Yosemite Guide

What You Need to Know Photo by McKenna McFarland Shutterstock Photo Protect Yourself and Your Park Shutterstock Photo NPS Photo Biking in Yosemite Protect Yourself and Wildlife Never approach or feed any animal. It is dangerous—both to you and the animal—and illegal to do so. Wild animals in Yosemite can transmit diseases, including plague, rabies, and hantavirus. For more information on how to stay safe in Yosemite, visit www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/yoursafety.htm. There are over 12 miles of paved bike paths in Yosemite Valley (speed limit is 15 mph). In addition, bicyclists can ride on regular roads if they obey traffic laws. You can rent a bike, bring your own, or borrow one through the bike share program for up to two hours. Things to Know • Bicycling on Yosemite’s roads means sharing the road with all vehicles. • Helmets are required by law for children under 18 years old. • E-bikes with two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, and electric motors less than 750 watts (1 horsepower) are allowed everywhere bicycles are allowed. • Electric scooters are allowed on bike paths but not on park roads. • Off-trail riding and mountain biking, and use of motorized scooters on bike paths are not permitted. DISTANCE FROM WILDLIFE: 30 feet = about one bus-length. Where Did Yosemite Falls Go? The most common human-related cause of death for a black bear in Yosemite is being hit by a car. Slow down! Driving too fast is almost always the cause of these accidental deaths. Visitors to Yosemite National Park are the park’s most important guardians. During your visit to Yosemite, please contact a park official if you see any of the following illegal acts: • Feeding or approaching wildlife • Collecting plants, reptiles, or butterflies • Hunting animals • Picking up archeological items, such as arrowheads • Using metal detectors • Driving vehicles into meadows • Biking off of paved roads • Camping outside of designated campgrounds • Possession of weapons inside federal facilities • Possessing or using marijuana, including medical marijuana • Using drones Photo by Sheree Peshlakai Yosemite is home to countless waterfalls. The best time to see waterfalls is during spring, when most of the snowmelt occurs. Peak runoff typically occurs in May or June, with some waterfalls (including Yosemite Falls) often only a trickle or completely dry by August. Storms in late fall rejuvenate some of the waterfalls and all of them accumulate frost along their edges many nights during the winter. If you see activities that could harm people or park resources, jot down any descriptions or a vehicle license plate number and call the park dispatch office at (209) 379-1992. Entering a National Park A reservation is required to drive into or through Yosemite from 6am to 4pm. See go.nps.gov/reserve Yosemite is a place where wilderness prevails. Prepare yourself for a wild experience. The National Park Service is bound by its mission to protect Yosemite’s natural and cultural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. Please be attentive to the regulations in place to protect park resources and those designed for your safety. Access for People with Disabilities Fire – Police – Medical Emergency Call or text 911 for emergencies. Sign Language interpreting is available upon request. Contact Deaf Services at (209) 379-5250 (v/txt). Two weeks advance notice is requested. Medical Clinic (in Yosemite Valley) Open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Phone: (209) 372-4637 Road, Weather, and Park Information Check road updates: (209) 372-0200 Yosemite Village Garage Open from 8am to 5pm daily. Offers 24-hour emergency roadside assistance and propane service until 4:30pm. NO gas is available here. Phone: (209) 372-1060 Keep in Touch For a complete list of accessible services, exhibits, and recreational opportunities, pick up a Yosemite Accessibility Guide at any park entrance station or visitor center, or view online at www.nps.gov/yose/ planyourvisit/accessibility.htm, or call a park Accessibility Coordinator at (209) 379-1035. Assistive Listening Devices are available upon advance request at any visitor center. Accessible parking spaces are available throughout the park. Fire restrictions are in effect. Please visit go.nps.gov/firestages for updates on the current fire stage. www.nps.gov/yose @YosemiteNPS Photo by Sheree Peshlakai Where can I see wildlife? Wildlife like deer, coyote, and maybe even a bear, can be seen in meadows foraging at twilight and dusk. Please stay on marked paths to protect meadow ecosystems. Is my pet allowed in Yosemite? Pets are allowed in developed areas, on fully paved roads, sidewalks, and bicycle paths (except when signed as not allowing pets), and in all campgrounds except walk-in campgrounds and group campgrounds. Pets must be restrained on a leash not more than six feet long and may not be left unattended. Other regulations also apply. Congestion During the summer, be prepared for two- to three-hour delays, especially in afternoons and on weekends. Plan accordingly and use restrooms when available. Once you find a place to park, leave your car parked and use the free shuttle bus. Parking fills to capacity throughout Yosemite by mid-morning. Driving or parking on vegetation is prohibited. Park Partners Pets are NOT allowed on the shuttle buses or indoor lodging areas, including lobbies and rooms. Yosemite Guide August 24, 2022 - Enjoy September 27,visit! 2022 @YosemiteNPS @YosemiteNPS your Park Map NOTICE! A reservation is required to drive into or through Yosemite from 6am to 4pm. See go.nps.gov/reserve. Lake Eleanor To HETCH HETCHY O’Shaughnessy Dam Hetch Hetchy Entrance Hetch Hetchy Road and Lee Vining Hetch Hetchy Backpackers’ Campground Tuolumne River TUOLUMNE MEADOWS (Wilderness Permit Required) White Wolf Big Oak Flat Entrance To Manteca Big Oak Flat Information Station Yosemite Creek Tioga Road Hodgdon Meadow Tuolumne Grove Merced Grove Trailhead Crane Flat Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center Porcupine Flat Tenaya Lake Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Tamarack Flat Big Oak Flat Road YOSEMITE VALLEY Merced River GLACIER POINT Tunnel View El Portal Tuolumne Meadows Tioga Road Evergreen Road Tioga Pass Entrance Closed in 2022, no services Glacier Point Road Road Closed To Merced Bridalveil Creek Arch RockEntrance Yosemite West Wawona Road WAWONA Wawona Campground Wawona Visitor Center Yosemite History Center Mariposa Grove South Entrance 0 Gas Station Ranger Station 5 miles Roads on map are simplified and do not reflect degree of windiness To Fresno NOTE! There are only 2 gas stations in the park and NO GAS in Yosemite Valley. 5km Campground Visitor Center Information Center Visitor Centers Photo by Sheree Peshlakai YOSEMITE VALLEY VISITOR CENTER 2 Maximize your time in Yosemite by reading this Guide and bringing any questions to the nearest visitor center. Talk to park rangers, view exhibits, and learn more about the park. The visitor centers also feature Yosemite Conservancy bookstores, where you can find books, maps, and other souvenir items. Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Valley Visitor Center // 9am to 5pm, open year-round Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center // 9am to 5pm, closes Sept 25th Big Oak Flat Information Station // 8am to 5pm, open seasonal Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s Studio // 8am to 5pm, open seasonal Photo by Christine W Loberg Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley is open year round and is known for massive cliff faces like El Capitan and Half Dome and its plunging waterfalls, including the tallest in North America, Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Valley’s meadows are great places to see wildlife and to photograph seasonal scenery. Whether you explore the Valley by foot, car, bicycle or with a tour, you will be in awe and eager to see what’s around the next corner. Road Conditions Yosemite