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Discover Yosemite National Park: A Self-Guided Tour

Yosemite National Park, USA
Book online or call us

from $3.41 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
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6 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

Discover Yosemite National Park with our self-guided tour, allowing you to explore one of the world's most awe-inspiring landscapes at your own pace. Drive into Yosemite Valley where the sheer granite face of El Capitan rises 900 meters from the valley floor and the iconic Half Dome stands sentinel over meadows and forests below. Watch Yosemite Falls thunder 739 meters in the tallest waterfall in North America, stand among giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove where the Grizzly Giant has lived for nearly 2,000 years, and ascend to Glacier Point for panoramas across the valley to the High Sierra crest. Follow the Tioga Road through subalpine meadows at 2,600 meters in Tuolumne, hike the Mist Trail alongside the cascade of Vernal Fall, discover the reflections of Mirror Lake beneath Half Dome's sheer northwest face, and explore Hetch Hetchy's granite-ringed reservoir — a valley that John Muir fought to save and that rivals Yosemite itself in grandeur.

What's Included

  • Bonus: Valley Floor Loop driving tour included — Yosemite's greatest hits from your car
  • Digital Map
  • NO live guide or rental equipment provided — please bring your own smartphone and headphones
  • Private transportation
  • Admission fees, live guide, headphones, transport, parking, food/drinks, internet access and rentals
See 2 moreSee 2 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

9035 Village Drive
Yosemite Valley, CA 95389, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

Tunnel View (pass by)

The most iconic vista in all of American national parks — the first breathtaking panorama of Yosemite Valley as you emerge from the Wawona Tunnel, with El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Fall cascading on the right, and Half Dome centered in the distance above the forested valley floor stretching into the granite wilderness.
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El Capitan Meadow (pass by)

The best ground-level viewpoint of El Capitan's 900-meter vertical granite face — the largest exposed granite monolith on earth. From the meadow, watch rock climbers on the sheer wall through binoculars as they attempt multi-day ascents of routes like The Nose and Dawn Wall that have become legends in climbing history.
Read more

Yosemite Falls (pass by)

The tallest waterfall in North America at 739 meters — plunging in three stages from the valley rim to the floor. The Lower Yosemite Fall trail is an easy paved loop offering face-to-face views of the thundering cascade in spring, while the strenuous Upper Fall trail climbs to the top for dizzying views down into the valley.
Read more

Half Dome (pass by)

The classic postcard view of Half Dome reflected in the calm waters of the Merced River — Sentinel Bridge offers the most photographed perspective of Yosemite's most recognizable landmark, its sheer northwest face rising 1,444 meters above the valley floor. The reflection is best in the still waters of early morning.
Read more

Mirror Lake/Meadow Trail (pass by)

A seasonal lake that creates perfect reflections of Half Dome and Mount Watkins in its still surface — reached by a gentle 3.2-kilometer trail from the valley shuttle stop. In spring the reflections are stunning; by late summer the lake recedes to a meadow, revealing Yosemite's ever-changing seasonal character.
Read more

Glacier Point (pass by)

A 2,199-meter viewpoint offering the most spectacular panorama in Yosemite — looking straight across at Half Dome's face, down 975 meters to the valley floor, and across to Yosemite Falls, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and the High Sierra peaks stretching to the horizon. One of the greatest viewpoints in any national park worldwide.
Read more

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (pass by)

Yosemite's largest sequoia grove — home to over 500 mature giant sequoias including the Grizzly Giant, nearly 2,000 years old with a base circumference of 28 meters. Walk among the largest living organisms on earth on accessible boardwalk trails through a cathedral-like forest that inspired the conservation movement.
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Mist Trail

A 97-meter waterfall reached by Yosemite's most popular hike — the Mist Trail climbs granite steps alongside the thundering cascade, drenching hikers in spray during peak flow. The 4.4-kilometer round trip to the top of the falls rewards with views down the granite staircase to the Merced River canyon below.
Read more

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Tuolumne Meadows (pass by)

The largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada at 2,620 meters — a vast expanse of wildflower-dotted grassland surrounded by granite domes and peaks along the Tioga Road. The meadows serve as a gateway to Yosemite's high country wilderness, with trails leading to Cathedral Lakes, Lembert Dome, and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Read more

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (pass by)

A granite-ringed valley that John Muir called 'a grand landscape garden' — flooded in 1923 to supply San Francisco's water, the dam remains one of America's most controversial conservation stories. Walk across the O'Shaughnessy Dam and hike to Wapama Falls cascading over 300 meters of granite into the turquoise reservoir.
Read more

Tioga Road & Olmsted Point Overlook

The highest highway crossing in the Sierra Nevada — Tioga Road traverses 60 kilometers of stunning high-country scenery from the valley to the eastern Sierra. Olmsted Point offers a unique rear view of Half Dome's curved back, surrounded by glacially polished granite and erratics, with Tenaya Lake's blue waters shimmering below.
Read more

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Show 10 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Discover Yosemite National Park: A Self-Guided Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-5520738P94

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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Discover Yosemite National Park: A Self-Guided Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PST).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Bonus: Valley Floor Loop driving tour included — Yosemite's greatest hits from your car.
  • Digital Map.
  • NO live guide or rental equipment provided — please bring your own smartphone and headphones.
  • Self-guided walking tour (app).
  • Enjoy audio guide access for more than 50 sites across Yosemite National Park.
The following is NOT included:
  • Private transportation.
  • Admission fees, live guide, headphones, transport, parking, food/drinks, internet access and rentals.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 15..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Discover Yosemite National Park: A Self-Guided Tour is as follows:

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Discover Yosemite National Park: A Self-Guided Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • Bonus: Valley Floor Loop driving tour included — Yosemite's greatest hits from your car
  • Digital Map
  • NO live guide or rental equipment provided — please bring your own smartphone and headphones
  • Self-guided walking tour (app)
  • Enjoy audio guide access for more than 50 sites across Yosemite National Park
  • Private transportation
  • Admission fees, live guide, headphones, transport, parking, food/drinks, internet access and rentals

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Report Product Issue

Activity name