Best places to visit in Yosemite National Park: top Viewpoints & hikes
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
Yosemite National Park is conveniently located in California and can easily be reached from several major cities. Covering more than 3,000 square kilometers (1,200 square miles), it's an enormous park. If you want to explore at a relaxed pace and enjoy some of the park's best hikes and viewpoints, we recommend spending 2 to 4 days here.
Below you'll find our favorite viewpoints and hiking spots in Yosemite National Park.
Tunnel View
As you drive from the park entrance toward Yosemite Valley, one of the first iconic viewpoints you'll encounter is Tunnel View. After passing through the tunnel, you're immediately rewarded with one of the most famous panoramas in Yosemite National Park. From here, you'll enjoy sweeping views over Yosemite Valley, including El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall. At certain times of the year, the sunlight can create a reddish glow on Bridalveil Fall, making the view even more spectacular.
Lower Yosemite Falls
Our first stop inside Yosemite was Lower Yosemite Falls, located close to Yosemite Valley. Since we arrived early in the morning, parking was still easy to find.
We took the short walk to the waterfall, although the water flow was fairly limited because we visited during summer. From here, you can continue on the much longer and more challenging hike to Upper Yosemite Falls. We decided to skip it so we had enough time to explore more of the park's highlights.
Bridalveil Fall
Although you can already admire Bridalveil Fall from Tunnel View, it's definitely worth visiting the waterfall up close. The trail is short and the waterfall is located directly along the road to Yosemite Valley, making it an easy stop during your drive through the park.
While the waterfall is often less powerful in summer, it becomes especially impressive after periods of rainfall or during spring when snowmelt increases the water flow.
Valley View
Unlike Tunnel View, which overlooks Yosemite Valley from above, Valley View offers a perspective from the valley floor. Located beside the Merced River, this viewpoint provides beautiful reflections of El Capitan and the surrounding granite cliffs. It's the perfect place to stop, especially as you're leaving Yosemite Valley.
El Capitan
Rising nearly 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) above the valley floor, El Capitan is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Yosemite National Park. There are several roadside pull-offs where you can stop to admire this enormous granite cliff. We found ourselves stopping multiple times just to take photos. No matter how many times you see it, its sheer size is incredibly impressive.
Glacier Point
Unlike many of Yosemite's other highlights, Glacier Point is located outside Yosemite Valley. We recommend visiting either at the beginning or the end of your day.
During summer, the road to Glacier Point is fully accessible, while in winter it's often closed because of heavy snowfall.
For us, Glacier Point offered the most spectacular view in Yosemite National Park.
Even the drive there is beautiful, but once you've parked, it's worth walking a little farther to enjoy even more breathtaking panoramic views over Half Dome, Yosemite Valley and the surrounding peaks. Although it requires a bit of extra driving time, Glacier Point is absolutely worth the effort.
Mariposa Grove
Located in the southern section of Yosemite National Park, Mariposa Grove is one of the park's most unique areas. If you're entering through the South Entrance, it's also one of the first major attractions you'll reach. Mariposa Grove is home to hundreds of towering giant sequoias, including some of the oldest living trees on Earth. As you walk through the forest, you'll pass both standing giants and fallen trees, giving you a real sense of just how enormous these ancient trees are.
Several walking trails wind through the grove, with information panels explaining the history, ecology and conservation of these remarkable trees.
Visiting early in the morning adds an extra touch of magic, as the forest is wonderfully peaceful before the crowds arrive. We recommend setting aside at least half a day to fully explore this incredible part of Yosemite National Park.
