Yosemite National Park

Yosemite sits in the Sierra Nevada about four hours east of San Francisco, and it earns every mile of the drive. The valley floor is only seven miles long, but it holds El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, and the Merced River — all within easy sight of each other. In spring, snowmelt sends the waterfalls over the granite cliffs at full force. By summer the meadows are dry and gold, and the crowds are at their peak. Come in autumn for cooler air, fewer people, and the aspens turning yellow along the Tioga Road.

Getting There

The park has five entrances. The Arch Rock entrance on Highway 140 is the most direct from the Bay Area and stays open year-round. Tioga Pass (Highway 120 east) closes in winter — usually November through May — but it's the route to Tuolumne Meadows and the high country when it's open. Book your day-use reservation on recreation.gov well in advance if you're visiting between May and September; the park fills its quota most mornings.

What to Do

The valley floor trails are accessible to almost everyone. Mirror Lake is a flat 5-mile loop that reflects Half Dome on calm mornings. Valley View and Cook's Meadow give you the classic panoramas without any elevation gain. For something harder, the Half Dome cables route (16 miles round trip, permit required) is one of the most rewarding day hikes in California — the last 400 feet are near-vertical granite, and the view from the top covers the whole park. Glacier Point Road leads to an overlook 3,200 feet above the valley floor; you can drive there or hike up from the valley via the Four Mile Trail.

In winter, Yosemite Valley stays open and is genuinely beautiful under snow. Badger Pass is the park's small ski area, good for families and beginners. Ice skating at Curry Village runs through February.

Where to Stay Nearby

Lodging inside the park books out months ahead. The Ahwahnee is the grand option — a 1927 stone-and-timber hotel on the valley floor. Curry Village has canvas tent cabins and standard rooms at a lower price point. If you're staying outside the park, El Portal and Mariposa have motels and vacation rentals within 30 minutes of the Arch Rock entrance.

Tips Worth Knowing

• Cell service is limited inside the valley. Download offline maps before you arrive.
• Bears are active. Use the metal food lockers at every trailhead and campsite — a citation for improper food storage runs $100 and up.
• Parking in the valley fills by 9 a.m. on summer weekends. Take the free YARTS bus from Merced or Mariposa, or arrive before 8.
• The Yosemite Valley Visitor Center in the village has rangers on hand, a good bookshop, and free maps.