It took me thirty or so years, but this past May, I finally made it to Yosemite National Park. And even with the high expectations I had, Yosemite still managed to surpass every single one.

Whether you’re also from the Bay Area and still haven’t managed to make the journey, or even if you’ve been to Yosemite before, I thought I’d include the itinerary my friend and I followed since it was truly an unforgettable experience.

Note: If you’re looking to visit Yosemite beyond April-June, this post may still be for you, but just know that many of the waterfalls and lakes I recommend might not be visible at other times of year when the snow has already melted.

Day Zero: Travel Day

This day will look different for everyone depending on where you’re traveling from, but ultimately you’ll still have a few different options for which route to take to enter Yosemite. I’ll share my recommended entrance to the park at the end!

Leaving from the SF Bay Area, my friend and I knew it would take us about 4.5 hours to drive to the park. We left around 2pm (about an hour later than we’d planned) and expected to arrive closer to 6:30pm. However, with traffic being especially heavy on I-99, we arrived closer to 9pm. Yosemite is gorgeous, but I regret to inform you that the drive there is anything but. The seemingly endless stretch of brown fields and hills, coupled with the crawling traffic, can easily make this part of the journey the worst.

Choose Your Entrance Wisely

There are multiple entry points into Yosemite:

– Big Oak Flat: The most popular entrance, accessible on Highway 120. Ideal for visiting the Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias and Tuolumne Grove.

– Hetch Hetchy: Known as the quietest entrance, this is one of the more underrated entrances to the park that offers stunning views of the Hetch Hetchy reservoir.

– Tioga Pass: If you want to start your journey inside Yosemite at the highest elevation, the Tioga Pass entrance is for you. Keep in mind that this entrance operates seasonally, as it’s often closed in November through May (or even June) due to snow.

– South Entrance: Also at high elevation (5,000 feet), this entrance offers nearby access to the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, which provides easy shuttle access to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

– Arch Rock Entrance: Want to be as close to Yosemite Valley as possible? If so, then this entrance is for you. Accessible on Highway 140, you’ll drive along the Merced River to the iconic boulder entrance, which is followed by a series of Yosemite’s most jaw-dropping views.

While I can’t say one entrance is better than the others (as I’ve only entered the park once), I can’t imagine a better introduction to Yosemite than the Arch Rock Entrance.

Even though the sun was nearly set by the time we passed through the iconic boulders that form a “portal” into the valley, there was still no denying the park’s majesty. If it’s your first time going to Yosemite, definitely take this path – you won’t regret it!

My friend and I arrived at our Lower Pines campsite shortly before 9pm and had the eventful task of setting up camp in the dark. Even though it was a challenge to set up a tent at night, any frustrations were offset by our excitement of being able to sleep in Yosemite Valley. I found it comforting seeing the pinpricks of light scattered across North Dome, signalling the presence of numerous climbers who were spending the night on the cliff face. We felt lucky to have secured such a spacious campground, as any campsite in Yosemite is notoriously difficult to come by. We settled in and eagerly anticipated the sights that would greet us when we awoke.

Note: Campsites are hard to come by and many need to be reserved well in advance for April – October. Check out the National Park Service’s website for more details on when reservations open for each campsite. We had booked camping reservations in advance but, due to Yosemite having some snow and rain on our original travel dates, we cancelled and used Campflare to get notifications about last-minute campsite openings. You need extremely fast fingers to snatch up these openings for Yosemite though – they’re super popular!

Day 1

My friend and I woke up to the sounds of the flowing river and the sight of incredible cliff faces surrounding us. To our left we could see the Royal Arches and North Dome, with Half Dome standing directly ahead, a heavy cloud slowly starting to cover its peak.

With dark clouds settling in, we hastily downed our breakfast, dismantled our tent (we would be camping at a different site that evening), and put all our belongings in the car before any rain could dampen them. We then began a day full of exploring Yosemite’s key sites.

Views Along Tioga Road

I probably wouldn’t recommend doing this road without also seeing Tuolumne Meadows, which my friend and I unfortunately did not have time to visit. We happened to drive along this road only because we needed to get gas without exiting the park. That being said, we encountered some beautiful sights, like the unexpectedly heavy waterfall at Cascade Falls. I’m told Cascade Falls is typically rather unremarkable, but that day it was drawing attention from so many motorists that we couldn’t even find a place to park to take pictures of it.

