Yosemite National Park: Visitor Guide

Yosemite Valley is 7 miles long and 1 mile wide, cut by glaciers from granite that is up to 100 million years old. El Capitan’s 3,000-foot vertical face, Half Dome’s recognizable profile, and Yosemite Falls — the tallest waterfall in North America at 2,425 feet — are all concentrated in that narrow valley. The rest of the park’s 748,000 acres includes high Sierra meadows, ancient sequoia groves, and wilderness that most visitors never reach.

Entry Fees and Passes

Entry costs approximately $35 per vehicle as of 2026 (valid for seven days, covers all occupants). Motorcycles pay approximately $30; individuals on foot or bicycle pay approximately $20. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entry to all US national parks.

Timed entry reservations (separate from park entry fees) have been required during peak season (typically late May through early September) to drive into Yosemite Valley and Hetch Hetchy. Reservations are released in batches beginning in late February and are frequently sold out within minutes. Check the current reservation status at recreation.gov before booking travel — the system is revised annually and requirements change year to year.

When to Visit

April–May: Waterfalls are at maximum flow from snowmelt. Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall, and Vernal Fall are spectacular. Valley temperatures are mild (50–65°F). Some higher-elevation roads (Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road) may still be closed.

June–August: All facilities open, Tioga Road across the high Sierra is accessible (typically late May/early June through October or November). Heavy crowds in the valley. Timed entry reservations required. Temperatures in the valley reach 90°F+ in July and August.

September–October: Crowds drop after Labor Day. Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road remain open into late October (weather permitting). Fall colors appear on valley floor by late October. Our preferred window.

November–March: The valley stays open year-round. Tioga Road closes; Glacier Point Road closes. Half Dome and most high-country trails are snow-covered. The valley is quiet, with mirror reflections in the Merced River and occasional snow on the cliffs. No timed entry requirement.

Getting There

From San Francisco, CA (170 miles to the Valley, approximately 3.5–4 hours via CA-120/Arch Rock Entrance): The most common approach. No direct public transit. YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) buses run from Merced, Fresno, Mammoth Lakes, and Sonora with connections to Amtrak — approximately $15–35 one way from Merced. Check schedules at yarts.com.

From Los Angeles, CA (310 miles, approximately 5.5–6 hours via CA-41/South Entrance): Long drive; consider breaking the journey in Fresno (60 miles from the South Entrance).

From Sacramento, CA (185 miles, approximately 3.5 hours via CA-120): Similar to SF approach; Tioga Road entry is the most scenic when open.

Once inside the valley, free shuttle buses loop continuously between all major trailheads, lodges, and viewpoints. A car is not needed to move around the valley itself — and parking is severely limited in peak season.

Must-See Trails and Attractions

Mist Trail / Vernal and Nevada Falls — The park’s most iconic hike. Vernal Fall: 3 miles round trip (moderate, 2–3 hours) with 1,000 ft gain to the top of the 317-foot fall. Nevada Fall: 7.2 miles round trip (strenuous, 4–6 hours) adds another 600 ft to a 594-foot fall. Spray from Vernal Fall soaks the granite stairs in spring — use the handrails.

Half Dome Cables — 14–16 miles round trip (strenuous, 10–12 hours) with 4,800 ft elevation gain. Steel cables assist the final 400-foot sub-dome face. Permit required (see Permits section). The summit elevation is 8,842 ft. Allow a full day and start by 6am.

Valley Floor Loop — 13 miles (easy, flat, 4–5 hours by bike or 5–6 hours on foot). Passes El Capitan Meadow, Valley View, and Cathedral Rocks. Best on a rental bike (approximately $15–30/hour from Yosemite Valley Lodge or Curry Village).

Four-Mile Trail — 9.6 miles round trip from the valley floor to Glacier Point (3,200 ft gain, strenuous, 4–6 hours). Alternatively, drive or take a bus to Glacier Point for the panoramic view of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and the valley without the climb. Glacier Point: free with park entry; Glacier Point bus from the valley approximately $35 round trip as of 2026.

Tuolumne Meadows (open summer/fall via Tioga Road) — High Sierra meadow at 8,600 ft. Cathedral Lakes trail: 7 miles round trip (moderate, 3–5 hours). Far fewer crowds than the valley.

Mariposa Grove — The largest sequoia grove in Yosemite. The Grizzly Giant tree is 1,800 years old and 209 feet tall. Trail through the grove: 6.5 miles round trip (easy-moderate, 3–4 hours). Shuttle from Wawona required in summer.

Permits

Half Dome permit: Required May through October. Daily quota of approximately 300 hikers. Two systems run concurrently:

1. Preseason lottery (applications March 1–31, results in mid-April): Apply via recreation.gov. Fee approximately $10 per application; permit approximately $10 per person if selected.
2. Daily lottery (two days before the hike date): Remaining permits released via recreation.gov daily at 7am.

Without a permit you will be turned back at the base of the cables. Plan this hike first if it is a priority.

Backcountry permits: Required for all overnight wilderness camping. Quota system per trailhead. Approximately 60% of permits available by advance reservation (opens 24 weeks ahead on recreation.gov, approximately $10 reservation fee plus $5/person). Remaining 40% released as walk-up permits at trailhead offices from 11am the day before.

Timed entry reservations: Required for driving into Yosemite Valley in peak season (see Entry Fees). Free but competitive — book as soon as the reservation window opens.

Accommodation

In-park lodges (book via travelyosemite.com):

• The Ahwahnee — Historic 1927 granite lodge. Rooms from approximately $600/night; suites higher. Books out far in advance.
• Yosemite Valley Lodge — Mid-range. Rooms from approximately $280/night. Convenient for valley shuttle.
• Curry Village / Half Dome Village — Canvas tent cabins from approximately $130/night; standard cabins and rooms from approximately $200/night. Busy and noisy in peak season.
• Wawona Hotel — Historic 1879 Victorian hotel near Mariposa Grove. Rooms from approximately $230/night. Quieter than the valley.
• Tuolumne Meadows Lodge — Canvas tent cabins in the high Sierra from approximately $130/night. Open summer only.

Campgrounds (13 in the park): Valley campgrounds (Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines) from approximately $36/night. Reservations via recreation.gov open five months ahead and sell out within minutes of release. Camp 4 (walk-up only) is the historic climbers’ campground — first-come-first-served from $10/night/person.

El Portal, CA — 2 miles outside the Arch Rock Entrance. Cedar Lodge from approximately $150/night; Yosemite View Lodge from approximately $180/night.

Packing and Preparation

• Timed entry reservations and Half Dome permits must be secured before booking flights — both can sell out completely. This is the most common trip-planning mistake.
• Bear canisters are required for all overnight backcountry trips. Rental available at the Wilderness Center in Yosemite Valley (approximately $5/trip).
• Food storage: Valley campgrounds require hard-sided bear boxes (provided at each site). Never leave food in a car — bears break windows.
• Layers: Valley summers are hot (90°F+) but Tuolumne Meadows can reach near freezing at night in July. High Sierra weather changes rapidly.
• Start early: Valley trailheads fill by 8am in summer. Most permits and parking spots are gone before 9am.
• Cell coverage: Spotty throughout the valley, essentially absent in the backcountry. Download offline maps before arriving.
• Altitude: Tuolumne Meadows is at 8,600 ft. Visitors coming from sea level should allow one to two days at lower elevation before strenuous high-country hikes.