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Yosemite National Park

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Sunset at Valley View, Yosemite National Park

Overview

The jaw-dropping head-turner of America’s national parks, and a Unesco World Heritage site, Yosemite (yo-sem-it-ee) garners the devotion of all who enter. From the waterfall-striped granite walls buttressing emerald-green Yosemite Valley to the skyscraping giant sequoias catapulting into the air at Mariposa Grove, the place inspires a sense of awe and reverence – four million visitors wend their way to the country’s third-oldest national park annually. But lift your eyes above the crowds and you’ll feel your heart instantly moved by unrivaled splendors: the haughty profile of Half Dome, the hulking presence of El Capitan, the drenching mists of Yosemite Falls, the gemstone lakes of the high country’s subalpine wilderness and Hetch Hetchy’s pristine pathways.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • General Grant Grove trees

    Mariposa Grove

    Yosemite National Park

    With their massive stature and multi-millennium maturity, the chunky high-rise sequoias of Mariposa Grove will make you feel rather insignificant. The…

  • Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley viewed from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park

    Glacier Point

    Yosemite National Park

    If you drove, the views from 7214ft Glacier Point might make you feel like you cheated – superstar sights present themselves without your having made…

  • Half Dome and the Tenaya Valley

    Half Dome

    Yosemite National Park

    Yosemite's most distinctive natural monument, Half Dome is 87 million years old and has a 93% vertical grade – the sheerest cliff in North America…

  • El Capitan

    El Capitan

    Yosemite National Park

    At nearly 3600ft from base to summit, El Capitan ranks as one of the world’s largest granite monoliths. Its sheer face makes it a world-class destination…

  • Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite National Park.

    Bridalveil Fall

    Yosemite National Park

    At the southwestern end of the valley, Bridalveil Fall tumbles 620ft. The Ahwahneechee people call it Pohono (Spirit of the Puffing Wind), as gusts often…

  • Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sierra Nevada, California, United States of America, North America

    Yosemite Falls

    Yosemite National Park

    West of Yosemite Village, Yosemite Falls is considered the tallest waterfall in North America, dropping 2425ft (740m) in three tiers. A slick trail leads…

  • Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center

    Yosemite National Park

    Built by the Sierra Club in 1903, this small, rustic, granite-and-wood lodge offers a glimpse of a relatively unknown chapter of California architecture…

  • Olmsted Point

    Yosemite National Park

    This ‘honey, hit the brakes!’ viewpoint, midway between the May Lake turnoff and Tenaya Lake, is a lunar landscape of glaciated granite with a stunning…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Time to Visit

Yosemite dazzles with its natural good looks, and its four seasons each offer something special. Here's when to go.

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Things to Know

National park superstar Yosemite presents a vast yet accessible wilderness if you plan ahead with essential tips on permits, timing and transportation.

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Traveling with Kids

From things to do as a family to what to pack, here's everything you need to know about visiting to Yosemite with children.

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Best Road Trips

Nature doesn’t get more epic than within and near Yosemite National Park. These drives will show you the best of the scenery.

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