| Yosemite is California's crown jewel. This natural | | | | at the general stores in Yosemite and Curry |
| wonder of towering granite megaliths, plummeting | | | | Villages. There are no gas stations for public use in |
| waterfalls and endless pine trees lures millions of | | | | Yosemite Valley, so fill up before entering. |
| visitors each year. What draws that many people | | | | Showers are available in Curry Village for those |
| to Yosemite? To name a few; hiking, biking, | | | | staying in the tent cabins and adjacent |
| fishing, camping, river rafting, swimming, | | | | campgrounds. Laundry and shower facilities are |
| horseback riding, rock climbing, inner tubing, | | | | available at Housekeeping Camp. An RV dump |
| sightseeing, skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, | | | | station is available at the entrance to Upper Pines |
| relaxing and more. | | | | Campground near Curry Village. Many popular |
| In all the years we've been returning to Yosemite, | | | | hikes start from the Valley floor, some being |
| we still have not seen everything there is to see | | | | wheelchair accessible, including Yosemite Falls, |
| nor done everything there is to do in the park. | | | | Bridalveil Falls and Mirror Lake. Horseback riding |
| Yosemite is separated into three sections; the | | | | tours start from the stables next to North Pines |
| high country to the north at Tuolumne, the Valley | | | | Campground in Curry Village. The outdoor ice rink |
| in the middle and the high country to the south at | | | | in Curry Village is our top pick for most beautiful |
| Glacier Point & Wawona. Forethought should be | | | | rink in all of California and is only available in the |
| given to what portions of the park you would like | | | | winter. |
| to visit and how long you plan on staying. If you | | | | South of Yosemite Valley and another 3,000+ |
| plan on visiting all three regions, you will need at | | | | feet in elevation is Glacier Point. Take Glacier Point |
| least a week if not more. | | | | Road from Highway 41 for approximately 18 |
| Tuolumne is located in the northern high country | | | | miles. Along the way are Bridalveil Creek |
| and accessed by Highway 120 (Tioga Road). | | | | Campground and several popular hiking trails to |
| Tuolumne is known for its open meadows, granite | | | | very unique destinations. Stand on an overhanging |
| domes, cooler high-altitude temperatures and | | | | rock at Taft Point and dare a look straight down |
| seclusion as compared to the rest of the park. | | | | into the Valley over 3,000 feet below. On the |
| There are no hotels, restaurants or other modern | | | | way to Taft Point are The Fissures, where one |
| conveniences. Accommodations include a large | | | | wrong step could instantly plunge you several |
| campground and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. The | | | | hundred feet. Head the other direction on the trail |
| campground has flush toilets but no showers. A | | | | and climb to the top of Sentinel Dome for the |
| general store, snack stand, gas station, RV dump | | | | best views of Half Dome and the entire Valley. |
| station and mountaineering store are nearby. Just | | | | In the winter, Badger Pass Ski Resort opens up |
| down the road is Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, | | | | offering downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, |
| which consists of several large tent cabins and a | | | | snowshoeing and lots of other snow play. |
| central cafeteria. Showers are available for those | | | | Continue to the end of the road to Glacier Point |
| staying at the lodge. | | | | where you'll find some of the best views in the |
| Directly across the road from the campground | | | | park. To the north you'll see El Capitan, Yosemite |
| are Tuolumne Meadows and most of Tuolumne's | | | | Falls, North Dome and beyond. You can't miss Half |
| attractions including Lembert Dome, Soda Springs, | | | | Dome to the east and Vernal & Nevada Falls |
| Parson's Lodge, McCauley's Cabin, stables and | | | | cascading down the granite cliffs below. Glacier |
| several hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty. | | | | Point provides restrooms and a small deli |
| The stables offer the opportunity for visitors to | | | | restaurant to visitors. Glacier Point Road is closed |
