8 hidden treasures of Yosemite National Park

Skyscraper-high granite walls, gushing waterfalls, and lush meadows—Yosemite Valley gets all the glory in Yosemite National Park, and for good reason. But those who explore just beyond the edge of the valley will be rewarded with sights that are just as stunning, but not quite as postcard-familiar.

Let’s start with two tips. The first: ditch the crowds by going hiking. “Not much is “off the beaten path.” But if you actually hike, you'll see fewer other visitors than if you stay on pavement in the Valley,” says Tripadvisor user PacificNWFamily.

And second, once you’ve committed Yosemite Valley’s views to memory, branch out to the north and south of the Valley for an even broader perspective of what this park has to offer. Here are some of the park’s hidden treasures that have fewer people but impressive sights.

Also known as Highway 120, Tioga Road runs east to west through the center of Yosemite National Park’s high country, north of its main hub in Yosemite Valley. The highway’s highest point, Tioga Pass, reaches 9,943 feet into the sky. Understandably, that means that the road is shut down for large portions of the year depending on how much snow got dumped in the colder months. But getting that high (without having to hike it) offers a real treat as far as views go. Several gorgeous hikes and rest areas start from the road, and while you’ll certainly have company, it’s not quite as crowded as Yosemite Valley.

This massive alpine meadow is stunning in its own right, and it’s accessible just off of Tioga Road. Stroll through the area on a two-mile path and take in the peaceful Tuolumne River. Be careful not to step off of the marked path—alpine meadows are delicate and can take years to recover after a disturbance, which yes, includes your boot bottoms.

“Try to schedule a day in the Tuolumne Meadows area," says user vnrose52. "With its peaks and lakes, it is spectacular [in later summer] and overlooked by those who think Yosemite is just the falls and Half Dome!”

Here’s another easy, just-off-the-road view where you can kick off your shoes and indulge in a little sun worship. The full trip around the lake isn’t strenuous, but it’ll require getting your feet—OK, maybe your entire lower body—wet as you ford the inlet and outlet of the lake.

If wet shoes aren’t your idea of a good time, park on the west end of the lake and hike south until you reach the outlet. It would be hard to call this lake “hidden”—after all, it bumps up against a park highway. But visitors who never venture beyond the Valley miss this one time and time again.

And it’s a great spot for a swim, says user Sonapaoma. “Although cold, the lake water is warmer than the Merced River.”

Sure, technically it’s a quarter-mile hike to the top, but even the views from the parking lot are pretty astounding, and the crowds are the same if you stay here or hike a few hundred feet up. View the hair-raising Cloud’s Rest without having to hike its famously narrow ridge, as well as Half Dome in the distance.

Another thing it’s great for? Stargazing. “Olmsted Point is about the best you can get,” says user HappyFeet1234. Put your phones away and let your eyes adjust to the mind-blowing grandeur of the Milky Way.

Starting at the Tuolumne Meadows trailhead, most visitors stop at Lower Cathedral Lakes, a seven-mile hike which tops out at 9,290 feet above sea level. But for the intrepid, adding an extra mile to your round-trip hike will allow you to see both the lower and upper lakes.

Upper Cathedral Lakes will leave you breathless—from the views and from being at 9,600 feet of elevation. The good news is the trailhead puts you at 8,500 feet, so you won’t have to climb all of the way up on your own.

And it’s a good option on a hot day, says AussieGirl86. “The Cathedral Lakes trail is mostly shaded for the hardest part (the climb from the trailhead) and there is a freshwater spring that is delicious—you can see the water bubbling out of the sand.”

Another high country road, this time to the south of the Valley, Glacier Point road also experiences seasonal closures. But if you’re hunting for birds-eye views, you’ll get them here. Several popular hikes are along this stretch, but we’re highlighting a few that get less foot traffic with just as much beauty to behold.

People tend to blow past this hike in favor of the popular Glacier Point, but Sentinel Dome is a short 2.2-mile trek to some of the best views of Yosemite Valley, including iconic features like Half Dome, El Capitan, Nevada Falls, and Cloud’s Rest.

“You can get a similar view as from Half Dome by doing the much shorter, much easier Sentinel Dome hike, providing that Glacier Point Road and the trail to Sentinel Dome are open by the time you are there,” says user sunrisesandiego.

You won’t be alone, but it’s less sardine-like for similarly spectacular views. While most of the walk is pretty chill, even at elevation, your last push up the dome will probably test your cardiovascular endurance.

“If you really want to get away from Yosemite Valley and see waterfalls and a lake, well, go to Hetch Hetchy. It's another Yosemite, within the park, that was dammed to provide drinking water for San Francisco,” says user Bayatuning. To get to here, you’ll have to drive outside of the park—even though the reservoir itself lies in the northern end of Yosemite. It’s a 30-minute drive (you know, traffic allowing) from Highway 120 to get to the reservoir.

With minimal elevation gain, this 5.5-mile hike is one of the most worthwhile in the area. The series of cascades plunge for 1,400 feet, like nature’s steepest waterslide. (One you’d never ride.) As impressive as they are, the dam actually drowned the bottom 400 feet of falls, trimming off its tail.

Also, remember that you’re definitely in the wild here. “Watch for rattlesnakes and don't brush against the poison oak. Both are easy to avoid,” says user PacificNWFamily.

If you’re feeling adventurous (and well prepared with snacks, water, and plenty of daylight), continue on to Rancheria Falls, which will land you with a 13.5-mile round trip total.

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