12 BEST Things to Do in Yosemite National Park

If you want to see nature in pure wild form, then you must visit Yosemite National Park in California, USA. So why should you consider it for your next big adventure? Are you a free spirit who wants to spend their days on the road but also wants to explore the mountains in California?

Yosemite National Park ranks among the top of the list of national parks in USA. Yosemite Valley is gorgeous, but there are way, way, too many people, between the car exhaust, long slow traffic to find a place to park, then it is constant people and noise. You will never be alone. Anywhere. There are other places to see, hiking trails, waterfalls that are just as beautiful, but of course Yosemite is majestic.

A visit to California's Yosemite National Park is an experience with nature at its most powerful and stunning best. Immense falling cascades meet mammoth sequoia trees and wildlife. This place is no less than a paradise. Here you can find the most fascinating waterfalls, rich wildlife and amazing cliffs. You can explore one of the most photographed rocks i.e, El Capitan Half Dome.

With its hanging valleys, innumerable waterfalls, circus lakes, polished domes, moraines and U-valleys, Yosemite National Park, located in central California, shows all forms of granite relief molded by glaciations. It will be an exotic and exhilarating experience for you. The park will astonish you with its majestic landscape, wildlife, pure air, and adventure situations.

When you explore the park, then your mind will shift away from the stress of city life, and you will feel a strange relief. This effect is attached to Yosemite National Park. We advise you to take dry food with you because you will never find anyone selling food there. You will be on all your own. Moreover, never take frozen food with you.

Frozen food will rot when you camp in the park. The entire trail would require you to invest about 6-7 days in it. When it comes to food during your trips, you can either eat instant snacks or fast foods that need minimal cooking with the help of a bonfire. As per an article, some of the good ideas for snacks would be flatbread, chorizo, sardines, rice pouches, eggs, pasta, and chickpeas.

Not only are these foods easy to cook but are also filling. It is also imperative for you to remain hydrated during the entire trip. Always carry water bottles and sippers with you.

Yosemite National Park is located in the central-eastern part of California and is a part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This is surely one of the great places to visit in California, especially if you are a nature enthusiast. If you are traveling for adventure, this will be right up your alley.

Here, you will get a chance to hike (or drive) among the 800 miles of trails and experience scenic routes and beautiful landscapes. If you are lucky, you may even get a glimpse of Yosemite's diverse animal and plant life.

Yosemite is great for those who want to experience an adventure every once in a while. If you do, settle in LeConte Memorial Lodge or the Ahwahnee Hotel. These two places provide great accommodation but also come with a rich history and culture. They are great places to start you adventure. Go hiking, swimming, paragliding, mountain climbing, cliff jumping, etc.

Yosemite can be fun for the whole family, so, if you have kids, do not hesitate to bring them too! If you're seeking incredible landscapes and one of the best places to visit in California, Yosemite National Park is a must. It's home to towering waterfalls, ancient sequoia trees, and unique rock formations. The most popular area in the park is Yosemite Valley, with famous landmarks and excellent hiking trails. This is one of the places where you can camp overnight and admire Mother Nature’s wonders.

things to do in Yosemite National Park

What will you find in Yosemite National Park? Check out the best things to do in Yosemite national park.

1. Massive Desert Landscape in Yosemite Valley


A major part of Yosemite National park is composed of the desert. You will find sand dunes, desert flora, dry terrain, and desert animals like snakes, lizards, insects, and reptiles. You must carry enough water with you to cover your hydration needs. Other than food, you must also carry bottles of water with you.

2. Camping at Glacier Point


Other than desert terrain, the park has majestic mountains and hills. You can also try to climb mountains. But it will be risky, and you will not find any medical assistance for miles. That’s why always go with a professional mountain climber with all the accessories.

Due to its high popularity, Glacier Point tends to get overcrowded. However, this in itself explains how much of a spectacle it is. If you ever get a chance to camp here, it would be on a dry year in the shoulder season. Although it might be a little of a task to get a place here to camp, the view from the point is worth enough for you to go ahead with it.

