Yosemite Valley is the heart of the park and has something to offer for everyone, from challenging hikes to scenic drives to water activities in the Merced River, to so much more.
To properly see Yosemite Valley, spend the morning on a hike of your choosing and pick a fun activity for your afternoon. Some of the most popular activities in the summertime include floating the Merced, biking, fishing, checking out the Ansel Adams Gallery, and attending a ranger-led program.
I’m Juliana and I’ve lived in Yosemite for two summers and spent weeks exploring Yosemite’s valley floor. There is so much to see and do that you could easily spend a week and not see it all. With so much to cover, I’ve curated some of my favorite spots in the Valley and how to properly see them to make the most of your travels.
This itinerary is intended for anybody traveling from May to September, but can be slightly altered to work for any time of year. All hikes are open year-round, although some activities, such as floating the Merced, are open from late May to August.
Make your trip planning EASY, avoid the crowds, and see places most people don’t know about
Inside the guide:
*Step-by-step plan that will take you to the best hikes, viewpoints, drives, and must-do stops
*Exact time-frames and star-ratings so you can make the best use of your time and money
*Best Friend Guarantee: love it or get your money back
*Stay in the right spot with our area recommendations to reduce time driving and waiting in entrance lines
Yosemite Valley is always bustling with people, and crowds are intense almost year-round. Parking is the biggest headache in the park. Parking fills up incredibly fast and can leave you waiting quite a while for a spot to open up.
I recommend looking for a spot at Curry Village first, as it has the largest parking area in the Valley and is where the main bus station is located. If you cannot find one there, look for any available parking spots. Do not leave your parking spot until you are ready to leave the Valley for the day.
Make sure to utilize the bus system in the Valley. It is the most efficient way to get around and can drop you off at pretty much anywhere you would want to see or do. There are two main lines to cover the entire Valley, both of which connect in several spots.
CHECK OUT: Driving in Yosemite: 10 Things You Need to Know
There are two main shuttles that cover the entire Yosemite Valley.
The Valley Wide Shuttle comes every 12- 22 minutes and takes an hour and a half to do the entire 19-stop loop. This covers the entire Valley floor.
The East Valley Shuttle only serves east of the valley for a total of 9 stops and arrives every 8-12 minutes. It takes 50 minutes to go around this entire area. The area of this loop is about 3 miles in length and you may choose to walk between some of the locations instead of waiting in line for the next shuttle.
Both shuttles run from 7 am-10 pm during peak season.
Starting your day early is crucial to having a fantastic day in the Valley. Yosemite is notoriously known for having long entrance lines and limited parking. Lines form early and last a long time. Parking also often becomes difficult to find after 8:30 am.
Nothing bothers me more than sitting in line for over an hour just to enter the park and not finding parking. I like to enter around 6:30 am to avoid this.
PRO TIP: There is also no cell service for miles at any entrance, so be prepared with a good playlist or podcast to keep you occupied.
Some parking lots for popular hikes, such as the Mist Trail, close for the day once they fill up, which is guaranteed to be before 8 am as well.
If you cannot find a parking spot within 30 minutes, take a scenic drive around the Valley and stop where you are able. Alternatively, you can check out Tunnel View, which, although it has limited parking, travelers are constantly coming and going. You should get a spot within 5 minutes of arriving, most of the time.
Because it is so crucial to get into the park early, bringing your breakfast with you is a fantastic way to cut down time. I like to pack protein bars, fruit, yogurts, and some type of coffee to eat on the car ride into the park, or once I have found a good spot.
This will be the most scenic breakfast you will find in the park.
If you would really like to eat in the Valley, Base Camp Eatery is your best bet for a good breakfast. They have a reasonably priced breakfast menu that includes pancakes, burritos, French toast, and pastries among a few other options.
Keep in mind that if you would like to change your parking spot after you finish breakfast, it will likely be a bit harder to find than when you first arrived.
Yosemite is known for its incredible hikes, with various levels of difficulty. If you are physically able, I highly recommend hiking the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls. (Shuttle stop #16, Happy Isles)
| Mist Trail to Vernal Falls | 2.4 miles | Strenuous | Not paved | 3 hrs |
| Mist Trail to Nevada Falls | 5.4 miles | Strenuous | Not paved | 5-6 hrs |
| Bridalveil Falls | 0.8 miles | Easy | Paved (ADA accessible) | 15-30 min |
| Mirror Lake | 2-5 miles | Easy | Paved | 1-3 hrs |
| Sentinel Meadow | 2.25 miles | Easy | Boardwalk | 1-2 hrs |
Mist Trail is the best hike in the park, in my opinion, and is doable for most people. This hike has stunning views of the Valley floor, the rushing water of the Merced, and gets you so close to Vernal Falls that you will be misted along the second half of the hike.
