Park Details
Maps!
Yosemite Valley Trail Map
Park Details
Location Information
Yosemite, CA
Address:
Headquarters
Yosemite National Park
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Telephone:
(209) 372-0200
Directions:
There are four entrances to the park: the south entrance on
Highway 41 north from Fresno, the Arch Rock entrance on Highway 140 west from Merced, the Big Oak Flat entrance on Highway 120 west from Modesto and Manteca and the Tioga Pass entrance on Highway 120 east from Lee Vining and Highway 395. The Tioga Pass entrance is closed from the first major snowstorm in November until approximately early June due to snow. The roads entering the park on its west side are kept open all year, but may require tire chains because of snow anytime between November and April.
Transportation:
To Park: access by state highways 120, 41, and 140. Several
airlines serve Fresno Yosemite International, and United Express serves the Merced airport. Motor coach transportation is available year- round from Merced Amtrak station and Transportation Center to Yosemite Valley.
In Park: personal vehicle, bicycle, tour bus. Free shuttle bus service in the eastern end of Yosemite Valley (year-round), between Wawona and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and from Tuolumne Meadows to Tenaya Lake (summer only).
Operating Hours/Seasons
Open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Reservations/Permits/Fees
Effective January 15, 1997: Cost for entry is $20.00 per private, non-commercial vehicle for a seven-day stay. The individual entry fee, for those arriving by bus, bicycle, on foot etc is $10. There is an annual Yosemite Park Pass available for $40.00, good for unlimited visits to Yosemite for one year.
Wilderness permits are required for any overnight travel into the park's back country. Call (209) 372-0310 for information on permits and reservations. Permits are required for commercial filming, weddings and other special activities through the Special Use Permit Office at (209) 379-1850.
Climate, Recommended Clothing
Weather can change rapidly during all seasons of the year. Elevation plays a major role in temperature and precipitation. Most of the moisture comes in the months of January, February and March, and the winter climate is relatively mild. Sierra summers are typically warm and dry. April and November are transitional months, when warm, sunny days can suddenly become stormy. Clouds can build up during the summer to produce spectacular thunderstorm activity.
It is wise to pack for any season with clothing that can be "layered", ready to peel off or add on as the thermometer dictates. Always include some kind of rain gear.
Facilities and Opportunities
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
There are four visitor centers in Yosemite National Park. The Valley Visitor Center, located in Yosemite Valley is the largest and most comprehensive in terms of displays, books, postcards and maps. The Big Oak Flat Information Station, Wawona Information Station and Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center are open on a more limited basis.
Trails, Roads:
One-hundred and ninety-six miles of paved roads within the
park, 840 miles of trails. Eight-miles of paved bike path in Yosemite Valley.
Programs/Activities:
Regularly scheduled ranger-led walks, talks and evening
programs. Concessioner-operated bus tours, guided horseback
rides and bicycle rentals.
Lodging and camping facilities:
Lodging in the park is operated by the Yosemite Concession
Services Corporation. Rates range from $37.00 per night for a basic tent cabin with nearby bathroom, to over $200 per night for a room at The Ahwahnee. Reservations can be made up to one year and one day in advance by calling (209) 252-4848 or by writing to Central Reservations, 5410 East Home, Fresno, CA 937277.
Campgrounds in Yosemite are operated by the National Park Service. Some can be reserved up to five months in advance by calling Destinet at 1-800-436-7275. Visitors making reservations from a foreign country should call (619) 452-8787. All other campgrounds are operated on a first-come, first-served basis.
A variety of hotels, motels and campgrounds are available in the communities and areas outside of the park.
Food/supplies:
Food service and groceries available in the park and in
surrounding communities.
Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and
Opportunities:
The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Bookstore located at the Valley Visitor Center operated by the Yosemite Association.
Accessibility:
The park's major sites can be viewed by automobile. Some
trails and facilities are wheelchair accessible.
Recommended Activities/Park Use
Viewing waterfalls and well-known rock features in Yosemite Valley; visit to Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and historic Wawona area; drive or hike to Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the High Sierra; drive to Tuolumne Meadows along Tioga Road and take a hike - numerous trailheads available.
Basic Visit Recommendations:
Stay for a minimum of four hours to tour Yosemite Valley;
will require at least two days for visit to all sites and areas in the park.
Visitation
Highest in June, July and August; lowest in December, January and February.
Visitor Impacts:
To prevent congestion and overcrowding, automobile access may be temporarily restricted in Yosemite on spring weekends and busy holiday weekends such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. If restrictions are necessary, they are expected to be in effect from mid-morning to early evening, depending on available day-use parking space and traffic congestion.
Special Events Programs
Activities are available year-round.
Adjacent Visitor Attractions
Contact local chambers of commerce and visitor bureaus.
Additional Information
Write Public Information Office
Yosemite National Park
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Phone (209) 372-0265
Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.