Best Things to See & Do in Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley BestAttractions & Outdoor Activities
The Yosemite Valley is carved deep into the gently sloping western flank of the western part of the Sierra Nevada and characterized by its ‘U’ shape. However, the Valley was ‘V’ shape until the Ice Age when geological forces started pushing the hills and mountains higher and higher, and the Merced River flowed more quickly and violently through the Yosemite Valley. The Ice ages caused major changes to the valleys and landforms, as glaciers of 2,000 feet thick flowed through the valley, these glaciers carved away the bottom of the valley from a ‘V’ to the broader ‘U’-shape as seen today.
Today, the Yosemite Valley offers visitors unique views of towering cliffs, spectacular waterfalls and the beautiful Alpine scenery. Marvel in awe at Yosemite’s natural wonders, which include waterfalls, granite-polished domes and hanging rocks such El Capitan, Cathedral rocks, and Half Dome. There are also many other sights and attractions to see in Yosemite Valley including museums, visitor centers and much more.
- Yosemite Valley Visitor Center: Year-round facility offering visitors to Yosemite useful information, maps & brochures, nature exhibits, a bookstore and an educational movie theater about Yosemite National Park history, geology, and biology. Yosemite Valley center is located at 9035 Village Dr, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389. The museum and visitor center are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm (winter and holiday schedules might differ, so ensure to call before you head there (209-372-0200). The Yosemite Valley Visitor Center has an exhibit hall, where you can learn how Yosemite’s spectacular landscape was formed, how people have interacted with it through the centuries, how wildlife adapts and survives and how your national park continues to evolve. A free 23-minute film provides a stunning overview of Yosemite’s splendor.
- Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center (open May to October) offers wilderness permits, bear canisters, maps, and guidebooks. Information on pre-trip planning, minimum-impact camping and the Yosemite Wilderness, is also available.
- Yosemite Museum (all year): The Indian Cultural Exhibit and Village interprets the cultural history of Yosemite’s native Miwok and Paiute people from 1850 to the present. Demonstrations of traditional skills are presented. The Gallery offers art exhibits periodically throughout the year.
- Nature Center at Happy Isles (May to September): Designed for nature-exploring families, this center offers natural history exhibits, and interactive displays. Nearby are short trails through the area’s forest, river, and fen environments. Evidence of the huge 1996 rockfall from the Glacier Point cliff is visible above.
- Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center, formerly LeConte Memorial Lodge (late May to early September): Yosemite’s first public visitor center, operated by the Sierra Club, features a children’s corner, library, and a variety of environmental education and evening programs.
- The Ansel Adams Gallery offers work of Ansel Adams, contemporary photographers, and other fine artists. In addition, a wide selection of handcrafts, books, gifts, and photography supplies is available. The Gallery, formerly known as Best’s Studio, has been operating in the park since 1902.
- The Ahwahnee Hotel , a famous hotel and National Historic Landmark, is popular even for those not staying there. Completed in 1927, it was built in a rustic style with Indigenous design. Historic paintings of Yosemite, stunning stained-glass windows, and woven tapestries grace the walls. The Great Lounge and Dining Room are architectural examples of rustic elegance.
The Indian Village of the Ahwahnee “The Ahwahneechees”: The Indian Village is adjacent to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center; it reflects and depicts how the native Miwok and Paiute Indians once lived in these lands for thousands of years. Walk and visit the reconstructed Indian Village of the Ahwahnee people. Once the Yosemite Valley was called “Ahwahnee” which means the gaping mouth-like place. The Native Americans who once lived here called themselves “the Ahwahneechees”.
Best Yosemite Valley Day Hikes
Easy Short hikes: Hike to Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall. Try it in spring and early summer when the waterfalls are at their best.
If you have time, consider renting a bike, ride a horse or simply hike through the Valley Floor Loop; it’s easily accessible from many places throughout the valley floor. The full loop takes more time; however, the loop is quite interesting as it takes hikers throughout the Valley Floor’s top sights and attractions like Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Bridal veil Fall, the Merced River sights and overlooks.
Strenuous hikes: For a more challenging hike to Vernal and Nevada falls, and for even more and strenuous hikes, get up at 5 am and hike all the way to the top of Half Dome via the Mist Trail. This is an extremely difficulty and long hike of 9.6 miles, round-trip, with 3,200ft elevation (these hikes are seasonal permits are required).
