Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In

Yosemite National Park Tourist Traps

Search:
email to friend | help

Yosemite National Park Travel Guide

Sponsored Links for Yosemite National Park

Lodging In Yosemite Park
Why stay outside the park? Why pay reservation fees? Great location.

Yosemite Yurts Camping RV
Fire rings, great sites, lake, near store, 5 miles from West gate

Yosemite One Day Trip
One Day Trip from San Francisco Waterfalls, Half-Dome & El Capitan.

Sequoia National Park
The Family Vacation Destination Book Your Vacation Online Today!

Cheap Hotels
Save up to 50% on Hotels and Now Get Our Best Price Guarantee.

Yosemite National Park Tourist Traps

Tips and photos of Yosemite National Park tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Yosemite National Park locals.
Local Time 6:15 pm Friday, July 25, 2008
Yosemite National Park Map
All Yosemite National Park Hotels
Check-In Date:
Check-Out Date:
Guests
Hotels by OneTime.com
Yosemite National Park Tourist TrapsTips 1 - 10 of 16  
Popular Tourist Traps | Miscellaneous Tourist Traps Tips | All Tips (16)
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
The Valley
  • Tip Rating:
  • By PA2AKgirl on December 12, 2003
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • El Capitan, Yosemite Valley - Yosemite National Park
    El Capitan, Yosemite
    Valley
    by PA2AKgirl
    Send Photo to a Friend
    This place could drive you crazy in the summer. Driving into the Valley, you'll encounter people everywhere--standing in the road, hanging out of cars taking pictures and so on. There are places to eat, the infamous Ahwahnee hotel, campsites, shops, a medical clinic, post office...etc. etc. It's pretty much its own little town.

    Go and get out. Enjoy it, see the film in the visitor center, walk if you can, take your pictures, get supplies and go.

    It is fun, and it's something you should see, but don't stay there the whole time. You're missing out on so much of the Park.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    The Valley Floor
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By acemj on June 16, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Yosemite National Park Tourist Traps
    by acemj
    Send Photo to a Friend
    The view from Glacier Point down to the Valley Floor is spectacular, but if you're here in the peak summer season, don't be surprised to see the landscape dotted with car traffic and swarms of tourists. An inordinately high percentage of Yosemite visitors just tour the Valley and then leave. If you have more time, try to get out to some of the more remote areas of the park.

    I was happy that we were at least able to do one long hike and that we drove down to the Mariposa Grove on our second day, but next time I visit, I plan to allow at least three full days so I can explore some more off the beaten path locations.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Lakes?
  • Tip Rating:
  • By IceBear7 on October 25, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Mirrow Lake - Yosemite National Park
    Mirrow Lake
    by IceBear7
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Don't believe them there are not that many lakes in Yosemite Valley, at least Mirrow Lake is invisible in October!

    Enjoy walking through a lake without getting wet. And you will definitely enjoy the little walk from bus stop 17.

    Visit in winter, spring, and early summer.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    The foot of Bridalveil Falls is busy in summer
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By atufft on June 4, 2007
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Bridalveil Falls in July 2005 - Yosemite National Park
    Bridalveil Falls in July
    2005
    by atufft,
    4 more photos
    Send Photo to a Friend
    It's not really a tourist trap, but trying to find a spot to park is ridiculous. This is the first falls visitors see upon entering the part by way of the main Arch Rock entrance. The path from the parking lot to the bottom of the falls is not long and is paved, but the last stretch is too steep for wheelchairs to climb. In their rush to see the falls, most tourists ignore the lovely forest of maples and dogwood trees that shade the trail. Bridalveil Falls are arguably the most beautiful in Yosemite Valley because of the misty white spray. Around noon, the sun will glisten through the mist making the white veil very apparent. Expect problems with the camera meter when shooting images of these falls. In spring, the unpredictable spray of water makes the boulders at the bottom of the falls slippery and dangerous, and signs warn visitors of this fact. In late summer, when the flow is much reduced, it's possible to stand under the falls themselves, although signs posted warn visitors against doing so.

    Park wherever you can and make the short hike. Be careful about jumping around on the slippery rocks. Show courtesy to others trying to create portraits at the bottom of the falls.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Waterfalls?
  • Tip Rating:
  • By IceBear7 on October 25, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Lower Yosemite Falls - Yosemite National Park
    Lower Yosemite Falls
    by IceBear7
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Don't believe them... there are no big waterfalls in Yosemite.. AT LEAST NOT IN OCTOBER.

    It's definitely worth the walk because Yosemite Valley is wonderful even without the waterfalls. Just use your imagination, look at a brochure, try to imagine the noise and smell of water - and the crowds of other visitors looking at it.

