Here’s useful information to help families plan a trip to Yosemite this summer. This is the payoff. Drive carefully even when there are no chain requirements: you may encounter icy spots on mostly dry roads. A steep uphill hike leads to Quarter Dome where rangers will check that your wilderness permit includes Half Dome. From Little Yosemite Valley, the hike to the summit of Half Dome is 4.1 miles. View estimated opening and closing dates in 2021 for all campgrounds once they become available. Open trails aren't necessarily free of hazards--by entering the wilderness, you assume responsibility for your safety and must use good judgment. Bring a bear canister or use the communal bear lockers. Continuation of Highway 120 through the park. Two campgrounds inside Yosemite National Park that reopened June 11 will remain open, although no additional campgrounds will be reopened until at least Aug. 1, park officials said. The work funded by Yosemite Conservancy is visible throughout the park, from trail rehabilitation to wildlife protection and habitat restoration. Depending on health and safety, things can change, so check Yosemite National Park website also. Food services will also be open in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Conservancy. Kings Canyon National Park reopened on Wednesday after being closed for nearly a week due to hazardous air quality caused by wildfire smoke from the … Bears: Bears are active throughout the park! Bedrock mortars used by Native Americans for pounding acorns that were found in the area are reminders of Sunol's first inhabitants. Everyone staying in LYV Campground needs to take appropriate measures to ensure no bears are attracted by food in the open. Visit our press room or publishing page. First-come, first-served: None, Open: Reservations required: None Looking for information about press or publishing opportunities? Water may not be available along the way, so carry plenty. Added by Ed Francisco. See what’s new at Yosemite Conservancy! Reservations are available up to five months in advance and are strongly recommended. Little Yosemite in Sunol is a scenic hike offering breathtaking oak lined canyon views and dramatic waterfalls. In 2020 reservations are required to visit. Is there a best time to visit Yosemite? Through the summer, Yosemite has tried to reduce COVID-19 risks by making available only about half of the 240 campsites in Yosemite Valley's Upper Pines area, about 120 spots. It just takes a while. Here are the best scenic points listed in order driving east from Yosemite … Graphic courtesy of Yosemite National Park Service. Yosemite National Park is closed to all visitors until further notice. - YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation) will be running from local communities. First-come, first served: None, Closed: Hodgdon Meadow, Wawona, Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows. Climbing closures are in effect on several routes each year from March 1 through July 15 to protect peregrine falcons. Under the East Bay Regional Park District's multi-use land management policy, cattle continue to graze in the 6,859-acre wilderness. There are camping options available as well. Relax by the water as you fuel up for the road and take in the gorgeous sights and sounds of Sunol’s Little Yosemite one last time. Jamestown is a cute little "gold rush" town as are many along highway 49. That legacy holds true today. The distance from Yosemite Valley to Lee Vining (on US Hwy 295) is a little less than 80 miles, but it will take at least two hours to drive it. Sequoia/Kings Canyon has closed most areas to help curb the spread of coronavirus. TRAVEL ALERT: Yosemite lodging and campgrounds temporarily close Dec 7. When open (typically, spring–fall), road is open only to vehicles displaying disability placards. Its close proximity to Yosemite Falls makes it the perfect base camp for exploring Yosemite National Park. This shady spot is the ideal place for an impromptu picnic with your fellow hikers. A reminder to … Yosemite National Park will reopen Thursday, but don’t expect to spontaneously show up for a visit. However, the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station is open only during daylight hours (approximately) and some roads are closed due to snow from around November through May or June. You don't need reservations to visit the park, but you should make reservations for lodging and campgrounds well in advance. Lodgings at the Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village (at half capacity) in the park are open. Today, camping, picnickin… Virtually all of the park's other campsites have been closed for months, and … Backcountry campgrounds, such as those in Little Yosemite Valley, can be accessed by getting a wilderness permit, which are still available. This unit has a granite rock fireplace in the living room, with a rustic pine mantle shelf, and is open to the dining area, with kitchen & skylights, to bring in that natural light. Expect total delays of up to 30 minutes Sunday nights through Friday afternoons (north of Wawona Campground and north of Chinquapin/Glacier Point Road intersection) through December. Trails in Yosemite may be closed when there are hidden hazards or when they are impassable due to rock fall, snow, ice, or fire. Yosemite National Park is located in central California. Open: Reservations required: Upper Pines Inside the Little Yosemite gorge (D. Wood/Flickr). Carry tire chains in your car and be prepared to use them (even if your car has four-wheel drive): chains may become mandatory at any time. Little Yosemite Valley lies upstream from Nevada Fall, at an elevation of 6,100 feet (1,860 meters). How do I get a reservation to enter Yosemite? Most of our restaurants are open all year, and many offer outdoor seating during the warmer months. It depends what you're looking for, and each season has its advantages. Yosemite National Park offers a wide variety of restaurants to