Flying Over Yosemite: Take an Aerial Tour Above the Best National Park
If you thought Yosemite National Park was breathtaking from the valley floor, just wait until you see it from the sky. On a recent trip partnering with Visit Yosemite | Madera County, Nate and I had the unforgettable opportunity to take to the skies with Airborrn Aviation, one of the most unique and awe-inspiring ways to explore the Sierra Nevada. Their scenic flights are featured as one of the “41 Things To Do Around Highway 41,” and after experiencing it for ourselves, I can absolutely see why.
Flying over Yosemite’s granite icons like El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls was like seeing an old friend in an entirely new light. From the comfort of a Cessna named “Todd,” we got to soak in panoramic views of the Merced River Gorge, Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. This is a perspective few people ever get to see, and I’m thrilled to share the journey with you today!
Flying above Yosemite Valley with views of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall & Half Dome
Location
Airborrn Aviation is based out of the Mariposa/Yosemite Airport (KMPI), located just outside the charming mountain town of Mariposa, California. The airport is a convenient launch point for aerial tours over Yosemite National Park. It’s about 45 minutes from Oakhurst, 30 minutes from the Highway 140 Arch Rock entrance to Yosemite, and roughly an hour from Fresno Yosemite International Airport. The Mariposa/Yosemite Airport is small, quiet, and easy to navigate—no long TSA lines or crowded terminals here. It makes for a relaxed and personal start to your adventure in the skies.
Yosemite Aerial Tour with Airborrn Aviation out of Mariposa, CA
Yosemite 2-4 Day Summer Itinerary & Travel Guide
If you’re planning a Yosemite road trip during the summer months, make sure to download my complete Yosemite 2-4 Day Summer Itinerary & Travel Guide, which includes an hour-by-hour schedule, Google & Apple map pin locations, the best stargazing spots, a dining guide, recommendations on where to stay, activities outside the park, and more! Download it today and make your Yosemite planning easy!
Plane tour over Yosemite with views of Half Dome, Yosemite Valley & Tenaya Canyon
El Capitan seen from Airborrn Aviation flight over Yosemite National Park
About Airborrn Aviation
Airborrn Aviation is a locally operated aerial tour and charter company offering unforgettable flightseeing experiences over Yosemite and the surrounding Sierra Nevada. Their Cessna planes are well taken care of and very comfortable, with seating available for up to 3 passengers (in addition to your pilot).
What makes Airborrn Aviation stand out is their flexibility. They offer standard 1-hour scenic tours that cover Yosemite Valley and its surrounding features, but also provide custom private charters that can take you even deeper into the high country or to other destinations like Lake Tahoe or Mammoth Lakes. Flights are available year-round, weather permitting, and can be tailored to your interests and schedule.
Their pilots are highly trained, FAA certified, and local experts who know the terrain like the back of their hand. Cullen, our pilot and guide for the day, was everything you’d want in an aviator: calm, confident, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable.
Close up aerial view of Yosemite Falls while flying over Yosemite
Half Dome & North Dome during chartered flight over Yosemite National Park
Our Yosemite Flight
As soon as we arrived at the airport, our wonderful pilot, Cullen, walked us through everything we needed to know before we took flight in our Cessna 182 aircraft, affectionately named “Todd.” It’s clear that safety comes first here, and Cullen’s clear communication made us feel confident, at ease, and excited to hit the skies!
Before we knew it, we were in the air with clear skies in every direction, looking down at the charming town of Mariposa, out at the vast Central Valley, and up the Merced River Gorge towards Yosemite National Park. Our chartered flight gave us the chance to go beyond the standard tour route, flying further into Yosemite’s high country than most visitors ever get to see. The standard one-hour tour loops over Mariposa, follows the Merced River Gorge, and heads straight over Yosemite Valley, offering breathtaking aerial views of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. It then swings south over Wawona, the Mariposa Grove, and Oakhurst before returning to the airport.
With our custom charter, we soared over Little Yosemite Valley with views of the backside of Half Dome & Clouds Rest, and then we circled above the Cathedral Lakes & Tenaya Lake while admiring the wide-open alpine beauty of the Tuolumne Meadows. It was an absolutely surreal experience to see these rugged, iconic landscapes unfold beneath us like a living topographic map.
And the best part? We didn’t have to fight crowds, hike ten miles, or apply for a permit. We just enjoyed the clear skies, stunning views, and the hum of the engine carrying us over one of the most beloved national parks in the world.
Chartered flight over Yosemite’s high country
Half Dome seen from chartered flight over Yosemite National Park
Visit Yosemite | Madera County
I’d like to give a special thank you to Visit Yosemite | Madera County, an invaluable resource for anyone planning a trip to Yosemite National Park and the surrounding regions. Stop at the Oakhurst Visitor Center for expert advice, access to maps, and insider tips. Here you’ll discover the many hidden gems of Madera County, and make sure to download your free visitor guide at YosemiteThisYear.com for answers to all your questions about visiting California's Southern Gateway to Yosemite.
Half Dome seen from chartered Yosemite flight
Yosemite National Park aerial tour with Airborrn Aviation
Know Before You Go
• Reservations can be booked in advance online at www.YosemiteAviation.com.
• Always visit the Travel Alerts page at YosemiteThisYear.com and the official NPS website for the most up-to-date road conditions, air quality, and possible closures prior to your visit to Yosemite National Park and surrounding regions.
• No Yosemite National Park reservations are needed when booking a tour with Airborrn Aviation.
• One, two, and three passenger tours are available with a total maximum weight limit of 520lbs.
• The gate for the Mariposa/Yosemite Airport can be found at 5020B Macready Way, Mariposa, CA 95338.
Top 10 Activities Near Yosemite
Airborrn Aviation Yosemite Plane Tours
Sierra Vista Scenic Byway
Yosemite VR Experience
Yosemite Axe Throwing
Yosemite Gateway Art Center
Downloadable Itineraries & Travel Guides
In Summary
Thanks so much for joining me this week with Airborrn Aviation. For a virtual visit of my plane tour over Yosemite National Park, make sure to watch my Behind the Blog video located at the top of this post, or watch it on YouTube here. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
Airborrn Aviation Cessna 182 “Todd” at Yosemite Mariposa Airport
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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