Glacier Point

While part of what makes Yosemite so special is its ability to make you feel small while you’re in the valley, surrounded by the staggering height of the surrounding mountains, you’d be remiss to visit Yosemite without taking in the bird’s eye views from Glacier Point, 3,200 feet above the valley below.

While I cannot recommend visiting Glacier Point highly enough, be prepared for everyone else to want to do the same. Bring your patience (and a good playlist) for the parking lots, as we spent a third of our time just trying to find parking.

Consider packing a lunch to eat while looking out at this view. So many people parked their cars, took their Instagram photos, and then left right away, so really try to soak it all in! It’s not every day you’re able to have lunch while looking out at such a magnificent sight.

Hike Taft Point

Did you know that there are fissures in the ground that you can encounter while near Glacier Point? If you’re not afraid of heights (or just reasonably afraid, like me) hiking Taft Point is a great way to not only continue to marvel at views of Yosemite Valley from such a height, but also to witness the giant openings in the ground that reveal the vast valley.

The hike is mostly flat, measuring a distance of 2.2 miles there and back, but we encountered a couple fallen trees we had to climb over and a creek we had to cross. Since we visited in mid-May, snow had still fallen as recently as a few days prior, which made our path muddy and slippery in the sheltered wooded parts. Be prepared with your waterproof hiking shoes and, if possible, download the hike on AllTrails to ensure you stay on the correct trail – it’s easy to veer off course when there are fallen trees in your path.

Tunnel View

If you’re looking for the most iconic picture of Yosemite, make sure you park in the lots right outside Wawona Tunnel on Highway 41 to capture this incredible view. From here, you can see El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall all at once. Just be prepared for everyone else to do the same! Lines for parking were so long that my friend and I were content with the photos I snapped of the view while we were stuck in traffic, but if you do decide to wait for parking to truly take it all in, it would be worth it.

Bridalveil Fall

When my friend and I were driving up to Glacier Point in the mid-morning, there was a line of cars that backed up nearly all the way to Wawona Tunnel, just waiting to enter the Bridalveil Fall parking lot! Thankfully, by the time we finished Glacier Point and our hike, this line was nonexistent, so consider saving Bridalveil Fall for later in your day if lines are especially bad.

The wooden walking path winds along the base of Bridalveil Fall and toward the road, which gives you an unexpected treat: a first-class view of El Capitan. Take some time to admire the views of both these magnificent sights in one spot!

I can never get enough views of Half Dome, but I have to say – I think El Capitan is my personal favorite.

Cross Sentinel Bridge for Even More Views

If you want the best viewpoint for Half Dome, be sure to walk over Sentinel Bridge. El Capitan may have my heart, but this view was my favorite of the trip.

While you’re crossing the bridge, you might as well walk towards the meadow for a spectacular view of Yosemite Falls. This meadow was so serene and beautiful that it felt sacred. I was humbled, and felt quite small being surrounded by the immense grandeur of it all.

At this point, my friend and I were ready to set up camp at our new campsite in North Pines and cook dinner. We said goodbye to the meadow (for now) and began winding down, preparing for another day’s worth of adventures.

Day 2 and Departure

Mirror Lake

We started our second and final day by parking the car at Curry Village and taking the shuttle to Mirror Lake. As its name implies, Mirror Lake can mirror the image of Half Dome – but only when it’s still enough.

Even if you aren’t able to see the mirrored image of Half Dome – my friend and I weren’t – it’s a beautiful, relatively short (2 mile roundtrip), peaceful walk to the lake, and once you’re there, you’ll have a great close-up view of Half Dome.

If you visit Yosemite in the spring or early summer, be sure to stop by, as Mirror Lake dries up during the summer months.

Yosemite Falls

Speaking of water drying up: if you’re visiting Yosemite during the months of April – June, you don’t want to miss out on the majesty of Yosemite Falls, which – like Mirror Lake and Bridalveil Fall – can also dry up come the warmer summer months.

For this one, it might be best to take the shuttle again to the base of the falls. You’ll beat the mass of cars trying to find parking and it’s an easy, but scenic, walk just to go to Lower Yosemite Falls.

Yosemite Falls is spectacular and well worth any crowd. That being said, I did feel that the mass of humanity at the base of Lower Yosemite Falls and across the bridge, all vying for that perfect photo op, took some of the awe away for me. I much prefer views of Yosemite Falls from the meadow, where it’s less crowded and feels more natural, than directly at the base of the Falls. Still, I highly recommend walking the trail to Lower Yosemite Falls so you can get as close as possible to this awe-inspiring waterfall. Just be prepared for throngs of people.