If you feel up to it, you can either stop at Vernal Falls or continue to Nevada Falls for more stunning waterfall views.
Alternatively, if you aren’t a big fan of hiking or are unable, take a brisk walk at Bridalveil Falls. This ‘hike’ is completely wheelchair friendly and has views you don’t want to miss. If you have some extra time, explore the Valley through the scenic loop drive. Stop where you want anywhere in the Valley, take pictures, walk around, and explore further wherever you want. Read more about our favorite hikes in our article 7 CAN’T MISS Hikes in Yosemite National Park.
As for lunch, I recommend having a picnic at the top of Vernal Falls. It has stunning views, is a great stopping point to catch your breath after the vigorous climb, and pretty much always has fantastic cell service. If you choose not to do your full lunch here, it is still a fantastic snack break area.
Anywhere in the Valley makes a good picnic spot as well, although if you choose to go rafting, Stoneman Bridge has a beautiful beach where you can both enjoy lunch and launch your floats.
If you are dead set on eating out, you can check out Curry Village Dining Pavilion. There is a variety of moderately priced restaurants to choose from, with options ranging from Italian to Mexican to American. This is typically just your normal fast food type place, although the lines will be longer and it may be difficult to find a place to sit.
If you visit between mid-June and early August, you cannot miss floating the Merced. It is a magical experience that you will talk about for years to come.
You can choose to either rent rafts at Curry Village or bring your own floats for a fun, free activity. Be aware that only parts of the Merced are safe to float and only for a portion of the year. Check out my article How to Float the Merced River in Yosemite National Park to learn how to properly float the Merced.
It is pivotal to know that this is typically only open from mid-June to the beginning of August if you wish to float the entire stretch with your own float. Although the Merced doesn’t ‘shut down’ the rest of the year, it is at an unsafe level before June and is incredibly shallow in places beginning around August.
You can also rent rafts at the Curry Village Tour and Activity Kiosk while inside the park. They are typically available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. They can accommodate most disabilities and allow everyone except children under 8 years old due to safety concerns. You can only reserve day-of or next-day rafts in person at their kiosk in Curry Village.
If your trip will be outside of those months, there are still plenty of other things to do in the Valley instead. Here are some more awesome activities:
This newly renovated gallery and gift shop highlight photographs taken by Ansel Adams, one of the founders of Yosemite National Park. New exhibits are released periodically, and replicas, special editions, and exclusive sets are available for purchase both in the store and online.
Check out their website for their current photography class schedule. Currently, three photography classes are offered that range from 3-4 hours and are ~$95 per person. They also have a free photo walk run by the National Park Service.
This kid-centric learning center is perfect for introducing your kids to the park’s flora and fauna. Take what they just learned outside with a few short trails that highlight the area’s four different environments: forest, river, talus, and fen.
National Park Service art classes, retreats, paint and sips, and kids’ art activities are offered here, many of which operate outside with a light hike to get a better view of what you will be painting. Check out their current class schedule.
With 12 miles of mostly flat, designated biking paths, biking is an ideal way of taking in the Valley that truly feels magical. Bring your own bikes or rent some at Curry Village Bike Rental. You can rent bikes for half a day or a full day, ranging from ~$30 to $75.
A free bike share program is also available, located at Camp 6/Yosemite Village parking lot as well as the Yosemite Valley Lodge parking lot. Here you can use one of the 50 bikes available for up to two hours; be sure to return them where you got them from.
From guided nature walks to historic Ahwahnee Hotel tours, there are ranger programs for everybody. Check out which programs will be available for your trip on the NPS website.
Fishing is available in every reservoir and lake unless marked within Yosemite National Park for those with a California fishing license. Just be aware that fishing isn’t allowed from any bridges or docks.
The most common type of fish caught is Rainbow Trout, which is available all over the park, even though they are only native to the Valley. Check out more details.
No matter what activities you choose during the day, you cannot go wrong with an iconic Tunnel View sunset. This is the most iconic photo spot in the park, and you cannot see Yosemite properly without a stop at Tunnel View. No matter how many times I go to Yosemite, I always make it a point to stop here.
Parking is limited here, but the nice thing is that people are often coming and going, so as long as you can be patient, you can usually get a spot within 5 minutes of arriving.
Snap some incredible pictures, and take in all that the Valley has to offer. Don’t be afraid to ask others for photos of your entire crew, as you will likely be asked to do the same.
