Summer is the best time of year for warmer average temperatures but also more crowds to the park as peak season generally runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Weather will vary by month and location, but average temperature for Yosemite Valley typically ranges from a high of 72oF in May to a high of 89oF in August; average temperature lows can range from 45oF in May to 56oF in August.

If you are seeking cooler average temperatures and waterfalls, Tuolumne Meadows, a part of the park approximately an hour east of Yosemite Valley, is typically 10 degrees cooler due to its higher elevation (~8,600 vs. 4,000 ft.).

Park visitors build from over 400,000 in May to around 600,000 in July before settling back down to about 500,000 in September (based on a 5-year average, 2014-2018).

As mentioned before, about three times as many people visit in July as those who visit in March, so keep this in mind as you're planning your trip.

Waterfalls generally run until the end of summer when the snow run off from the mountains dries up, resulting in reduced waterflow.

This usually occurs around August, with waterfalls peaking in May or June.

Yosemite receives less than 5% of its annual precipitation during summer months, so early season is the time to see waterfalls.

There's a Yosemite Falls webcam that shows the falls live and they even have a timelapse archive that allows you to watch videos from different days in the past; this will give you a sense for how the falls might look during your visit.

Hiking is a popular summer activity. The best hikes in Yosemite include Vernal and Nevada Falls Loop, Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Mist Trail, and perhaps the most popular, the Half Dome Trial.

The Half Dome Trail is the 14.5-mile trip (~7 miles each way) to the top of Half Dome.

This is one of the best hikes in Yosemite and requires a 4,500 ascent, including a terrifying last 400 ft. up the granite dome. It takes about 10-12 hours round trip to hike the Half Dome Trail, so be sure to leave early (around sunrise) and turnaround if you haven't made it to the top by 3-4pm.

It may pay to pack a headlamp for the trip back down. Also be sure to take plenty of food and water (about a gallon per person for the round trip) and wear comfortable shoes, we specifically recommend trail running shoes as these have better traction than typical running shoes and are lighter / more comfortable than hiking boots.

A day pack may be necessary.

Permits are required to hike Half Dome Trail while the cables are up (Memorial Day through Columbus Day) and are granted on a lottery-basis with applications beginning March 1st.

A limited number of permits are also available two days in advance. Saturday, to no one's surprise, is the most requested day in the lottery at roughly a third of all submissions.

Tuesday and Wednesday are the least-requested at <10% of all submissions each.

If you can be flexible with dates, it may help improve your chances of securing a permit.

Backcountry camping is a less popular but perhaps more rewarding activity.

It's also a nice way to escape the crowds.

If you're particularly ambitious and have the time, you can try the Yosemite Backcountry Loop.

This is a 60.2-mile trip with over 20,000 ft. of total elevation change; an absolutely epic hike through the northern section of the park.

You'll need a Yosemite Wilderness Permit, which you can book up to 24 weeks (168 days) in advance by filling out a Yosemite Permit Request Form.

There's a Wilderness Trailhead Map that's useful for planning your trip and you can check trailhead availability (hikes are reserved based on quotas for each trailhead starting point) on the Full Trailhead Report.

If you're going into the backcountry, the most important investment you can make is in your shoes.

You want something that's breathable, not waterproof, and we recommend trail running shoes over hiking boots as they're lighter and more comfortable.

Waterproof shoes and hiking boots will cause your feet to "sweat" which invariably leads to blisters - not good on a 60+ mile hike.

The second most important investment you can make is in your backpack.

Hiking several days with ~40 lbs. of weight is challenging under the best of circumstances, but compounding that with a sub-par backpack is nearly unbearable.

Osprey backpacks are the best in our opinion; they won't eliminate the challenge, but they'll make it slightly more enjoyable.

If you're going for >3 days, get a 65L pack or larger. If for 2-3 days, ~50L should do it.

If you can pack light, a smaller pack may work, but this will vary depending on your gear list.

Camping in Yosemite is also a popular pastime. Tuolumne Meadows Campground is an excellent location that's typically open July through late September.

This is also a great way to escape the crowds in Yosemite Valley during peak season.

Half of reservations are available online through recreation.gov and are block-released five months in advance on the 15th of each month.

The other half are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Camp 4 is also a popular site and is open year-round, but operates on a first-come, first-served basis only.

You can find further campground details and historical campsite open and close dates on the Yosemite National Park site.

Whether your trip involves hiking, camping, rock climbing, full moon tours, or rafting, spring and summer are an ideal time for most activities.