10 Best Things to Do in Yosemite National Park
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Contents
Hetch Hetchy occupies the northwestern area of Yosemite National Park, centering on a glacial valley carved by the Tuolumne River. Surrounded by granite cliffs and remote lakes, Wapama Falls is one of its most prominent features, which you can visit via a 5-mile roundtrip trail around a reservoir of the same name.
Hetch Hetchy is mostly frequented by backpackers but remains rather peaceful year-round – great for escaping Yosemite’s crowds. Hiking is very popular in spring and autumn, when many people come to tackle the trail to the 7,750-ft-tall Smith Peak, the area’s highest point.
Yosemite National Park has around 350 miles of roads winding through the mountains, offering broad vistas and, occasionally, white-knuckled thrills. The 46-mile Tioga Road from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass takes you through the High Country to Tuolumne Meadows. It’s open between late May and November, depending on road and weather conditions.
Other key destinations you can visit by road include Glacier Point, south of Yosemite Valley, Wawona and Mariposa Grove, at the southern end of the park. You can pick up a map at the Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore, located in the Yosemite Valley Visitors center.