If the weather allows you, you can camp at the Glacier Point itself, with a permit from the park rangers. However, they mostly ensure that you set up your camps with a minimum of 100 yards away from any trail.

3. Plenty of Flora in Four Mile Trail


Some of the most popular trails you can embark on at Glacier Point include the Four Mile Trail and the Mist Trail. The hilly areas of Yosemite National park are entirely covered by trees and plant life. You can find plenty of rare species of plants there. Many people explore the park for rare orchids and mushrooms. You can also try wildflower hunting. The best piece of advice for you to stay away from wild berries because these will be poisonous. You must not try to eat them.

4. Wild Animals in Tuolumne Meadows


Though this place will provide you with isolation due to lesser footfall, the grueling hikes here provide for an exciting experience. It consists of an exemplary park, where you can reach with the help of a shuttle.

The park is the home of many wild species of animals. You can view boars, bears, reptiles, amphibians, anteaters, lions, tigers, and many other species of animals. We advise you to carry a shotgun for your safety and stay away from the dense forest. Moreover, you must also secure your food because animals will try to attack you. You should use lunch boxes for your trip to the park.

5. Bird Species in Cathedral Lake


You can also plan on visiting Cathedral Lake in the vicinity for a delightful experience. You can camp near the Cathedral Lake. The park is also the home of many bird species. You will find many colorful sparrows, crows, pigeons, parrots, cranes, and much other birdlife.

6. Insect Life in John Muir Trail


Going forward to the subsequent day, the Sunrise High Sierra shall provide you a habitable space to set up your camp. The park has too many insects. Birds eat them, but you should try to stay away from the concentrated areas with insects. You can get bitten by insects.

What can you do in Yosemite National park? You can do the following activities in the park.

7. Camping in Nevada Fall


During the course of the trail, you will also come across places like the beautiful Nevada Fall, around the area of which you can also build campsites. You can put a tent in the park at a suitable place and stay there for a day or two. This activity will take you close to nature, and you will enjoy pure wild living in California. The best piece of advice is to carry all necessary things with you, which includes food, water bottles, shotgun, medical supplies, and camping accessories.

8. Photography in Horsetail Fall


You can take photos of the park with a high-end camera, and sell it to magazines, online publishers, and stock image sites. The fire fall refers to the 2000 foot high waterfall with orange light in the setting sun, just like the lava pouring down the cliff, which is one of the most famous natural wonders, fire fall.

It's an optical effect formed by sunlight at a certain angle on the waterfall. This landscape is only possible to be seen in two weeks at the end of February every year. Pictures of fire falls are extremely rare, and many photographers often take years to get a picture. There are two reasons for the difficulty of shooting.

The source of the waterfall is the melting water of the snow mountain on the chieftain rock, while the snow on the chieftain rock generally melts in January every year. By the end of February, the waterfall is probably dead. The sun must completely cover the waterfall. The sun at this angle only appears in February.

Unfortunately, it happens to be the most unpredictable month in Yosemite National Park. If there are clouds in the sky, the fire waterfall will become a water waterfall.

9. Mountain climbing in Cathedral Peak


The park has plenty of hills to climb. You should select an easy one and make your mark on the top. It will also be a life-changing experience for you.

10. Bird watching in Tuolumne Grove


You can do bird watching with full intensity. The park has many rare species of birds. It will be another great experience for you.

11. Orchid hunting in Tioga Road


The park has many rare species of plants. You can also hunt for rare flowers, which you can sell for a higher price in urban areas. Many people just visit the park to find special flowers.

12. Mushroom hunting in Sierra Point


There are many types of mushrooms that grow in the park. You will find mushrooms in the tree rich areas. Many people have a business to hunt mushrooms in Yosemite National park.

Wrap up

The Yosemite National park has wondered many. You should visit the park once in your lifetime if you live in the US. We guarantee that your thoughts will never remain the same after a tour of Yosemite National park.
Kalyan Panja