National Park Journal

NATIONAL PARK JOURNAL is the authority on national park travel and is devoted to bringing the national park experience to the palm of your hand. Providing comprehensive seasonal trip-planning information for four of the United States’ major national parks - Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Yosemite - each issue focuses on one park and includes feature stories, photo essays, road-trip itineraries, lodging and dining information, wildlife beta and more.

Hit the Road

A Note From the Editor

National Park Journal

Welcome to Magic • Get ready to dive into the best of Yosemite, from sparkling waterfalls to stoic granite faces.Plan your perfect trip with a park map, weekend itinerary, trail guide and more.

Get Oriented • Spend less time driving and more time taking in the views with this Yosemite National Park map.

Five Ways to See Yosemite

Back to Basics • Whether you’re a first time national park traveler or a seasoned pro, here are a few things you need to know about visiting Yosemite.

A Weekend in Yosemite • Short on time? You can still have an incredible vacation in the park, even if you only have 48 hours. Here’s the plan.

Choose YOUR Hike

TOUR Like A Local

Did Someone Say S’mores? • Make your 2024 camping plans at one of Yosemite’s 12 open campgrounds with this guide.

Best of the Coast • Discover the hidden gems of California’s beautiful—and sometimes rugged—central coast.

Joshua Tree

Island Basecamp • Find amazing food, uncrowded beaches and great hiking near the two marinas that offer passage to Channel Islands National Park when you explore Port Hueneme, Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura. Here are four reasons to stay.

The American Galapagos • Take a day to explore the remote and wild chain of islands off the coast of central California at Channel Islands National Park.

Pier to Peak • See gorgeous Santa Barbara from palm tree-lined beaches, enjoy tasting your way around downtown or get a bird’s eye view of the area from La Cumbre Peak.

Inland Adventure

Lompoc’s Top 5 • Pronounced “Lom-poke,” this scenic valley town offers a ton to see and do year round.

California Dreamin’ • Experience the best of the Golden State’s beach culture in Pismo Beach.

Slow Tides

Find Utopia

A Spot to Savor • Dive into California’s laid-back wine and outdoor scene.

Stunning San Simeon

Big Sur

Local Flavor • Visit the Garlic Capital of the World in central California on the way to Pinnacles National Park.

Pinnacles Top 6 • Here are some of our favorite things to do in this park, from gorgeous hikes to exploring a cave.

Whose Land Am I On?

Gold Country • Tap into California’s golden state of mind on this glittering road trip.

See the Redwoods • Want to walk amongst the tallest trees on Earth? Take a detour north to Redwood National and State Parks, a unique collection of public lands that’s part of the only region in the world where coastal redwoods grow. Here’s how to spend a weekend.

Farm to Fork

River Reprieve

Culture Stop

Wet and Wild

Calaveras Gems • Two hours from Yosemite, check out a sprinkling of charming historic towns, an astonishing grove of giant sequoias and the uncrowded California of which you’ve dreamed.

Big Trees • If you want to see some of the largest and tallest trees in the world, California is the perfect place to go. Strolling through quiet groves of mighty giant sequoias and coastal redwoods, it’s easy to feel small. These are the national parks to visit to see these majestic species. Their sheer size alone makes them hard to capture, so we asked our friends at Tamron for some tips on how to get the best...