Outdoor Activities

Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County set the stage for epic family getaways, with the more children, parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents tagging along the merrier.

You can skip the pre-holiday madness of highly populated cities for some fun and wrap up the year in a more positive and serene way – a trip to Yosemite Mariposa County will salvage the year we’re all ready to forget! Here are six reasons that you should get to Mariposa County to escape the pre-holiday madness of coastal cities.

Looking for exquisite beauty and solitude in Yosemite Mariposa County? Look no further than sunrise. If you need more convincing, be sure to check out these reasons to get up for morning golden hour.

Warm, dry days mixed with extreme weather events can create conditions where any spark at the wrong time and place can ignite a dangerous wildfire in California. 

Outdoor art holds untold possibilities in Yosemite Mariposa. Whether you’re setting up your easel in Tuolumne Meadows to capture the sunset reflecting off a meandering river or journaling atop a boulder at the base of Vernal Falls, there’s a world of outdoor inspiration awaiting artists of all ages.

Mariposa County offers a full complement of unique places and distinctive things to do in and around Yosemite.  From soaring above Half Dome to sipping estate-pressed olive oil and riding into the sequoias on horseback, here’s an insider’s list of unique places to visit in California.

Encompassing nearly 900,000 acres and bordering the western edge of Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County, the Stanislaus National Forest is an unforgettable realm of natural beauty. 

One of the largest natural tracts in California, the Sierra National Forest flanks the southern and western edges of Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County. Abundant recreational opportunities earn the Sierra National Forest’s rep as an outdoor lover’s paradise.

Yosemite Mariposa offers what could be the widest variety of hikes in California. Whether it’s a slow amble through the wildflowers while the kids chase butterflies or a solo climb up the granite switchbacks as clouds pass beneath you, there’s a trail for everyone regardless of age or ability.

There are endless things to do in California. Take a look at some of our favorites - and they can all be done in or close to Yosemite National Park.