Yosemite Falls

Upper, Lower, and Middle Yosemite Falls combined make up the highest waterfall in North America, topping out at a prodigious 2,425 feet. A challenging trail accesses the upper fall’s crest, but the base of the lower falls can be visited with an easy stroll. From April to June, wear rain gear—an icy spray drenches all who come near. Yosemite Falls is considered the tallest waterfall in North America, dropping 740m (2425ft) in three tiers. A slick trail leads to the bottom or, if you prefer solitude, you can clamber up the Yosemite Falls Trail, which puts you atop the falls after a grueling 3.4 miles. The falls are usually mesmerizing, especially when the spring runoff turns them into thunderous cataracts, but are reduced to a trickle by late summer.

El Capitan

Towering 3,593 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor, El Capitan is the undisputed king of the granite monoliths and a mecca for daredevil rock climbers. Get a good look at the earth’s largest single piece of granite from El Capitan Meadow. With a pair of binoculars, you can even watch the climbers inch their way up The Nose.

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 for experienced climbers, and one that wasn’t ‘conquered’ until 1958. Since then, it’s been inundated. As part of its ‘Ask-a-Climber’ program, the Yosemite Climbing Association

If you’re new to granite crack climbing or traditional climbing, sign up for a class with Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service in Half Dome Village. The beginners’ “Welcome to the Rock” class will have you climbing and rappelling at heights of up to 60 feet on your first day. To learn more about Yosemite climbing, head over to the El Capitan Bridge and have a chat with one of the Yosemite Climbing Rangers. The “Ask a Climber” program (11 a.m.–3 p.m. in summer) is a daily gathering of rangers, climbers, and curious onlookers.

Tuolumne Meadows

Lace up your boots and wander easy trails along the Tuolumne River or more rugged paths to the summits of lofty domes and granite-backed alpine lakes. Sleep in a tent cabin, nosh on a burger from the Tuolumne Grill, or attend a poetry gathering at the log-walled Parsons Lodge. Time your trip to Tuolumne Meadows carefully—this 8,600-foot high country is accessible only from June to October.

Mariposa Grove

With their massive stature and multi-millennium maturity, the chunky high-rise sequoias of Mariposa Grove will make you feel rather insignificant. The largest grove of giant sequoias in the park, Mariposa is home to approximately 500 mature trees spread over 250 acres. Walking trails wind through this very popular grove; you can usually have a more solitary experience if you come during the early evening in summer or anytime outside of summer.

Bridalveil Fall

Bridalveil Fall is the tallest waterfall along Yosemite Valley’s southern rim, 620 feet (189 meters) tall. There are good views of it from several places in the valley, but it’s easily worth the short hike to the base of the fall to see it up close. If you do hike all the way to the base during high runoff, you’ll get drenched with spray, so you might want to bring rain gear. It’s also worthwhile to take the fork of the trail that crosses a pair of stone bridges over Bridalveil Creek below the fall.

Glacier Point

Although you can mix up the order of the other stops on this tour, you should leave Glacier Point, arguably Yosemite’s best sunset-watching locale, for the last stop. It’s a rewarding place to sit and watch the peaks change colors after a long day’s driving and hiking, and it’s especially scenic if there are some clouds in the eastern sky.

Mist Trail

The Mist Trail is one of the park’s most popular trails. What makes The Mist Trail so unique is not its sites – Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall – but how you get there. To get to the top of the falls, hikers must climb a 600-step granite staircase that snakes right up alongside the hundreds-foot-tall plunge, taking visitors close enough to where mist from the falls sprays out onto the trail. Hence the name, the Mist Trail. The falls reach their peak from late spring to early summer, so if you want the traditional Mist Trail experience, with a light, natural shower while hiking, come during that time.

Because the hike is predominately uphill, many hikers tend to take the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Fall and back down – a nearly 2½-mile hike roundtrip, which is estimated by the NPS to take about three hours. For a greater challenge, you can continue your hike farther upward to Nevada Fall, which takes about five to six hours to complete and features an elevation gain of an additional 1,000 feet (to Vernal Fall, the elevation gain is 1,000 feet from sea level). If you don’t want to hike up the often slippery Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada falls, you can always take the John Muir Trail, which features vantage points of the falls as well as fantastic views of the surrounding forest and valley.

Many travelers say the Mist Trail is one of the best hikes they have ever taken, but advise to be prepared. While visitors say the hike up along the falls is as scenic as ever, it is definitely strenuous. Even when the falls aren’t at their peak (from late spring to early summer), it can still be pretty wet, so make sure to have shoes with good traction and bring a poncho or clothes that can get wet.

Half Dome

Hiking Yosemite’s Half Dome Cables Route has been described as unforgettable and even life-changing by travelers. But this expedition is not for the faint of heart. The trail is about 14 to 16 miles long and features elevation gains totaling 4,800 feet (for reference, the elevation gain on the Mist Trail is between 1,000 and 2,000 feet, depending on which waterfall you visit). On this hike, the challenge begins immediately with a steep ascent up the Mist Trail, which serves as a good litmus test to see if you’re in adequate condition for the remaining journey. The hike then continues to the top of Nevada Fall, followed by a long, flat section through Yosemite Valley. When you finally reach the base of the dome, a steep rocky climb finally takes you to the Half Dome Cables, a vertical, exposed rock face scalable by two steel cables.

If you’re afraid of heights or are not in excellent physical condition, don’t ascend the cables. You can still enjoy many of the dome’s tamer sections, such as the trip to Nevada Fall. If you are going to try the entire hike, you’ll need to allot at least 12 hours. The National Park Service recommends you leave just before or at dawn, and advises you to bring all necessary hiking equipment, including durable hiking boots, a flashlight and good grip gloves for the cables.