More Things to Do in Yosemite Valley & Must-See Sights
Visit Tunnel View; this is an iconic and scenic overlook offering commanding views of Yosemite Valley where visitors can picture many sights from the viewpoint, like El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half-Dome. From this legendary site that was first opened in 1933, many locals and internationally renowned artists and photographers have painted, drawn, and photographed the dramatic scenery from Tunnel View and nearby vantage points since the 19th century.
This spot can get extremely crowded with tour buses and visitors, but still makes the list of top places to see in Yosemite National Park. From here you get a view of Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, and El-Capitan. Although this popular place gets very crowded in summer, but it’s nearly abandoned in wintertime which provides a sense of freedom and great solitude. This is where professional photographs merge when snow falls to capture the breathtaking views and photographs of the Yosemite Valley. Don’t miss out on the other Tunnel view a stunning overlook called ‘Big Oak Flat Road Tunnel’, it’s spectacular and offers views of Cascade Fall, The Elephant Rock, Clouds Rest, Half-Dome, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and The Merced River.
Visit Tunnel View; this is an iconic and scenic overlook offering commanding views of Yosemite Valley where visitors can picture many sights from the viewpoint, like El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half-Dome. From this legendary site that was first opened in 1933, many locals and internationally renowned artists and photographers have painted, drawn, and photographed the dramatic scenery from Tunnel View and nearby vantage points since the 19th century.
Bridalveil Fall: A short walk to the base of this 620-foot (189-meter) waterfall. The trail from either parking lot to Bridalveil Fall (0.5 miles), is fairly easy and accessible. It’s open year-round. When the water is at its peak in spring and early summer, you can expect to get wet! In some cases, the spray is so strong, you may not even be able to easily access the end of the trail. Expect icy and very slick conditions in winter. Hike safely as the trail, rocks and boulders are slippery in winter and spring. The Ahwahneechee Native American tribe once believed that inhaling the mist would improve your chances of getting married.
Half Dome is a well-known granite dome rock formation in the park at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley. It is named for its distinct shape. One side is a sheer face while the other three sides are smooth and round, making it appear like a dome cut in half. The granite crest rises more than 4,737 ft (1,444 m) above the valley floor.
Half Dome is a very public climb ascended in several different ways. Thousands of hikers reach the top each year by following an 8.5 mi (13.7 km) trail from the valley floor. After a rigorous 2 mi (3.2 km) approach, including several hundred feet of granite stairs, the final pitch up the peak’s steep but somewhat rounded east face is ascended by hikers with the aid of a pair of post-mounted braided steel cables originally constructed close to the Anderson route in 1919.
Most hikers take about 12 hours to hike all the way up Half Dome and back; some hikers take even longer. Park visitors have to get up extremely early and be in good physical condition because this is a very challenging hike, and some hikers die in Yosemite each year. Although very few fatalities are on Half Dome, many accidents have been reported. From 1919 when the cables were erected through 2011, there have been six fatal falls from the cables. The latest fatality occurred on July 31, 2011. Lightning strikes can also be a high risk while on or near the summit. On July 27, 1985, five hikers were struck by lightning, resulting in two fatalities.
The Half Dome Cable Route hike runs from the valley floor to the top of the dome in 8.2 mi (13 km) (via the Mist Trail), with 4,800 ft (1,460 m) of elevation gain. The hike can be done from the valley floor in a single long day, but many people break it up by camping overnight in Little Yosemite Valley. The trail climbs past Vernal and Nevada Falls, then continues into Little Yosemite Valley, then north to the base of the northeast ridge of Half Dome itself. The final 400 ft (120 m) ascent is steeply up the rock between two steel cables used as handholds.
Since 2011, all hikers who intend to ascend the Cable Route must now obtain permits before entering the park. Permits are checked by a ranger on the trail, and no hikers without permits are allowed to hike beyond the base of the sub-dome or to the bottom of the cables. Hikers caught bypassing the rangers to visit either the sub-dome or main dome without a permit face fine of up to $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail. On March 28, 2009, a large rockslide of 1,500,000 cubic feet (42,000 m3) occurred from Ahwiyah Point. The slide happened at 5:25 a.m. and damaged a large area under the dome. No one was injured, but hundreds of trees were knocked down, and a portion of the Mirror Lake trail was buried. The slide registered on seismographs as an earthquake reaching 2.5 on the Richter Scale.
El Capitan -The majestic granite monolith of El Capitan extends about 3,000 feet (900 m) from base to summit along its tallest face and is one of the world’s favorite challenges for rock climbers and BASE jumpers.
