Yosemite National Park

National Park Service, California.

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.

Camping and Day Use

  • Bridalveil Creek Campground
  • Camp 4
  • Crane Flat Campground
  • Hodgdon Meadow Campground
  • Lower Pines Campground
  • North Pines Campground
  • Porcupine Flat Campground
  • Tamarack Flat Campground
  • Tuolumne Meadows Campground
  • Upper Pines Campground
  • Wawona Campground
  • Wawona Horse Campsites
  • White Wolf Campground
  • Yosemite Creek Campground

Activities and Experiences

  • Half Dome Permits
  • Mariposa Grove Commercial Bus Parking
  • Yosemite National Park Ticketed Entry
  • Yosemite National Park Wilderness Permits

Site Passes

  • Yosemite National Park Site Pass

Nearby Activities

  • Auto Touring
  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Climbing
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Historic & Cultural Site
  • Horseback Riding
  • Paddling
  • Snowpark
  • Swimming
  • Wildlife Viewing

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.

Additional Information

  • Yosemite National Park Official Website
  • Yosemite National Park Map

Photo Gallery

  • Rainbow over Half DomeA hike up to Sentinel Dome rewards people with great views of the landscape around them.
  • Glen AulinGlen Auilin is one of five High Sierra Camps, located in the Yosemite high country.
  • Yosemite Falls on a Winter MorningYosemite Falls will sometimes only trickle at the end of summer, but wet winters can rejuvenate the flow.
  • Yosemite National Park
  • El CapitanEl Capitan rises over 3,000 feet above the floor of Yosemite Valley.
  • Yosemite Valley from Tunnel ViewTunnel View is perhaps one of the most photographed views in the park.
  • Upper Yosemite Fall and Merced River in spring
  • Tenaya Lake at SunsetTenaya Lake is a favorite place to stop along the Tioga Road in summer.
  • Half Dome, Yosemite National ParkHalf Dome
  • Lower Yosemite FallThe walk to Lower Yosemite Fall is a popular and easy hike.
  • Half DomeHalf Dome is one of the most recognizable granitic formations in the world.
  • El CapitanEl Capitan rises over 3,000 feet above the floor of Yosemite Valley.
  • Giant Sequoia Trees in the Mariposa Grove of Giant SequoiasYosemite National Park's massive giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) live in three groves in the park. The most famous of these is the Mariposa Grove, which contains about 500 mature giant sequoias.
  • Giant Sequoia TreeGiant Sequoia trees are the largest living things (by volume) on the planet. Though not the tallest trees, one feels miniature in their presence..
  • Cathedral Peak and Lake in AutumnCathedral Peak is one of the most recognizable peaks in the Yosemite Wilderness.
  • Upper Yosemite Fall and Merced River in spring

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