Travel Guide: Yosemite National Park ‣ Luxury Reviews & Guides

Don’t forget to check out our other guides in California:

Travel Guide: Yosemite National Park in One Day
Travel Guide: Camping in Yosemite National Park
Travel Guide: California Big Sur, Highway 1
Travel Guide: Napa Valley, Wine Country

Quick Travel Guide to at Yosemite National Park

As passionate photographers, we find Yosemite Valley to be an absolute paradise for capturing spectacular shots! I have thousands of photos, but I thought you’d enjoy these favorites the most.

Welcome to Yosemite National Park, a place of incomparable granite grandeur and timeless beauty, demanding to be seen. This is where colossal monoliths like El Capitan and Half Dome rise thousands of feet above the valley floor, creating views that inspire awe and instantly fill memory cards. From the sheer, wind-blown cascade of Bridalveil Fall to the towering giants of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite is packed with iconic sights. But because of its immense popularity, required reservation systems, and sheer geographic scale, where exactly do you start?

This document is your essential shortcut—the “quick and dirty road map” designed to cut through the confusion of park planning, overwhelming trail guides, and the challenge of navigating summer crowds, ensuring you get straight to the best views. Drawing on the firsthand knowledge and successful, stress-tested itineraries developed during my two separate trips, I’ve distilled this massive park into core, easy-to-digest areas and manageable day-by-day segments, touching on everything from the sweeping panorama of Glacier Point to the mist at the base of Yosemite Falls. Better yet, I’ve included my personal photos to give you an authentic, immediate visual reference of each landmark and its unique “view”—from the mist of the waterfalls to the vast high country. This helps you quickly understand the layout and decide exactly where to spend your precious time.

Let’s dive in and conquer Yosemite!

Yosemite National Park Luxury Tavel Atlas Map

Yosemite National Park Points of Interest POI

Below are a list of easy links to Google Maps. I recommend downloading the maps to your phone from Google as Yosemite is a definite spotty place for phone signal!

Glacier Point (Parking Lot) Check Glacier Point Road Status: The Glacier Point only operates when Glacier Point Road is open to vehicles, which is during the spring, summer, and fall.
Tunnel View (Parking Lot)
Bridalveil Falls (Parking Lot)
View of El Captain (Park along road)
View of Yosemite Falls & Meadow (Park along road)
Yosemite Chapel (Parking Lot)
Sential Bridge (Parking Lot)
Mirror Lake (Hike in from Village Store parking)
Village Store (& grill)
Yosemite Visitors Center
Yosemite Falls Trailhead (Parking Lot)
Mountain Room Restaurant
Valley View of Yosemite (Park along road)

Some favorites of our you cannot drive too and must hike up or down from the Valley or from Glacier Point.

You must first hike to the top of Vernal Falls. From there, the path levels out: it’s a mostly flat, 5-minute walk until Nevada Fall comes into view, and a gentle 20-30 minute walk to reach a good viewpoint of it. This entire section precedes the strenuous switchbacks that mark the final, hardest climb to the very top of Nevada Fall.

Alternatively, if Glacier Point Road is open, you can easily view both falls from Glacier Point.

Glacier Point at Yosemite National Park

To access Glacier Point and hike down to Yosemite Valley, its best to Yosemite Valley and buy a shuttle ticket to the top of Glacier Point. The hike down takes roughly 8+ hours with all the stops.

Car: The Glacier Point Road is open to cars approximately late May through October or November, depending on conditions. When open, you can drive to Glacier Point by traveling on the Wawona Road (the continuation of Highway 41 within the park)—either north from Wawona or south from Yosemite Valley. After traveling about 13 miles, turn on to the Glacier Point Road at the Chinquapin intersection. Driving time from Wawona and Yosemite Valley is about an hour.

Bus: The Glacier Point Tour generally operates when the Glacier Point Road is open. One-way tickets are available if you’re interested in taking the bus to Glacier Point and hiking back to Yosemite Valley. If hiking to or from Glacier Point, and expecting to take the bus back, be sure you’re familiar with the bus schedule. There is no regular shuttle service between Glacier Point and Yosemite Valley.

Shopping & Eating at Yosemite National Park:

Village Store in the valley (its big!), Glacier Point Snack Stand & Gift Shop (at the top of Glacier Point).

Eats: There is a small grill in front of the Village Store (hamburgers, sandwiches, etc) Mountain Room Restaurant has good food (steaks)!

Parking: Parking is limited. Park near the village store to access: Mirror Lake, Village Store (& grill), Yosemite Visitors Center, & Yosemite Falls. Park at Yosemite Chapel to see Sential Bridge.

Yosemite Valley Photos and Places to See:

Glacier Point (drive down Glacier Point road till it dead ends, there is a parking lot. There is also a gift shop up there, Glacier Point Snack Stand & Gift Shop!)

