Yosemite Recommendations

There's no shortage of one-of-a-kind Yosemite experiences. A few notes to help you explore:

Reservations: The national park is not requiring vehicle reservations during 2026, unlike in past years. We encourage weekday visits this summer to avoid peak-season crowds and to lessen your impact on the park.
Public Transit: We recommend taking YARTS into the park (1 mile from us) and connecting with the park's free shuttle
Private Tours: We also recommend booking with Wildland Trekking to see an uncrowded Yosemite (they pick up at Wildhaven)

Or, skip the crowds altogether with these nature activities just outside the park:

Merced River Canyon: Whitewater rafting, picnic areas, scenic drives, and amazing swimming holes
Hikes & Waterfalls: Trails to Hites Cove or the impressive waterfalls on Willow Creek at Bass Lake
Lakes: Bass (boat rental), McClure (swimming/kayaking) & McSwain (largest inflatable water park in US)
Mariposa: Festivals, museums, dining, shopping, wineries, breweries, apple orchards & skydiving (learn more)

Reserve your tent or cabin and we'll do our best to help you explore inside, and outside, Yosemite.

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Hiking

Easy: Take the flat Mirror Lake trail to the lake and a Half Dome reflection view
Moderate: Nothing beats the Mist Falls Trail in waterfall season to Nevada Falls (& the John Muir Trail back down)
Challenging: If it's a one-of-a-kind stair-master hike with a view you're seeking, try Yosemite Falls before late summer.
Guided Hikes: Book a private day tour with Wildland Trekking and get picked up at Wildhaven, fed and outfitted with gear, and shown the 'uncrowded Yosemite' from the park experts

Views

A view of a valley surrounded by mountains and trees.

Tunnel View: Don't miss one of the most famous views of the park (pictured above)
Glacier Point: The long drive to this viewpoint is worth it to see the valley from above
Sentinel Meadow: Make a quick stop on the loop road to wander the valley floor with views of Yosemite Falls

Picnics

A person is having a picnic with a bottle of wine , grapes , crackers and nuts.

Meadow: We love to bring a picnic to the meadow at the base of El Capitan, right beside the river
Beach: Bring your favorite snacks to Sentinel Beach for impressive river and waterfall views

Family

A man and three children are sitting on a paddle board in a river.

Biking: Rent bikes or bring your own and cruise the very scenic (and flat) bike paths connecting the major views
Tram Tour: The National Park operates a 2-hour valley floor tour year-round, led by a ranger and great for kids.
Pool: If the river's too cold, bring the kids to the park's 3 swimming pools (Memorial to Labor Day)
Museum: Check out the park museum and adjacent movie theater at Yosemite Village
Ice Rink: In winter months, check out the park's very unique ice skating rink at Curry Village (Nov.-March)

3-Day Seasonal Itineraries

Two women are standing next to each other looking at a mountain.

We've assembled 3-day itineraries that will keep you as busy or relaxed as you'd like to be, including tips for Yosemite, Mariposa, dining, and on-property fun: