More than half of Yosemite National Park is located in Tuolumne County - the less crowded half.

Yosemite National Park sees millions of visitors a year. As many visitors flock to the popular Yosemite Valley Floor and fight crowds to snap the perfect picture of Half Dome or El Capitan, very few will make their way to places like Hetch Hetchy, Carlon Falls, Tuolumne Meadows and the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. These less crowded areas are just as awe-inspiring as the popular landmarks but come with many bonuses.

Another appealing factor is sustainable travel. By visiting the less crowded areas of Yosemite National Park, visitors can help to reduce their carbon footprint and preserve this natural gem for generations to come.

Lesser-known Yosemite Trails:

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, an expansive deep blue lake, is a water source for San Francisco. It is just as awe-inspiring as the iconic Yosemite Valley, but with less crowds. The trails along Hetch Hetchy Reservoir lead to views of the tremendous granite walls, deep river canyons, and hidden waterfalls like Wapama Falls.

The Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias is another lesser-known trail in Yosemite National Park. Comparable in beauty to its famous rival the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, visitors will find this 1.5 mile trail less crowded and just as jaw dropping with ancient giants. In the winter this trek can be experienced with snowshoes. Tuolumne Meadows in the upper region of Yosemite National Park is a large, open subalpine meadow graced by the winding Tuolumne River and surrounded by majestic peaks and domes. This area is seasonal due to its high elevation. Trails here range in difficulty from easy to strenuous and can be enjoyed in a day or multiday backpacking trips. The views are breathtaking with crystal clear lakes like Tioga Lake, sprawling meadows, granite domes and mountain peaks

About Visit Tuolumne County:

Visit Tuolumne (“to-all-o-me”) County (VTC) is the official destination marketing organization for Tuolumne County in Northern California with a mission to increase visitation, travel spending and overnight stays. Tuolumne County is just a 2 1/2-hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The destination is known for its pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the Bay Area. The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, four wineries, a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, seven museums, two state historic parks, two live theaters, many bed-and-breakfast inns and a variety of Airbnb accommodations are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination. For more information, go to VisitTuolumne.com.