Valley roads remain open year round, with winter chain restrictions. Wawona and Mariposa Grove The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias. Park at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and take the free shuttle into the grove. It operates from 8am to 7pm, with the last bus leaving Mariposa Grove at 8 pm (5:30pm starting September 8th). Vehicles displaying a disability placard may drive to the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area or the Grizzly Giant parking area. The nearby Yosemite History Center in Wawona is a collection of historic buildings associated with people and events that shaped the national park idea in Yosemite. Distance from Yosemite Valley: 30 mi/48 km (1 hour) Photo by Sheree Peshlakai Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Road The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. The road’s elevation ranges from 6,200 feet to just under 10,000 feet. Tuolumne Meadows embodies the high-country of the Sierra Nevada and is a good starting point for countless hikes. There is little to no cell service along the road. Distance from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows: 54 mi/87 km (1 ½ hours) Directions From Yosemite Valley, take Big Oak Flat Road (Hwy 120) to Tioga Road Junction (Hwy 120 E), then turn right. Continue on Tioga Road to Tuolumne Meadows. Continue 8 more miles to Tioga Pass. Road Conditions Expect long delays and parking lot closures due to road construction from Olmsted Point to east of Tuolumne Meadows throughout the season. Visit nps.gov/yose/ planyourvisit/conditions.htm for more information. Tioga Road closes in the winter, typically around midNovember. Shutterstock Photo Photo by McKenna McFarland Directions From Yosemite Valley, take Wawona Road (Hwy 41). Hetch Hetchy Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a source of drinking water and hydroelectric power for the City of San Francisco, is home to spectacular scenery and offers many wilderness trails. The area’s low elevation makes it a good place to hike in autumn, winter, and spring, and very hot for hiking in the summer. Wilderness permits and bear canisters are available while the road is open. Distance from Yosemite Valley: 40 mi/64 km (1 ½ hours) Directions From Yosemite Valley, take Big Oak Flat Road (Hwy 120) to Evergreen Road, then turn right. Road Conditions Vehicles and/or trailers over 25 feet long and 8 feet wide are not permitted on the narrow, winding Hetch Hetchy Road. The road is only open from 8am to 5pm. Road Conditions Wawona Road (Hwy 41) remains open year round, with winter chain restrictions. Glacier Point Road NO SERVICES - GLACIER POINT ROAD IS CLOSED DURING 2022 Crane Flat and Tuolumne Grove See sequoia groves north of Yosemite Valley that are smaller than the more-famous Mariposa Grove, but typically quieter and require a hike to access them. Park at the Tuolumne Grove parking area located on Tioga Road, and walk one steep mile down to the grove. Or, park at Merced Grove trailhead and walk two steep miles down to the grove. Remember, the walk down is easier than the walk up. Bring water. A Park Ranger Suggests… If you’re visiting Yosemite for a half day: • Walk around one of Yosemite Valley’s meadows. • View the park’s award-winning film, Spirit of Yosemite, at Yosemite Theater in Yosemite Village. • Stop at Tunnel View, El Capitan Meadow, and Valley View for iconic scenic viewpoints. If you’re visiting Yosemite for a full day: • Attend a ranger program, photo walk, or art class (see page 8). • Take a scenic drive down Tioga Road. Photo by McKenna McFarland Photo by Brian Whitehead Photo by Sheree Peshlakai Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Yosemite’s high country, is a great place for photography, hiking, and experiencing the alpen glow at sunset. From Glacier Point you can experience a majestic view, 3,214 feet above Yosemite Valley. Due to extensive road construction on Glacier Point Road, Glacier Point is only accessible via long, strenuous