Like everyone, I had heard about how crowded Yosemite is in 2026. But when I arrived at my campground off Glacier Point Road in Yosemite, I was shocked by how empty it was.
The sign at the entrance to Bridalveil Creek Campground said “CAMPGROUND FULL.” Yet throughout my July stay, the sites in my loop of the campground were mostly empty.
It was a great beginning to my three-day stay on Yosemite’s quieter side, the Glacier Point Road area. In this post, you’ll learn what to do during a three-day stay in the lesser-visited Glacier Point Road area of Yosemite. I’ll cover hikes and scenic viewpoints for watching the sunrise and sunset.
Note that Glacier Point Road closes in winter! So this itinerary is for visitors to Yosemite between about May to November. Also, as of September 2026, Glacier Point Road is closed due to the Dome Fire, and Bridalveil Creek Campground is closed due to damage from a lightning strike. But all should be open in spring 2027!
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What to do in the Glacier Point Road area of Yosemite
Most people who drive down Glacier Point Road, south of Yosemite Valley, go straight to the Glacier Point viewpoint. And that panoramic view of Half Dome and the valley is definitely the highlight! But, spending most of a week in the Glacier Point area, I discovered plenty more to do in this less-crowded quadrant of the park. And I never once sat in a traffic jam.
Before you go: Book the Bridalveil Creek Campground
Bridalveil Creek Campground is the only place to stay in the Glacier Point Road part of Yosemite National Park. (The campground is closed for 2026 after a lightning strike damaged some infrastructure, but expected to reopen in 2027.)
Make Yosemite camping reservations on Recreation.gov. When I looked for reservations earlier this summer, it showed Bridalveil Creek Campground as full. Don’t let that discourage you! I used the “Set Availability Alert” feature, and soon I began receiving daily emails with the subject “Campsite Available!”
I don’t know why, but Yosemite campgrounds seem to always show up as full online, but later have plenty of openings. This may not work for the ultra-popular campgrounds in Yosemite Valley, but it worked great for Bridalveil Creek.
The Bridalveil Creek campground has bathrooms and running water. The booth at the entrance is staffed daily with helpful folks who will give you maps and advice. As with all Yosemite campgrounds, you have to put your food and toiletries in the bear box.
Also note that there is nothing for sale at the Bridalveil Creek campground: no food, no wood. However, you’re allowed to gather wood and there are plenty of sticks and branches lying around the campground.
Arriving on Glacier Point Road
Summer crowds entering Yosemite in the mornings are insane — even at the gates that don’t lead straight to the valley. Last time I was at the Wawona entrance late morning, I counted over 100 cars waiting to get in.
So, I recommend arriving at Yosemite in the afternoon/early evening. I rolled into the South Entrance at around 5 p.m. on a July Monday, and I didn’t wait at all. Because I knew there’s no store at Bridalveil Creek Campground, I stopped for groceries and a bundle of wood at the Grocery Outlet in Oakhurst before entering the park. (You can also get some groceries at the Wawona General Store and Post Office, but of course it’s more expensive.)
Even if you have a camping reservation, you still have to pay to enter Yosemite National Park. The cost is $35 per car for a seven-day pass (for US residents), plus $100 for any non-resident you may have in your vehicle. I opted instead to purchase an American the Beautiful pass for $80; this will get me into all US national parks for one year.
From the gate, it’s a 25-mile drive to Bridalveil Creek Campground, which took me about an hour. By the time I got to the campground, the staff had left the booth for the day. But it was easy enough to find my campsite by driving around.
Spend your first evening setting up your camp and enjoying a campfire. Your 3-day Glacier Point Road itinerary begins early tomorrow morning.
Day 1: Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Loop + sunset at Glacier Point
It’s tempting to drive straight to Glacier Point and check out that spectacular view. But we all know that hiking is best in the morning. So when you get up, drive to the Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Trailhead as early as you can. Bring a lunch and plenty of water.
Even though the Glacier Point area is less crowded than Yosemite Valley, the trailhead parking lot will still fill up in summer by late morning. One day, the lot was full by 9:45 a.m. Another day, there was a spot or two at 11 a.m.
Park in the parking lot, use the pit toilets, and head out on the 5-mile loop. First, hike toward Sentinel Dome, getting through the no-shade approach before the sun gets too high. The dome itself looks imposing, but I didn’t find it too hard to scramble up (and I’m 52, in so-so shape.) Within an hour, I was sitting on a horizontal tree limb atop the dome, eating a sandwich and enjoying a windbath while looking down on Yosemite Valley.
Then descend from the dome the same way you went up. Next, you’ll follow signs to Taft Point. Once you’re up at the Point, you’re rewarded with more epic views. There are actually several points you can walk out to. If you have a partner with you, you can have them take your photo standing out on one of the outcroppings. You can also peer down into the deep fissures in the cliff. Be careful!
