Our favorite places — with photos, hours, and insider tips from your hosts.
The crown jewel of the Sierra Nevada — a glacially-carved wonder stretching 7.5 miles, flanked by towering granite monoliths and thundering waterfalls. Home to El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls (tallest waterfall in North America at 2,425 ft), and Bridalveil Fall. Walk the valley floor along the Merced River, tackle the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall, or ride the free Valley Shuttle to viewpoints, trailheads, and the Ansel Adams Gallery.
Walk among the largest living things on Earth in this magnificent grove of over 500 mature giant sequoias. The Grizzly Giant, estimated at 1,800 years old, has a base circumference of over 96 feet, and the California Tunnel Tree was carved in 1895 for horse-drawn stages. Accessible boardwalks wind through the lower grove, while longer trails climb to the secluded upper grove.
Perched 3,214 feet above the valley floor, Glacier Point delivers what many consider the single greatest view in all of Yosemite: Half Dome face-to-face, the entire sweep of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and on clear days the High Sierra stretching to the horizon — just a short paved walk from the parking lot. Nearby Sentinel Dome offers a 360° panorama for those willing to hike a mile uphill.
A sparkling 1,175-acre mountain lake at 3,400 ft in the Sierra National Forest, just minutes from Faithful Oaks. The local favorite for swimming, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing (stocked with trout and bass). Five miles of shoreline dotted with sandy beaches, picnic areas, and forested campgrounds — plus waterfront dining at The Pines Resort and Ducey's on the Lake.
Step back in time aboard a restored narrow-gauge steam train chugging through 4 miles of pristine Sierra National Forest. Built in the early 1900s to haul massive logs out of the mountains, the railroad is now a family-friendly attraction with two authentic Shay steam locomotives, gold panning, a logging museum, the Thornberry Museum, and the Kids' Depot Toy Store — plus Moonlight Special dinner rides and holiday trains.
Discover pioneer history at this charming open-air museum right in Oakhurst. Fresno Flats was the original name of Oakhurst, first settled in the 1860s at the southern end of the California gold fields. Explore restored pioneer homes, two one-room schoolhouses, two historic jails, a blacksmith shop, a print shop, a wagon display, and a section of the historic lumber flume that once carried timber down the mountainside.
A peaceful, uncrowded alternative to Mariposa Grove, protecting over 100 mature giant sequoias in a serene forest setting. The Shadow of the Giants National Recreation Trail (1-mile loop) winds past some of the largest trees, including the massive Bull Buck Tree. Named for John Nelder, a hermit who lived here in the 1860s, and thankfully preserved by the Forest Service.
Arguably the most famous view in all the national parks. As you emerge from the Wawona Tunnel, the valley opens before you — El Capitan rising on the left, Bridalveil Fall cascading on the right, and Half Dome centered in the distance. This is the very view that inspired Ansel Adams' iconic photograph Clearing Winter Storm, with ample parking and a stone-wall viewpoint.
Step into the Victorian era at one of Yosemite's most historic and charming areas. The Wawona Hotel (Big Trees Lodge), built in 1876, is the oldest resort hotel in Yosemite and a National Historic Landmark. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center features historic buildings and a covered bridge, the Wawona Meadow Loop (3.5 mi, flat) blooms with spring wildflowers, and the 9-hole golf course is the only one inside a national park.
The closest significant trail to Faithful Oaks follows a beautiful mountain stream through mixed conifer and oak woodland to two lovely waterfalls. The trail to Corlieu Falls (1.6 mi one way) passes fern-lined forest along the tumbling creek to a picturesque 80-foot cascade; ambitious hikers can continue another mile to Red Rock Falls. One of the best birdwatching spots near Oakhurst — listen for Steller's Jays, woodpeckers, and American Dippers along the creek.
