Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park tours are very popular, but probably none more so than full-day and multi-day excursions from San Francisco. With these trips, you can visit with roundtrip transportation to explore the park independently or choose a guided experience to see as much of the park as possible in a short amount of time. Sightseeing bus tours, valley floor tours, and Glacier Point tours are also available, with small-group and private options offered.

• The park features a number of walking and biking trails that vary in difficulty and length. The visitor center is the best place to find information on the trails.

• Yosemite day hikes, adventure tours, and hiking tours offer opportunities for active days out in nature, all with the help of a guide. Choose from hiking tours, yoga tours, photography tours, and more.

• Purchase Yosemite National Park tickets and passes online or at the entrance stations—but bring plastic as cash is not accepted.

Yosemite National Park is best accessed via car ($20 fee per vehicle). From San Francisco, it's about a four-hour drive—you'll cross the Bay Bridge and travel through the Great Central Valley into the Sierra foothills. Following the beautiful Merced River to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you'll enter Yosemite Valley. Most tours from the Bay Area include roundtrip transportation.

Yosemite is accessible year-round, though snow chains may be required in winter. The park is beautiful in every season, but be aware that access to some hiking trails is weather-permitting. Many consider spring the best time to visit—expect crowds in summer and snow activities such as snowshoeing and skiing in winter.

It's hard to go too wrong, but where to start? The majestic profile of Half Dome is perhaps the most iconic sight in the park. You can also view the mighty mecca that is El Capitan, or hike into Tuolumne Meadows, where giant sequoias surround you. As for waterfalls, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall, and Vernal Fall are all must-sees, and when it comes to viewpoints, be sure to check out Glacier Point and Tunnel View.

Yes, tours of Yosemite National Park are worth taking. Guided tours often provide transportation to the park, valuable insights into local wildlife and history, and easy access to attractions outside of main visitor areas in Yosemite Valley, such as Tuolumne Meadows, Hetch Hetchy reservoir, and Mariposa Grove.

Yes, the park offers guided bus tours via Yosemite Hospitality that include Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point, a day tour of Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, and Mariposa Grove, and a hiker bus to Tuolumne Meadows. In addition, park rangers offer educational programs and interpretive nature and history walks year-round.

Travelers visiting Yosemite National Park should explore Yosemite Valley, home of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome—the park's most recognizable landmark. The Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls is among the most popular hikes in the park. Outside the valley, don't miss Tuolumne Meadows and Mariposa Grove.

Yes, you can visit Yosemite National Park without a reservation. Entering the park, even if you're driving through, requires paying the entrance fee, which is valid for seven consecutive days. However, reservations are recommended for overnight lodging or camping, and permits are required for overnight hiking and climbing Half Dome.

The Yosemite National Park entrance fee is US$35 per vehicle and is valid for seven days. It's US$30 for motorcycles and US$20 for those on foot, bicycle, or horse. Kids 15 and younger are free. Reserve wilderness permits for backpacking and overnight camping in advance at peak times.

Yosemite National Park is massive—the time needed to drive through depends on the route. In good conditions, driving from the Big Oak Flat entrance on the west side through Yosemite Valley to Tioga Pass on the east side takes two to three hours. Starting from the southern entrance near Mariposa Grove adds another 30 minutes.