Discover Yosemite National Park: A Self-Guided Tour

Discover Yosemite National Park with our self-guided tour, allowing you to explore one of the world's most awe-inspiring landscapes at your own pace. Drive into Yosemite Valley where the sheer granite face of El Capitan rises 900 meters from the valley floor and the iconic Half Dome stands sentinel over meadows and forests below. Watch Yosemite Falls thunder 739 meters in the tallest waterfall in North America, stand among giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove where the Grizzly Giant has lived for nearly 2,000 years, and ascend to Glacier Point for panoramas across the valley to the High Sierra crest. Follow the Tioga Road through subalpine meadows at 2,600 meters in Tuolumne, hike the Mist Trail alongside the cascade of Vernal Fall, discover the reflections of Mirror Lake beneath Half Dome's sheer northwest face, and explore Hetch Hetchy's granite-ringed reservoir — a valley that John Muir fought to save and that rivals Yosemite itself in grandeur.

1. 1

   Tunnel View

   Pass by

   The most iconic vista in all of American national parks — the first breathtaking panorama of Yosemite Valley as you emerge from the Wawona Tunnel, with El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Fall cascading on the right, and Half Dome centered in the distance above the forested valley floor stretching into the granite wilderness.

2. 2

   El Capitan Meadow

   Pass by

   The best ground-level viewpoint of El Capitan's 900-meter vertical granite face — the largest exposed granite monolith on earth. From the meadow, watch rock climbers on the sheer wall through binoculars as they attempt multi-day ascents of routes like The Nose and Dawn Wall that have become legends in climbing history.

3. 3

   Yosemite Falls

   Pass by

   The tallest waterfall in North America at 739 meters — plunging in three stages from the valley rim to the floor. The Lower Yosemite Fall trail is an easy paved loop offering face-to-face views of the thundering cascade in spring, while the strenuous Upper Fall trail climbs to the top for dizzying views down into the valley.

4. 4

   Half Dome

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   The classic postcard view of Half Dome reflected in the calm waters of the Merced River — Sentinel Bridge offers the most photographed perspective of Yosemite's most recognizable landmark, its sheer northwest face rising 1,444 meters above the valley floor. The reflection is best in the still waters of early morning.

5. 5

   Mirror Lake/Meadow Trail

   Pass by

   A seasonal lake that creates perfect reflections of Half Dome and Mount Watkins in its still surface — reached by a gentle 3.2-kilometer trail from the valley shuttle stop. In spring the reflections are stunning; by late summer the lake recedes to a meadow, revealing Yosemite's ever-changing seasonal character.

6. 6

   Glacier Point

   Pass by

   A 2,199-meter viewpoint offering the most spectacular panorama in Yosemite — looking straight across at Half Dome's face, down 975 meters to the valley floor, and across to Yosemite Falls, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and the High Sierra peaks stretching to the horizon. One of the greatest viewpoints in any national park worldwide.

7. 7

   Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

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   Yosemite's largest sequoia grove — home to over 500 mature giant sequoias including the Grizzly Giant, nearly 2,000 years old with a base circumference of 28 meters. Walk among the largest living organisms on earth on accessible boardwalk trails through a cathedral-like forest that inspired the conservation movement.

8. 8

   Stop 8

   1 hour

   A 97-meter waterfall reached by Yosemite's most popular hike — the Mist Trail climbs granite steps alongside the thundering cascade, drenching hikers in spray during peak flow. The 4.4-kilometer round trip to the top of the falls rewards with views down the granite staircase to the Merced River canyon below.

9. 9

   Tuolumne Meadows

   Pass by

   The largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada at 2,620 meters — a vast expanse of wildflower-dotted grassland surrounded by granite domes and peaks along the Tioga Road. The meadows serve as a gateway to Yosemite's high country wilderness, with trails leading to Cathedral Lakes, Lembert Dome, and the Pacific Crest Trail.

10. 10

    Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

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    A granite-ringed valley that John Muir called 'a grand landscape garden' — flooded in 1923 to supply San Francisco's water, the dam remains one of America's most controversial conservation stories. Walk across the O'Shaughnessy Dam and hike to Wapama Falls cascading over 300 meters of granite into the turquoise reservoir.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    1 hour

    The highest highway crossing in the Sierra Nevada — Tioga Road traverses 60 kilometers of stunning high-country scenery from the valley to the eastern Sierra. Olmsted Point offers a unique rear view of Half Dome's curved back, surrounded by glacially polished granite and erratics, with Tenaya Lake's blue waters shimmering below.

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.