Tunnel View. Perhaps the most photographed viewpoint in the park, Tunnel View frames El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome all in one sweeping panorama as you emerge from the Wawona Tunnel. Arrive at sunrise for golden light and mist-filled valley air.
El Capitan. Rising more than 3,000 feet above Yosemite Valley, El Capitan is the world's largest granite monolith and the planet's most iconic big-wall climbing destination. From El Capitan Meadow below, visitors can watch climbers — tiny specks — ascending The Nose and dozens of other legendary routes.
Half Dome. Half Dome's sheer granite face, rising 4,737 feet above the valley, is Yosemite's most recognizable symbol. The strenuous 14-16 mile round-trip hike culminates in a cable-assisted ascent of the final 400 feet — a permit lottery controls access to keep the summit safe and uncrowded.
Yosemite Falls. At 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, dropping in three tiers from the valley rim to the valley floor. Spring snowmelt turns it into a thunderous cascade, while a short trail leads to the base and a longer hike reaches the top.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. The park's largest grove holds more than 500 mature giant sequoias, including the Grizzly Giant — estimated at 2,700 years old and standing over 200 feet tall. A free shuttle from the south entrance whisks visitors to the trailhead among these ancient, cathedral-like trees.
Glacier Point. Perched 3,200 feet above the valley floor, Glacier Point delivers a sweeping panorama of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Fall, and the high Sierra backcountry. Glacier Point Road opens around mid-May each year, and the sunset and star shows from this overlook are exceptional.
Tuolumne Meadows. At 8,600 feet, Tuolumne Meadows is the largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada, threaded by the Tuolumne River and ringed by domes and peaks. Accessed via Tioga Road (open roughly mid-May through November), it offers quieter hiking, excellent backcountry access, and star-filled skies.
The Mist Trail — Vernal and Nevada Falls. One of Yosemite's most beloved hikes, the Mist Trail climbs stone stairways past the 317-foot Vernal Fall and the 594-foot Nevada Fall along the roaring Merced River. Spring hikers are drenched in refreshing mist from the falls; the round trip to Nevada Fall covers about 7 miles.