Overview

Yosemite packs world-class rock climbing, thundering waterfalls, and ancient sequoias into a valley so iconic it defined American wilderness conservation. With 4.1 million visitors but a surprisingly manageable congestion index of 3.7, the park's 1,200 square miles absorb crowds well—if you know where to go. The catch: Half Dome permits sell out instantly, and summer parking turns into a blood sport. April offers the sweet spot of peak waterfall flow without July's chaos.

Trail Tip

Skip the Mist Trail mob scene and hike Four Mile Trail from the Valley floor to Glacier Point at sunrise. You'll gain 3,200 feet of elevation with the waterfalls backlit and have Glacier Point's iconic Half Dome view to yourself before the tour buses arrive at 10am.

When to Go

The sweet spot is May — good weather meets manageable crowds. Peak season hits in July.

Peak waterfall flow as snowmelt floods every drainage. Tioga Road opens by month's end, and dogwoods bloom before summer crowds arrive.

Monthly crowd levels — click a month for details

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F
M
A
M
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A
S
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D
Low Moderate High Peak

Seasonal Closures

Tioga Road (Highway 120 East): Typically closes due to snow; usually open by Memorial Day

Glacier Point Road: Typically closes November through May due to snow

Wawona Road: Occasionally closed for avalanche control

How Busy Is It?

How Yosemite compares to all 62 national parks

Busier than 31% of national parks

QuietBusy
Moderate

More crowded trails than 28% of parks

QuietBusy
Moderate

Higher campsite pressure than 25% of parks

EasyTough
Moderate
5,496 Visitors / Trail Mile
385 Campsite Pressure

Notable Trails

Yosemite has more trail mileage than 94% of national parks, with 750 miles across 800 maintained trails.

The difficulty split leans moderate to strenuous — only 25% of trails are rated easy.

Easy 25% Moderate 50% Strenuous 25%
Hikers climbing the side of Half Dome via the cables

Half Dome via Sub Dome

strenuous
16.5 mi ·4,800 ft gain ·10-12 hours hrs
View of Upper Yosemite Fall and Half Dome from trail

Yosemite Falls Trail

strenuous
7.6 mi ·2,700 ft gain ·6-8 hours hrs

Mist Trail to Vernal Fall

moderate
5.5 mi ·1,000 ft gain ·3-4 hours hrs
Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls as viewed from halfway up the trail

Four Mile Trail

strenuous
9.8 mi ·3,200 ft gain ·6-8 hours hrs
View all 51 trails
Trail Tip

Start early — Yosemite's most popular trailheads fill up by mid-morning in peak season.

Camping

15 campgrounds with 1493 total sites. About 7% are first-come, first-served.

A wood sign at the entrance to a campground reads, Bridalveil Campground.

Bridalveil Creek Campground Reservable

115 sites ·$36/night ·Seasonal
Camp 4 kiosk building and bulletin board

Camp 4 Campground Reservable

61 sites ·$10/night ·Seasonal
A wood sign at the entrance to a campground reads, Crane Flat Campground

Crane Flat Campground Reservable

151 sites ·$36/night ·Seasonal
A wooden sign reads Hodgdon Meadow Campground. A kiosk is located at the entrance to the campground.

Hodgdon Meadow Campground Reservable

105 sites ·$36/night ·Seasonal
View all 15 campgrounds

Top Activities

Yosemite excels at 15 of 17 activity types — here are the standouts rated 7/10 or higher.

Hiking

10/10

800 miles of trails from valley floor walks to alpine backcountry with world-class scenery

Rock Climbing

10/10

World-renowned destination with hundreds of routes on El Capitan, Half Dome, and surrounding granite

Scenic Driving

10/10

Yosemite Valley Drive, Glacier Point Road, and Tioga Road offer world-class scenery

Photography

10/10

One of the world's most photographed parks; iconic views from Tunnel View and Glacier Point

Backpacking

9/10

Extensive backcountry; High Sierra Camps offer supported backpacking; permits required

Horseback Riding

8/10

Commercial outfitters available; extensive horse-friendly trails; High Sierra Camps accessible by horse

Wildlife Viewing

8/10

Bears, deer, coyotes, bighorn sheep, and diverse bird species; early morning best for viewing

Bird Watching

8/10

Over 260 bird species; alpine, forest, and valley habitats provide diversity

Stargazing

8/10

High elevation and low light pollution in backcountry; Valley has some light pollution

Snowshoeing

8/10

Many summer trails convert to winter routes; Glacier Point area popular for snowshoeing

Ranger Programs

8/10

Ranger talks, guided walks, campfire programs, and educational activities year-round

