Park Guide on Yosemite.com

Yosemite.com Park Guide

TRAVEL BASICS

Hours of operation - The park is open year round, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Reservations are not required to enter the park.

The Tioga, Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove roads are closed from October/November because of inclement weather. They reopen between May and June. All other park roads are open throughout the year, but chains may be required at times.

Yosemite is about a four hour drive from San Francisco Airport and six from Los Angeles. The vast majority of visitors come between June and the end of September.

Even though more than 4 million people visit the park each year, it's still relatively easy to find yourself alone on the more than 700 miles of trails winding their way through the 750,000 acres of park land.

PARK FEES

HOW TO GET TO YOSEMITE

WEATHER & CLIMATE

One thing is sure about the weather at Yosemite. it's always unpredictable. Because of the variations in elevation, precipitation and temperatures can vary significantly and seasonally.

Yosemite receives the bulk of its precipitation January through March. Summers are typically warm and dry while spring and fall are transitional; sunny days can suddenly become stormy. Thunderstorms during the summer can be spectacular.

Average temperatures by season (for Tuolumne Meadows, subtract 10 to 20 degrees):

Summer: Typically dry, highs in the low 90s, lows in the 50s

Fall & Spring: Highly variable with highs ranging from the 50s to the 70s with lows in the 30s

Winter: Snow, rain, with highs in the 30s to 50s and lows in the upper 20s

Layered dress is the best strategy when planning clothing. Ready to peel off or add ons can make your visit more pleasant and help you compensate for rapid temperature changes. Also include some kind of rain gear.

ACCESSIBILITY

Visitor information for the deaf/hard of hearing (TDD) is (209) 372-4726.

The park's major sites are accessible by automobile. Some trails and facilities are wheelchair accessible. If you are in need of these services inquire at a visitor center or entrance station.

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The Bear Facts on Yosemite.com

Black Bears are found in Yosemite

Yosemite's bears are quite used to humans these days, making them bold and potentially dangerous neighbors.

Park regulations require visitors to store and bag food properly to prevent bears from reaching it.

Be sure to store all food, ice chests and odorous items in a hard sided lodging, or in food storage lockers. If none are available, put foods in the vehicle's trunk. You can also rent bear resistant food canisters in some areas. Deposit garbage in bear proof cans or dumpsters and keep a clean camp and vehicle. Never leave camp unattended if food is not stored. Keep a clean camp.

If you're camping, consider Bearbagging supplies. This simply means suspending your food at one end of a rope with a counter weight on the other end. Sacks should be tied off at least 12 feet off the ground and 10 feet from the tree trunk.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

If you do see a bear, do not approach it no matter how small it is. Yell, clap your hands, bang pots together to scare the bear away.

If there is more than one person, stand together to look more intimidating, but do not surround the bear.

If the bear is a cub, be aware that the mother will be nearby and will aggressively defend her young.

If a bear happens into your belongings, never try to retrieve anything once a bear has it. If a bear happens to get to your belongings, never try to directly retrieve anything once the bear has it.

REPORT ALL INCIDENTS AND SIGHTINGS TO A RANGER!