hiking trails. All overnight stays in the area require a wilderness permit. Road Conditions Glacier Point Road is closed for the entire 2022 season. Distance from Yosemite Valley: 16 mi/26 km (30 minutes) • Consider a scenic hike to Cook’s Meadow, Mirror Lake, or Vernal Fall. • Visit a sequoia grove at Mariposa Grove, Tuolumne Grove, or Merced Grove. If you’re visiting Yosemite for two or more days: • Visit the Yosemite History Center in Wawona. • Explore Yosemite Valley with a rental bike. • See Hetch Hetchy, an area once described as Yosemite Valley’s twin. • Play in the water and picnic at Tenaya Lake. • Hike Lembert Dome in Tuolumne Meadows. Do you have kids? • Pick up a Junior Ranger booklet and complete the activities to earn a junior ranger badge! • Attend a family ranger program in front of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Directions From Yosemite Valley, take Big Oak Flat Road (Hwy 120) to Tioga Road Junction at Crane Flat. Yosemite National Park Road Conditions Big Oak Flat Road (Hwy 120 W) remains open year round, with winter chain restrictions. A Park Guide for Ages 4 to 12 Illustration by Tom Whitworth llustration by Stefani Lacy Yosemite Guide August 24, 2022 - September 27, 2022 3 Services Shutterstock Photo Hospitality Service Hours Pizza Deck 12pm to 9pm YOSEMITE VALLEY Meadow Grill Closed FOOD & BEVERAGE YOSEMITE VILLAGE Degnan’s Kitchen Breakfast 7am to 11am Lunch 11:30am to 6pm BOOKS, GIFTS, & APPAREL YOSEMITE VILLAGE The Ansel Adams Gallery 10am to 4pm, may close for lunch The Loft at Degnan’s Closed Yosemite Valley Visitor Center 9am to 5pm Village Grill 11am to 6pm Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center 9am to 5pm THE AHWAHNEE Dining Room Coffee Bar: 6:30am to 10:30am Breakfast: 7am to 10am Lunch: 11:30am to 2pm Dinner: 5:30pm to 9:30pm Sunday Brunch: 8am to 2pm Appropriate attire respectfully required for dinner. Reservations strongly recommended for dinner and Sunday Brunch. (209) 372-1489 Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore at Yosemite Museum 10am to 4pm, closed for lunch Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center 8am to 5pm Village Store 8am to 8pm THE AHWAHNEE Gift Shop 9am to 7pm Shutterstock Photo Yosemite Valley Lodge Post Office Monday - Friday: 12:30pm to 2:45pm Dinner: 5pm to 9pm Lounge Service: 4pm to 9pm TOURS AND ACTIVITIES Golf Shop & Snack Stand 7am to 6pm YOSEMITE VILLAGE Tour and Activity Desk − Village Store Closed BOOKS, GIFTS, APPAREL, & GROCERIES Tour and Activity Desk 7:30am to 7pm WAWONA Yosemite Valley Lodge Pool Thursday - Monday: 11am to 7pm (closes for the season on Sept 5th) Bike Rentals 8am to 6pm (9am to 5pm starting Sept 6th) CURRY VILLAGE Tour and Activity Desk Closed Mountaineering School 8:30am to 4:30pm Closed for 1 hour at noon Bike Rentals 8am to 6pm (9am to 5pm starting Sept 6th) YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Base Camp Eatery Breakfast: 6:30am to 10:00am Lunch/Dinner: 11am to 9pm Gift/Grocery 8am to 8pm Raft Rentals Closed for the season Mountain Room Bar Friday - Saturday: 12pm to 10pm Sunday - Thursday: 5pm to 10pm Mountain Shop 8am to 8pm Mountain Room Restaurant Dinner: 5pm to 9:30pm (Last seating is at 8:30pm) CURRY VILLAGE Peet’s Coffee Corner 6:30am to 12pm (Jennie’s Ice Cream is closed) Pavilion Breakfast: 7am to 10am Lunch (to go only): 11am to 3pm Dinner: Closed Curry Village Bar 12pm to 9pm 4 CURRY VILLAGE Gift/Grocery 8am to 9pm (closes at 8pm starting Sept 5th) Wawona Store & Pioneer Gift Shop 8am to 8pm Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore at Wawona Hill Studio Visitor Center 9am to 5pm Pine Tree Market 8am to 8pm MARIPOSA GROVE Yosemite Conservancy Depot at Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza 9am to 5pm GLACIER POINT Gift Shop Closed SHOWERS AND LAUNDRY HOUSEKEEPING CAMP Showers 7am to 10pm (guests only) Laundry 8am to 8pm HOUSEKEEPING CAMP CURRY VILLAGE Gift/Grocery 8am to 9pm (closes at 8pm starting Sept 5th) Showers open 24 hours Happy Isles Happy