Canyoneering

7/10

Limited opportunities; some canyon descents in backcountry

Biking

7/10

Valley paved paths; limited mountain biking; Tioga Road and Wawona Road suitable for road bikes

Fishing

7/10

Good trout fishing in streams and high country lakes; some catch-and-release only

Cross Country Skiing

7/10

Glacier Point Road and Tuolumne Meadows area offer skiing in winter

Who It's For

First Time Park Visitors 10/10 Photographers 10/10 International Visitors 10/10 Families Teens 9/10 Couples 9/10 Experienced Hikers 9/10 Families Young Kids 8/10 Solo Travelers 8/10 Casual Hikers 8/10 Adventure Seekers 8/10

Planning Your Trip

Getting There

Nearest city: San Francisco, CA (195 mi). Fly into FAT.

In-Park Services

Gas available · Lodging available · Cell: limited

Gateway Town

Mariposa, CA / Oakhurst, CA — full amenities

Featured In ?Rankings based on data-driven scoring across all 62 national parks.

#4 Best National Parks for Hiking #2 Best National Parks for Rock Climbing #5 Best National Parks for First-Time Visitors #4 Best National Parks for International Visitors

Stories

Thornton Lake Trail vs Half Dome: Which Trail Should You Hike? Two iconic trails in two different parks. Thornton Lake Trail in North Cascades and Half Dome via Sub Dome in Yosemite, compared on distance, elevation, difficulty, and overall experience. 10 National Park Trails With the Most Elevation Gain Glacier's steepest climbs ranked by vertical feet, from lung-burners to summit scrambles that earn every inch of elevation 10 Longest Trails in the National Parks The ten longest trails in the national parks all happen to be at Crater Lake, from a half-mile stroll to a 33-mile sufferfest 10 Best Loop Trails in the National Parks The finest loop hikes in the national parks, from Bryce Canyon's hoodoo amphitheaters to backcountry routes most visitors skip 10 Most Demanding Trails in the National Parks The national park trails that test your conditioning, patience, and ability to keep moving when your legs start negotiating for rest breaks 8 National Parks With the Most Trails Eight parks where trail networks measure in hundreds of miles and you could hike every weekend for years without repeating routes 8 National Parks With the Most to Do These eight parks pack more activities into one trip than most national parks offer in three seasons 8 National Parks With the Most Dramatic Elevation These eight parks drop from alpine summits to valley floors, coastlines, or lava fields — offering more vertical relief than entire mountain ranges 8 National Parks With the Most Campgrounds These parks lead the country in campground volume, spreading hundreds of sites across varied terrain and seasons 10 Best Waterfall Hikes in the National Parks Crater Lake's waterfalls and water features deliver what postcard views can't: solitude, old-growth forests, and geological oddities worth the walk 10 Best Lake Hikes in the National Parks Glacier National Park dominates this ranking for a reason: glacier-carved basins, alpine lakes, and water so cold it hurts to touch 8 National Parks With Every Kind of Trail Eight parks where you can hike coastal cliffs, desert slots, alpine ridges, and cedar forests without changing your parking spot The California National Parks Road Trip Eight California parks share April's mild weather and accessible trails—here's how to pick between deserts, mountains, and coasts

Gateway Cities

Las Vegas, NV 351 mi / 6.4h drive Los Angeles, CA 354 mi / 6.4h drive San Francisco, CA 203 mi / 3.7h drive

Road Trips

Yosemite is a stop on this road trip:

California's Greatest Parks 6 parks · 1,200 miles

Compare Yosemite

See how Yosemite stacks up against other national parks — crowds, trails, and more.

Compare Yosemite

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Yosemite National Park?

The best month to visit Yosemite is May, based on a balance of weather, crowds, and accessibility. Peak visitation is in July. The park has 5 comfortable months for visiting.

How crowded is Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite is moderately crowded, with a congestion index of 3.7/10. The park receives 4.1M visitors annually across 1,189 square miles.

How many trails does Yosemite National Park have?

Yosemite has 750 miles of trails across 200 easy, 400 moderate, and 200 strenuous routes. Popular trails include Half Dome via Sub Dome, Yosemite Falls Trail, Mist Trail to Vernal Fall.

Can you camp at Yosemite National Park?

Yes, Yosemite has 15 campgrounds with 1493 total sites. Some sites are available first-come, first-served.

Is Yosemite National Park open year-round?

Yes, Yosemite is open year-round, though some roads and facilities may close seasonally. The park's climate is classified as temperate_alpine.

Nearby Parks

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks 95 mi away
Pinnacles National Park 130 mi away
Death Valley National Park 163 mi away