Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is the park that arguably invented the idea of preservation itself: it was the wild landscape that persuaded a young nation that some places were too extraordinary to lose. At its heart lies Yosemite Valley, a seven-mile trench of golden meadow and river hemmed by sheer granite walls — El Capitan, the largest exposed granite monolith on Earth, and the unmistakable curve of Half Dome rising nearly 1,500m above the valley floor.

Waterfalls, granite and giant trees

In late spring the valley thunders with waterfalls: Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest in North America, and the roaring ribbon of Bridalveil. Higher up, the high country of Tuolumne Meadows opens into a gentler world of alpine lakes, domes and wildflowers, reachable in summer over the Tioga Road. To the south, the Mariposa Grove shelters giant sequoias — among the largest living things on the planet — some more than two thousand years old.

It is a landscape woven through American culture, from the photographs of Ansel Adams to the writings of John Muir, and it remains ancestral homeland to the Southern Sierra Miwuk people. For UK visitors it pairs naturally with a San Francisco city break and the wider California road trip.

Few first views in travel rival the moment Yosemite Valley opens up in front of you — the granite so vast it rearranges your sense of scale, waterfalls catching the light, the whole scene almost too composed to be real. You come here to crane your neck at climbers like specks on El Capitan, to feel the spray of a waterfall on a warm afternoon, and to stand beneath a sequoia so wide your whole family can't reach around it.

For families the range is a gift: gentle valley-floor cycle paths and meadow strolls for younger children, and proper adventures — the mist-soaked Mist Trail, the high views from Glacier Point — for teenagers who want to be challenged. Evenings bring alpenglow on Half Dome and skies thick with stars. It is grand and welcoming at once, the kind of place that makes even reluctant hikers want to see what's around the next bend.

Yosemite Valley is the heart of the park, and the smartest way to explore it is to park the car and ride the free valley shuttle, which loops between trailheads, viewpoints and lodges — valley traffic and parking in summer are otherwise miserable. Beyond the valley, distances open up: Glacier Point is about an hour's drive, and the high country of Tuolumne Meadows is an hour-plus via the Tioga Road, which is only open roughly late spring to autumn and closes with the first heavy snow. Wawona and the Mariposa Grove sit south near the entrance. A car is essential for these outlying areas, but within the valley the shuttle, a hired bike or your own feet beat driving every time. Always check road and trail status before setting out — closures are common.

Public transport to Yosemite is better than most US parks but still limited. YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) runs scheduled buses into the valley from gateway towns such as Merced, Mariposa, Fresno and — in summer — Mammoth Lakes, and can connect with Amtrak and regional airports, so a car-free visit is possible. Within the valley, the free park shuttle covers the main sights. That said, for a family wanting to reach Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows or the sequoias on their own schedule, a hire car remains the most flexible choice. If you'd rather not drive the mountain roads, basing yourself in the valley and combining YARTS with the shuttle works well.

• Check the reservation rules before you book anything. Yosemite has used peak-season timed-entry reservations in recent years; the exact 2026 rules and dates matter enormously for planning.
• Book lodging 12+ months ahead for the valley in summer. Rooms inside the park (and the famous Ahwahnee) open a year out and vanish quickly; gateway towns like Mariposa and Oakhurst are the fallback.
• Waterfalls peak in May–June. By late summer Yosemite Falls can slow to a trickle — come in spring if the falls are your priority.
• Half Dome cables need a permit awarded by lottery; the hike is strenuous and not for young children.
• Ride the free valley shuttle and leave the car parked — valley traffic and parking in peak season are miserable.
• Drive Tioga Road (summer only) up to Tuolumne Meadows to escape the valley crowds into cool, open high country.
• Sunset at Glacier Point or Tunnel View is the classic photo — arrive early for a spot.

Yosemite's weather depends heavily on elevation. In Yosemite Valley (~1,200m), summers (June–August) are warm and dry at 25–35°C with cool nights, ideal for long days outdoors. Spring (April–May) is changeable but glorious for waterfalls as the snowpack melts. Autumn is mild and quiet. Winter brings snow, frozen falls and a hushed valley, though chains may be required on the roads.

The high country is a different climate entirely: Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows stay under snow into early summer and can see frost or flurries even in July, so snow can still linger on high trails in mid-summer. Pack layers, sun protection and a rain shell, and always check road and trail status before you set out.

Most UK visitors reach Yosemite as part of a California trip. Fresno (FAT) is the closest major airport, about 2.5 hours from the South Entrance and the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove. San Francisco (SFO) is the classic long-haul gateway at roughly four hours, with San Jose (SJC) a similar drive; Merced (MCE) connects to the YARTS park bus, and Reno (RNO) in Nevada is a scenic summer approach over Tioga Pass. There is no airport inside the park, so you will hire a car. Crucially, Yosemite has used peak-season timed-entry reservations in recent years, required in addition to the entrance fee on busy dates — check the current year's rules before booking flights or lodging, because they decide when you can actually drive in.