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National Park

Yosemite National Park

  • West
  • 9 hikes
  • 2 current alerts

Plan a Yosemite trip Where to stay

Current alerts

  • Closure

    Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road will temporarily close on Oct. 29 at 6 pm

    Tioga Road (continuation of Highway 120 through the park) and Glacier Point Road will temporarily close on Thursday, October 29, at 6 pm due to a forecast of snow. Call 209/372-0200 (then 1, 1) to check road conditions in the park.

  • 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 October 30, 2026, 5:14 am. Check nps.gov before you go.

Latest news

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
Articles
16
  • Places for this park are still being added.

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)

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
PO Box 577, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
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.

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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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Things to do in Yosemite

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

  • Visit the Yosemite Exploration Center

    Museum Exhibits · about 45 min

    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…

  • Watch the "Spirit of Yosemite" Film

    Park Film · about 45 min

    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…

  • Rock Climbing in Yosemite

    Rock Climbing · about 45 min

    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…

  • Scenic Driving in Yosemite

    Scenic Driving · about 45 min

    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…

  • Wildlife Safety in Yosemite

    Wildlife Watching · about 45 min

    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…

  • Ride a Bike in Yosemite Valley

    Biking · about 2.7 hours · Reservation required

    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…

  • Hiking in Yosemite

    Hiking · about 2 hours

    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…

  • Learn Art in the Park

    Arts and Culture · about 45 min · Reservation required

    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…

  • Visit the Yosemite History Center

    Museum Exhibits · about 45 min

    Go back to a time of horse-drawn wagons, a covered bridge, and rustic cabins. The Yosemite History Center is a collection of historic buildings where outdoor interpretive signs te…

Trails

Campgrounds in Yosemite

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

Reading about Yosemite

All 16 articles

What to pack for Yosemite

Gear & Essentials

Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:

The basics

Worth having in the car whatever the park.

For this trip

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