| explore the Tuolumne Meadows region on | | | | in the winter other than to the ski resort. |
| horseback. Heading west from Tuolumne along | | | | Further south on Highway 41 is Wawona. There |
| Highway 120 you'll pass Tenaya Lake. This is one | | | | you will find a campground, hotel, cabins, history |
| of Yosemite's largest lakes and offers sandy | | | | center, general store and Yosemite's only golf |
| beaches for swimming. And just a little further | | | | course. The campground is situated next to the |
| from there is Olmstead Point, which provides a | | | | South Fork Merced River and offers opportunities |
| different perspective with its panoramic views | | | | for fishing and swimming. Across the road from |
| that include looking across a plateau of undulating | | | | the campground and a short distance south is the |
| granite from which Yosemite Valley was carved | | | | Wawona Hotel & Restaurant. This historic hotel |
| by glaciers. Tioga Road closes down at first | | | | was built in 1879 and possesses much charm and |
| snowfall making Tuolumne inaccessible during | | | | sophistication. A trail leads directly from the hotel |
| winter. | | | | to the golf course across the road. The golf |
| Entering Yosemite Valley can be awe-inspiring. The | | | | course is a magnet for local deer and other |
| most impressive way to enter the Valley is via | | | | wildlife where it's not uncommon to see bucks |
| Highway 41 from the south through the Wawona | | | | with 10-point antlers. |
| Tunnel. At the exit of the tunnel is a parking lot | | | | Next to the hotel is the general store that |
| with a viewing area where you'll have an | | | | provides supplies, groceries, snacks, souvenirs, |
| unimpeded view of the Valley. From there, you'll | | | | fishing tackle and a gas station. Follow the road |
| see El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, the | | | | back from the store to the Pioneer History |
| Three Sisters, Bridalveil Falls and the lush pine | | | | Center which documents Yosemite's early days |
| forest that blankets the Valley. The Valley is the | | | | and contains a buggy collection, covered bridge |
| hub of Yosemite with hotels, shops, restaurants, | | | | and early structures such as homes, a bakery |
| tours and so much more. Roads and bike paths | | | | and jail. Stables provide the opportunity for |
| weave through the meadows and forests of the | | | | exploring Wawona on a guided horseback tour. An |
| Valley connecting all there is to see. An army of | | | | RV dump station and cabins are accessible off the |
| buses shuttles visitors back and forth to all the | | | | nearby service roads, just north of the general |
| attractions in the Valley including popular hiking | | | | store. Back at the general store is a shuttle stop |
| trails. | | | | where you can catch a ride further south to one |
| Activities in the Valley include hiking, biking, | | | | of Yosemite's most treasured attractions. |
| horseback riding, swimming, fishing, inner-tubing in | | | | Further south on Highway 41 and at the southern |
| the Merced River and ice skating during the | | | | entrance to the park is the Mariposa Grove of |
| winter. Most equipment rentals, such as bikes and | | | | Giant Sequoias. This sheltered forest contains |
| inner-tubes, are available in Curry Village at the far | | | | some of California's largest specimens of Giant |
| end of the Valley. The Yosemite Lodge also rents | | | | Sequoias. Choose to take a one-hour tram ride |
| bikes. Accommodation choices include the very | | | | through the grove or hike more than 3 miles of |
| upscale and exclusive Ahwahnee Hotel and the | | | | self-guided trails. At the top of the trail is a historic |
| more affordable Yosemite Lodge. Or, you can | | | | cabin turned museum and Visitor Center that also |
| reserve a tent cabin in Curry Village, a | | | | sells souvenirs. This a great place to find shade |
| housekeeping cabin, or a campsite at one of | | | | and cooler temperatures on hot summer days. |
| several campgrounds. Restaurants, cafeterias and | | | | The parking lot is small, so we recommend |
| eateries are located in Curry Village, Yosemite | | | | catching the shuttle from in front of the Wawona |
| Village and the Yosemite Lodge. | | | | general store. |
| Groceries, supplies and fishing tackle are available | | | | |