satisfy every palate. The Wawona Store and El Portal Market are also open. Associated Press photo. Current information about road work in Yosemite, National Weather Service forecasts for Yosemite, View streamflow data for the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, area to the south and east of the footbridge, Due to the Blue Jay Fire, the following trails are closed (, The trail to Bridalveil Fall is closed due to the. The hike-in campground here is a little under 4 miles (6.5 km) from the trailhead in Yosemite Valley and about 3.5 miles (5.5 km) from the summit of Half Dome. December through April). Open trails aren't necessarily free of hazards--by entering the wilderness, you assume responsibility for your safety and must use good judgment. For the past century, however, the land known today as Sunol Wildereness Regional Preserve was used almost exclusively as ranch land. You can get into Yosemite valley by going south along 49 to Mariposa and then up 140 along the Merced river. There are a handful of different ways to acquire a reservation, listed below. Activities in Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park is open year round, but much of the park closes to visitors come late autumn and the winter snows. Trails not listed below are open, but may be snowy and very difficult to find from about November through May/June (and may have other hazards). Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. If you don't have a reservation, get details about camping without a reservation. It's a short 2 miles upstream from the visitors center and is open 8am to dusk all year long. The center itself is open only weekends and holidays (except for Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A little shop sells books, … Reservations are available and recommended up to 366 days in advance. Its glass and wood architecture work in unity with the surroundings and the ample windows allow in the bright mountain sunshine while providing remarkable views. Yosemite is officially open today, day-use reservations are required if you’re not staying in the park, and not all facilities and services are available. It looks like Upper Pines won't open in this first round of openings) - Backpackers campgrounds will open. Browse updates from our team, including press releases, blog posts, new products and publications, media coverage, and videos. Today’s and tonight’s Yosemite National Park, CA weather forecast, weather conditions and Doppler radar from The Weather Channel and Weather.com - 60 sites at Lower Pines will open - 81 sites at Upper Pines will open (edit: I should have said North Pines. Trails in Yosemite may be closed when there are hidden hazards or when they are impassable due to rock fall, snow, ice, or fire. Be sure to store your food properly and to remain at least 50 yards from bears in forest and meadows. Please note this is a … Yes, Yosemite National Park is open, and yes, a reservation is required. Little Yosemite Valley, situated between Half Dome, Liberty Cap and the Cascade Cliffs, and straddling the Merced River, is within close proximity of the national park's main valley. The trail overlooks a piece of Little Yosemite, with an obvious, well-worn cutoff trail that leads down to the canyon floor. Yosemite National Park is open all year, 24 hours a day. Yosemite Valley stores like the Village Store is open, as well as The Ansel Adams Gallery. Call 209/372-0200 (press 1 then 1) for the most up-to-date conditions (the information below only reflects planned or long-term closures). 4 of 46 Visitors view Yosemite Valley and Little Yosemite Valley from the Glacier Point outlook in Yosemite National Park. It was established as a national park in October of 1890 and boasts almost four million visitors per year. Check road conditions and Hetch Hetchy hours. Limited sales will be available outside of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center as well. Yosemite Valley Lodge is a favorite choice for families and large groups. Visit Yosemite Hospitality's website for lodging information (including information about Housekeeping Camp and High Sierra Camps). The park reopens entirely in mid to late spring. Plowing updates from the Tioga and Glacier Point Roads. Weekly updates from the Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers (approx. The privately-owned Pine Tree Market in Wawona is open. That is if you don't stop, which is probably unrealistic because of these gorgeous spots you'll pass. Open year round, with a different calendar of activities for each season, Yosemite is a flagship national park in terms of education, volunteerism and of course, outdoor adventure. Perched high in the pine trees, with a great view, is the other half of the Sport Chalet duplex. Little Yosemite Valley Campgrounds is minimally developed and depends on the cooperation of campers to to keep it clean, safe, and functioning properly. Learn more about Yosemite in summer, fall, winter, or spring, and find out what kind of weather to expect. However, the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station is open only during daylight hours (approximately) and some roads are closed due to snow from around November through May or June. ... Today… Little Yosemite Valley is a smaller glacial valley upstream in the Merced River drainage from the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park.The Merced River meanders through the 3.5 mi (5.6 km) long flat valley, draining out over Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall before emptying into the main Yosemite Valley. Park remains open … Getting hungry? Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Canyon View Trail to Little Yosemite - California | AllTrails Since Yosemite is open all year, there’s always something to do. Rivers & Waterfalls: Yosemite Falls, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Bridalveil Fall are flowing at low levels. 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