Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles, with most of that wilderness accessibly via backcountry hiking and horseback trails. The good news is that you can also get a lot of enjoyment from your vacation by driving through Yosemite, too.
Guided sightseeing bus tours are organized by the park’s concessionaire. For details and reservations, call (209) 372-4386, or drop by the activities desk inside the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.
As you drive around Yosemite, you’ll notice some numbered signposts along major roads; these correspond to points of interest as described in the classic Yosemite Road Guide, written by Richard P. Ditton and Donald E. McHenry. This slim, inexpensive booklet describes some of the outstanding natural features and historical sites that you’ll see along the way. Published by the nonprofit Yosemite Association, you can purchase a copy at park visitor centers or order online at www.yosemitestore.com.
Yosemite Valley
Star your sightseeing tour of the park in the Yosemite Valley. Intersecting loops of one-way roads make navigation a bit tricky for first-time visitors, but even if you get lost, the scenery is so beautiful that you won’t mind. Entering the valley, the road passes by Tunnel View, which grants a panorama of some of the park’s most famous landmarks, including cascading Bridalveil Fall and the granite rock formations of El Capitan and Half Dome. Winding its way through the valley, the road passes waterfalls, grassy meadows, historic lodges, and beaches and picnic areas along the gentle Merced River.
Glacier Point Road
From the valley, it’s about an hour’s drive up to Glacier Point, one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the park. The turn-off to Glacier Point Road is south of the valley along Wawona Road at the Chinquapin intersection. From there, it’s a mesmerizing 16-mile drive up to the point, passing by wildflower meadows and hiking trailheads beckoning you to visit pretty lakes and granite domes overhanging the valley. But nothing compares to what waits at the end of the road. At Glacier Point, it feels almost as if you could step right off into the clouds and fly among craggy Sierra Nevada peaks. Nevada and Vernal Falls rush down the cliffside below, as Half Dome arches over everything. It’s especially unforgettable if you visit the point at night under a full moon.
Tioga Road to Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass
If you have an extra day, make time for a 66-mile scenic drive from the valley up to Tioga Pass (elevation 9,945 feet). Rolling through the thick forests from Big Oak and Crane Flats, the Tioga Road (Highway 120) rises high into the rugged Sierra Nevada high country. Note this road is usually only open from June through October, weather permitting. Summer is the best time to visit, when meadows are laden with colorful wildflowers, pristine lakes are perfect for picnicking beside (just watch out for all those mosquitoes), and nearby peaks shed enough of their snow blanket to be accessible to hikers and alpine climbers.
Although just about every bend in the road reveals another awesome view, the most famous place to stop along the way is at Olmsted Point, where you can peer back down into the Yosemite Valley and across mountain summits at iconic Half Dome. Farther west, a two-mile dirt side road leads to May Lake, backed by mighty Mount Hoffman. East of the point, glacier-carved Tenaya Lake is surrounded by alpine peaks and lush meadows. Tioga Road continues east to Tuolumne Meadows, where you can rest, refuel, and stretch your legs along gentle nature trails. The high point (literally) of the road is Tioga Pass, beyond which the historic highway tumbles all the way downhill to the shores of salty Mono Lake.
