20 Epic Outdoor Adventures in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is nestled in a vibrant valley in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountain range of Central California. The park features dynamic granite mountains, dramatic waterfalls, giant sequoia groves, and stunning wilderness landscapes.

The many adventures in Yosemite will keep you busy for days.

Getting to Yosemite National Park

You have options in getting to your adventures in Yosemite National Park, whether you are coming from Fresno, Sacramento, Los Angeles, or San Francisco by car.

• San Francisco to Yosemite National Park: It takes approximately 3 hr 15 min to drive 167 miles traveling via I-580 E and CA-120 E
• Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park: It takes approximately 4 hr 30 min to drive 280 miles on CA-99 N
• Sacramento to Yosemite National Park: It takes approximately 2 hr 40 min to drive 142 miles via CA-99 S and CA-120 E
• Fresno to Yosemite National Park: It takes approximately 1 hr 15 min to drive 62 miles on CA-41 N

The drive into the valley at Yosemite National Park in late spring/early summer is simply stunning. In my opinion, it is the best time to visit Yosemite. The grasses are green, the trees have blossomed, and the river is running strong (it may not be as strong later in the summer).

20 Epic Outdoor Adventures in Yosemite

As you drive into the valley, look ahead and see the first of many waterfalls at Yosemite: Yosemite Falls.

Depending on your level of activity, you have options to sit and enjoy the scenery, find a place to play in the water, relax over a picnic, take easy walks, schedule tours of Yosemite, or add a hike or two to your visit.

1. Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall

Are you planning to hike the Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park? It takes you first to Vernal Fall and then on to Nevada Fall. If yes, you might also find that it is the plan for a lot of other tourists.

Well, at least the hike to Vernal Fall. Join the throng walking toward the base of the trail—many who may have camped overnight in the tent city at Yosemite.

Pace yourself on the Mist Trail. If you plan to see both of these waterfalls at Yosemite, you are beginning a hike that has an eventual elevation gain of 2000 feet!

The first part of the path is a paved incline with very few flat sections until you near Vernal Fall. It is a moderately difficult climb of 1.5 miles (3 miles round trip) with 1000 feet of elevation gain that will have you stopping regularly to catch your breath and take a drink of water.

The pathway becomes misty with spray from the waterfall as you get close. You will want to watch the people around you and keep your eye on the granite steps as you climb.

After such a climb, the mist feels wonderful. You’ll probably even spot a couple of rainbows.

Note: You may want to cover your camera to protect it from all of the moisture.

Stop for a rest and to take in the view after reaching Vernal Fall. Getting to this first waterfall is quite a feat and many return to the valley floor from here.

After they catch their breath!

2. Hike to Nevada Falls

The path to Nevada Fall is a loop that continues on from Vernal Fall. Your options are to take stairs up or another path that may be more of a gentle incline. Don’t get me wrong. It is still hard. You’ve still got another 1000 feet of elevation to climb! Getting to Nevada Fall and back again to the valley floor is 5.4 miles.

It is recommended that you take the stairs up instead of down to be kind to your knees.

So, as you continue on, the granite steps continue. And it may feel as though you are on a never ending stair stepper to the next waterfall.

Hallelujah when you finally reach Nevada Fall, another one of the mighty waterfalls at Yosemite.

We had the best cell service on the top of the mountain! There is also a restroom available.

The nice thing about the second hike is that fewer people opt to hike it and the trail is less busy. Seriously, the first hike was crazy and hard all by itself.

Sit and enjoy the view and pat yourself on the back for such an accomplishment.

Then, cross the bridge and start on your hike back down.

3. Continue Hiking to Half Dome from Nevada Fall

While hiking to Half Dome is another one of the popular hikes and adventures in Yosemite, it is not one of the “easy” outdoor adventures in the park. In fact, it is strenuous and definitely not for a beginner or even average hiker.

After passing Vernal Fall and then Nevada Fall, continue on to Half Dome where you will eventually climb the cables to the summit. The views are epic!

The total round trip hike from the valley floor to the top of Half Dome is 8 miles with an elevation gain of 4800 feet!!!

4. Listen to a GuideAlong Tour

After all the hiking and outdoor adventures in Yosemite, you might be ready for some relaxing scenic drives with guided tours of Yosemite.

Chris and I highly recommend the GuideAlong app (formerly known as GyPSy Guide) for Yosemite National Park (as well as other national parks and scenic drives you may be visiting this summer).

“It’s just like having a tour guide along for the ride. You’ll hear stories, local tips & navigation play automatically, all based on your location.  Best of all they don’t need cell signal, they work offline with GPS.”

GuideAlong tours of Yosemite (and other destinations), provide fun information, history of the area, significant contributions of local people, and random information as you drive along.

It is one of the best tours of Yosemite from the comfort of your own car.

