Before arriving at Yosemite, we had visited Death Valley and Las Vegas, so we approached the park from the east side. We stopped at the Mono Basin Visitor Center near Mono Lake, where we purchased our park pass and received excellent advice on exploring Yosemite. The entrance fee for Yosemite was $35 per vehicle.
Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the most popular and well-known national park in California.
Tioga Pass – Road through Yosemite National Park
Running through Yosemite National Park is Tioga Pass (Highway 120), which is an attraction in itself. This beautiful mountain road, California’s highest, reaches elevations of up to 3000 meters and is typically open only in the summer months. The road had just recently reopened a few days before our arrival, following the winter season. This is the only road into Yosemite from this side of the park, so we were incredibly fortunate with our timing. It’s important to note this when planning a trip to Yosemite and deciding from which direction to approach. The park’s website provides updates on road conditions.
Tioga Pass begins near Mono Lake and stretches across to the other side of Yosemite National Park. From here, you can reach popular destinations such as Yosemite Valley and El Capitan.
Since the road had just reopened after winter, we expected to see large snowdrifts along the way, but there was actually very little snowโonly significant amounts in a few spots (of course, we had to stop and play in those ๐). In the U.S., snow management is quite different, and even a small amount can keep areas closed; practically, the road had to be completely clear of snow even along the roadside before it could be opened.
There is plenty to see in Yosemiteโcountless hiking trails, mountain views, giant sequoias, waterfalls, and more. The most popular destination is undoubtedly Yosemite Valley. In this beautiful valley, you can admire stunning landscapes, Yosemite Falls, the vertical and imposing face of El Capitan, and hike to iconic spots like Half Dome.
We had just one day to explore Yosemite, which is a very limited amount of time, but here are a few noteworthy places we managed to visit within a day after driving through Tioga Pass:
Lembert Dome & Tuolumne Meadows
Lembert Dome & Tuolumne Meadows are spectacular viewpoints along Tioga Road and are located close to each other. Lembert Dome features stunning dome-shaped granite rock formations, while Tuolumne Meadow offers picturesque river meadows at an elevation of 3000 meters with mountains in the background. There are several hiking trails in this area, but we only stopped here for a picnic and to enjoy the scenery.
Tenya Lake
Not far from the previous stops, you encounter Tenaya Lake, a crystal-clear lake nestled amidst breathtaking mountain scenery right next to the road. This is another perfect spot for a picnic, and you can swim in the lake. The east end has a larger sandy beach, while the west end has a smaller one. There are also several hiking trails starting from here.
Olmsted Point
Olmsted Point is a roadside stop along Tioga Pass with incredible views down into the canyon. It’s definitely worth walking a short distance along the trail to smooth-surfaced rocks, offering expansive views of the grayish canyon below. From here, you can also see the iconic Half Dome. This is a must-stop location.
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is the most popular destination within the national park and understandably so, as there is so much to see in a relatively small area. For first-time visitors to Yosemite, like us, this is an excellent and accessible place to witness stunning sights. However, since Yosemite National Park is California’s most popular park and Yosemite Valley is its most visited spot, expect crowds and potentially having to search for parking. Nonetheless, even with the crowds during our visit, the area is expansive enough for everyone to disperse, and you can enjoy nature without feeling crowded.
Yosemite Valley’s “hub” is Yosemite Village, where you’ll find the Visitor Center, a few restaurants, a couple of lodging options, and the Yosemite Museum. There’s a free shuttle bus that circulates around the valley, making it easy to get around.
Yosemite Valley itself is a glaciated valley about 12 kilometers long, characterized by towering, light-gray granite cliffs, with the most famous being Half Dome and El Capitan. El Capitan rises 914 meters and is an incredibly impressive sight. If desired, you can hike to both of these mountains from the valley floor; the hike to El Capitan is a total of 22 kilometers (round trip), and to the extremely challenging Half Dome, it’s 27 kilometers. There are many other hiking trails throughout the valley, so it’s worth exploring your options.
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls is a waterfall located in Yosemite Valley and is the tallest waterfall in North America. The waterfall consists of two parts: Upper Yosemite Fall and Lower Yosemite Fall.
The waterfall is a spectacular sight and can be seen from multiple viewpoints in the valley. There’s an easy hiking trail leading to the base of the lower falls, which is approximately 2.5 kilometers from Yosemite Village or alternatively a slightly shorter 1.6-kilometer loop trail starting from the Lower Yosemite Falls bus stop. The trail is very well-marked and easy to navigate. The valley’s free shuttle bus makes it convenient to reach this spot.
Upon reaching the falls, the roar of the water is breathtaking, and the scenery is truly magnificent. The mist travels a long distance from the base of the falls, and on a hot summer day, it’s a refreshing experience. You can walk on the rocks, but be cautious as they can be very slippery when wet.
This is definitely a highly recommended route within the valley. It’s an easy and suitable short hike with an impressive view.
There are also trails leading further up to the upper falls, but due to limited time, we didn’t venture beyond this.
Tunnel View
Tunnel View offers an iconic and breathtaking panoramic view of Yosemite Valley. It’s easy to stop here and is located at the end of the Wawona Tunnel on Wawona Road. The view captures both El Capitan and Half Dome, with the valley floor covered in lush forests. It’s an incredibly impressive sight.
Yosemite National Park is rightfully one of the most popular parks in the USA, with stunning scenery along the entire route that cuts through it, and I’m sure the same holds true for other areas we didn’t visit this time. We left so much unseen on this trip, and it’s impossible to see everything at once, but this is a place we will definitely return to.
