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Top Ten Things To Do :
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1. Watch Waterfalls in Yosemite Valley
If you want to be really wowed by the Yosemite Valley's grandeur, time your visit for late spring. May is usually the month when Yosemite's waterfalls flow most dramatically, thanks to rushing snow melt from high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Dozens of waterfalls, both big and small, burst into life along the granite walls of the valley. You can hear them thundering everywhere you walk. Often a cloud of mist obscures the bottom of the fullest falls, meaning that if you walk right up to them, you won't see much. But if you know the right vantage points, you'll be able to capture some unforgettable photos.
2. See Famous Viewpoints in Yosemite
The natural beauty of Yosemite is so incredible that it inspired an entire 19th-century conservation movement, which resulted in the valley's protection as a national park in 1890. Naturalists led by John Muir (1838–1914) and artists like photographer Ansel Adams (1902–1984) found inspiration for their life's work here. First-time visitors to Yosemite National Park won't want to miss any of the following heart-stopping vistas, all easily accessible from paved roads throughout the park.
3. Walk Among Giant Sequoia Groves
Start by taking the whole family on a joyful nature walk through the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. Near the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park, this monumental grove shelters over 500 of the world's largest living trees, which tower over human day trippers. Although giant sequoia are not the oldest trees on Earth (those are ancient bristlecone pines, found in the eastern Sierra Nevada), nor are they the planet's tallest trees (those are the coast redwoods, as seen in Northern California), they are still mighty impressive due to their record-breaking size.
4. See Black Bears and Other Wildlife
With more than 400 kinds of animals and multiple life zones for plant life, Yosemite National Park is a top spot for wildlife watching. In fact, it's everywhere you look. The park's protected status, combined with a variety of natural environments that stretch from the Sierra Nevada's wooded foothills to the treeless alpine tundra, provides unmatched habitat for wildlife.
5. Explore Trails While Hiking or Riding a Horse
Yosemite National Park is crisscrossed by an unmatched network of backcountry trails open to hikers, backpackers, and horse riders. Incredibly, almost 95 percent of the park is designated as wilderness. Whether you just want to just get out of the car and do a little exploring, or you're planning a multi-night backcountry adventure on foot or horseback, we've got just the thing for you and your family. For more trail information, including current conditions, safety, and wilderness permits for overnight trips, visit the park's official website (http://www.nps.gov/yose).
6. Go Camping on Your Yosemite Trip
Nothing beats sleeping under the stars in Yosemite National Park, especially if you're looking for a little family togetherness. Developed campgrounds scattered throughout the park are a perfect place to introduce your kids to the joys of tent camping, or alternatively to park your RV for a few nights or a week.
7. Go Rock Climbing in Yosemite
Part of what makes the Yosemite Valley unique is its towering granite rock formations. Stalwarts like the giant wall of El Capitan, the polished promontory of Half Dome, and skyscraping Glacier Point all call to expert climbers, who sometimes bivouac overnight while suspended in mid-air. The excitement of rock climbing in Yosemite can be experienced by everyone, whether or not you decide to rope up yourself. Just watching climbers crawl like bugs up the face of big walls or free climb beside Yosemite Falls, North America's tallest waterfall, is thrilling enough.
8. Winter Recreation Abounds in Yosemite
Visiting the Yosemite region during winter is an unforgettable experience. Meadows, forests, and Sierra Nevada peaks are all covered in powdery blankets of snow, while the valley becomes a winter wonderland.
9. Explore Yosemite's History & Culture
Yosemite is the wild, wild West. From its earliest Native American inhabitants, to the mid-19th-century California Gold Rush, and the later arrival of ranchers, loggers, and hoteliers, the land surrounding Yosemite National Park is amazingly rich in historical sites.
10. Attend a Festival or Ranger-Led Activity
Yosemite National Park is a four-seasons outdoor destination. You can come to watch waterfalls in spring, go hiking in the Sierra Nevada high country in summer, roast marshmallows over your campfire in fall, and go skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Timing your visit to coincide with one of the region's many festivals will only enhance your Yosemite vacation.

We realize that travelers determine their vacation destination based largely on the things to do in an area. Well, we have news for you: the Yosemite region is a Things to Do Mecca! There is so much to do on a Yosemite Park vacation that you’ll be hard-pressed to fit it all in a single vacation.

Yosemite National Park and the surrounding regions are home to abundant recreation, amazing scenery, unique sights, natural wonders, arts and culture, and more.

AdventureYou won't have to wander far to find real adventure during your Yosemite vacation. The park's Sierra Nevada mountains are a prime destination for hikers and backpackers, especially when summer arrives in the high country around Tuolumne Meadows. Pack trips on horses and mules can take you into the backcountry for camping and fishing. During winter, you can go snowshoeing and skiing. When the snow melts in spring, whitewater rafting trips are the way to go. Off-road mountain biking isn't allowed in the park, but you'll find plenty of single-track on nearby national forest lands and at Mammoth Mountain in the eastern Sierra Nevada.
SightseeingOne of the biggest pleasures of a trip to Yosemite National Park is being awestruck by the scenery, starting with famous sights in Yosemite Valley including Tunnel View, El Capitan, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, North America's highest waterfall. Scenic drives wind through the park, from Yosemite Valley up to Glacier Point and Tuolumne Meadows off Tioga Road, which can feel like driving across the rooftop of the world. Other national parks, national monuments, and national historic sites scattered across California, stretching from the mountains to the coast and back to the deserts, are bonus add-ons to any Yosemite vacation.
Natural WondersWildflower-strewn meadows, gorgeous valleys filled with thunderous waterfalls, iconic granite rock formations carved by ancient glaciers, and ferny forests of towering giant sequoia trees are only the beginning. Many of the park's viewpoints, waterfalls and pristine lakes are easily accessible from paved roads, making them more family-friendly. Venture into the backcountry to be surrounded by Sierra Nevada peaks, reaching their pinnacle at Mt Whitney (14,505 feet) on the east side of the mountain range. Take a ranger-guided nature walk to learn more about the park's natural history, or sign up for an art class in the valley.
Arts and CultureYosemite National Park is filled with unique historical sites, dating back to California's 19th-century pioneer days and even farther back to when Native American camps covered the Sierra Nevada mountains. Artists have left their mark on Yosemite, too, most famously painters and photographers including Ansel Adams. Museums, art galleries and family-friendly educational centers will help you uncover the gems that lie buried in Yosemite's past. History buffs won't want to miss seeing California's Gold Country, while museum and art lovers can spend days exploring coastal cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
WildlifeYou can't visit Yosemite National Park without becoming acquainted with at least some of its colorful flora and fauna. Black bears are the biggest attraction, and your chances of seeing one foraging in wildflower meadows or the forests are good if you take a hike. Mule deer are commonly seen everywhere in the park. Yosemite is a prime destination for birders, and even casual sky-spotters might be lucky enough to get a glimpse of a rare peregrine falcon. Although not commonly seen, endangered bighorn sheep still graze in the Sierra Nevada high country, where curious yellow-bellied marmots make their home in talus piles of granite rock.
A Yosemite Park vacation is one big scenic road trip. Explore our sample routes and scenic drives here.
A Yosemite Park vacation is a trip of a lifetime. You need to know what gear to pack and wear while visiting the spectacular natural wonder. Backpacker provides what you need to get properly geared up.