5. Meander Along the Valley Loop Trail

Much as the name suggests, the Valley Loop Trail winds around the Yosemite Valley floor in a loop. It is an easy walk on a fairly even trail—one of the easier outdoor adventures in Yosemite.

The scenery is beautiful and peaceful as you walk along the Merced river and through meadows with the magnificent mountains and the waterfalls of Yosemite as a backdrop. Bring along your camera or phone for some fantastic pictures.

To begin, park in the lot close to the Lower Yosemite Falls in the national park where you can follow the signs for the Valley Loop Trail. Start walking west along the trail, going past the Three Brothers Rock. If you plan to walk the full loop it is 13 miles. The half loop which cuts across at the El Capitan Bridge is 6.5 miles and heads back east to Yosemite Village.

Of course, you can turn back at any time.

Now that I can check Yosemite National Park off my adventure bucket list, what’s my next stop? Hiking trails in Arches National Park in Utah.

6. Hike to Lembert Dome

For a change of scenery in your outdoor adventures, you may enjoy driving out of the valley and up the Big Oak Flat Road to Tioga road, Tuolumne (pronounced two-all-o-me) Meadows, and Road 120. Tuolumne Meadows parking area is a great place to stop. It leads to a grove of sequoia trees about a mile from the parking area. 

Picnic tables are available here.

Continue on to Lembert Dome and the parking area. This 2.8 mile round trip hike has only 850 feet of elevation gain. Only.

Be mindful of the heat and wind and just the weather in general. If the wind is crazy or if there are thunderstorms in the area, it is recommended that you stay off the dome.

7. Drive to Glacier Point

For the drive to Glacier Point, veer off onto Road 41 from the Yosemite valley road and drive up above the valley floor of the national park to stunning stops at Valley View and Tunnel View. As the names suggest, you will be up high enough to see the valley below and the mighty mountains and waterfalls at Yosemite. 

The parking lot is pretty busy, but people do not stay too long once they have a look and snap a few pictures. Parking spots will open up if you are patient.

Looking at the picture above, Bridalveil Fall is on the right side of the photo with Half Dome in the distance. You can see why early summer is the best time to visit Yosemite—even then, the temperatures might be getting hot.

After taking your pictures, drive on through the longest highway tunnel in California. It is 0.8 mile long.

If your kids have the tradition of holding their breath through tunnels, they might want to skip this one! (Or if they are being noisy and fighting, it might give you a few moments of peace!)

Drive to the Glacier Point exit at Chinquapin and turned left onto Glacier Point Road. The road follows a winding path for 16 miles with moderate speed limits.

Glacier Point offers an outstanding view of Vernal and Nevada Falls. If you hiked to the top of those falls previously, you’ll see the zigzagging path as it winds up the side of the mountain.

8. Enjoy a Picnic in the Park

One of the fun parts of visiting a national park is bringing a picnic lunch to enjoy during your day.

If you would prefer to find restaurants within the park, you have a number of options:

• Ahwahnee Dining Room
• Ahwahnee Bar
• Base Camp Eatery
• Mountain Room and Mountain Room Lounge
• Village Store
• Degnan’s Bakery
• Village Grill
• Curry Village Pavilion
• Curry Village Pizza Patio and Bar
• Meadow Grill

9. Hike to Sentinel Dome

If you use the AllTrails App as my husband, Chris, and I do to plan our outdoor adventures and hikes, you’ll surely find the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop hike that skirts from the parking lot at the trailhead to Sentinel Dome and around the mountainside to reach Taft Point.

If you chose not to hike the full loop, you could hike 2.2 miles round trip to Taft Point in one direction or 2.2 miles round trip to Sentinel Dome in the other direction. The full loop hike is about 5.5 miles in length.

I would say it is a moderate hike.

Sentinel Dome used to be characterized by a Jeffrey Pine that grew at its peak. The pine tree has since fallen; the hike is short and steep once you reach the dome. The tourist traffic wasn’t terribly heavy but constant.

Once leaving the dome, the loop takes you past a huge cell tower. If you have any important phone calls to make, now’s the time. Cell service was so much better out of the Yosemite National Park valley.

10. Explore Taft Point Loop

Taft Point offers tremendous views much like Glacier Point but without the guard rails. Be careful.

There’s only one small section of guardrail at the highest point.

You’ll know pretty quickly how to answer the question, “Am I afraid of heights or not?” on Taft Point.

Taft Point is characterized by large fissures in the rock with tremendous depth.

If you are brave, you can walk right up to edge of the cliffs and look down into the valley below and see El Capitan and Yosemite Falls.

If you thought at all about doing the Yosemite Falls hike, enlarge the photo below so that you can clearly see the switchbacks that lead to the top of Yosemite Falls. It does not look fun at all.

