One of the crown jewels in our national park system, Yosemite National Park is a place everyone should visit at least once.
The “Incomparable Valley,” as John Muir called it, is truly a marvel to behold, but there’s a lot more to the park than just Yosemite Valley.
If you only have one day to see the park on a summer day when everything is open, here are some things to see and do to make the most of it.
Tunnel View
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Starting your day here gives a glimpse of much that’s to come. This is where Ansel Adams composed some of his iconic images of Yosemite Valley in multiple seasons.
Glacier Point
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Before heading into the Valley, get another even higher-up perspective of it from Glacier Point.
The classic view here takes in massive Half Dome along with Nevada and Vernal Falls. Spur hikes on the way there lead to views of El Capitan and other features of the Valley.
Bridalveil Fall
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The loop through the Valley is one-way, and Bridalveil Fall is one of the first stops along the way.
Although you can see this waterfall well from the road, it’s better closer up, and an easy trail leads to a viewing platform. This waterfall gets its name from its wispy cascades as they drop over 600’.
Go to the Beach
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Yes, there are some sandy beaches along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, and they are popular swimming holes on hot days, of which there are many late spring through early fall.
Two are named– Cathedral and Sentinel– but there are other unnamed spots out there if you want more privacy.
See the Ahwahnee
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The Ahwahnee is one of the most famous hotels in our national parks. It’s insanely expensive to stay there, but you don’t have to pay to see the structure and walk inside its lobby.
Yosemite Falls
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At 2425’ over three main drops, Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in the park and among the highest in the world. A short, easy path leads to the base of the lower falls.
On your next visit, plan some time to hike the steep trail up to where it first begins its drop.
Look for Rock Climbers on El Capitan
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American rock climbing didn’t start in Yosemite Valley, but that’s where it really took off and saw a generation of bold climbers take on its challenges.
Summer isn’t the prime season to climb legendary El Capitan, one of the tallest sheer cliffs in the world, but you can still find climbers on it most days, and it’s fascinating to watch them defy gravity.
Valley View
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As you leave the Valley, the last stop is Valley View. This is another spot where Ansel Adams crafted some of his most legendary pictures, and it provides a slightly different perspective from the Tunnel View.
See Some Sequoias
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Sequoias are the world’s largest trees (and the second-tallest behind their relatives, the coastal redwoods), and they only grow in the Sierra Nevada.
The best-known grove in the park is the Mariposa one, but it’s pretty out of the way if you’re heading from the Valley to the high country. Fortunately, Tuolumne Grove is along the way, and it’s worth a stop to see these massive trees up close.
Olmsted Point
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When you reach Olmsted Point, you’re officially in the high country even though you’ve technically been in it for a bit already. At Olmsted Point, you get a view back to Yosemite Valley and the backside of Half Dome.
Tenaya Lake
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This beautiful high-elevation lake is right next to the road for a few miles. Despite its chilly temperatures, it’s a popular swimming and sunbathing spot during the summer.
Relax in the Meadows
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Tuolumne Meadows is a mostly open expanse of high-altitude meadows and streams. One nice thing to do out here is simply to park and go wandering off, finding a secluded spot to relax, read a book, or take a nap in the Sierra summer sun.
Hike Up a Dome
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The Yosemite high country is known not just for beautiful mountain peaks but also for its many granite domes. Hiking up one gives you a beautiful panorama. Lembert Dome has a strenuous trail to its top, but an easier objective is Pothole Dome.
It doesn’t have a trail up it, but if you follow your nose, you should find your way up it. It’s named for its many depressions that hold water after a rain.
Have a Snowball Fight
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Around Tioga Pass, there are usually snowbanks well into the summer if not all summer long. As you prepare to exit the park via the very scenic drive from Tioga Pass to Lee Vining, stop and have some fun. How often do you get to have a snowball fight in the summer?
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