While I was hanging around Taft Point, I noticed some folks looking and pointing at the opposite slope. Turns out there was a black bear ambling along over there! The British tourists who spotted it were very excited to see their first bear. Fortunately, I had brought binoculars, so I was able to watch it for awhile, from a very far distance.
Follow signs back to the trailhead. Now, it’s probably around noon, and maybe a little hot out. Unfortunately, I didn’t find a great place on Glacier Point Road to cool off in water. (Yes, there’s a hike to Ostrander Lake, but it’s far.) However, a lot of campsites in the campground are quite shady. So head back there to eat lunch and maybe rest in a hammock.
If you don’t want to loaf all afternoon, you can also drive across the road to stroll through McGurk Meadow. This pleasant, wildflower-strewn out-and-back walk takes you past an old cabin. Tuck your pants into your socks and wear DEET — the long grass made me wary of ticks here.
In the evening, you’ll drive back down Glacier Point Road, to Glacier Point. You’ll want to be at this viewpoint by sunset, a little after 8 p.m., depending on what month you’re there. But you should also give yourself an hour or two to explore everything Glacier Point has to offer.
Leave your campsite at around 6 p.m. and drive about 20 minutes to the Glacier Point parking lot, taking your time to enjoy the scenic drive. Hopefully, by this time of the evening, many day visitors will have left Yosemite, leaving your space in the parking lot. However, if the lot is full, park at nearby Washburn Point and take in the view from there for awhile, then circle back to Glacier Point after you see a few people leave.
When you arrive at Glacier Point, don’t try to wait for sunset to drink in the view. You won’t be able to! Stand in the large viewing area and explore the valley with your eyes, starting with the most obvious feature — Half Dome — and then picking out the waterfalls. Look down at the roads in the valley and be glad you aren’t sitting in one of those cars, stuck in traffic.
Then, hit the Glacier Point Shop & Snack Stand before its 7 p.m. closing. This is your only chance to shop while staying in the Glacier Point Road area! Get yourself an ice cream bar, and/or any camping necessities you may have forgotten.
Walk around the short trail and read all the informational signs. Check out the Geology Hut, the first trailside museum in the National Parks system. Its exhibits show how repeated glaciation formed the majestic valley and rock formations around you.
But don’t get so caught up in shopping and learning that you miss the sunset! In fact, as the sun gets lower, stop to look out at Half Dome and the valley often, because the golden hour light will change by the minute. If you’re lucky, you’ll see Half Dome and the rest of the view painted in some dramatic reds and purples!
After sunset, Glacier Point tends to empty out rapidly. So if you’re feeling crowded, just wait. You could even bring a camp chair. The scene will still look very beautiful a few minutes after sunset, and you will be alone or nearly so. Soak in the quiet beauty!
On summer Fridays and Saturdays, there are often star viewing parties at Glacier Point starting at around 8:30 p.m. This would be worth waiting for! But only stay if you’re comfortable driving Glacier Point Road, which does have some sheer drop-offs, after dark.
Day 2: Yosemite Valley, the easy way or the hard way
There are two ways to get to Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point Road. You can drive there in about half an hour.
Or you can walk there! The iconic Four Mile Trail (which is about 5 miles long, lol) starts at the Glacier Point parking area, descends about 3,000 feet down the wall of Yosemite Valley, and ends up at Southside Drive in the Valley, not far from Swinging Bridge at the Merced River. Or if you’re even more ambitious, you can take the 8-mile Panorama Trail route. The longer route takes you to the top of Nevada Fall, and you take the Mist Trail down from there.
Expert hikers in great shape can choose to hike down and up in a single day, even making a loop of the two trails. But mortals like me would only attempt to hike into the valley if they have a parter who will drive there and pick them up. I did that with my family in fall 2021 and I loved the Four Mile Trail!
Whichever way you choose to head to the Valley, the earlier you start Day 2, the better. Ideally, get up when it’s still dark and bring a packed breakfast. Don’t forget a bathing suit!
Hiking down to the Valley
If you decide to walk down, drive yourself to Glacier Point in the dark and park in the lot. Maybe bring your camp stove and make your coffee to sip as you watch the sun rise. Watching the sun rise at Glacier Point is even better than watching it set there. Why? Because the sun will pop out from right behind Half Dome!
Once you’ve enjoyed the sunrise, start making your way down the trail. Although both the Four Mile and Panoramic route are considered strenuous, I didn’t find the Four Mile hike particularly difficult. After all, you’re going down. But be careful: I did slip at one point and land on my butt! Apparently sprained ankles are not uncommon.
Depending on which trail you choose and how slowly you hike, you’ll end up in the valley sometime around midday. Reward yourself with a swim in the Merced River! Ideally, in the hours you were hiking, your companion will have driven down to the Valley, secured parking, and set up a great picnic — with plenty of water — for you both at the river’s edge.
Spend the rest of the afternoon visiting some Yosemite classics via shuttle. Stroll the short loop to see Lower Yosemite Falls. Sit in El Capitan Meadow and gaze up at the granite monolith. Check out the Yosemite Village visitor center and gift shop.
