchy Highway have restrictions on RV lengths. Many campgrounds additionally restrict RV sizes.
There may be parking within the park for RVs and trailers, however it fills up shortly.
Should you suppose you’ll be driving winding roads out of Yosemite Valley, you’ll need both a smaller camper van, a trailer you’ll be able to unhook so you should use the tow automobile, otherwise you’ll need to tow a automotive alongside for day journey driving.
Tenting Close by
Yosemite Nationwide Park has ten campgrounds that may accommodate RVs and trailers. Nevertheless, the park is so well-liked that the campgrounds refill in a short time. Reservations are required for all campgrounds within the park from about April via October and are tough to get. There are additionally three first-come, first-served campgrounds in fall, winter, and early spring. These additionally refill shortly, particularly on weekends and holidays.
There aren’t any hookups obtainable within the park. There are dump stations with contemporary water obtainable at Higher Pines Campground year-round, close to Wawona Campground in summer time, and close to Tuolumne Meadows Campground. Mills are allowed, however should be used throughout designated two-hour time blocks through the day.
There are campgrounds that may accommodate RVs as much as 40 ft and trailers as much as 35 ft, however solely eight websites can be found. Different campgrounds within the park can take RVs as much as 35 ft and trailers as much as 24 ft.
Campgrounds Inside Yosemite Nationwide Park:
Higher Pines Campground
Handle: Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: Flush bathrooms, consuming water, a picnic desk, a hearth ring, and a meals storage locker. Yosemite’s free shuttle stops on the campground entrance. Curry Village close by has showers for a price, a common retailer, and eating places.
Decrease Pines Campground
Handle: Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: Flush bathrooms, consuming water. a picnic desk, a hearth ring, and a meals storage locker. The free shuttle stops on the campground entrance. Curry Village is inside strolling distance and has showers for a price, a common retailer, and eating places.
North Pines Campground
Handle: Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: Flush bathrooms, consuming water, a picnic desk, a hearth ring, and a meals storage locker. The free shuttle stops close to the campground entrance. Curry Village is close by and has showers for a price, a common retailer, and eating places.
Wawona Campground
Handle: Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: Wawona Campground is within the nationwide park, about 45 minutes from the Yosemite Valley. The campground has flush bathrooms, consuming water, a picnic desk, a hearth ring, and a meals storage locker. A common retailer and gasoline station are a couple of mile from the campground.
Bridalveil Creek Campground
Handle: Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: Bridalveil Creek Campground is 26 miles from Yosemite Valley. The campground has flush bathrooms, consuming water, a picnic desk, a hearth ring, and a meals storage locker.
Hodgdon Meadow Campground
Handle: Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: Hodgdon Meadow Campground is 25 miles from Yosemite Valley. The campground has flush bathrooms, consuming water, a picnic desk, a hearth ring, and a meals storage locker. There’s a gasoline station and small common retailer eight miles away at Crane Flat.
Crane Flat Campground
Handle: Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: Crane Flat Campground is 17 miles from Yosemite Valley. The campground has flush bathrooms, consuming water, a picnic desk, a hearth ring, and a meals storage locker. There’s a gasoline station and small common retailer close by.
White Wolf Campground
Handle: Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: White Wolf Campground is about an hour from Yosemite Valley. The seasonal campground has flush bathrooms, consuming water, trash and recycling assortment, meals storage lockers, hearth rings, picnic tables, and an on-site host. There is no such thing as a cell service, camp retailer, ice, dump station, or showers.
Porcupine Flat
Handle: Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: Porcupine Flat is within the nationwide park, however is greater than an hour from Yosemite Valley. RVs and trailers should not really useful due to the slender roads. It is a primitive campground with no cell service. It has vault bathrooms, trash and recycling assortment, meals storage lockers, hearth rings and picnic tables.
Tuolumne Meadows
Handle: Yosemite Nationwide Park, CA 95389
Cellphone: (209) 372-8502
Facilities: Tuolumne Meadows is a well-liked campground, though will probably be closed for the 2024 season. It has picnic tables, hearth rings, meals storage lockers, flush bathrooms, and consuming water. The customer heart, a common retailer, and a gasoline station are inside strolling distance of the campground.
Campgrounds Outdoors Yosemite Nationwide Park:
Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
Handle: 31191 Hardin Flat Rd.
Groveland, CA 95321
Cellphone: (209) 962-0103
Facilities: Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes has full hookups and WiFi. There’s laundry, restrooms, showers, a clubhouse, fishing, and video games together with shuffleboard and basketball. Pets are welcome.
Dimond O Campground
Handle: Evergreen Rd.
Groveland, CA 95321
Cellphone: (209) 962-7825
Facilities: It is a primitive Nationwide Forest Service campground. There aren’t any hookups. Potable water is accessible for consuming, however filling RVs is prohibited. Campsites have a picnic desk, a bear field, and a campfire pit with a grill. There are vault bathrooms close by.
Yosemite RV Resort
Handle: 34094 CA-41
Coarsegold, CA 93614
Cellphone: (559) 683-7855
Facilities: This campground has full hookups and WiFi. There are back-in and pull-thru websites, and the campground has a pool, showers, and laundry services. There’s a playground and an on-call concierge, and the campground is pet-friendly.
Yosemite Valley FAQs
Is Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Nationwide Park the identical?
Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Nationwide Park should not the identical. Yosemite Valley is inside Yosemite Nationwide Park, however there are many areas of the park that stretch past the valley. The truth is, Yosemite Valley is only one% of the nationwide park, regardless that it’s the place most guests keep.
The place is there to remain in Yosemite Valley?
Together with the campgrounds talked about above, there are a couple of different locations you’ll be able to keep in Yosemite Valley. There may be lodging on the Ahwahnee Lodge, Yosemite Lodge at Yosemite Village, and in Curry Village.
How was Yosemite Valley fashioned?
Yosemite Valley was fashioned as rivers minimize a deep canyon. Researchers at U.C. Berkeley consider a lot of the formation started between 10 to 4 million years in the past. Glaciers made the canyon deeper and wider and carved the basin. Half Dome and different spectacular rock formations have been carved out by rain and rock.
What’s the greatest time to go to Yosemite Valley?
The very best time to go to Yosemite Valley is within the fall. Climate within the park is normally nonetheless delicate, you’ll be able to see the leaves flip colours, and the summer time crowds have lessened.
After all, Yosemite Valley is fascinating year-round. In Might and June, waterfalls are at their peak and you’ll probably do probably the most actions within the valley. Winter brings ice skating, sledding, and snowboarding. Spring could be muddy, however you’ll even have fewer crowds.
Is Yosemite Valley accessible by RV?
Yosemite Valley is accessible by RV. There are some roads within the nationwide park, together with Glacier Level Highway, Mariposa Highway, and Hetch Hetchy Highway which have size restrictions for RVs and trailers. Some campgrounds in Yosemite Valley have restrictions on RV lengths, so that you’ll need to verify these earlier than making a reservation. RV parking in Yosemite Valley is proscribed, and it may be a problem to search out parking in summer time.
Yosemite Nationwide Park is an astonishing place to go to. In recent times, crowds have made getting round Yosemite extra of a problem, however the sights you’ll see on the park are price it.
Should you want an RV to camp whilst you’re at Yosemite, make sure you take a look at all of the totally different prospects at RVshare. And should you haven’t rented an RV earlier than, make sure you take a look at our rental suggestions for newbies.