Yosemite Valley

Head to the Yosemite Valley to enjoy ranger-led hikes, nature talks, and evening star programs. Book a guided tour to ensure that you see all the top sights; opt for guided hiking, backpacking, or camping adventure; or take a photography class.

There are also tours to Yosemite from San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Lake Tahoe. These run anywhere from half-day trips to week-long tours, and many combine a Yosemite Valley tour with stops at other nearby attractions, such as the grove of giant sequoias and Alcatraz. For a bird's-eye view of the valley, check out a flightseeing tour.

• There's an admission fee to visit Yosemite National Park including Yosemite Valley; tickets are good for seven days. If you take the YART shuttles to the park, your shuttle ticket will include free entrance to the park.

• Don't forget sturdy hiking shoes, rain gear, sunscreen, a hat, and a backpack for day hikes.

• The Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall hikes are paved and wheelchair accessible.

• Accommodations at the park range from campgrounds to distinctive, upscale hotels.

• Campers usually prepare their own meals in the park, but the valley also boasts a variety of restaurants.

The Yosemite Valley is located in the western Sierra Nevada mountains, about 190 miles (306 kilometers) east of San Francisco. To reach the Yosemite Valley by car from the Bay Area, take I-580 east, continue onto I-205 east, merge onto I-5 north, and then take CA-120 east to Yosemite Ave. You can also reach the park via public transportation: Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses run to the town of Merced where you can hop on a YARTS shuttle to Yosemite. A free shuttle provides transportation within the park.

Peak tourist season at Yosemite Valley runs from early June through the end of August, so visit in the spring or fall if you want to avoid the largest crowds. The valley is at its most dramatic in late spring, when the waterfalls are at their fullest. Whenever you choose to visit, make sure to start your days early; sunrise is one of the best times to capture photos of the iconic sights.

If you only have time for one hike in Yosemite Valley, take the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Falls. If you have more time, hike to Half Dome and climb to the summit with the help of handrails embedded into the rock. The 14- to 16-mile (22- to 26-kilometer) round-trip hike is strenuous in spots, but it's well worth it for the fantastic panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra.

Although Yosemite National Park is massive, you can see much of Yosemite Valley in one day. That's enough time to get oriented at the visitor center, visit the Awahanee and Yosemite Valley Lodge, picnic somewhere scenic, and check out short hiking trails and some of the park's most famous waterfalls.

In more ways than one. Visitors can drive and hike the valley themselves, ride the free public shuttles, or take private tours. Also, Yosemite Hospitality partners with the Federal Park Service to give 2-hour bus tours of the valley. Ranger-led nature and history walks are also offered throughout the year.

The best times to visit Yosemite Valley are spring and late fall after the wildfire season—summer can bring tourists, traffic, and limited parking. Although parts of Yosemite become inaccessible, Yosemite Valley remains open in winter and becomes a snowshoeing, ice skating, and winter hiking destination with organized holiday celebrations.

From the intersection of Big Oak Road and El Portal Road, the roughly 15-mile (24-kilometer) round-trip drive around Yosemite Valley takes about 40 minutes, depending on the route. On public transportation, the Valleywide Shuttle makes about 19 stops on its roughly 1.5-hour route around the same valley.

No, reservations are not required to visit Yosemite Valley—pay the admission fee at the park entrance and drive to the valley. Reservations have been required to manage crowding and may be needed in the future. Reservations are also required to stay overnight.

Yes, there are restrooms in Yosemite Valley. You can find them at the Yosemite Valley Lodge, the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, the Mirror Lake parking lot, the Happy Isles Art and Nature Center, and the Church Bowl, Swinging Bridge, and Sentinal Beach picnic areas. These are all accessible restrooms.