It is famous for offering a commanding, panoramic view of some of the park’s most iconic landmarks. It is located on the south wall of Yosemite Valley at an elevation of 7,214 feet ( $2,199 m$ ), which is over $3,200 feet$ ( $980 m$ ) above the floor of Yosemite Valley.

Half Dome from a Mirror Lake: Half Dome is one of the most recognizable and iconic rock formations in Yosemite National Park, California.

Tunnel View: Tunnel View is one of the most famous and iconic scenic viewpoints in Yosemite National Park, California.

Bridalveil Falls: Bridalveil Fall is a prominent waterfall located in Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. It is one of the first major waterfalls visitors see when entering the valley.

View of El Capitan: El Capitan is one of the most famous and imposing rock formations in the world, located in Yosemite National Park, California. It rises over 3,000 feet (914 meters) from its base to its summit along its tallest face.

View of Yosemite Falls (if you pack your own lunch, great place to eat and hang. My favorite spot during the day to drink a beer! Yosemite Falls is a tiered waterfall consisting of three separate sections with a total drop of 2,425 feet (739 meters), making it one of the tallest waterfalls in North America.

View of Yosemite Falls & Meadow (Park along road)

Yosemite Falls (park at the Yosemite Visitors Center & walk)

- Upper Yosemite Fall: The top and longest plunge, dropping 1,430 feet (436 m).
- Middle Cascades: A series of four smaller, less visible plunges that collectively drop 675 feet (206 m).
- Lower Yosemite Fall: The final, easily accessible drop of 320 feet (98 m).

Mirror Lake (nice 2.5 mile hike. Or rent bikes and the bike trail starts near the front of the Village Store. Mirror Lake is a popular and scenic spot located in Yosemite National Park, California. It is famous for its calm waters that perfectly reflect the surrounding granite cliffs. The lake is most famous for its stunning, mirror-like reflections of iconic rock formations, particularly Half Dome and Mount Watkins. The best reflections occur when the water is still, usually in the early morning.

Face of Half Dome from Mirror Lake

Valley View (This is quick a stop along the road, blink & you miss it). It is a valley-floor turnout that provides a classic panoramic view, sometimes referred to as the “Gates of the Valley.”

Nevada Falls: Nevada Fall is a prominent and powerful waterfall in Yosemite National Park, famous for its association with the strenuous but rewarding hike that also features Vernal Fall.

Vernal Falls: Vernal Fall is a spectacular waterfall in Yosemite National Park, California, famous for the popular and strenuous hike that leads to it.

Vernal Falls (from top)

Hiking to Mirror Lake

Hiking from Glacier Point

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Rancheria Falls and the dam are one of our favorite places to say trip when visiting the Yosemite Valley. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is a dramatic, water-filled glacial valley located in the remote northwestern section of Yosemite National Park, California. Originally a lush landscape often compared in beauty to the iconic Yosemite Valley, it was transformed in 1923 by the completion of the O’Shaughnessy Dam. Today, the reservoir serves a critical utilitarian purpose, acting as a primary water source and hydroelectric power generator for millions of people across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Despite its function as a utility, Hetch Hetchy remains a magnificent natural area. Its imposing granite cliffs and spectacular waterfalls provide a serene, less-crowded wilderness escape within the park for those seeking solitude.

Hiking the Hetch Hetchy Valley

Absolutely! Hetch Hetchy offers some of the most rewarding and secluded hiking in all of Yosemite, particularly during the spring—when wildflowers are blooming and water flows are maximal—and the fall, which offers crisp air and vibrant colors.

Here is a guide to the most popular trails, ranging from moderate treks along the reservoir to strenuous high-country climbs:

Wapama Falls Trail

This is a moderately difficult trek, clocking in at approximately 5 miles round trip. The hike follows the reservoir’s shoreline and offers spectacular, up-close views of both the slender Tueeulala Fall and the mighty Wapama Fall. You’ll walk beneath dramatic granite cliffs, enjoying some of the best perspectives of the valley’s sheer walls.

Rancheria Falls Trail

If you’re seeking a true wilderness experience, this strenuous, 13-mile round trip is an ideal challenge. It continues past Wapama Falls and plunges deep into Yosemite’s unspoiled backcountry. Hikers are rewarded with the magnificent, tiered cascades of Rancheria Falls and a powerful sense of solitude.

Smith Peak Trail

This is a hard hike, spanning between 13 and 16 miles round trip. It is a serious climb to the highest vantage point in the immediate area, reaching $7, 751$ feet. The effort is well worth the payoff, as the summit offers panoramic, sweeping views of the Hetch Hetchy reservoir, the surrounding high country, and vast stretches of the national forest.

Poopenaut Valley Trail

While only 2.5 miles round trip, this trail is considered strenuous due to an exceptionally steep and sudden descent and subsequent climb back out. It leads to the secluded banks of the Tuolumne River below the reservoir, offering a quiet, intimate retreat perfect for viewing spring wildlife at the valley floor.