National Park · CA

Things to do in Yosemite

The National Park Service lists 13 things to do at Yosemite National Park. 10 have no extra fee, 11 need no reservation, and 1 allow pets. Each listing links to the full NPS page. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.

Updated · NPS Data API

Become a Yosemite Junior Ranger

Kids can become a Yosemite Junior Ranger by taking a self-guided handbook with them as they travel around the park and complete the activities that are the best fit for them. The Yosemite Junior Ranger handbook is available for free at visitor centers.

Year-round

Junior Ranger Program

Ski lift at Badger Pass with snow on the ground
Photo: NPS Photo

Go Skiing at Badger Pass

The Badger Pass Ski Area is open from mid-December through March (weather and conditions permitting). You can downhill ski, cross-country ski, go tubing, or snowshoeing all from this historic winter resort.

Winter Fee applies

Downhill Skiing

Hiking in Yosemite

From a short walk to the base of a waterfall to a multi-day hike deep into the Yosemite Wilderness, taking a hike is one of the best ways to experience Yosemite's spectacular scenery. Yosemite has an extensive network of over 800 miles of hiking trails.

Hiking

Learn Art in the Park

Yosemite has a long history of inspiring visitors to create art. From world-renowned artists like Ansel Adams and Chiura Obata to everyday people who love art for fun, pausing to create something beautiful is a special way to experience Yosemite's towering…

Reservation required Fee applies

Arts and Culture

Ride a Bike in Yosemite Valley

Cycling is a great way to experience the park and allows you to cover more ground during your time here. You can rent a bike, bring your own, or borrow one through the bike share program (2-hour limit).

1-6 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Fee applies

Biking

Rock Climbing in Yosemite

Yosemite is one of the world's greatest climbing areas. Climbers here can enjoy an endless variety of challenges--from the sustained crack climbs of the Merced River Canyon to pinching crystals on sun-drenched Tuolumne Meadows domes to multi-day aid climbs on…

Rock Climbing

Scenic Driving in Yosemite

All of the roads in Yosemite National Park are scenic, but the most famous scenic drive is along the Tioga Road, a 46-mile (62 km) drive from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass. The road is typically open from late May or early June through sometime in November.

Pets allowed

Scenic Driving

Visit the Yosemite Cemetery

The Yosemite Cemetery is full of stories, told and untold. Some of those laid to rest here are well-known figures in the history of the park. Some spent their entire lives in Yosemite and are now almost forgotten.

10-60 Minutes Year-round

Museum Exhibits

Visit the Yosemite History Center

Go back to a time of horse-drawn wagons, a covered bridge, and rustic cabins. The Yosemite History Center is a collection of historic buildings where outdoor interpretive signs tell the stories of people who moved here from around the world and shaped the…

Museum Exhibits

Visit the Yosemite Museum

Open year-round, the Yosemite Museum has displays that interpret the cultural history of Yosemite's native Miwok and Paiute people from 1850 to the present, demonstrations of stone tool making, basket-weaving, beadwork, and traditional games.

30 Minutes Year-round

Museum Exhibits

Watch the "Spirit of Yosemite" Film

The park film, The Spirit of Yosemite, is shown daily on the hour and the half hour in the theater behind the Yosemite Exploration Center. The first showing is at 9:30am, and the last showing is at 4pm.

Park Film

An adult bear with a brown coat and blue ear tag walks along a log
Photo: NPS Photo / R. Lester

Wildlife Safety in Yosemite

Yosemite National Park supports more than 400 species of vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The high diversity of species is the result of diverse habitats in Yosemite that are largely intact.

Wildlife Watching

Before you go

Check current alerts and closures, entrance fees and operating hours for Yosemite. Programs and tours can change with the season or be cancelled on short notice — confirm on the NPS page before you plan around one.

Things to do at nearby parks

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