I chuckled at this description of Taft Point:

“The drop off at Taft Point is steep, and a fall would be not just fatal, but squish-you-like-a-bug fatal. The fall is so far that your friends, waving their teary goodbyes and hoping you didn’t have the only set of car keys, would lose sight of you before you reached the ground. So be careful.”

Yosemite Hikes

Are you planning to exit Yosemite National Park going past the Wawona Visitor Center? Before you go, you have another opportunity to visit a grove of sequoia trees at Mariposa Grove.

11. Visit Sequoia Groves

In Yosemite, you have three opportunities for more outdoor adventures and to visit sequoia groves:

• Mariposa Grove is the largest and most popular of the sequoia groves. It is located near the south entrance of the park and features more than 500 sequoias. You can take the free shuttle from the parking area (or walk). The grove is about 1.5 miles from the trailhead.
• Tuolumne Grove is located close to Crane Flat. While it only has about 25 sequoia trees, you will find that it is much less crowded. The walk to the grove is downhill; be prepared for a hike up back up to return to the parking area. But, this is where you’ll find the famous walk-through tree. 
• Merced Grove, the smallest and least crowded grove in Yosemite National Park, features about 20 trees.

12. See the Waterfalls of Yosemite

Who doesn’t enjoy a beautiful waterfall? The waterfalls at Yosemite are stunning and mighty.

• Yosemite’s tallest waterfall, Yosemite Falls, has three sections: The Upper Fall, Middles Cascades, and Lower Fall. The total height of the three falls is 2,425 feet, which make it one of the tallest falls on the continent.
• Horsetail Fall drops about 1,000 feet over the sheer edge of El Capitan, and usually only flows from December to April.
• Ribbon Falls can claim the fame of being the tallest single-drop waterfall in North America, where it falls about 1,600 feet over the western side of El Capitan. It usually flows from March through June.
• Bridalveil Fall. You may note that not all of the waterfalls at Yosemite flow all year long. Bridalveil Fall does with peak runoff during May. As you enter the valley, Bridalveil is one of the first falls you see.
• Wapama Falls, approximately 1,400 feet in height, is found in the Hetch Hetchy area. It flows all year long but is much less busy with tourists.

13. Join a Free Photography Walk

Are you a photography enthusiast? Join a FREE photography walk offered by The Ansel Adams Gallery staff photographers on Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 am. As the tours are limited to 10 people, you’ll want to call to reserve your space at (209) 372-4413

NOTE: Reservations are only taken within three days of the events.

There are additional photography and hiking tours of Yosemite:

14. Explore the Historic Ahwahnee Hotel for Different Kinds of Tours of Yosemite

The Ahwahnee Hotel is open to the public for free self-guided tours. Check with the concierge desk before getting started.

Did you know you can book a stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel? It might just be one of the best adventures in Yosemite!

15. Swim

If you are looking for refreshing outdoor adventures in Yosemite, there are a number of swimming options to choose from: rivers, lakes, and pools. Swimming in rivers and lakes is at your own risk with no lifeguard present—life jackets are strongly recommended.

Check the current conditions. If you see alerts such as this, avoid swimming in the rivers and lakes.

“Activity Alert: Due to record snowmelt, the river is currently very high, cold and the water is moving very fast. Do not swim, wade or raft in the Merced River or any creeks in Yosemite until it is safe to do so and rafting season has begun.”

All park guests are welcome to enjoy the swimming pools at Curry Village and Yosemite Valley Lodge. If you are a guest staying at the hotels, you can swim for free.

For visitors not staying at the hotels, the fees for swimming are:

• Adult: $5.00 per day
• Children (12 and under): $3.00 per day

Swimming at Ahwahnee Lodge and Wawona Hotel is available for registered guests only. 

16. Raft the Merced River

Make memories rafting in Yosemite. Spend the afternoon cooling off while enjoying some pretty amazing scenery and more adventures in Yosemite. Rent a raft that hold 2-4 people for your 3-mile float down the river.

17. Catch the Sunset

What can be better than sunset views of waterfalls at Yosemite and scenic mountains?

If you happen to be in the park in February at sunset, you may be lucky enough to see the famous “firefall” where the sunset backlights the water of the fall. It looks as though molten lava is pouring from the cliff!

18. Take an Instagram Worthy Pic in Front of the Yosemite Valley Chapel

Well, you can take Instagram worthy pics all over the park, but don’t forget to stop at the Yosemite valley chapel.

The chapel is open for Sunday services and Thursday night Bible study as well. You can even plan your wedding here. What could be better than the serenity of being surrounded by the impressive waterfalls at Yosemite, the mighty and spectacular cliffs, and beautiful meadows?

19. Explore the Park After Dark

How about joining certified Yosemite guides for unforgettable night time nature walks and outdoor adventures? Explore the trails, marvel at the moon, discover the features of Yosemite Valley in a whole new light, and simply gaze at the stars. The guides share the history of the park, discuss the wildlife, and explore the legends of Yosemite during your nature walk.