Isles Art and Nature Center 9am to 4pm, may close for lunch Glacier Point Snack Stand Closed YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Sweet Shop 8am to 8pm The Ahwahnee Bar Friday - Sunday: 12pm to 10pm Monday - Thursday: 2pm to 10pm Photo by Sheree Peshlakai WAWONA, MARIPOSA GROVE, GLACIER POINT FOOD & BEVERAGE POST OFFICE Wawona Post Office Monday - Friday: 9am to 5pm Saturday: 9am to 12pm GAS STATION Wawona Service Station 9am to 6pm, Diesel & propane available. Pay at the pump 24 hours with credit or debit card. TOURS AND ACTIVITIES POST OFFICES WAWONA Disc Golf Monday - Tuesday: 12pm to 6pm Yosemite Village Main Office Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 5pm Saturday: 10am to noon Wawona Hotel Dining Room Breakfast: 7am to 10am Lunch: 11am to 2pm Tennis Courts 8am to dusk Experience Your America Yosemite National Park NPS Photo TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, TIOGA ROAD Religious Services FOOD & BEVERAGE YOSEMITE COMMUNITY CHURCH TUOLUMNE MEADOWS Tuolumne Meadows Grill Closed Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Dining Room Closed WHITE WOLF LODGE White Wolf Lodge Dining Room Closed BOOKS, GIFTS, APPAREL, & GROCERIES TUOLUMNE MEADOWS Gift/Groceries 9am to 5:30pm (closes Sept 18th) Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore at Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center (closes September 26th) 9am to 5pm daily Shutterstock Photo Camping & Lodging: How to Spend the Night in Yosemite Pastor Brent Moore, Resident Minister (209) 372-4831 www.YosemiteValleyChapel.org Sunday Services in the Yosemite Chapel 9:15am (year-round) & 11:00am (Memorial Day through Labor Day) Thursday Bible Study 7pm, contact chapel for location Before your arrival to the park, reserve a spot at one of the following campgrounds: Wawona, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Camp 4, Hodgdon Meadow, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf (until September 6th), or Yosemite Creek (until September 15th). If you don’t have a reservation, you can try for a reservation one day in advance via lottery at Camp 4 (tents only, no RVs or trailers) or check the website for possible cancellations elsewhere. Sleeping inside a vehicle is only allowed in campsites. You may not park your car or RV in a parking lot or along the side of the road and sleep overnight. (Non-denominational) Sunday Worship Services at Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater 8:30am-11:30am at Big Oak Flat Information Center 9am to 5pm daily Yosemite Museum & Indian Cultural Exhibit POST OFFICE Tuolumne Meadows Post Office Monday - Friday: 9am to 5pm (closes Sept 18th) GAS STATION Crane Flat Service Station 8am to 7pm, Diesel & propane available. Pay at the pump 24 hours with credit or debit card. Campground Reservations www.recreation.gov (recommended) (877) 444-6777 Reservations are required for all campgrounds in 2022. There are no first-come, first-served campgrounds open. CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES IN NATIONAL PARKS Visitor Center and Theater Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore Museum Store The following campgrounds will remain closed for the entire 2022 season: Tuolumne Meadows, Crane Flat, Bridalveil Creek, Porcupine Flat. Call Center Hours 7am to 9pm Pacific Time Lodging Reservations www.travelyosemite.com (888) 413-8869 Check the website or phone number above for reservations at each of the following: •The Ahwahnee •Yosemite Valley Lodge •Wawona Hotel •Curry Village •Housekeeping Camp YOSEMITE VILLAGE The Ansel Adams Gallery To Ahwahnee Hotel Valley Wilderness Center Yosemite Cemetery Administration Building Girls Club 10 Post Office 5 Medical Clinic Degnan’s Kitchen & The Loft at Degnan’s 10 Shuttle Stop #5 10 To Yosemite Falls Shuttle Stop #4 15 Northside D rive Village Store 5 Shuttle Stop #2 Service Organizations ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Yosemite Valley Chapel Tuesday and Thursday: 6:30pm Oakhurst Hotline: (559) 683-1662 # Hiking & Biking Trail Approx. Walking Time (minutes) 5 P Roadway To Curry Village Authorized Vehicles (shuttles) 25 Sentinel Crossover P Shuttle Stop #1 Yosemite Guide August 24, 2022 - September 27, 2022 5 Yosemite Valley Shuttle System Yosemite Valley Sh Valleywide Shuttle East Valley Shuttle Y Vall Shutterstock Photo The FREE Yosemite Valley shuttles El Capitan operate from 7am to 10pm daily and 8 serve stops in numerical order. The Valleywide Shuttle services ALL stops; M er the East Valley Shuttle services only ced Ri v er 9 10 selected stops. The Valleywide Shuttle runs approximately every 12 to 22 Parking Trailhead minutes with a total round trip time of Bathroom Bicycle Rentals approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Electric Car Charging Station Campground The East Valley Shuttle runs Information Lodging approximately every 8 to 12 minutes Wilderness Permits Food Service Exhibits Groceries Theater Book & Souvenir Shop Picnic Area ATM Picnic Area Post Office with a total round trip time of approximately 50 minutes. See schedules posted at shuttle stops for Seasonal Accessible Spots Available more information. 8 9 7 North 0 6 5 Valleywide Shuttle (one way) 10 0 4 11 Shuttle Stops Yosemite Village Parking Parking area fills early. Once you find a spot, keep it, and use the free shuttle. Dining, shopping, and information are only a 5-10 minute walk from here. Degnan’s Kitchen – Dining, Gift and Grocery, Post Office, Wilderness Center – Less than 5-minute Walk: Visitor Center, Theater, Museum Yosemite Valley Lodge/Yosemite Falls Parking – Dining, Gift and Grocery, Trailhead Four Mile Trail – Trailhead – Less than a 5-minute walk: Restrooms, Parking, Scenic View El Capitan Picnic Area Village Store – Dining, Gift and Grocery, Tour and Activity Desk – Less than a 5-minute Walk: Post Office, Wilderness Center, Visitor Center, Theater, Museum Valley Visitor Center & Museum – Visitor Center, Theater, Museum – Less than 5-minute Walk: Wilderness Center, Post Office, Dining, Gift and Grocery – Scenic View Housekeeping Camp/Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center – Information, Lodging, Gift and Grocery, Laundry El Capitan Meadow – Scenic View Curry Village (eastbound) The Ahwahnee – Trailhead, Picnic Area, Scenic View – Lodging, Dining, Gift Shop NPS Photo 6 – Lodging, Dining, Gift and Grocery, Tour and Activity Desk, Amphitheater, Showers Cathedral Beach Lower Yosemite Falls NPS Photo Experience Your America Yosemite National Park – Scenic View NPS Photo 0. Photo by McKenna McFarland 3 huttle System Yosemite Village Lower Yosemite Fall Yosemite Falls Trail The Ahwahnee 5 4 3 2 6 Yosemite ley Lodge Mirror Lake 1 7 Housekeeping 12 Camp 19 14 Curry Village 11 18 17 15 16 Four Mile Trail (closed in winter) Happy Isles/ Mist Trail Stops in bold are serviced by the Valleywide Shuttle only 1 9 El Capitan Meadow Yosemite Village Parking 10 Cathedral Beach 2 Village Store RENTAL 3 The Ahwahnee 4 11 Four Mile Trail Degnan’s Kitchen 5 Valley Visitor Center & Museum 6 RENTAL 14 Curry Village (eastbound) Lower Yosemite Falls RENTAL 15 Upper Pines Campground 7 Yosemite Valley Lodge/ Yosemite Falls Parking .5 Kilometer 0.5 Mile 16 Happy Isles/Mist Trail RENTAL 17 Mirror Lake 8 El Capitan Picnic Area 2 12 Housekeeping Camp/ Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center 18 Lower Pines Campground 1 19 East Valley Shuttle (one way) 12 18 17 19 Curry Village (westbound) RENTAL 14 15 16 YARTS Upper Pines Campground Lower Pines Campground – Campground – Less than a 5-minute walk: Trailhead Parking, Trailhead – Campground, Amphitheater Curry Village (westbound) Happy Isles/Mist Trail – Lodging, Dining, Gift and Grocery, Tour and Activity Desk, Amphitheater, Showers – Information, Art and Nature Center, Bookstore, Trailhead Mirror Lake Travel Recommendations The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) is a public transit system that provides service into Yosemite National Park. Their buses are air-conditioned, bike