Yosemite National Park is one of the most spectacular, awe-inspiring, and breathtaking places on Earth. It’s also a place that inspires both humility and reverence.
This national park has it all: towering granite cliffs, shimmering waterfalls, ancient giant sequoias, and an unrivaled diversity in wildlife – from bears to bugs.
The Yosemite Valley was carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago and holds some of the world’s most magnificent sights. Yosemite Valley is located near the middle of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, 210 miles east of San Francisco and 95 miles southwest of Reno, Nevada.
The valley floor ranges from 4,500 feet (1,350 meters) at Yosemite Creek to 6,700 feet (2,010 meters) at Cathedral Peak.
This national park covers an expanse of nearly 1,400 square miles (3,600 sq km) in the Sierra Nevada mountains, stretching from Fresno County in California’s Central Valley to Tuolumne County on the eastern slope and Mariposa County near Yosemite National Park’s northwestern border.
The Tioga Road enters at Crane Flat in Tuolumne County and exits at White Wolf in the high country, providing access to Tioga Pass (elev. 9,964 ft or 3,080 m). Near this entrance is Olmsted Point, which provides a view west of Half Dome as well as east towards Tenaya Canyon.
The park is open all year, but Tioga Road closes during winter due to snow in Tuolumne County (typically November through May).
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, view my privacy policy.
Yosemite National Park Information
Important Note: For construction, Glacier Point road will be entirely closed in 2022. In 2023, expect 30-minute delays.
Park Size: 748,436 acres
Established: October 1, 1890
Entrance Fee: $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, or $20 per pedestrian/bicyclist (valid for 7 days)
Nearby Communities: Mariposa, El Portal, Fish Camp, Oakhurst, Mammoth
Visitor Centers: Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, Wawona
Campgrounds: Wawona, Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Hodgdon Meadow, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, Tuolumne Meadows, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Camp 4
Best Time to Visit: The summer season is the best time to go to see some of the park’s most popular wildlife. This is also the busiest season. Fall offers great weather and beautiful foliage. Spring is great for wildflowers, but may still be snowy. Winter is great for skiing.
Unique Things to Do: Enter the Half Dome lottery to grab a permit and climb the cables to the summit.
Yosemite National Park Products
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park Phone Case
Yosemite Eco-Friendly Phone Case
Yosemite National Park Pennant
Fodor’s Guide to the 63 National Parks
Fodor’s Guide to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon
Women’s National Parks Checklist T-Shirt
Women’s National Parks Checklist T-Shirt
Map of National Parks T-Shirt
Yosemite National Park Hat
Yosemite National Park Sticker
Yosemite National Park Pin
Yosemite National Park Patch
63 National Parks Water Bottle
Yosemite Ornament
Yosemite National Park Sticker
California National Parks Face Mask
The Last Season
Yosemite National Park Calendar with 100+ Stickers
