Yosemite Tours for Seniors: Eight Can’t-Miss Experiences

1. Hike to Sentinel Dome

The granite domes of Yosemite are among its most iconic features. While the most famous of these is Half Dome, the ease of the climb (about 1,000 feet elevation gain) and relatively few number of hikers to contend with make Sentinel Dome a nature-lover’s favorite. From the top of the dome, Yosemite’s greatest hits play out in all directions. You can look down Yosemite Valley to El Capitan, Half Dome and Nevada Falls, and a saw-tooth range of High Sierra peaks in the distance. Even better — take the hike with an expert naturalist guide by your side to have a deeper understanding of the landscape.

As one of the best Yosemite hiking tours, there are several reasons why the trek to Sentinel Dome is a must. Located in the park’s southern area near Glacier Point, this hike is easily accessible and relatively short when starting your adventure from Glacier Point Road. At roughly 8,122 feet above sea level, the vistas from the top are otherworldly. The 360-degree panoramic views are exceptional, allowing you to study the park’s geology, which is mostly granite formed by the cooling of molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface. With Road Scholar, you can see the best of Yosemite National Park and learn why these protected lands are an American icon.

2. Dine at the Historic Majestic Hotel

It was previously the Ahwahnee Hotel and is now named the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, though whatever it’s called, this crown jewel of a lodge is National Park rustic architecture at its best. The 34-foot-high beamed ceiling with large sugar pine trestles complement the dining room’s granite pillars, floor-to-ceiling windows, chandeliers, linen tablecloths and beautiful china. Altogether it creates the perfect ambiance for a memorable dining experience. After your meal, take an expert-led tour of the Ahwahnee's great rooms with their exquisite Indian basketry displays and elegant stained-glass windows.

The Majestic Yosemite Hotel’s prime location makes it the perfect place for travelers to sit back and relax. Situated in the picturesque Yosemite Valley, this lodge is surrounded by the towering granite cliffs and the meandering Merced River. It serves as an excellent pit stop for many of the park’s must-see attractions, such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Glacier Point.

This hotel is also steeped in history. Completed in 1927 by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel was commissioned by the Yosemite Park and Curry Company (now known as Delaware North) to provide luxury accommodations to visitors looking to immerse themselves in arguably America’s most diverse and breathtaking terrain. With distinctive architecture, elegant furnishings, and American-inspired artwork, dining or lodging at the Ahwahnee Hotel is a must on any Yosemite tour.

3. Visit the Waterfalls of Yosemite

Whether roaring, plunging, or even trickling, the falls around Yosemite are some of the most delightful features in the park. Come in the spring when the snow melt supercharges the falls and you’ll see just how beautiful and thrilling water, rock and light can be. If you want to be a passive observer, you can admire the falls from a distance in Yosemite Valley, or lace up your boots for a hike to get up close. One of our favorite hikes is to Vernal Falls, where the rainbow-infused mist is guaranteed to stop you in your tracks.

Along with the awe-inspiring Vernal Falls, there are several other notable water features you can discover on Yosemite guided tours, including:

• Yosemite Falls: One of the most popular attractions in Yosemite is Yosemite Falls, one of North America’s tallest waterfalls, towering nearly 2,425 feet. Yosemite Falls is unique because of its tiered construction, with Upper Yosemite Falls standing at 1,430 feet, the Middle Cascades at 675 feet, and Lower Yosemite Falls at 320 feet.
• Bridalveil Fall: Another iconic waterfall in Yosemite is Bridalveil Fall, located near the entrance of Yosemite Valley with a plunge of nearly 620 feet. Many of the best Yosemite tours will take you to Bridalveil Fall, a relatively short and accessible walk from the trailhead at the Bridalveil Fall Parking Area, taking roughly 20 minutes to traverse.
• Sentinel Falls: On the south side of Yosemite is Sentinel Falls, which falls nearly 2,000 feet with a peak flow between March and June. Located west of Sentinel Rock, its multiple cascades offer unparalleled beauty you can’t find elsewhere.
• Horsetail Fall: Flowing between December and April, Horsetail Fall is most famous for its illusion of being on fire when it reflects the orange hues of the sunset during February. This waterfall is located on the east side of El Capitan and falls nearly 1,000 feet.
• Nevada Fall: Flowing year-round, Nevada Fall is one of the top waterfalls to view on Yosemite tours for seniors, as it offers a wheelchair-accessible trail from its parking area on Glacier Point Road. Nevada Fall is one of the park’s most powerful, giving off a thunderous roar, particularly during the peak flow in the spring and early summer as the snow melts. Hikers can also reach this waterfall from the Must Trail or John Muir Trail.

