Yosemite National Park
Things to Do in the Park
Waterfalls, granite icons, giant sequoias, and unreal viewpoints—pick your pace and build the perfect day.
Starting in Oakhurst
Like the recommendations above? Use this itinerary to plan your trip
Pick a pace, follow the timeline, and you’re set. Designed for quick scanning (with optional upgrades).
Choose your pace:
Easy Day
Views + short walks.
Tunnel View
Bridalveil
Valley View
Lower Falls
Cook’s Meadow
Sentinel Bridge
Moderate Day
A little walking, still relaxed.
Tunnel View
Bridalveil
Mirror Lake
Lunch
Sentinel Bridge
Sunset stop
Big Day
Most iconic hike + best payoff.
Early entry
Vernal + Nevada
Lunch
Sentinel Bridge
Sunset stop
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MorningDrive + ViewsEnter Yosemite (South Entrance) + start with the iconic overlooks
- Tunnel View · 5–10 min
- Bridalveil Fall · 20–35 min
- Valley View · 10–15 min
Fast win: arriving earlier usually means less gate time + easier parking. -
Late MorningChoose your main activityEasyLower Yosemite Fall + Cook’s Meadow LoopFlat · scenic · great photosModerateMirror Lake (loop / out-and-back)Good payoff · not too intenseBig DayVernal + Nevada Falls (Mist Trail / JMT loop)Iconic · stairs + spray · huge views
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LunchKeep it quickLunch that won’t derail your day
- Best: pack a picnic (fast + flexible)
- Also good: grab-and-go in the Valley
- Only if Easy Day: sit-down lunch
Big Day tip: eat before/after the Vernal/Nevada hike—not mid-hike. -
Afternoon + Golden HourBest lightFinish with the “wow” stops
- Sentinel Bridge · reflections if water is calm
- Optional: revisit Tunnel View near sunset
Upgrade (if roads are open)- Glacier Point · top overlook in the park
- Sentinel Dome + Taft Point · short hikes, huge payoff (cliffs—use caution)
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ReturnHead backDrive back to Oakhurst
- Optional reset: stop by Bass Lake on the way home
Seasonality & closures (quick note)
- Tioga Road (for Olmsted Point + Tuolumne Meadows) closes in winter.
- Glacier Point Road typically closes for snow from around November into late May/early June.
- Mist Trail (near Vernal Fall): the lower Mist Trail section along Vernal Fall closes in winter due to ice/rockfall—use the John Muir Trail route instead.
- Mariposa Grove Shuttle runs seasonally (starts no earlier than April 15; ends on or before November 30, depending on conditions).
- Always check Yosemite Current Conditions before you go.
