One Day in Yosemite National Park: Everything You Need to Know

There’s few places in the United States that inspire such awe as Yosemite National Park. With its granite monoliths, giant sequoias, and towering waterfalls, the park offers some of the most epic landscapes on the planet. 

But with over 1,100 square miles of wilderness to explore, it can be hard to know what to do if you have a short time in the park. We’ve visited the park several times and have crafted this guide detailing exactly how to spend one day in Yosemite National Park, from how to get around to the exact itinerary that you should follow.

47 Things to Do in Northern California

Northern California is an endless treasure trove of unique adventures, ranging from wandering under the canopies of towering redwood forests to kayaking across picturesque alpine lakes.

While Northern California has plenty of iconic destinations to explore, like Yosemite National Park or Lake Tahoe, there’s so many more under-the-radar places to dive into, like hiking up to the granite spires of Castle Crags State Park or gawking at the Victorian mansions of Mendocino. Here are 47 incredible things to do in Northern California including both bucket list worthy destinations and some of the state’s best hidden gems.

Castle Dome Trail in California’s Castle Crags State Park: Everything You Need to Know

Castle Crags State Park is one of Northern California’s best hidden gems, with rushing rivers, pine tree forests, and dramatic granite cliffs. The Castle Dome Trail is one of the best hikes through this alpine wonderland, taking you through an impossibly green forest up to a mountain ridge, which offers panoramic views of the park’s 6,000-foot tall granite cliffs and one of California’s tallest mountains, Mount Shasta. So lace up those hiking boots—here’s everything you need to know about the Castle Dome Trail.

Rubicon Trail: Lake Tahoe’s Best Hike

Lake Tahoe is an alpine wonderland, with snow-capped mountain peaks, dense pine tree forests, and, of course, the lake’s iconically blue, crystal clear waters. One of the best hikes to enjoy this incredible landscape is the Rubicon Trail, which leads you along the lake’s stunning shoreline, past dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and stellar mountain views. Here’s everything you need to know about the Rubicon Trail, the best day hike in Lake Tahoe.

Mariposa Grove Trail: The Best Sequoia Hike in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is perhaps most famous for its beautiful Valley, but there’s so much more to see than that, including hundreds of giant sequoias. Mariposa Grove is home to the park’s largest concentrations of giant sequoias—over 500!—and the best place to get up close and personal with the most massive tree species on the planet. The stunning Mariposa Grove Trail takes you past some of the most stunning views and fascinating sequoias and views in Yosemite. So here’s everything you need to know about the Mariposa Grove Trail, the best way to explore Yosemite’s ancient sequoias. 

Fern Canyon Trail in Redwoods National and State Park: A Complete Guide

Imagine walking through a lush canyon, whose walls stretch high above you and drip with primeval ferns, while a stream softly babbles nearby. Sounds like a dream? Nope, it’s just the Fern Canyon Trail in Redwoods National and State Park, one of the best hikes to experience the stunning redwood forests of Northern California. So if you want to visit a place that’s so prehistoric looking, it was included in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, buckle up—here’s everything you need to know about the Fern Canyon Trail.

Travertine Hot Springs: The Eastern Sierra’s Most Beautiful Hot Spring

The Eastern Sierra is one of the most magical places in California, with towering, snow-capped mountains, endless fields of sagebrush and wildflowers, and, best of all, LOTS of natural hot springs. Travertine Hot Springs is inarguably one of the most uniquely beautiful ones, with four primitive pools that are carved out of a calcium-rich rock formation, filled with steamy hot water, and that offer stunning views of the eastern Sierras. Sounds like a dream come true? Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Travertine Hot Springs.

Buckeye Hot Springs: Everything You Need to Know

The Eastern Sierra offers one of the most stunning landscapes in California, with towering mountains, fields of wildflowers, and, best of all, natural hot springs! Buckeye Hot Springs is just one of these incredible hot springs, tucked in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest outside of the teeny, yet charming town of Bridgeport. If you want to enjoy the steamy water and epic alpine views for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about Buckeye Hot Springs.

18 Best Places to Visit in California During Winter

California in winter is quite dynamic, offering getaways ranging from snow-capped mountains and pine tree forests to white sand beaches lined with palm trees. So whether you’re looking for a skier’s paradise or a beach vacation, the Golden State has the perfect destination for you, just waiting to be explored. Here are the 18 best places to visit in California during winter.

10 Best Hikes in the Redwoods – The Tallest Living Things to EVER Exist!

There’s something so magical about the enormous redwood trees of northern California- with their prehistoric-looking bark and eye-popping height, walking underneath their impossibly high branches makes you feel like you’ve just stepped into Jurassic Park. If you’re visiting the tallest trees on earth, lace up your hiking boots- here’s ten of the best hikes in the redwoods of Northern California.

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