And if you are wondering, exploring the park with guides after dark is great for all ages.

20. Visit in the Winter

There is a different feeling in the park once snow falls and blankets the landscape.

The outdoor adventures available in the winter at Yosemite National Park include cross country skiing, skiing, snowshoeing, and skating. Skiing is available at Badger Pass Ski area. But can you also imagine snowshoeing under the light of the moon?

How Do I Get Around Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite National Park does have some free shuttles. While free, they are also slow. Perhaps you can consider it one of your slow and relaxing tours of Yosemite!

If you take the Yosemite Valley Shuttle, it makes 20 stops throughout the valley. The free shuttle runs year-round during daytime hours. Depending on the weather and crowds, the shuttle schedule and stops change throughout the year. Check the bus schedule you receive when you enter the park.

From early June to mid-September, there is also a free shuttle in the Tuolumne meadows area which moves visitors between Tioga Pass and Olmsted Point. 

Where to Stay For Your Adventures in Yosemite National Park

If you choose to vacation in or around Yosemite National Park, you will have to balance proximity with price as well as the amount of time you will spend driving each day (along with the price of gas).

If you are staying any distance away from the park and choose to sleep in a little, you might wish you had risen a little earlier.

The drawback to sleeping in? You will have to wait at the entrance in a long line of cars. Waiting in line is definitely NOT one of the best adventures in Yosemite. Getting up early is totally worth it when you only have to wait for four or five cars versus an hour’s worth of cars.

Tips for Visiting Yosemite National Park

Here are a few key things to remember before you plan your outdoor adventures and trip to Yosemite National Park

Practice the “Leave No Trace” Principles!

When you plan adventures in Yosemite, your mantra should be: leave it better than you found it. You should know that foot traffic damages natural landscapes, so you need to do your part to stay on marked trails and avoid stepping on small plants off the trail. And hey, if you see trash, pick it up.

Don’t Leave Food or Scented Items in Your Car 

Bears are smart and they have sensitive sniffers. Even items such as lip balm can attract them to your car. And did you know that they are more than capable of opening car doors and smashing windows? It is your responsibility to help keep wildlife wild.

Make use of the metal bear bins that you’ll find in the campgrounds and parking lots of Yosemite. These free and unlocked outdoor lockers allow you to safely store your food for the day rather than taking the risk of leaving it in your car.

Think First Before Taking a Selfie

The views and vistas of Yosemite can definitely take your breath away. They are stunning.

But don’t become a statistic as you try to take the best selfie and inch too close to the edge of a cliff or lookout point. Be cautious as you photograph your adventures in Yosemite.

Drive Slowly and Be Mindful of Speed Limits

You may encounter everything from bears to squirrels to deer and even the occasional mountain lion as you are driving through the park. Be mindful.

Gear for Your Outdoor Adventures in the Park

• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Face Sunscreen: PCA Skin Active Broad Spectrum SPF 45

The sun and heat seem to reflect off the mountains and warm up the valley floor. Be sure to wear a hat or visor. Click the Amazon Travel and Hiking Gear link for more options.

Wear shoes that have good grip if you plan to hike or explore the waterfalls at Yosemite. The granite rock and granite steps along paths have a tendency to become covered in sand and small pebbles that have some slip to it. Be careful.

Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Hiking Boots

Oboz Hiking Boots for Women

One of the must-haves on our family hiking excursions, and even on our vacations, is a Camelbak 3.0 Liter Hydration Pack Reservoir with a high flow, self-sealing, bite valve.

Chris brings his North Face Recon Backpack; it is perfect for a day trip pack which you can fill with your lunch, snacks, the Camelbak bladder, and extra water bottles.

The laptop section of the backpack is padded enough to keep the water in the reservoir cool and minimizes leaks to other sections of the backpack.

I will say, you really have to like the people you travel with to use this method. We all drink from the same bite valve!

It is also common for us to bring a couple of cold bottles of water to tuck into the external side pockets of our backpacks. When you are hiking for hours, water is essential.

We add Electrolytes, Zipfizz, or Crystal Lite single serve packs to the water for a little extra energy or flavor boost.

Along with staying hydrated, you will want to bring snacks or power bars. Our favorite bars right now are Built Bars. They come in a variety of flavors to satisfy all taste buds. You can even get sample boxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Thoughts on 20 Epic Outdoor Adventures in Yosemite National Park

If adventures in Yosemite National Park is on your bucket list, this year is a great time to visit. You will be required to have a reservation to enter Yosemite National Park.

If you are planning epic outdoor adventures in Yosemite National Park, you really ought to include exploration at two additional destinations: Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park.

All three of these amazing National Parks are close to each other in the Sierra Nevadas and deserve a visit. And each offers Instagram worthy photo opportunities.

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