5 Unforgettable Things to Do in Yosemite National Park

There is so much to do in Yosemite National Park, it’s hard to choose only 5 incredible moments. But in the short time I was there with some of my best girlfriends this past May we were able to see and do things I thought I would never do. And I’ll never forget the amazing experiences we had together. Here are my top 5 unforgettable things to do in Yosemite National Park.

1. Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall

This was my favorite part of the entire trip. Mist Trail was challenging, but so enjoyable. This site gives a great overview of all the trails you can take from this starting point in Happy Isles.

The first half is steep and on a paved trail. Every turn there’s a new view to awe over. As you keep going up the second half, the path turns into slick, rocky steps and the falls start to mist on you—a lot. You can get pretty soaked! But the view of the falls are amazing.

We didn’t make it all the way up this time, but if I ever go again, I wouldn’t stop hiking this. I loved it so much.

2. Hike to the Heights of Taft Point

This was a huge feat for me being extremely afraid of heights. I don’t know when that happened, perhaps when I had kids, but this hike terrified me from the first picture I saw online while planning the trip. I have to say, the hike overall is surprisingly short, but the view at the end is incredible—if you stay away from the edge. I could not even believe that I was 3,500 feet above the valley. Making it to the railed view point was enough for me (and I did not look down) but if your more adventurous, like my friends, you can make your way to this un-railed cliff. (Not sure how this is legal)

3. Rent Bikes in the Valley

Renting bikes in the valley on our last day was the best idea. We were able to see so much, and had a day on the ground, which I definitely enjoyed. We started in Curry Village and made our way through the entire valley, catching a site of some rock climbers in action and of course making lots of pit stops for photo ops.

We stopped at The Ahwahnee hotel for lunch, which I have to say is the best meal you will find in the park. It was a gorgeous property and a super delicious meal.

4. See the Wonders of Mirror Lake

Mirror lake is amazing in pictures, but it’s even more breathtaking in person. Another stop on the bike trail took us here, and it was magical. Definitely a must see.

While you are there you can stop at the rock garden, and leave your mark.

5. Practice Yoga Surrounded by Nature

One of the more unforgettable moments for me on the trip was taking some time to just “be” in nature. My girlfriend and I are really into Yoga and wanted to practice while we were there. We did find that there were actual yoga tours that you could book in the park, but we didn’t have the time for that during this trip. It was really nice to pause for a little while, enjoy the views and do some of the moves that bring us into focus and balance.

There is so much more to see in Yosemite National Park, but I feel so fulfilled at everything we got to do while we were there. It’s incredible to be surrounded by such beauty everywhere you go. That’s the wonderful part about traveling to new places. Getting to see and experience so many different things than you are used to seeing every day.

And I’ll leave you with one of the most amazing views I have ever seen in my life, that pictures do not do justice.