The top of El Capitan can be reached by hiking out of Yosemite Valley on the trail next to Yosemite Falls, then proceeding west. For climbers, the challenge is to climb up the sheer granite face. There are many named climbing routes, all of them arduous, including Iron Hawk and Sea of Dreams, for example.
Along with most of the other rock formations of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan was carved by glacial action. Several periods of glaciation have occurred in the Sierra Nevada, but the Sherwin Glaciation, which lasted from approximately 1.3 million years ago is considered to be responsible for most of the sculpting.
Once considered impossible to climb, El Capitan is now the standard for bigwall climbing. It has two main faces, the Southwest (on the left when looking directly at the wall) and the Southeast. While today there are numerous established routes on both faces, the most popular and historically famous route is The Nose, which follows the south buttress.
El Capitan Meadow is a beautiful open meadow and the perfect place for hiking and photographing Yosemite Valley sights and hanging cliffs. During the last two weeks of February when weather conditions align perfectly, and the setting sun turns the waters of Horsetail Fall into a majestic fire of red and orange light. Another great view is from El Capitan Meadow valley floor where visitors usually observe rock climbers on the ‘Nose’ of El Capitan.
Yosemite Valley River View – Yosemite Valley View is a spectacular and a must-see photo stop in Yosemite Valley. Located along one-way Northside Drive, it is the best to stop here on your way out of Yosemite Valley. It offers majestic views of El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral Rocks and Spires and a wide-open view of Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Fall and the Merced River. This underrated overlook inspired postcards and iconic photographs by independent photographers, artists and designers.
The Swinging Bridge is a popular destination for locals and visitors in Yosemite Valley, mostly for swimming, with an excellent view of Yosemite Falls. The land in the area resembles that of a beach. Although official policy does not allow visitors to jump off the bridge, this is still a popular place to jump into the Merced River despite the cold water. The area on both sides of the bridge has mostly shallow water with a few areas of 6 feet in depth in summer.
Cathedral Beach Picnic Area is also a beautiful picnic ground along the Merced River with views of El Capitan. As you enter the Yosemite Valley, Cathedral Beach is the first of three places to picnic or swim that I can recommend.
Mirror Lake and Hike – Mirror Lake is a small, seasonal lake located on Tenaya Creek in Yosemite National Park. Situated in Tenaya Canyon directly between North Dome and Half Dome, it is the last remnant of a large glacial lake that once filled most of Yosemite Valley at the end of the last Ice Age and is close to disappearing due to sediment accumulation. This trail is open year-round. This trail is 2 miles (3.2 km) round trip to lake and back; 5 miles (8 km) loop around lake it begins at Yosemite Valley shuttle bus stop #17. The first mile of this trail is a paved service road that leads directly to Mirror Lake. You may access the loop trail from the end of the paved path. The loop follows Tenaya Creek beyond the lake, and crosses two bridges after the Snow Creek Trail junction before returning past Mirror Lake on the south side of Tenaya Canyon. In winter, it can be icy and snowy, especially along the south side of Tenaya Creek. With a fresh perspective looking up at Half Dome directly from its base, you’ll be rewarded with views of Tenaya Canyon, Mount Watkins, Washington Column, and Half Dome reflecting in the lake.
In 2009, a large rockslide of 1,500,000 cubic feet (42,000 m3) occurred from Ahwiyah Point. The slide happened at 5:25 am and damaged a large area under the Dome. No one was injured, but hundreds of trees were knocked down, and a portion of the Mirror Lake trail was buried. The slide registered on seismographs as an earthquake reaching 2.5 on the Richter Scale.
Sentinel Bridge and the Merced River in Yosemite Valley – Spanning Merced River, Sentinel Bridge and Stoneman Bridge are elegant structures providing some unique views of Yosemite National Park. Located within Yosemite National Park, Sentinel Bridge is famous for its spectacular views of Half Dome reflected in the Merced River
Sentinel Bridge is a must-see stop for all photographers. This is one of the most famous sunset places in Yosemite for visitors who have no time to travel to Glacier Point for sunset photographs. Sentinel Bridge is famous for its views of both Half Dome reflected in the Merced River. Visitors also enjoy beautiful views of Yosemite Falls. Cook’s Meadow Loop is recommended for walkers and hikers, or even visitors who can’t hike, to enjoy views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, and Royal Arches from the center of Yosemite Valley. This is an easy and flat paved trail of 1 mile (1.5 km) loop.
Among other activities in Yosemite Valley are horseback riding, swimming, rock climbing, walking hiking, kayaking, and rafting in Merced River.