friendly, wheelchair accessible, and equipped for rider comfort. Save gas, save time, save money, by taking YARTS! For more information and schedules, visit their website at Yarts.com or call them at (877) 989-2787. – Trailhead Bring plenty of food and water for potential delays and stop and use restrooms when available. Park your vehicle for the duration of your stay. Driving from site to site increases traffic congestion and can cause frustration for you and your passengers. Ride the free shuttle buses to enjoy Yosemite Valley most easily once parked. Arrive early and stay late, and visit Yosemite during the week. Enjoy the entire Yosemite region—consider visiting gateway communities such as Mariposa, Groveland, Lee Vining, and Oakhurst. Ride a YARTS bus to enter the park. Photo by McKenna McFarland Photo by Sheree Peshlakai Photo by Sheree Peshlakai Yosemite Guide August 24, 2022 - September 27, 2022 7 Events and Programs Photo by Sheree Peshlakai TIME NPS Photo PROGRAMS Photo by Sheree Peshlakai DURATION EXCEPTIONS LOCATION Photo by Andres Escalante SU 8:00am Bird Walk Take an easy stroll around Tuolumne Meadows with an expert. Binoculars provided. Meet at Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center. (NPS) 2.5 hrs Tuolumne Meadows 9:00am Climber Coffee Meet with climbing rangers to discuss climbing management issues, preventative search and rescue activities and climbing current events. Meet at the Tuolumne Meadows Store Parking Lot until September 4th, Camp 4 until October 30th. (NPS) 2 hrs Tuolumne Meadows 9:00am Daily Art Class Meet at the Happy Isles Art and Nature Center for art classes, such as mosaics, colored pencils, and watercolors. Register at Yosemite.org/art. $ (YC) 4 hrs Yosemite Valley 9:00am In the Field: Creative Smartphone Photography Space is limited, reserve in advance at anseladams.com or by calling (209) 372-4413. $ (TAAG) 3 hrs Yosemite Valley 10:00am Nature Walk - Mariposa Grove Meet at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. (NPS) 1.5 hrs Mariposa Grove X 10:00am Art in the Pines Make your own Yosemite masterpiece at this ranger-led art activity. Meet at Pine Tree Market, 7995 Chilnualna Falls Rd. (NPS) 1 hr Wawona X 10:00am Art in the Park Make your own Yosemite art at this activity. Meet at Redwoods in Yosemite Vacation Rentals Office, 8038 Chilnualna Falls Rd, Wawona. (NPS) 1 hr 10:00am Botanical Walk in the Meadows Take an easy to moderate walk with a park ranger to find what grows in the high country. Meet at Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center. (NPS) 2 hrs 10:00am Family Ranger Talk Meet in front of Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. (NPS) 10:30am September 25 M TU W TH F X X X X X X X X X X X X X Wawona Ends September 21 SA X X Tuolumne Meadows X 15 mins Yosemite Valley X Walk Amongst the Giants Learn about giant sequoias on a ranger-led hike. Meet at the end of the trail by the picnic tables, a mile walk from parking area. (NPS) 45 mins Tuolumne Grove 11:00am Junior Ranger Program Meet at Parsons Memorial Lodge for an easy stroll with a ranger. (NPS) 1 hr 11:00am Nature Journaling Stroll Meet at Happy Isles Art & Nature Center, register at Yosemite.org/art. $ (YC) 2 hrs Yosemite Valley 12:00pm Ranger Talk - Welcome to Tuolumne! Meet at Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center. (NPS) 15 mins Tuolumne Meadows 1:00pm In the Field: Creative Smartphone Photography Space is limited, reserve in advance at anseladams.com or by calling (209) 372-4413. $ (TAAG) 3 hrs Yosemite Valley 1:00pm Ranger Walk: Wild About Bears Learn about bears in Yosemite with a ranger (no bear sightings expected). Meet at Shuttle Stop #6. (NPS) 1.5 hrs Yosemite Valley 1:00pm In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams Space is limited, reserve in advance at anseladams.com or by calling (209) 372-4413. $ (TAAG) 4 hrs Yosemite Valley 1:00pm Ansel Adams’s Legacy and Your Digital Camera Space is limited, reserve in advance at anseladams.com or by calling (209) 