• "Get to the gate by 8!" In peak season (May-September) lines for the gate can go on for literal hours. Skip the long wait and crowded trails by getting to the park early. No later than 8am, which means leaving The Ridge by 7:30am. Of course, the earlier you go, the better.

• Entrances. From The Ridge, there are two entrances to the Park: South Gate and West Gate (El Portal). 

  • South Gate is the closest (14 miles away; ~25 minutes) and will bring you right next to Mariposa Grove. Wawona is about 6 more miles (10 minutes) away from this gate.

  • West Gate (El Portal) is a great alternative if South Gate is closed (it happens now and then) or if you find yourself in Mariposa for other reasons. It is much further away from The Ridge (50 miles; ~70 minutes), but it will put you closer to the Valley floor once you're at the gate versus the South Gate. Overall, it is a bit longer from Ridge-to-floor this way, but not by too much.

• Fees & Reservations: it's been changing over the last few years so please make sure to check Yosemite's website for the latest details.

• Parking (especially between 10am-5pm in the Valley) can be hard to come by. Plan on parking your vehicle and leaving it. Walk, bike, or shuttle your way around the Park.

The park is huge—yet most visitors only go to Yosemite Valley. With a little planning (and a fair amount of driving) you can see other amazing areas and stay away from the crowds. Here are some of the sections of the park with links to the National Park Service's information about them. (You can also keep scrolling on this for our personal tips under "Hiking Suggestions.")

• • Mariposa Grove

  • Wawona

  • Glacier Point (closed in winter)

  • Yosemite Valley

  • Tuolumne Meadows

  • Crane Flats

  • Hetch Hetchy

Tunnel View is a popular spot at one end of the Valley where you can see all the major Valley attractions (Half Dome, El Captain, Yosemite Falls, and more). It's about an hour and five minutes from The Ridge and just above the Valley floor.

It is always recommended to bring extra food, water, and supplies with you when venturing into Yosemite. The park is vast with many miles between popular destinations, so it's best to be prepared. Further, this isn't an amusement park—it's a real and wild backcountry—and should be treated as such. There is limited, if any, food spots outside of Wawona, Glacier Point, or the Valley.

Food: if headed out for a long hike, bring plenty of supplies with you. If you're not headed deep into the back country, there are places to restock. Prices are higher in Yosemite versus outside the park, but not by much.

Wawona General Store: has all the basics and some souvenirs. Pretty well-stocked and the staff tends to chat with guests more often than the store in the Valley. Great place to go and get your bearings. Also, only gas between the gates and the Valley.

Valley Restaurants: there are two main areas to get food, Curry Village and the Yosemite Village (Visitors Center area). Both areas have a couple food vendors, stores, bike rentals, shuttle shops, and parking. Either makes for a good location to park the car all day and travel by bike, foot, or shuttle in the Valley.

Also in the Valley is the Ahwahnee Hotel's Dining Room. Stunning dining room and great service. Reservation recommended. It's in between both Curry Village (1.3 miles) and Yosemite Village (0.8 miles) so you can park at one of those and get there in your prefered travel method.

Wawona Hotel: This is a special place with a long, rich history. Great place to stop enroute to the rest of Yosemite or while in Wawona.

Gas: there are currently only two spots inside the park to get gas: Wawona and Crane Flats. Both are available 24/7 with automated pumps (so bring a credit/debit card). And this bears repeating: there is NO gas in the Valley.

EV Chargers: Yosemite now has EV Chargers. Though, due to the popularity of the Park, I don't recommend rolling in there with a low charge. Best to use it as a top-up scenario.

Right inside the gate (and 25 minutes from The Ridge), Mariposa Grove boosts some impressive Giant Sequoias. It's also where the idea of the federal government protecting lands for future generations was born. President Lincoln, in the midst of the Civil War, signed legislation to protect this area and, thankfully, it is still here for us to enjoy. 

If visiting in winter, check to see if it is closed due to snow.

There are a few ways to get up to Mariposa Grove:

• Hiking: at the back of the parking lot, you can find the Washburn Trail (2 miles; 500 ft elevation gain). Or you can take the paved Mariposa Grove Road for the same distance and elevation gain as Washburn.

• Shuttle: From about April to November (it changes due to weather), there is a free shuttle up to Mariposa Grove. Please check the Park's website to see if it is running during your visit.

• Driving: When the road is open (April to November) it is only accessible to shuttle and personal vehicles with a disability placard.

Once you're at the grove, go see some Sequoias:
*Ridge Recommendation: Take the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, but go clockwise. You can find the start of the trail behind the restrooms, walk to the right for a but and you'll see a service road. In that area should be a sign marked for the trail and take it up the mountain. Most visitors go counterclockwise (and everyone is all getting off the shuttle at the same time)so it can get very congested. Going clockwise will give help you avoid big pockets of people.*

Big Trees Loop Trail (easy; 0.3 mile loop from trailhead; wheelchair accessible)

• Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. Winding through a forest with many giant sequoias, this trail features the Fallen Monarch and interpretive panels on the life and ecology of giant sequoias. This loop is relatively flat and is wheelchair accessible.

Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (moderate; 2 miles loop)

• Here's where to see the Grizzly Giant and Tunnel Tree

• Allow two hours to enjoy the full loop that winds along the edge of the grove and includes 300 feet (91 m) of elevation gain. Visitors with a valid disabled placard can drive as far as the Grizzly Giant parking area and enjoy this area of the grove via a section of trail that is wheelchair accessible.

Guardians Loop Trail (strenuous; 6.5 miles round trip)

• Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. After hiking to the tranquil upper portion of the grove, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) loop takes hikers past many famous features including the fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree, the Telescope Tree, and the Mariposa Grove Cabin.

Mariposa Grove Trail (strenuous; 7 miles round trip from trailhead to Wawona Point)

• Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. This wide and relatively smooth trail follows a route that people have used to access the grove for generations. See famous sequoias such as the Bachelor and Three Graces, the Faithful Couple, and the Clothespin Tree along this somewhat strenuous route to the upper reaches of the grove. Continue to historic Wawona Point, an overlook with panoramic views. Total elevation gain is 1,200 feet (366 m). A number of alternative trails may be used to access the upper portion of the grove. These trails are generally steeper and more primitive than the Mariposa Grove Trail.

Just 35 minutes from The Ridge, Wawona is a great alternative to going all the way into the park. It's also a great spot to stop on your way back from the Valley. There's a well-stocked store, gas station, historical center, The Wawona Hotel, and some good hiking options.

Wawona Meadow Loop (3.5 mile loop).  This trail is easy and good for kids and dogs. Mostly flat and shaded, you go around the Meadow, which is particularly beautiful in the Spring. There are some small stream crossings to note in Spring (they are mostly dried up the rest of the year). The back half of the trail can get buggy in the summer, so bug repellant and skin/face coverings recommended.

To get there, park at the Wawona Store and head toward the golf course driveway (across the street and to the left; directly across from the Wawona Hotel). Go up the driveway. When you get to the tree line ahead of you, you'll see the start of the trail to your left.

Wawona Swinging Bridge (0.75 miles out & back). This is a favorite little-known spot. The bridge is cool, but the swimming hole around it is the true treasure. It can get crowded in the summer, but getting there early will ensure a good spot. 

To get there, take the road next to the Wawona Store that goes past the Pioneer History Center, through the Wawona subdivision, and bear to the left when you hit the fork in the road at the very end (about 2 miles). You can drive it and park in the lot at the trailhead. Or, you can turn it into a longer hike by parking at the Wawona Store and walk the same road.

Instead of going into the Valley, Glacier Point lets you take in Yosemite from above. Awesome views and great hiking awaits you here.

Glacier Point (1 mile round trip). This is a hot spot for visitors. Completely paved, easy walking, it's great for all visitors regardless of ability. There are bathrooms, a cafe with quick service and convenience items, plus stunning views of Yosemite Valley. We recommend making a stop here, if possible, but if you want something quieter for a snack break, grab your grub (packed or purchased) and head back down Glacier road a few minutes until you see an overlook with a parking lot. This stop is often less crowded and still offers breathtaking views.

Sentinel Dome and Taft Point (2.2 miles round trip; 2 hours to Sentinel Dome or Taft Point): Two great hikes, one trailhead. You can hit both in one day, if you're looking to add mileage. Go early to beat the heat and grab a parking spot. You'll see the trailhead with bathrooms on Glacier Point Road, ~15 minutes before Glacier Point. 

Sentinel Dome: you'll have to climb a large dome at the end of this one, but the 360 degree views are very, very worth it.

Taft Point: a little more shaded than Sentinel Dome, this hike has less climbing to see the views. You also get a look at massive fissures up close.

McGurk Meadow (1.8 miles round trip). This one doesn't have the views other hikes in this area offer, but it's serene and often not as crowded. Seeing the old McGurk cabin is pretty neat. Note this hike is almost completely downhill on the way out...meaning it's all uphill on the way back.

Ah, Yosemite Valley. There's a reason why many visitors trek to the Valley. Most of Yosemite's famous landmarks are here and it is a must-see.

Lower Yosemite Falls (0.5 mile round trip from trailhead). Paved and fairly level, this walk is good for all abilities and leashed pups are welcome. As one of the most popular and easily accessible spots, it does get crowded.

Upper Yosemite Falls (~8 miles). This is a strenuous out-and-back hike from the Valley Floor to the top of Yosemite Falls. Full of steep switchbacks carved into the granite mountain (read: unleveled ground), this hike is not an easy climb. If you are not an experienced hiker, be prepared for an 8-hour adventure. Hikers should have proper footwear and plenty of water. An early start and walking sticks are also recommended as the narrow trail can get crowded and slippery.

Mirror Lake (~4 miles round trip). Best in Spring or early to mid Summer, Mirror lake offers a mirror-like reflection of the surrounding granite cliffs. It's dried up the rest of the year, but still a nice walk. You can park near Curry Village (aka Half Dome Village) for extra miles. For a slightly shorter walk, park as near as you can to the different Pines Campgrounds (see map below and walk following the red arrows).