Yosemite National Park Guide

Explore Yosemite National Park through 50 stops covering Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove, Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Road, and Hetch Hetchy.

Welcome to Yosemite National Park, one of America's most iconic landscapes — a granite cathedral of soaring cliffs, plunging waterfalls, ancient giant sequoias, and high-country meadows that has inspired generations of naturalists, photographers, and adventurers since John Muir championed its protection in the late nineteenth century. This comprehensive audio guide takes you through 50 carefully curated stops across the park's most beloved regions.

Begin in Yosemite Valley, the seven-mile-long heart of the park, where granite walls rise three thousand feet from the valley floor. Stand at Tunnel View for the classic first glimpse — El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome framed in perfect composition. Walk to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall, hike the steep Upper Yosemite Fall Trail, gaze up at Half Dome's smooth shoulder, and explore the historic Ahwahnee hotel and Yosemite Village with the Ansel Adams Gallery.

Climb to Glacier Point for the ultimate panorama across the valley to Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and the High Sierra beyond. Tackle the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall, the John Muir Trail to Nevada Fall, the Panorama Trail, and the Four Mile Trail. Venture south to Mariposa Grove to walk among the Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree, then visit Wawona's covered bridge and Pioneer Yosemite History Center.

Drive the Tioga Road across the high country to Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point, Tuolumne Meadows, Lembert Dome, and Cathedral Lakes. Cross Tioga Pass to Mono Lake's eerie tufa towers in the Eastern Sierra. Discover the lesser-visited Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Wapama Falls, and walk among the giant sequoias at the Tuolumne and Merced Groves near Crane Flat. From valley meadows to high-country lakes, from thundering waterfalls to silent groves, this guide is your companion through one of the great wonders of the natural world.

HOW TO REACH

Yosemite National Park is in central California, about three to four hours' drive from San Francisco, Sacramento, or Fresno via Highway 120 (Big Oak Flat Entrance), Highway 140 (Arch Rock Entrance), or Highway 41 (South Entrance). Tioga Road (Highway 120 east) crosses the high country from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass but is closed by snow from roughly November through May. The closest airports are Fresno (FAT, 2.5 hours), Mammoth (MMH, summer only via Tioga Pass), and the Bay Area airports (SFO, OAK, SJC). YARTS public buses connect Merced, Mariposa, Mammoth Lakes, and Fresno to Yosemite Valley. Inside the park, the free Valley Shuttle loops around Yosemite Valley year-round.