372-4413. $ (TAAG) 4 hrs Yosemite Valley 2:00pm Paint & Sip Meet at Mountain Room Lounge at Yosemite Valley Lodge. Register at Yosemite.org/art. $ (YC) 2 hrs Yosemite Valley 2:00pm Vertical Wilderness Walk Take a moderately strenuous 2-mile roundtrip walk with a climbing ranger to discover the vertical wilderness of Yosemite’s big walls. Meet at the west side of El Capitan Bridge. Limited to 12 people. (NPS) 2 hrs Yosemite Valley X 2:00pm Stories of the Sequoias Explore connections between sequoia history and nature. Meet at end of the trail by the picnic tables, a mile from parking area. (NPS) 30 mins Tuolumne Grove X 2:00pm Nature Walk - Mariposa Grove Meet at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. (NPS) 1.5 hrs Mariposa Grove X 2:00pm Your Yosemite: Sense of Place Stroll Meet at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, walk ups welcome. (YC) 1 hr Yosemite Valley 3:00pm Ranger Talk - Welcome to Tuolumne! Meet at Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center. (NPS) 15 mins Tuolumne Meadows X X X X X X X 3:00pm Family Ranger Talk Meet in front of Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. (NPS) 15 mins Yosemite Valley X X X X X X X 6:00pm Yosemite Valley Sunset Walk Reservations required. Register at Yosemite.org/ adventures. $ (YC) 2 hrs Yosemite Valley X X X X X 7:00pm Evening Ranger Program Meet at Redwoods in Yosemite Vacation Rentals Office, 8038 Chilnualna Falls Rd. (NPS) 1 hr 7:30pm Evening Ranger Program Meet at the fire circle near group campsites to learn about Yosemite from a ranger. See local postings for each week’s subject. (NPS) 45 mins 8:00pm Stars Over Mono Explore the night sky under the big sky at Mono Lake! Dress warm and bring a flashlight and something to sit on. (NPS) 1.5 hrs 8:00pm Ranger Campfire Talk Meet at Pine Tree Market, 7995 Chilnualna Falls Rd. (NPS) 1 hr Wawona 9:00pm Explore Yosemite Valley’s Night Sky Reservations required. Register at Yosemite.org/adventures. $ (YC) 1 hr Yosemite Valley Ends September 13 September 27 X X X X X X X X X X X X X 8 Programs especially for children and their families. X Programs are offered on marked days NPS National Park Service YC Yosemite Conservancy Experience Your America Yosemite National Park YH Yosemite Hospitality SC Sierra Club X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Special Event: 2nd Annual Obata Art Weekend, August 26-28, 2022 in Yosemite Valley Join special guest speakers to celebrate artist Chiura Obata and his legacy. Throughout the weekend, Yosemite park rangers will give programs about art in Yosemite National Park and guest artists will teach art classes and give demonstrations. For more information, visit the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center or check Yosemite’s calendar of events online. X X Wawona Mono Lake (South Tufa) X X Tuolumne Meadows Hodgdon Meadow Campground Ends September 19 X TAAG The Ansel Adams Gallery $ Programs with a fee Go to www.nps.gov/yose or the park app to see the web events calendar for more program information. Program offerings and hours are subject to change. NPS Photo Yosemite Valley (NPS) Ask a ranger your questions, become a Junior Ranger, and find park resources at the Yosemite Valley Information Station. Then, explore exhibits at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Both are open from 9am to 5pm. Visit the Yosemite Valley Theater to watch The Spirit of Yosemite. The first showing is at 9:30am, and the last showing is at 4pm. Yosemite Museum features stories from Native tribes and is open from 10am to 4pm, closed for lunch. Join Yosemite Climbing Rangers and stewards as they discuss the ins and outs of climbing El Capitan, daily from 12:30pm-4:30pm on the west side of El Capitan Bridge with telescopes for viewing climbers on El Capitan for public viewing when climbers are present. Questions and curiosity are welcome! Hetch Hetchy, Hodgdon Meadow, & Crane Flat The Big Oak Flat Information Station is open daily from 8am to 5pm for information inc