4. Experience Winter in Yosemite

The majesty of Yosemite comes at a price — a record 5 million visitors in 2016. Experience Yosemite without the crowds and in the beauty of her snowy coat in winter. The intensity of the sun and mass of tourists of the peak seasons give way to a whole other world in winter — a world of solitude and quiet. And what better way to celebrate the New Year than by having one of nature’s most beautiful places mostly to yourself.

When embarking on a winter tour of Yosemite, you’ll enjoy snow-covered landscapes that create a scene straight from a postcard. While several of the park’s roads and facilities are closed during the winter due to snow and ice, such as Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road, there are several activities and adventures you can enjoy that you can’t experience during other times of the year. Popular winter activities you can partake in through Yosemite guided tours include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and snowmobiling. The park’s endless miles of trails offer an exciting handful of opportunities for winter exploration to discover the park’s majesty in a different light. And, with crowds at a lower volume during the winter months, bundle your Yosemite tour with a trip to the nearby National Parks of Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Death Valley National Parks.

5. Witness Some of the Largest Living Things on Earth

No trip to Yosemite is complete without standing at the base of a Giant Sequoia and tilting your head straight back to take in some of the oldest and most massive living things on earth. Two of the grove’s trees are among the 30 largest Giant Sequoias in the world. The biggest in the park — Grizzly Giant — towers more than 200 feet in the air.

After visiting Mariposa Grove, home to the Grizzly Giant and some of the oldest living organisms in the world, you can discover other massive landmarks throughout the park. To start, find a viewpoint to take in the grandeur of Half Dome, which rises nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley and is known for its distinct shape with one side appearing as a vertical face while the other depicts half of a rounded dome. El Capitan is another granite monolith in Yosemite, towering over 3,000 feet above the valley floor and gets its reputation as one of the most enormous granite rock faces in the world. Through Yosemite tours, you can learn about the unique features of this National Park from an expert guide who will answer all of your questions.

6. Learn Photography in Yosemite

There are few more picture-perfect places than Yosemite. We all aren’t Ansel Adams, but with the right instruction, frame-worthy photographs can be found around every bend. Meet up with a professional photography instructor to learn how to create the “cotton candy” effect of a fast-moving stream, or harness the sun to create shots of the “fire” on El Capitan and of the granite monolith Half Dome in the final light of day.

Consider a unique outdoor art class in Yosemite if you prefer other art mediums without a lens. You can practice your watercolors through plein air painting techniques with the guidance of expert instructors.

7. Get Into the High Country

Yosemite Valley is home to the most recognizable features in the park, but many say the heart and soul of Yosemite is Tuolumne Meadows — a high country of granite domes, alpine meadows and cooler days and nights in the hot summer. Follow Tioga Pass Road for a 39-mile scenic drive to the meadows, and be sure to stop at Olmsted Point for a very different perspective on Yosemite Valley. Tuolumne Meadows is a sub-alpine meadow threaded by the winding Tuolumne River. Majestic peaks and domes surround the meadow, making it a perfect jumping off point for hikes into the High Sierras.

Yosemite guided tours will bring you through the glacially carved valleys and colorful meadows to catch glimpses of granite peaks and mountain ranges like Mount Dana at 13,061 feet, Mount Lyell at 13,120 feet, and Mount Conness at 12,590 feet. There are also several alpine lakes you can relax by as you eat a snack on your backpacking adventures, such as Tenaya Lake, May Lake and Elizabeth Lake, which also offer opportunities for swimming and fishing.

8. Attend a Yosemite Ranger Campfire Talk

No visit to Yosemite is complete without attending a campfire talk led by one of the park’s outstanding naturalist Park Rangers. Good cheer and an enthusiastic crowd surrounding a roaring fire make the perfect backdrop for a fascinating lecture. Whatever the topic — birds, bears or bees — you’ll have a great time and learn a lot. To get the most out of the experience, bring a child or grandchild and expect some fun audience participation. This is a true Yosemite tradition not to be missed.

Want to experience Yosemite with the experts?

Try a learning adventure with Road Scholar, the expert in educational tours for seniors in Yosemite. Through our adventure-packed Yosemite tours for seniors, you can join a diverse cohort of like-minded explorers looking to learn more about the world around them. With several programs at varying activity levels, you can find Yosemite tours that pique your interest.