Yosemite Nights: 90-Minute Stargazing and Stories Tour

4.9 (62 Viator reviews) 1 hr 30 min Yosemite National Park area

Yosemite Nights: 90-Minute Stargazing and Stories Tour
Yosemite Nights: 90-Minute Stargazing and Stories Tour, photo 2
Yosemite Nights: 90-Minute Stargazing and Stories Tour, photo 3
Yosemite Nights: 90-Minute Stargazing and Stories Tour, photo 4
Yosemite Nights: 90-Minute Stargazing and Stories Tour, photo 5

Photos: Viator · 6 more on Viator

About this activity

Begin your stargazing adventure by meeting your guide, then sit back and watch as the valley transforms.

Thousands of stars appearing, constellations sharpening into view, and, during the right time of year, the hazy band of the Milky Way stretching overhead.

Listen as your guide shares captivating stories of our human connection to the night sky.

Learn why Venus and Jupiter shine brighter than any star in the sky. Use your hands to measure the stars the way Polynesian navigators did.

Use binoculars to get a closer look, then dive even deeper with live telescope viewing!

Hear fascinating stories about the history and structure of the universe and how we have found meaning, purpose, and joy within it.

And don't forget to keep an eye out for satellites and shooting stars overhead!

Itinerary

  1. Cooks Meadow Loop · 90 min

    On a clear, moonless night in Yosemite Valley, the sky turns on in a way most people have never seen before. You’ll see far more stars than you’re used to in the city, with big constellations like Orion and the Big Dipper standing out clearly, and in the right season a hazy band of the Milky Way stretching across the sky. The granite walls of El Capitan and Half Dome become dark silhouettes framing the stars, while bright planets, the Pleiades, and even the faint Andromeda Galaxy appear with a little guidance and a laser pointer. You’ll likely catch a few shooting stars or satellites drifting by, all while the valley itself quiets down: cool air dropping off the cliffs, the river in the background, and the feeling that almost everyone else has gone to bed and left this version of Yosemite just for you.

What's included

  • Live Telescope Viewing
  • Hand Warmers
  • Binoculars
  • Propane Heaters
  • Premium Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate
  • Take-Home Deep Sky Photographs
  • Camp Chairs

Not included

  • Additional National Park Entrance Fee (Non-U.S. Residents Only) USD 100.00 per person
  • Park pass

Meeting point

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

We will send you a pin with the exact meetup location where your guide will be waiting to meet you

End point: We will send you a pin with the exact meetup location where your guide will be waiting to meet you

Good to know

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please Note: National Park fees may apply for international visitors. If applicable, this fee is collected in-destination and not at the time of booking.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.9/5

62 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor

  • 5 star58
  • 4 star3
  • 3 star0
  • 2 star1
  • 1 star0

Read the reviews on Viator

Campgrounds near this activity

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21 RV rentals with pickup within 60 miles of the center of Yosemite National Park; showing the top 6.

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Distances are straight-line from the activity's center of Yosemite National Park (Viator lists this tour under Yosemite National Park; it has no meeting-point coordinates).