Yosemite Nights: 90-Minute Stargazing and Stories Tour
Description
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!
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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.
Reviews(27)
A peaceful and memorable mother‑daughter stargazing experience. We enjoyed hot chocolate under Yosemite’s night sky while learning about the constellations in a calm, relaxing setting. A mule deer quietly crossed the meadow as we watched, adding a touch of magic to an already unforgettable evening.
Absolutely amazing experience and one we'd highly recommend. From start to finish it was brilliant, and we came away buzzing. If you're on the fence, don't be, book it. A real magical highlight of our trip and something we'll be talking about for a long time. Thank you!
Our Yosemite Nights Stargazing experience was awesome! This was a birthday gift for my husband and it is a family memory we will all always cherish. Zeke was so knowledgeable and we enjoyed his fascinating stories. You can’t beat seeing the night sky from the breathtaking beauty of Yosemite! The hot chocolate was an extra special touch! This astronomy loving family rates this a 10/10 experience!
Looking at the beautiful Yosemite night sky - our first night at Yosemite could not have been better. Zeke was a great host punctual and informative sharing his knowledge of the stars above. Certainly a great start to the wonderful adventure that is Yosemite!
Hey Robin, It was absolutely lovely having you as well! Hope the rest of your time in Yosemite was amazing!
Zeek was very friendly and knowledgeable about the solar system and stars. He’s a great storyteller. Very knowledgeable about Yosemite National Park too. My son left his jacket and hat behind and Zeek was nice enough to turn it into the Welcome Center for us to pick up the next day.
Hey Luis, Thank you so much for the kind words! It was such a pleasure having your family join. Luis had some amazing questions and glad we could get the jacket and hat back to him!!
The stargazing was wonderful and brought back a lot of childhood memories. I wished I had the opportunity to have seen the image on the telescope personally, but I am grateful that Zeke sent the image to me. If I could make one suggestion; to point out more constellations.
Hey Kristen, So glad it brought back some good childhood memories. The image we sent over was the same one we looked at through the telescope!! It does look a little different after all of the images have been stacked throughout the night! If you do come back to Yosemite we would love to go deeper on the constellations with you :)
Zeke was wonderful! We got lucky with great weather. He provided the chairs, hot chocolate, and interesting stories to go along with the facts about the stars, planets, and more. He shared interesting stories about Greek mythology, facts about Yosemite wildlife/mountains, and indulged all of our questions. Thanks Zeke!
Thank you so much :) hope the rest of your time in Yosemite was a blast!
This was a wonderful experience for the entire family. My teenage kids are still talking about it! Our guide was very personable and had amazing stories to share. We saw more stars than I have ever seen in my life, including a shooting star. I learned a lot and enjoyed doing it.
We're so glad you decided to share your Yosemite experience with us. Thank you for coming!
This was such a neat thing to do that is totally out of the norm. First, bring able to see the park at night was spectacular! Second, the stars and stories were unbelievable! This is definitely worth the money and time. I have never seen so many stars in my life. And Our guide was personable and friendly!!!!
Hey Patricia, Thank you so much for joining us! Glad we could be a part of your Yosemite experience :)
The stargazing experience was one of the highlights of my families trip. Our guide, Zeke, was extremely informative and made the experience very entertaining.
Hey Karla, Thank you for the kind words :) it was such a pleasure having you!
