Welcome to Yosemite Park

Created by Congress in 1890 to cover the most scenic stretch of the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park has since become one of the most famous of all tourism destinations. Over 3.5 million visitors from around the world come to take the the giant trees, giant waterfalls, majestic mountains, verdant green forests, peaceful meadows and unique wildlife.

Yosemite Park covers an area the size of Rhode Island and hosts over 800 miles of scenic wilderness hiking trails. Over 95 percent of the park is officially designated Yosemite Wilderness.

Wildlife Viewing
The park is home to 150 species of birds, 85 species of mammals, over 1,000 species of flowering plants and 37 types of trees including the living organism in the world, the Giant Sequoia Trees. Elevations range from 2,000 feet to over 13,000 feet. Most day-visitors are able to spot deer or bear, usually in the hours near dawn or dusk. Squirrels are all over the place.

Waterfalls:
There are waterfalls a number of locations throughout the park including some of the more famous falls in Yosemite Valley. The best time the see the waterfalls is the late spring/early summer when warming temperatures are fast melting the winter sierra snowpack. Visitors can enjoy cooling off in the giant spray created at the base from all of the cascading water.

Yosemite Adventure Tours
Explore the Golden State - (Keyword: Yosemite)

Exciting high adventure opportunities for exploring, boating, camping, hiking, watersports, weekend retreats and more.

Yosemite Park Ranger:
Park Superintendent, PO Box 577, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389; 209-372-0200; NPS Park Website;

Travel Notice:
Due to is popularity, Yosemite is one of the most visited (congested) national parks in the country. There are many campgrounds and parking facilities, but these are usually booked full well in advance. Many recreational venues are subject to closure due to weather conditions. You also need to store all food in bear proof canisters.

To offset these difficulties the park does provide mass transit, wilderness camping permits and numerous volunteer ranger guides. All visitors should plan ahead for any major expedition into the park.

Yosemite Park Resources:

• NPS Website - Official Yosemite Park Website
• Yosemite Store - Park Guidebooks
• Yosemite Park Lodging - Guest Facilities & Sightseeing Tours
• NPS Campground Reservations
• YARTS - Yosemite Area Regional Transit System
• Badger Pass - Badger Pass Ski Area
• Yosemite Gateway - California Welcome Center

Regional Travel Information:

• Lee Vining CA Tourism
• Mariposa CA Tourism
• Oakhurst CA Tourism
• Sonora CA Tourism

Regional Travel Information:


Stanislaus National Forest
• Sierra National Forest
• Inyo National Forest

National Parks Resources:

• NationalParks.org
• OhRanger.com
• American Park Network
• National Park Conservation Association - Protecting our National Parks
• American Hiking Society - National Park Conservation
• Friends of the Forest - National Forest Conservation
• Association of National Park Rangers - Live the Adventure / Become a Park Ranger

Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Visit the large groves of giant sequoia redwood trees, the largest living thing in the world. If you want to see the big trees, but skip the big crowds of Yosemite, then this is your place.

Downtown Merced Resort Hotels
Most hotels are near the Yosemite Parkway (SR-140) downtown exit from the SR-99 Freeway:
Merced Best Value Inn
Merced Best Western
Merced Comfort Inn
Merced Courtyard Marriott
Merced Days Inn
Merced Hampton Inn
Merced Holiday Inn
Merced Ramada Inn
Merced Sandpiper Inn
Merced Travelodge
Merced Vagabond Inn

Mariposa County Resort Hotels
Most hotels are in downtown Mariposa city on Highway 140/49.
Mariposa Way Station
Mariposa Comfort Inn
Little Valley Inn - Mariposa CA
Mariposa Lodge
Mariposa Super 8 Motel
Yosemite Bed & Breakfast - Mariposa CA

Yosemite Valley is clearly the most visited section of the park and is accessible year-round via SR-41 from Fresno, SR-140 from Merced and SR-120 from Manteca.

It is one of the most picturesque valleys of the world, consisting of mighty waterfalls, tall mountain cliffs, green meadows valleys, tall pine, oak and redwood trees. This valley was formed during the last Ice Age by glacial erosion took hundreds of thousands of years.

Parking / Shuttle Bus Service
I recommend parking the car and taking the shuttle bus for a free ride to the popular hiking spots. There is are large parking lots near the Visitor Center and Currie Village.

Hiking Trails
Wilderness Hiking is the number one pasttime here with a number of trails ranging of varying size and difficulty. The valley is also a starting point for a large network of overnight backpacking trails that run into Yosemite Wilderness.

Bridalveil Falls:
One of the best waterfalls as seen when you first enter Yosemite Valley. A 620-foot drop set against the steep canyon wall. Access the base on a 1/2 mile easy hike from the roadway.

Yosemite Falls:
The upper and lower falls with intermediate cascade creates a total drop of 2425 feet to make this tallest waterfall in North America. Access the base on a paved 1/2 mile easy hike from the Visitors Center or Shuttle Stop #6. Another easy scenic meadow trail follows Yosemite Creek as it flows towards its fork with the Merced River. The loop trail and creek bridge was improved by the NPS in 2005 to give accessiblity to the mobility impaired.

El Capitan:
Giant rock monolith, the El Capitan stands 3,593 feet from base to summit and is a popular challenge for experienced cliff / rock climbers from around the world (spring to fall). Located midway along the northside of the valley.

Half Dome:
#1 Most Popular Hiking Trail in America
The most distinctive monument overlooking the valley, Half Dome is located towards the east end of Yosemite Valley. Strenous 8 mile hike accends 4500 feet from the valley floor to the top of Half Dome, is the most heavily hiked trail in America. Many only go so far to take in the rich scenic beauty of the first half of the trail as it climbs pass waterfalls, cascades and spring pools of the Merced River.

Half Dome Notice: - Arrive early and allow the full day if you plan to hike all the way to the top. The top summit is only open after the winter snow has melted (mid-June). Call the ranger for details. Hike starts from Shuttle Stop #16 / Happy Isles.

Happy Isles:
Series of islets created from where the Merced River rapids reach the valley floor. Visitors can also visit the Nature Center (Open Daily: May-Labor Day). Just to the west is a quiet valley fen.
Location : Shuttle Stop #16 - far east end of valley.

Mirror Lake:
Access by a short 1-mile hike from shuttle stop #17. The lake creates impressive mirror reflections of Tenaya Canyon and Half Dome. The lake is naturally evolving into another meadow.

Merced River:
The Merced River as it crosses the Yosemite Valley makes for a pleasant easy water rafting (Class I) adventure. Put in at the east end near the Visitors Center. Take out at Swinging Bridge.

Hetch Hetchy is a smaller, quieter twin to the famous Yosemite Valley. Access is made from SR-120 at the northwestern park entrance. It is created by the Tuolumne River. A major controversy was created in 1913 when the river was damned up.

Hetch Hetchy is a popular starting point for a number overnight backpacking routes into the northern Yosemite Wilderness. One trail goes about 50 miles south into Yosemite Valley.

Travel Note: Vehicles greater than 25-feet long are not allowed.

Wapama Falls Trail - A very popular hike for this section of the park is a five-mile round trip that starts across the dam, through a long mountain tunnel and then follows the northern shoreline (with a small elevation rise) to a spectacular set of waterfalls. The shoreline trail also extends much further to Rancheria Falls. Editors Note: When I hiked this trail (in June 2011) I came across a bear on the side of the trail just past the tunnel.