How to reach✈️ :

Nearest airports are San Francisco airport and San jose airport both are 4 hours from Yosemite Valley.There is one Mammoth Yosemite airport which is one and half hour away but it is accessible only when Tioga road is open.so check details of Tioga road conditions on National park website.

Best time to Visit⏲️:

Yosemite is open all year round and it looks beautiful in all seasons but obviously summer is most crowded there and winter has limited access as Tioga road and glacier point will not accessible in winter.If you are planning to do Hiking then spring and fall will be best as you will have less crowd and If you wants to witness beautiful fire waterfall then late February is best Month.

Where to Stay🏨:

There are many lodging options available inside National park but it is difficult to get booking inside national park lodges in peak season specially summer as they fills out quickly and costly too. But if you can not find booking inside park then many options are also available in neighbouring communities.I stayed in El portal(Continuation of Highway 140) from there arch rock entrance is approx 25 min drive.El portal has Gas station and general store which can be useful during stay.Yosemite valley is easily accessible from arch rock entrance from El Portal.

How to get around 🚘:

If you are driving by a car then Electric charging is available in Yosemite national park but no gas availability inside the park.Gas is available at Wawona,El Portal and Crane flat.Free yosemite shuttle service is available in yosemite valley and some other part of the park.There are five entrance to the National park Arch rock Entrance,Big oak flat enrance,Tioga pass entrance,South entrance and Hecth-hetchy entrance.

What to check before planning ✔:

Make sure you check about permits and reservations for Yosemite national park on National park service website and many situations change over period of time.Some roads are closed through November to May/June and some requires tire chains to drive.Book your accommodation well in advance and National park pass is also required for entry into Yosemite National park.

1. Half Dome:

One of the most epic and prestigious hike in the yosemite national park is Half Dome. 16 to 17 mile round trip hike with elevation gain of 5000 ft from yosemite valley and 8800 ft of elevation above sea level is must do hike in yosemite if you are adventure person and who likes to do challenging hike. But this hike is not for everyone and also not for you if you are unprepared for this hike. It will take approx 10 to 12 hours to fully complete this hike. 

This hike is not for beginners as it is very long and strenuous hike and you will be needed permit for climbing half dome cables.If you don't have permit then you can go till where cables section start but wont be able to climb cables as national park rangers will be there to check your permit and give you instructions about climbing cables.

This long hike to half dome is very beautiful.It starts from Happy isles (Shuttle stop no 16) which is 0.5 mile from trailhead parking and 0.75 mile from curry village parking.You will pass through many beautiful waterfalls like Vernal falls,Nevada falls and yosemite valley with beautiful sequoia trees and at the summit you will have an outstanding view of the yosemite valley and High sierra mountains. It is long hike so it is better to start at the time of sunrise and reach to the top of half dome before 3 pm.

Most difficult part of the hike is climbing cables.Two metal cables with particular gaps are placed on the half dome which is 400 ft of elevation from the base of half dome.It requires physical as well as mental strength to climb these cables.Also check weather before starting cables as strom or windy situation can be dangerous to climb cable section of Half Dome.

2. Vernal Falls & Nevada Falls via Mist Trail:

This is one of the yosemite's best and popular hike as you will experience two majestic waterfalls in one single hike.If you want to do one hike then this is must do hike in Yosemite national park.Trailhead is located at the happy isle nature center (Shuttle stop 16).From happy isle parking it is 3 mile round trip to vernal falls with elevation gain of 1000 ft and Nevada falls is 7 mile round trip with elevation gain of 1900 ft via mist trail.It will take approx 5 to 6 hours.This mist trail has fabulous views starting from the bridge overlook to two wonderful roaring waterfalls.

During peak season try to reach to trailhead before 8 AM so in that way you can avoid crowd and make the best of your time to enjoy these giant waterfalls to yourself.This trail is very steep and also has stairs so do not forget to wear proper hiking footwear. Also you will definitely get a wet while passing through vernal falls so be ready for that but it is one of best experience I ever had. 

From the start trail is paved and you will have a best yosemite valley from bridge overlook after that trail become steep and you will have stairs with lots of mist coming from vernal falls which is one of the fabulous experience.After that you will reach to the top of Vernal falls and that view is an amazing.If you do not want to continue then you can go back from here.

From vernal falls there is another hike of 1.6 mile to Nevada falls.This part of the hike between vernal falls and nevada falls is steep and also strenuous but not wet one like vernal falls.You will pass through shady forest and some constructed stairs from rocks.Once you reach there you will have best view of Nevada falls but I will suggest to you go to Nevada falls footbridge which is 0.2 mile and you will have one of the best viewpoints of Nevada falls.

If you want to return via john muir trail then continue over to foot bridge onto John muir trail.and If you very much avid hiker then you can continue going to Half dome.This trail is a part of whole Half dome hike also.

3.Upper Yosemite Falls:

Upper falls in yosemite national park is considered as tallest waterfall in the continental US dropping below in the yosemite valley. It is 7.2 mile round trip with elevation gain of approx 2700 ft from yosemite valley which take approx 6 to 7 hours.It is one of the challenging hike also.You will have three sections on this trail Lower falls, Middle falls and Upper falls. Mostly all people go to only Lower falls and soak in the views of the yosemite valley but if you are interested into difficult hiking then you should must do hike till Upper yosemite falls.

Trail starts at the camp 4 which is yosemite valley loop trail.In the starting time you will have some steep climb with rocks and sand and then switchback after switchbacks with gorgeous view of the Yosemite Valley.You will pass through oak woodland also.After hiking one mile you will reach to columbian rock which will you a perfect view of Upper falls and Half dome both together.After that trail become very steep and  you will climb constructed rocky stairs and some uneven terrain also.After passing through all you will reach to yosemite upper falls viewpoint.

If you only do one hike in Yosemite then hike to Upper Yosemite Falls is a great option.It is challenging but you will be rewarded with amazing views of the valley, Half Dome, and Sentinel Dome while hiking alongside one of the tallest waterfalls.

4. Mariposa Grove :

If you want to have change in a scenery then head to Mariposa grove of yosemite national park. There are 500 giant sequoia trees are oldest and largest living on the earth which are there in mariposa grove.Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is located at the end of Mariposa Grove Road off Highway 41. There is a larger parking lot as well as an arrival plaza, shortly after the park’s south entrance. You can park there and take a shuttle, bicycle or hike the remaining distance to the lower grove. 

There are many short trails also in mariposa grove but this 7 mile round trip trail will take you to both Upper and Lower mariposa grove which will cover Bachelor and Three Graces,The Faithful Couple and The clothespin Tree.You will also climb to beautiful viewpoint at Wawona Point. This trail will take to 3000 old Grizlzy giant tree and The California tunnel on your route to Wawona Point.

5. Lower Yosemite Falls:

If you do not want to do any difficult hike then you can take hike to lower yosemite falls which is very easy only 0.5 mile one way with elevation gain of only 50ft and paved but it will take you to an amazing waterfall.This hike is gem for everyone who do not want burn calories but wants gorgeous view of waterfalls.

If you plan to go in spring then you can expect to get wet when standing near footbridge near waterfalls or while taking pictures.This trail is part ot america's tallest waterfalls and will you give spectacular view of both lower yosemite falls and upper yosemite falls.