National Park
Yosemite National Park
- West
- 9 hikes
- 12 places to see
- 2 current alerts
Current alerts
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Closure
Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are temporarily closed due to snow
Tioga Road (continuation of Highway 120 through the park) and Glacier Point Road temporarily closed due to snow. Call 209/372-0200 (then 1, 1) to check road conditions in the park.
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Notice
No overnight parking on Tioga & Glacier Point Roads
Overnight parking is not allowed on Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road, including all parking lots reachable from these roads.
From the National Park Service, as of November 2, 2026, 5:14 am. Check nps.gov before you go.
About Yosemite
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- West
- State
- California
- Designation
- National Park
- Entrance fee
- $35, private vehicle
- Hikes on this page
- 9
- Places to see
- 12
- Articles
- 16
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Yosemite.
Entrance fees
- $35 Private Vehicle This fee is valid for seven consecutive days for a non-commercial car, pickup truck, RV, or van with 15 or fewer passenger seats. This fee covers the vehicle and everyone inside of it. Per-person nonresident fees still apply.
- $30 Motorcycle
- $20 Per Person
- $100 Nonresident
- $300 Non-commercial Groups
Passes
- $70 Annual Entrance - Park
Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Weather and when to go
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)
Getting there
You can drive to Yosemite year-round and enter via Highways 41, 140, and 120 from the west. Tioga Pass Entrance (via Highway 120 from the east) is closed from approximately November through late May or June. Hetch Hetchy is open all year but may close intermittently due to snow. Please note that GPS units do not always provide accurate directions to or within Yosemite.
- Gateway towns
- Mariposa, CA · Oakhurst, CA · El Portal, CA
- Nearest airports
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) · San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Contact the park
- Address
- PO Box 577, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
- Phone
- (209) 372-0200
- Official site
- nps.gov/yose
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Yosemite
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Where to stay for Yosemite
The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.
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Mariposa, CA Closest
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Oakhurst, CA
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El Portal, CA
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Guided tours and trips
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Things to do in Yosemite
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Visit the Yosemite Exploration Center
The Yosemite Exploration Center features interactive displays and exhibits highlighting Yosemite's many stories and resources. Bring the family and learn more about Yosemite's his…
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Watch the "Spirit of Yosemite" Film
The park film, The Spirit of Yosemite, is shown daily on the hour and the half hour in the theater behind the Yosemite Exploration Center. The first showing is at 9:30am, and the…
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Ride a Bike in Yosemite Valley
Cycling is a great way to experience the park and allows you to cover more ground during your time here. You can rent a bike, bring your own, or borrow one through the bike share…
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Go Skiing at Badger Pass
The Badger Pass Ski Area is open from mid-December through March (weather and conditions permitting). You can downhill ski, cross-country ski, go tubing, or snowshoeing all from t…
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Rock Climbing in Yosemite
Yosemite is one of the world's greatest climbing areas. Climbers here can enjoy an endless variety of challenges--from the sustained crack climbs of the Merced River Canyon to pin…
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Scenic Driving in Yosemite
All of the roads in Yosemite National Park are scenic, but the most famous scenic drive is along the Tioga Road, a 46-mile (62 km) drive from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass. The road is…
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Wildlife Safety in Yosemite
Yosemite National Park supports more than 400 species of vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The high diversity of species is the result of diver…
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Hiking in Yosemite
From a short walk to the base of a waterfall to a multi-day hike deep into the Yosemite Wilderness, taking a hike is one of the best ways to experience Yosemite's spectacular scen…
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Learn Art in the Park
Yosemite has a long history of inspiring visitors to create art. From world-renowned artists like Ansel Adams and Chiura Obata to everyday people who love art for fun, pausing to…
Places to see
Viewpoints
Natural features
History & culture
Campgrounds in Yosemite
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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Upper Pines Campground
Upper Pines is located near the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic fea…
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Hodgdon Meadow Campground
Hodgdon Meadow Campground is conveniently located along the Big Oak Flat Road at the Big Oak Flat Entrance. At an elevation of 4,900 feet (1,219 m), the campgr…
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North Pines Campground
North Pines is located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic fe…
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Lower Pines Campground
Lower Pines is located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic fe…
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Wawona Campground
The Wawona Campground is located along the South Fork Merced River close to historic Wawona. At an elevation of 4,000 feet (1,219 m), the campground is located…
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Tuolumne Meadows Campground
Tuolumne Meadows Campground is Yosemite’s largest, and is located along the Tioga Road, with some areas located near the Tuolumne River. At 8,000 feet (2,600 m…
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Crane Flat Campground
The Crane Flat Campground is located along the Big Oak Flat Road, just west of Crane Flat, about 30 minutes northwest of Yosemite Valley, at 6,200 ft (1,900 m)…
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Camp 4 Campground
Camp 4 is located in Yosemite Valley near the base of granite cliffs close to Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some…
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White Wolf Campground
White Wolf Campground is located off the Tioga Road between Tuolumne Meadows and Crane Flat, approximately an hour from Yosemite Valley at 8,000 feet (2,400 m)…
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Porcupine Flat Campground
Porcupine Flat Campground is located off the Tioga Road about 30 minutes west of Tuolumne Meadows and over an hour from Yosemite Valley. RVs and Trailers are n…
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Yosemite Creek Campground
Yosemite Creek Campground is located nearly 5 miles off the Tioga Road (via a rough unpaved road) 26 miles west of Tuolumne Meadows, and a little over an hour…
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Tamarack Flat Campground
Tamarack Flat Campground is located off the Tioga Road just east of Crane Flat. The campground is approximately 20 miles (45 minutes) from Yosemite Valley and…
Reading about Yosemite
What to pack for Yosemite
Gear & Essentials
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The basics
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For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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