Park Access
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles of mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada of California and is open year round.
2013 Free National Park Days
The National Park Service has announced its free national park days for 2013. All park entry fees are waived. Read More...
Park Access Overview
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles of mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada of California. You can visit Yosemite all year, though some areas of the park are inaccessible by car from approximately November through May due to snow. Read More...
Getting Around Yosemite National Park
Visitors to Yosemite can drive on roads throughout the park. However, we encourage you to use shuttle buses, where available. Also, some roads are closed at certain times of the year. Read More...
Permits
Nearly 95 percent of Yosemite National Park is designated Wilderness. Wilderness is a special distinction granted by Congress protecting land from further development. The best way to experience the 1,100 square miles of the Yosemite Wilderness is to explore it first hand. Read More...
Yosemite Park Entrance Fees
If you arrive in your private car, the entrance fee is $20 per car. This is valid for unlimited entries to Yosemite for seven days, and includes all occupants of the car. Otherwise, entrance fees are as follows: $10 per person if arriving on foot, horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, or on a non-commercial bus (free for those 15 years old and younger). Read More...
Top Ten Things to do in Yosemite Park
1. Yosemite Valley Waterfalls
When snow melt from mountain peaks brings icy waters rushing downstream into Yosemite Valley, great waterfalls spring to life. During the peak seasonal flow, which usually happens in May, the thundering of waterfalls can be heard clear across the valley. Read More...
2. Famous Viewpoints
The natural beauty of Yosemite is so incredible that it inspired an entire 19th-century conservation movement, which resulted in the valley’s protection as a national park in 1890. Read More...
3. Walk Among Giant Sequoias
Start by taking the whole family on a joyful nature walk through the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. Read More...
4. Black Bears & Wildlife
With more than 400 kinds of animals and multiple life zones for plant life, Yosemite is a top spot for wildlife watching. Read More...
5. Explore Trails
Whether you want to get out of the car and do a little exploring, or you’re planning a backcountry adventure on foot or horseback, we’ve got just the thing for you and your family. Read More...
6. Go Camping on Your Yosemite Vacation
Nothing beats sleeping under the stars in Yosemite National Park, especially if you’re looking for a little family togetherness Read More...
7. Go Rock Climbing in Yosemite
Stalwarts like the giant wall of El Capitan, the polished promontory of Half Dome, and skyscraping Glacier Point all call to expert climbers, who sometimes bivouac overnight while suspended in mid-air. Read More...
8. Unforgettable Winter
Yosemite is covered in powdery blankets of snow, and the valley becomes a winter wonderland. Read More...
9. Explore History & Culture
Yosemite is the wild, wild West. From its earliest Native American inhabitants, to the mid-19th-century California Gold Rush, and the later arrival of ranchers, loggers, and hoteliers, the land surrounding Yosemite National Park is amazingly rich in historical sites. Read More...
10. Festivals & Ranger-Led Activities
Come to watch waterfalls in spring, go hiking in the Sierra Nevada high country in summer, roast marshmallows over your campfire in fall, and go skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Timing your visit to coincide with one of the region’s many festivals will only enhance your Yosemite vacation. Read More...
