Are you heading to California on your next vacation? Be sure to visit Yosemite National Park. While you’re there be sure to take along our list of these 15 breathtaking things to do there!

1. Take in the views at Glacier Point

Glacier Point is a well-known rustic geological formation in high above the famous Yosemite Valley on the south side of the valley in California’s Yosemite National Park. It towers 7214 feet high and is 3200 feet higher than Half Dome Village. The point is popular for the superb sunsets that can be seen from the top. It also offers exceptional views of a number of the park’s famous landmarks including Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Nevada Fall, Vernal Fall, Yosemite Falls, and the Yosemite Valley.

If you can handle a bit of hike then you certainly must go hiking to Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. The hike can be done in a single loop but if you choose to do both hikes at once it’s a bit longer and more work. The two hikes can be done separately and are both reported to be roughly 2.2 miles round trip. These hikes offer the opportunity to take in not only beautiful views but also to see wildlife. The best time to go is between April and November.

The scenic viewpoint known as Tunnel View is located on State Route 41 in the park. Park visitors have praised the expansive, iconic views of the valley from this popular overlook since it first opened in 1933. Mind you, the dramatic scenery of Tunnel View has been painted or photographed by both international tourists and famous artists from here and the neighboring vantage points as far back as the 1800s. Veteran visitors suggest taking in the view after going to Glacier Point because it’s interesting to see some of the same spots from another perspective.

A moonbow is a lunar rainbow that’s created by moonlight instead of direct sunlight. The moonbows in Yosemite reportedly can be seen in three to four day stretches as often as four times each year. The best time to see them is in late spring and early summer. There are good viewing spots at both the upper and lower falls. The Yosemite Falls moonbows are the very brightest during a full moon.

Bridalveil Fall, like the other waterfalls in the valley, was the result of the numerous hanging valleys left by the glaciers that carved out the entire valley. Bridalveil Fall is 617 feet high and flows all year. Interestingly, the plunging water is blown sideways when the flow is lighter and the wind is brisk and it might not all reach the ground. That’s why the Ahwahneechee named it “Pohono”, (in English “Spirit of the Puffing Wind”).

The popular rock formation known as the Half Dome is a granite dome ensconced at the eastern end of the valley. It’s named after its unusual shape, it towers 8,800 feet above sea level and almost 5,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley. Declared “perfectly inaccessible” back in 1865, today it provides a welcome challenge to many avid hikers. In 1875, George Anderson became the first person to reach the summit.

The sublime El Capitan, a.k.a. El Cap is a vertical granite rock formation found on the north side of the valley close to the western end. This monolith is almost 3,000 feet from its base to its summit when measured along its tallest face. Climbers from across the globe come here to meet the demanding challenge. The best time to visit is from June until October.

The hike to Lembert Dome is a short one that’s well worth the effort. It will take between an hour and a half to three hours due to a nearly mile-long steep rise. You have to hike across what some call a “sticky granite face” to reach the vista. Once you reach the top you will have a super view of the Cathedral Range and Tuolumne Meadows.

Part of the previously-mentioned Cathedral Ridge, Cathedral Peak is an impressive mountain range found in the south-central section of the park in the eastern portion of Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties. The ridge is named after the peak which is named for its cathedral-like shape.

The shape is the result of glacial activity. The peak has an elevation of 10,916 feet. John Muir was the first person to climb it in 1869.

The Mist Trail is said to be “one of the most popular short hikes” in the park. The trail begins at Happy Isles and follows the nearby Merced River past both Vernal Fall and the Emerald Pool, to the Nevada Fall. It is a “must-do” trail for hikers visiting this park. It’s also quite popular since it has access to Half Dome. The best time to do this hike is in Spring or Summer.

Olmstead Point is a popular viewing area found just off Tioga Pass Road in the park. It provides visitors with a view of Half Dome’s northern side, a southern view into beautiful Tenaya Canyon. A view of lovely Tenaya Lake to the east and a memorable view of Clouds Rest as well.

South and southwest of the parking lot you can see the noteworthy granite slopes and several glacial erratics too.  There’s also a short 0.125-mile hiking trail that leads one south through a little grove of trees to the very top of a small granite dome. From there you can see the clearest views of Half Dome and Clouds Rest.

Mariposa Grove is one of the park’s sequoia groves. It is situated in the southernmost section. There are several hundred mature trees here as this is the park’s largest grove of the well-known giant sequoias.

A pair of the sequoias are also listed amongst the world’s 30 largest. This grove was closed to all visitors in the summer of 2015 for a special restoration project. It was not reopened until June 15, 2018. The original Mariposa Grove Trail which leads through this grove now includes some exceptional improvements.

Online sources indicate there are several classic Ansel Adams shots any amateur shutterbug should strive to recreate. One of the favorite photography spots can be found right after entering the park along popular Southside Drive from State Highways 41, 120, or 140. It’s named Cook’s Meadow and has excellent turnout spots to your left.

It’s nice to visit in summer but expect crowds. If you can’t find a spot or miss your turnout you can turn left up ahead at the junction for the Yosemite Valley locations. There is another place to park just past the Stoneman Bridge. From there you can hike in to find excellent views of both the impressive Half Dome and the majestic Yosemite Falls from this vantage point.

Situated near Yosemite Falls, Camp 4 is a popular place to camp in the park. It can be found on the valley’s north side. There’s only one parking lot there and there aren’t any driveways to any of the individual sites. Campers must hike in with their gear.

It first became noteworthy following World War II when it began to draw a lot of rock climbers. Many of them would actually spend months there albeit not always legally. The boulders near there have long been used for bouldering.

Perhaps the most famous of them is the Columbia Boulder. There you can see the most famous bouldering problem. It is known as the Midnight Lightning and was first done in 1978 by Ron Kauk. You can easily spot it by the well-known painting of a white thunderbolt right next to it.

Finally, if you are big on winter sports or simply feeling a bit adventurous then those in the know insist that you must try snowshoeing or skiing at famous Badger Pass. This place is said to be the official home of the state’s oldest downhill skiing location. The best time to go snowboarding or downhill skiing here is between the middle of December through March.

If you’re new to winter sports or simply forgot your equipment, fret not. Veteran visitors confirm that Yosemite Hospitality not only offers lift tickets but they also rent equipment. They can provide you with snowshoes, snowboards, cross-country, and downhill skis. You can even take skiing and snowboarding lessons there. Snowshoe from the ski resort to Dewey Point and enjoy the expansive view of El Capitan and the rest of the valley too.