Welcome to the Yosemite Valley Floor Tour
Explore one of America’s most incredible national parks without the hassle of a tour group! Witness towering waterfalls and majestic mountain peaks which capture the height of America’s beauty. Hike through the lush wilderness, picnic by pristine lakes, and stand atop breathtaking overlooks. Plus, dive into the surprising, unlikely history behind this immense park. There’s simply no place on earth like Yosemite.
About the Tour
You can begin this tour from any of Yosemite’s four entrances.
From your chosen entrance, you’ll head toward the center of the park and do the Yosemite Valley Floor tour. As you drive along the GPS-marked route, you’ll hear about the history of this beautiful park, how it came to be, and the presidential visit that defined its early days. You’ll also get a crash course in the wildlife you might find here and how to spot them!
Soon, you’ll reach Loop Road, which contains the park’s top attractions. First, you’ll see Bridalveil Fall, an astonishing waterfall plunging 620 feet to a pool below. Next is Cathedral Beach, offering immaculate views of the imposing cliff El Capitan.
Then, you’ll pass the Four-Mile Trail, a famous path that climbs over 3,600 feet along its length. After that is the Yosemite Valley Chapel, a historic church dating back to 1879 that still holds services today! Past that is another historic building: the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center, once home to the storied Sierra Club.
Next up is Yosemite Village, a great place to stop for snacks and shops. Beyond the village, you’ll find Cook’s Meadow Loop, a relaxing stroll offering perfect waterfall views.
You’ll get a great look at Yosemite Falls, a dizzying tall waterfall that puts Bridalveil Fall to shame, clocking in at over 2,400 feet! More adventurous travelers will also find a hiking trail that leads up to the top of those same falls.
You’ll pass a trio of mountains called the Three Brothers next before getting a good look at one of Yosemite’s most famous cliffs: El Capitan. Here, you’ll learn about both the conservationist responsible for preserving this impressive landscape in the first place and the daredevil climber who scaled El Capitan’s towering surface without any safety gear!
Finally, you’ll arrive at Hanging Valley Viewpoint, offering sweeping views of Bridalveil Fall and the Merced River. The tour will conclude here, but there are plenty of optional stops left to explore, including a grove of giant sequoias and tons more waterfalls and overlooks! The GPS pins make it easy to customize your visit to Yosemite and visit all the spots you most want to see!
Starting Point Addresses
Big Oak Flat Entrance: 31191 Hardin Flat Rd, Groveland, CA 95321
Arch Rock Entrance: J23M+RF Mariposa, California
Wawona South Entrance: C98F+J9 Oakhurst, California
Tioga Pass Entrance: 22 Vista Point Dr, Lee Vining, CA 93541
What You'll See
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Welcome
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Golden Wonder
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Moving Mountains
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Rivers and Glaciers
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Presidential Visit to Yosemite
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Mountain Lions
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Sequoia Trees
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An Olympic Bid
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Bears
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Bighorn Sheep
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Mule Deer
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The Legend of Yosemite
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The Miwok
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Valley Floor Loop
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Bridalveil Falls Trail
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Norita and Grey Eagle
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Creating a Monolith
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Cathedral Beach
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The Merced River
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Sentinel Rock
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Four Mile Trailhead
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First Look at Yosemite Falls
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Yosemite Valley Chapel
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Half Dome and Yosemite Falls View
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Forest Ecosystems
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North Dome
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Yosemite Village
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Cook's Meadow Loop
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Lower Yosemite Falls Trail
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Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
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Three Brothers
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El Capitan
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Devil's Elbow
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The Nose
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Hanging Valley Viewpoint
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Yosemite Valley View
Preview the Tour
Yosemite Valley View Audio Story
Creating a Monolith Audio Story
Tour FAQs
Yosemite National Park is located in central California, not far from the Nevada state line. It’s about a 4-hour drive from San Francisco or 3 hours from Sacramento.
Taking Tioga Road (Route 120) onto Highway 395 North will offer some of the most scenic views on a drive between Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe.
Late spring and early fall are probably the best times to visit Yosemite, as you’ll dodge the bulk of the crowds and catch some of the park’s sunniest days. That said, the entire summer is great if you don’t mind crowds. Winter can be tricky due to unpredictable snowstorms.
It takes around 5 hours to drive from Los Angeles to Yosemite. Traffic can obviously add time to this, especially during the busy summer months.
Deciding between Yellowstone and Yosemite depends entirely on what you’re looking for. If you love hiking and want to really immerse yourself in nature, Yosemite probably takes first place. But if you want to stroll along boardwalks over unearthly landscapes of geysers, bison herds, and prismatic springs, pick Yellowstone!
The drive from San Francisco to Yosemite generally takes around 4 hours. In the summer, add at least an extra hour to your calculations to account for traffic.
A 7-day pass to enter Yosemite costs $35 per car. If you plan to visit other national parks in the coming year, however, you should opt for the $80 America the Beautiful pass, which offers entry into all national parks for 12 months.
While there are no hot springs within Yosemite National Park, they can be found not far from the park at Travertine, Mammoth Lakes, and Buckeye, all of which are between 40-50 miles away.
El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Yosemite Falls are among the park’s many must-see attractions. The Yosemite Valley Loop leads past all of these, as well as other can’t-miss spots.
You can absolutely go hiking in Yosemite! The Yosemite Falls Trail and the Half Dome Hike are among the park’s best hikes, but with so many options, it’s up to you to decide based on which landmarks you most want to see.
April is one of the best months to visit Yosemite. Not only is it less crowded than later months, but seeing the spring blooms in the park is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Yosemite features plenty of easier hikes for kids, but the activities don’t end there. Younger visitors can also earn Jr. Ranger badges from the Park Service, spot amazing wildlife, and much more.
Additional Information
What do we do?
Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book – all in one app! We are a GPS-enabled app-based tour that narrates information based on your location right on your phone. You can experience our driving and walking tours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day!
Lifetime Validity
Changing travel date? No worries! All individual tours come with lifetime validity.
No Network Needed
The tour works offline, so you do not need your phone network to enjoy the tour. However, we do suggest you download the tour at your home, hotel, visitor center, etc., before you head out for a completely immersive experience.
Not an Entry Ticket
This is not an entry ticket. For entry ticket information, please visit recreation.gov.
How many tours should I buy?
Since this is a driving tour, you only need to buy one tour per car.
Each tour 3 - 4 Hours
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