Visitor’s Center and Gift Shop

It feels wrong somehow to recommend visiting the gift shop, but let’s face it: you’ll probably want a souvenir, and you’re sure to find it at the Yosemite Lodge Gift Shop.

On your way there, make sure to stop by the Visitor Center and ask for a Junior Ranger Book! (Yes, even if you are a fully grown adult.) I cannot recommend completing these books highly enough. Not only do the books make you slow down and really take in everything you’re experiencing, but upon completion, you take the Junior Ranger pledge and earn a specialty badge for that national park, which makes for a wonderful (and free) souvenir.

Sadly, we ran out of time for me to ask for and complete a Junior Ranger book, so I’ll just have to return someday to add Yosemite’s Junior Ranger badge to my collection.

Pizza Deck at Camp Curry

I’d been told it’s a rite of passage to eat pizza at Camp Curry’s famous Pizza Deck, and after eating a late lunch there, I can understand why. The pizza is expensive (around $18 for a small, four-slice pizza), but delicious. I was skeptical at first, given the prices and the hype, but my friend and I ordered a medium pizza and it did not disappoint. So before you hit the road, make sure you have your first Pizza Deck experience! Just be prepared – as always in Yosemite – for a line.

Take a picture with the Yosemite National Park sign

If you took the Arch Rock Entrance into Yosemite, consider driving out of the park via Big Oak Flat for different views! You’ll also be able to commemorate your experience with a picture of the Yosemite National Park sign.

Some Things to Keep in Mind:

Don’t Be a Litterbug

Yosemite has a major trash issue. According to the National Park Service, visitors to Yosemite produce about 2,200 tons of garbage every year. Please do your part in keeping this beautiful park clean, especially for the wildlife. If you can’t find a trash can right away, try stowing your trash in a plastic bag or, if possible, in your pocket until you reach a trash can. Chances are there’s one right around the corner, especially if you’re in Curry Village or any of the other man-made facilities.

Do Not Feed the Wildlife

I know; you just want to live out your Disney fantasy and befriend all the woodland critters, but feeding wildlife can actually harm them. How, you may ask?

When wild animals start to depend on humans for their food, they stop looking for their own food, and since our diet is not what’s healthiest for these critters, this behavior results in them being malnourished or gaining too much weight.

Feeding the animals can also make them far too comfortable around humans. This might seem cute at first when that squirrel nearly perches on your shoulder for a snack, but think about it: if wild animals are no longer afraid of humans, they won’t know the boundaries of our interactions with them, which can oftentimes led to conflict and, sadly, the animals even being euthanized if they make humans feel unsafe with their presence.

And if the harm to the animals themselves isn’t enough to convince you, consider the health risk this poses to you: lots of animals feeding in one place can cause disease to spread among them, and if you’re feeding these animals, you can even risk your own health by contracting whatever illness they may have.

Even if there aren’t signs warning of illness amongst the wildlife, please exercise caution for both you and them. Pay attention to the signs, pick up after yourself, and leave the adorable woodland critters alone.

Be Prepared for Crowds

I’ve mentioned this throughout, but it’s worth repeating: Yosemite is a one-of-a-kind experience that people all over the world travel to witness. Because of this, you must expect to have to wait in lines and navigate around people in all of the must-see locations.

Consider taking Yosemite’s free shuttle service to avoid some of the frustrations that arise from lack of parking and traffic. Besides, being on the shuttle means you’re free to gawk as much as you’d like at the awesome sights without risking an accident!

Consider Using an Audio Guide

No, this isn’t an ad; it’s just an honest endorsement of Guide Along, a self-guided audio tour accessible from your mobile device. My friend and I had downloaded the Yosemite tour for just $20, and found it easily worth the money, especially while driving around the park for hours on end.

Once downloaded, Guide Along runs in the background – somehow even on airplane mode – and tours are triggered automatically based on where you’re located. It was a low-cost way to learn more about the park and made our experience that much more memorable. Plus, if you’re like me and are at all familiar with Disneyland, you might enjoy how the audio guide sounds like the spiels you’d hear while riding the Disneyland Railroad or Monorail.

What’s On Your Yosemite Must-Do List?

Thanks for reading through my first-time Yosemite experience! I’d love to hear what sights you’d be most excited to see on your first Yosemite visit. Or, if you’ve been before, what are your favorite hikes, viewpoints, or underrated activities? Feel free to leave a comment below!