Or, if you’re ambitious, turn right around after your river picnic and climb back up to Glacier Point. Better you than me.
Driving into the Valley
Obviously, driving in will be a lot easier and faster than walking in. But you’ll still want to leave your campsite early. Because you want to beat the crowds and secure a place in the Valley for your car for the day.
Luckily, you have an advantage: Anyone showing up to Yosemite for a day visit has to wait in line at the entrance gate and either pay for entry or show their pass. You won’t have to wait in line. Don’t squander this head start!
If you’re good and early, you can stop at Tunnel View on your way into the Valley to peek into the valley you’re about to enter. But then get a move on! Drive straight to a parking area, get out of your car, and leave it there. Once the valley fills up with people and vehicles, you don’t want to waste your day driving around looking for your next spot.
If you’re early enough, you can park at Yosemite Village. But don’t park in the Village Store lot, which has a 30-minute limit. If the Village Lot is full, try Church Bowl. When I drove into the Valley this summer, I parked at the Church Bowl Picnic Area all day. I like this small lot because it’s a short walk to Yosemite Village.
Start your day with coffee and breakfast at Degnan’s Kitchen in Yosemite Village, if you haven’t eaten already. Then head out on a scenic hike before it gets too hot. Mist Trail to the top of Nevada Fall is the most popular, but since you’re parked at or near Yosemite Village, head toward Yosemite Falls. (If you really want to do Mist Trail, try to park for the day at Curry Village instead.)
If you only want to hike a little, you can stop at Columbia Rock and still feel rewarded by the great view. If you want to keep going to the top of Yosemite Falls, be my guest — but it will use up most of your day. The round trip to the rock should take about 3 hours, as in, until lunchtime.
Since there are no restaurants in the Glacier Point Road area, now is your only chance of the trip to sit down to a hot meal cooked by someone else. During my Valley day of my stay, I ate at the Taqueria @ the Meadow Grill, in Curry Village. My fish taco was … meh. Instead, I should have taken Reddit’s advice and eaten at Pizza Deck, also at Curry Village. From the Yosemite Falls trailhead, you can walk 45 minutes to Curry Village or take a shuttle. Personally, I like walking around the valley, getting different perspectives on El Capitan and Half Dome as I go.
After lunch, get in the river! For real, soaking in the Merced is my favorite thing to do in Yosemite Valley in summer. Don’t miss it. You can walk 5 minutes from Curry Village to Stoneman Bridge, a popular place to swim and/or put in tubes and kayaks. Is the water cold? It’s melted snow from the mountains! And it will feel great after your morning hike.
After your swim, while away the rest of the afternoon viewing exhibits (the Yosemite Valley Welcome Center and the Yosemite Exploration Center are both fun). Around 4 or 5 p.m., start driving back toward the Valley entrance, stopping at any scenic viewpoints you like. Hopefully crowds will be waning by now.
On my visit, I stopped at Bridalveil Falls, since I wanted to see the bottom of the creek I was camping near. (I did walk along Bridalveil Creek at the campground a little bit, but it was buggy and not very pretty.) And since I had rushed through the Tunnel View area on my way into the Valley, I made a nice leisurely stop there on my way out.
Make your way back up to Glacier Point Road and Bridalveil Creek Campground, stopping at any scenic viewpoints you like on the way.
Day 3: All-day hike
Get up early again, it’s going to be another long day! Today, you’ll definitely want a packed lunch, because you’re hiking six miles to Ostrander Lake, and six miles back. Also wear/bring bug spray and carry plenty of water.
It starts with a gentle stroll through forest and meadow. But just when you’re lulled into complacency, bam! For the second half, you’ll be climbing 1,600 feet up Horse Ridge. The scenery will open up so you can see Half Dome and a lot of other domes. After what feels like forever, you will sweatily arrive at Ostrander Lake. Some folks camp at the lake — if you want to do that, you’ll need a wilderness permit.
If you think you will want to jump in the icy lake upon arrival to cool off, you might want to wear a bathing suit under your clothes and/or carry water sandals. But don’t hike in your sandals — the trail is too rocky.
There aren’t any bathroom facilities or water at the lake, so bring everything you might need during the course of a full day.
On your way out of the Glacier Point Road area
On your last morning, you’ll pack up your tent to leave Yosemite. But it doesn’t have to be a hasty good-bye!
Since you’ll be leaving out the South Gate, the facilities at Wawona are convenient to stop at. I stopped at the Wawona Store and Post Office to mail a postcard.
Then I enjoyed a leisurely stop at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias before leaving. There’s a shuttle from the newish parking area to the grove, and once you get there, it’s an easy place to walk around. You can even join a free ranger-guided tour if you want. (Of course, you could also make this stop on your way into Yosemite if you get there earlier on your first day.)
On your way out, take the time to count the cars lined up to enter Yosemite — and to feel grateful you stayed in the park instead of waiting in that line every morning!