10 Best Things to Do in Yosemite National Park
Including waterfalls, wildlife and viewpoints.
FAQs
Entrance Fees and Where to Get Your Park Pass for Yosemite
If you’re heading to the home of El Capitan and Half Dome, remember that there’s a fee for entering Yosemite.
Itineraries
4 Heart-Pounding Yosemite Adventures
Hike, climb and backpack your way through this incredible park.
Road Trips
Best Los Angeles to Yosemite Road Trip via the California Coast
Discover the hidden gems of California’s beautiful—and sometimes rugged—central coast.
Maps
Yosemite National Park Overview Map
Do you know where you're going?
Gateway Towns
Tuolumne’s Top 8 on the Edge of Yosemite
Pronounced “two-all-of-me,” half of Tuolumne County lies in Yosemite.
Neighbor Parks
Sequoia National Park, Yosemite’s Southern Neighbor
Just a half-day's drive south of Yosemite, Sequoia National Park is not to be missed.
Natural Wonders
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite
Mariposa is the largest of the three groves inside Yosemite with about 500 mature sequoias.
Hiking Trails
Which Yosemite Hiking Trail Should I Hike?
Follow our guide by picking what you want to see in Yosemite.
Hotels and Cabins
Which Lodging in Yosemite National Park?
The ultimate guide to lodging inside Yosemite National Park
Transportation
Ride the YARTS Bus to Yosemite National Park
Skip the parking hassles in Yosemite
Do I Need a Reservation to Visit Yosemite?
Reservations are required to visit Yosemite National Park during weekends February 2023, but not in the summer.
The Yosemite National Park entry reservation system has changed for 2023. You will no longer need a Day Use Pass in summer but you will need a Ticketed Entry reservation if visiting the park on weekends in February.
February Weekend Reservations During Firefall
If you’re planning to visit Yosemite in February 2023, you make need a reservation. Because of the spectacular “firefall” phenomenon that occurs when the sunset hits Horsetail Fall each February, visitors flock to the park. If you’re planning to visit during the three weekends in February when this occurs, you’ll need a reservation, regardless of whether or not you plan to visit the waterfall.
Firefall Reservations 2023
February 10-12, 17-19 and 24-26, 2023, visitors must make a day-use reservation to visit Yosemite National Park. Half of available reservations will become available on recreation.gov at 8 a.m. PT on January 13, 2023. These reservations are expected to fill up immediately, so for your best chance of snagging one, make an account in advance and log on as soon as reservations open.
The remaining 50% of reservations will be available two days prior to your desired visit date at 8 a.m.Yosemite National Park will not have a reservation system in 2023. PT.
Reservations are not timed and allow unlimited entry for seven consecutive days. There is a non-refundable $2 reservation fee, in addition to your park entrance fee.