    Go in winter, spring and early summer!

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    THE VALLEY!!!!!!! Tourist Mecca
  • Tip Rating:
  • By Shihar on June 26, 2006
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • El Cap - Yosemite National Park
    El Cap
    by Shihar, 4 more photos
    Send Photo to a Friend
    I really dislike calling any part of a National Park a tourist trap. I am happy that people are enjoying nature.... it's just the selfish rude people that spoil it for others.

    Sooo, to not let the others get the best of us, we do the following:

    1) Take a lovely photo of El Cap, and Half Dome for the scrapbook
    2)Agree that it is one of the most beautiful places on earth
    3) Scamper off as quickly as we can to a more desolate area that has great Valley views.. such as Upper Yosemite Valley Falls Trail

    Be considerate of others...

    Any where else in the park...it is the size of Rhode Island ....don't ya know!

    We loved Hetch Hetchy...dubbed "the Little Valley"area.


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Gas stations
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By DPando on April 23, 2008
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Yosemite National Park Tourist Traps
    by DPando
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Petrol in this park is much more expensive than other petrol stations in Lee
    Winning or other places in the western or southern areas. There are several in
    Yosemite, open year round are in Wawona and at Crane Flat, and seasonally at
    Tuolumne Meadows (where I pumped in late September) and Tioga Road. Pay at pump
    is available 24 hours a day by debit or credit card despite nobody being there.

    There is really no cheap option for petrol once inside the park. Fill up ahead
    of time to avoid being a captive audience.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Horseback riding at Yosemite...
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By mgard27 on August 24, 2002
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Yosemite National Park Tourist Traps
    by mgard27
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Horseback riding at Yosemite Trails, just outside the South Entrance of Yosemite National Park. Doesn't that sound like fun...galloping on horseback through the beautiful Yosemite area? Nope! The cost is $25 for an hour. You get on and then take an hour-long ride with one horse inches in front of the other...never going faster than a slow walk...through the woods and down steep hills. Only good thing--a few pretty photo opportunities as you cross a babbling brook twice. But basically it's a slow, bumpy ride. It's just like getting on a pony at a circus and going around in circles, with a little more scenery. It didn't help that the horse in front of mine had a bad case of gas! Ugh!


    Tourist Trap: Buying this road guide. It looks good on the rack, and has pictures, a map and information inside that seems promising. But the book is not organized in any order, it has a confusing layout and the map inside is laid out with no reference to North or South. I finally figured out that you have to turn the map to the right about 45 degrees to make any sense of it! What a waste! You can find this at a number of places in the park.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    FILL UP BEFORE YOU ENTER!
  • Tip Rating:
  • By LAURAKP2002 on September 2, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Make sure you have a full tank before you go into the park. it will take a good 30-40 minutes to get to the campgrounds once you enter the park and there are only a couple gas stations. the gas is about double what it would normally cost! so makesure you fill up before you enter. ALso, bring all of the campoing gear you need. Equipment prices are insanely inflated also!

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Mountaineers climbing up El Capitain.
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By Jerelis on March 10, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Yosemite National Park Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Just like this :-) - Yosemite National Park
    Just like this :-)
    by Jerelis
    Send Photo to a Friend
    El Capitan (1067m) is the largest visible monolith on earth.

    Visitors with spy-glasses are a known phenomenon. They are looking for mountaineers who are climbing up El Capitan and are almost invisible from the ground.

    Well, visit it ... in our opinion it's also a must visit.

    Address:
    Yosemite National Park

    Directions:
    Southside Drive

    Phone:
    1-559-252-4848

    Website:
    http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    1 | 2
    More Yosemite National Park Tips
    Overview
         		General Tips
    Tips: 175 - Photos: 168
    Restaurants
    Tips: 40 - Photos: 24    		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 121 - Photos: 93
    Things To Do
    Tips: 706 - Photos: 679    		Nightlife
    Tips: 14 - Photos: 9
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 106 - Photos: 100    		Tourist Traps
    Tips: 16 - Photos: 13
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 96 - Photos: 70    		Transportation
    Tips: 59 - Photos: 39
    Local Customs
    Tips: 27 - Photos: 25    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 20 - Photos: 15
    Shopping
    Tips: 11 - Photos: 8    		Sports Travel
    Tips: 26 - Photos: 24

    More Sponsored Links for Yosemite National Park

    Popular Hotels and Accommodations in Yosemite National Park

    » More Hotels and Accommodations in Yosemite National Park

    Popular Things To Do in Yosemite National Park

    » More Things To Do in Yosemite National Park




    Find:        Matching:  Advanced