If you have already visited Tunnel View at another point in your trip, such as during the day or for sunrise, possibly checking out a ranger-led stargazing tour after dinner could be a fantastic addition to your day. Check the website for tours available during your trip.
You may also want to head back to your accommodation to relax and freshen up, as it can be a very jam-packed day. I am often pretty tired after any day in the Valley, so keep this in mind while planning your trip.
If you want a bit of a slower day, choose either rafting the Merced or hiking Mist Trail and spend the other half of your day on a slower note by doing more smaller activities.
There are a few good places to check out in the Valley for dinner based on your budget. Those include the Mountain Room ($$$) and Curry Village Dining Pavilion ($).
The Mountain Room is located at the prestigious Ahwahnee Hotel and is the fanciest restaurant around. They serve steak, sustainable seafood, and cocktails, so be sure to change out of your hiking attire before dinner. Reservations can be made in advance.
The Curry Village Dining Pavilion is located in Curry Village with a variety of food options ranging from pizza, pasta, burritos, burgers, and tacos. These are the most convenient restaurants and fast food within the park, but have very limited seating for the number of guests they serve. Only a select few restaurants are available all year-round, while the majority are open from April to October.
If you have accommodations near Oakhurst, I can highly recommend Miller’s Landing on Bass Lake, although it doesn’t make sense to visit unless you are already in the area. They have fantastic burgers with a small-town feel overlooking Bass Lake.
Make your trip planning EASY, avoid the crowds, and see places most people don’t know about
Inside the guide:
*Step-by-step plan that will take you to the best hikes, viewpoints, drives, and must-do stops
*Exact time-frames and star-ratings so you can make the best use of your time and money
*Best Friend Guarantee: love it or get your money back
*Stay in the right spot with our area recommendations to reduce time driving and waiting in entrance lines
If you want to stay inside the Valley, there are quite a few options. Unfortunately, these options book up incredibly quickly and can be incredibly expensive. There are four main campgrounds, three of which you can book in advance.
The Ahwahnee Hotel is very prestigious and a one-night stay starts at ~$291. The Yosemite Valley Lodge is the only other proper hotel in the park and is around the same price point.
Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp are the two other camping/glamping options, with canvas tents and wooden cabins. Some have electricity/heat, while others are more rustic.
DISCOVER: Where to Stay When Visiting Yosemite: The Complete Guide (Inside and Outside the Park)
Yosemite Valley is the easiest area to get to in the park. Every other area in the park directly connects to it.
From Arch Rock Entrance: 5-minute drive; immediately after you enter the park
From South Entrance/Wawona: 45-minute drive; take Highway 41 to Southside Drive
From Tioga Pass Entrance/Tuolumne Meadows: 1.5-2 hour drive; take Highway 120 (Tioga Road) to Big Flat Oak Road towards the Valley
LEARN: What is the Best Entrance to Yosemite? Yosemite’s 5 Entrances
–When to Start Your Day: As early as you can comfortably get up. The earlier you enter the park, the less likely you will deal with the headache of entrance lines and finding a parking spot.
Before 7:30 is ideal for most travelers.
–What to Wear: Light athletic attire is best for the Valley. Keep a jacket in your car if the morning starts off chilly. Consider bringing an extra set of clothes and socks
if you plan on hiking the Mist Trail from May to June.
–What to Bring: Sunscreen, water, and snacks are a must! Bring a swimsuit, hat, and floatie if you choose to float the Merced. Check out our recommended gear for more.
–Road Conditions: All roads in the Valley are paved and accessible by most cars.
Check here for RV specifications, although most should be fine.
–Cell Phone Service: As with anywhere in the park, service will be spotty. There are some spots in the Valley, in Curry Village, and at the top of Vernal Falls that have good service. But don’t count on it.
–Don’t Bring Your Doggo: Dogs are not allowed in Yosemite National Park. Of course, service animals are always allowed everywhere humans are.
–Services Within the Valley: There are plenty of bathrooms and food options in the Valley. There are no gas stations here, with the closest being in El Portal, Big Flat Oak, and Wawona.
Beware that these are incredibly expensive.
YOSEMITE TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Yosemite National Park, check out our Yosemite Homepage.
THINGS TO DO: Don’t miss all that Yosemite has to offer, including hiking, things to do in Yosemite Valley, and floating the Merced River.
WHERE TO EAT: Don’t miss the best places to eat in Yosemite National Park
WHERE TO STAY: Learn all you need to know about where to stay inside and outside the park
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Find out how to get there, the best time to visit, which is the best entrance, and all about driving around Yosemite.
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