Yosemite Falls will sometimes only trickle at the end of summer, but wet winters can rejuvenate the flow.
Photo: NPS / Cindy Jacoby
About
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.
Location
PO Box 577
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Entrance Fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle$35.00
Entrance - Motorcycle$30.00
Entrance - Per Person$20.00
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups$300.00
Hours
wednesdayAll Day
mondayAll Day
thursdayAll Day
sunday
Activities
Arts and CultureAuto and ATVScenic DrivingAstronomyBikingBoatingCampingBackcountry CampingClimbingFishingFoodGuided ToursHands-OnHikingBackcountry HikingHorse TrekkingHorseback Riding
Directions
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.
Get directions →Weather
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.)