There are other hikes available on the road to Glacier Point as well. Some more ambitious hikers will take one of those trails up and the other down! In particular, the Panorama Trail (8.5 miles) and Four Mile Trail are popular options. Taking a shuttle to the top is also the best option for hikers who want to take one of the many trails down into the valley. Parking can be a major challenge at Glacier Point, so when shuttles and tours are running again, shared transportation is the preferred way to see it. Both a side view of Half Dome as well as Vernal and Nevada Falls are visible. Glacier Point has a short, easy trail from the parking area to a variety of lookout points. Even though Glacier Point is only a few miles from the Yosemite Valley, the drive itself takes 45 minutes to an hour from Yosemite Village due to the elevation change. Perched high above the valley floor is one of the park's most popular drives to Glacier Point. The views at Glacier Point are worth the drive. Tunnel View: The car pullout at Tunnel View on Highway 41 offers the quintessential Yosemite backdrop for a photo, with El Capitan and Half Dome in view.Some of the highlights in the Yosemite Valley include: You can take a shuttle around the valley or walk or bike parts of it, though the shuttle is not running during coronavirus restrictions. But some incredibly challenging hikes start here as well, so more adventurous travelers shouldn't write off the valley. Here you'll find creature comforts like shorter paved trails, restaurants, stores and car-accessible stops. If you only have a day or a weekend, the most popular area of the park is the Yosemite Valley. Given its size, it really does take nearly a full week to get a glimpse at the entirety of the park. Related: National parks are reopening: Here's everything you need to know to plan a trip Top things to do and see in Yosemite National Park Oakland International (OAK) is the closest at 3.5 hours away from the valley, but San Francisco International (SFO) or Mineta San Jose International (SJC) are both viable options at about 4 hours away. Many visitors arriving by air opt to fly into one of the San Francisco Bay Area's airports, which offer more airlift and usually cheaper fares. The Fresno-Yosemite Airport (FAT) is approximately a 1.5-hour drive to the southern entrance at Wawona or 2.5 hours into the Yosemite Valley. The closest airport to the park that offers a reasonable amount of commercial service is in Fresno, California. There's also a south entrance at Wawona, an entrance on the northwest into the Hetch Hetchy Valley and an eastern entrance at the Tioga Pass that's only accessible in the summer. Most first-time visitors head to the Yosemite Valley, taking either Highway 120 or 140 into the park from the west. Yosemite National Park is enormous, so before you decide how to get there, you need to decide which parts of the park you want to visit. Related: 7 trips to take right now if you want to escape the crowds How to get to Yosemite National Park Visiting Yosemite during COVID-19 definitely means a few differences from usual operations, but those differences are overwhelmingly positive.Īdvance park entry reservations were previously required for anyone not staying in lodging located within the park's boundaries, but as of March 1, that's no longer the case. The park was closed for several months in the spring of 2020, but it reopened in June under special coronavirus restrictions. Also, remember that 4th graders get free entry to national parks if they register with the Every Kid Outdoors program.īy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. At just $80, it's a solid value and a great way to visit the nation's parklands for less. Consider purchasing an America the Beautiful annual pass if you plan to visit a few other national parks or public lands within the same 12-month period. Yosemite also has a number of epic hiking opportunities as well as abundant wildlife, including bears that are masters at breaking into cars if you dare leave any leftovers behind. The park is best known for its many waterfalls and granite monoliths like Half Dome and El Capitan, which climbers dream of conquering. The park averages between 4 and 5 million visitors in a typical year, making it one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. At nearly 1,200 square miles, Yosemite is one of the larger national parks and definitely deserving of much more than a day trip.
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