10 Best Things to Do in Yosemite National Park
Including waterfalls, wildlife and viewpoints.
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FAQs
Yosemite Essentials: 12 Basic Things You Need to Know
Read this before you plan your visit to the park.
Itineraries
4 Heart-Pounding Yosemite Adventures
Hike, climb and backpack your way through this incredible park.
Road Trips
Best Los Angeles to Yosemite Road Trip via the California Coast
Discover the hidden gems of California’s beautiful—and sometimes rugged—central coast.
Maps
Yosemite National Park Overview Map
Do you know where you're going?
Gateway Towns
Tuolumne’s Top 5 on the Edge of Yosemite
Discover the many hidden gems of Tuolumne County.
Neighbor Parks
Sequoia National Park, Yosemite’s Southern Neighbor
Just a half-day's drive south of Yosemite, Sequoia National Park is not to be missed.
Natural Wonders
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite
Mariposa is the largest of the three groves inside Yosemite with about 500 mature sequoias.
Hiking Trails
Which Yosemite Hiking Trail Should I Hike?
Follow our guide by picking what you want to see in Yosemite.
Hotels and Cabins
Which Lodging in Yosemite National Park?
The ultimate guide to lodging inside Yosemite National Park
Transportation
Ride the YARTS Bus to Yosemite National Park
Skip the parking hassles in Yosemite
Do I Need a Reservation to Visit Yosemite?
Reservations are required to visit Yosemite National Park during peak season and hours in 2024.
In 2024 Yosemite National Park will once again require reservations for entry during peak visitation seasons and hours at all entrances besides Hetch Hetchy. These include weekends in February, weekends and holidays in spring and early summer, every day in mid-summer, and weekends and holidays in late summer and fall.
Yosemite reservations 2024 February Day-Use Reservations for Firefall: In 2024, day-use reservations are required at all times of day February 10-11, 17-19 and 24-25. April, May and June Peak-Hours Reservation: A reservation, good for three days, is required between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays April 13-June 30. Outside of these peak hours and on non-holiday weekdays, a reservation is not required. July and Early August Peak-Hours Reservation: A reservation, good for three days, is required between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m., every day of the week between July 1 and August 16. Outside of these peak hours, a reservation is not required. Late August, September and October Peak-Hours Reservation: A reservation, good for three days, is required between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays August 17-October 27. Outside of these peak hours and on non-holiday weekdays, a reservation is not required. February Weekend Reservations During Firefall Firefall in Yosemite (Photo by Jeongrae Cho)
If you’re planning to visit Yosemite in February 2024, you make need a reservation. Because of the spectacular “firefall” phenomenon that occurs when the sunset hits Horsetail Fall each February, visitors flock to the park. If you’re planning to visit during the three weekends in February when this occurs, you’ll need a reservation, regardless of whether or not you plan to visit the waterfall.
February 10-12, 17-19 and 24-26, 2024, visitors must make a day-use reservation to visit Yosemite National Park. Half of available reservations will become available on recreation.gov at 8 a.m. PT on December 1, 2023. These reservations are expected to fill up immediately, so for your best chance of snagging one, make an account in advance and log on as soon as reservations open.
The remaining 50% of reservations will be available two days prior to your desired visit date at 8 a.m.
Reservations are not timed and allow unlimited entry for seven consecutive days. There is a non-refundable $2 reservation fee, in addition to your park entrance fee.