Yosemite Guide

What You Need to Know Yosemite NP Archives A-13-824 Shutterstock Photo Protect Yourself and Your Park Yosemite NP Archives B-01-013 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 go.nps.gov/yosafety. There are several 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 • Bike paths may be icy in fall and winter. • 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 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. www.nps.gov/yose 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. Winter Conditions During the fall and winter, be prepared for changing road conditions. Tioga Road and the Mariposa Grove Road close after the first major snowstorm. The roads that remain open throughout the park may require tire chains. Check on current road conditions and chain restrictions by calling (209) 372-0200 (press 1 then 1). Park Partners Pets are NOT allowed on the shuttle buses or indoor lodging areas, including lobbies and rooms. @YosemiteNPS Yosemite Guide@YosemiteNPS September 28, 2022 -Enjoy November 29,visit! 2022 @YosemiteNPS your Park Map 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) Closed approx. Nov to May White Wolf Road closes approx. Nov to May Yosemite Creek Tioga Road Porcupine Flat Big Oak Flat Information Station Hodgdon Meadow Tuolumne Grove Merced Grove Trailhead Crane Flat Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Tamarack Flat Closes Oct 15 Big Oak Flat Road YOSEMITE VALLEY Merced River GLACIER POINT Tunnel View El Portal Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center Tenaya Lake Road closes approx. Nov to May To Manteca Tuolumne Meadows Tioga Road Evergreen Road Big Oak Flat Entrance 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 NPS Photo 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 // closed for the season Big Oak Flat Information Station // 8am to 5pm, closes Oct 16 Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s Studio // 8am to 5pm, closes Oct 9 Yosemite NP Archives A-13-328 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. Shutterstock Photo Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Road NO SERVICES; NO OVERNIGHT PARKING AFTER OCTOBER 14; ROAD CLOSES SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER 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 Tioga Road from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass is closed to all overnight parking (including side roads and parking lots) beginning October 15. Tioga Road is typically closed due to snow from approximately November through late May or June. Visit go.nps.gov/conditions for more information. Shutterstock Photo Photo by McKenna McFarland 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 5:30pm, with the last bus leaving Mariposa Grove at 6:30pm. Buses pick up about every 10 minutes. Starting November 8, the shuttle will run until 3:30 pm, with the last bus leaving Mariposa Grove at 5 pm and with buses picking up about every 15 minutes. 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. 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. Distance from Yosemite Valley: 30 mi/48 km (1 hour) Yosemite NP Archives - Jeffrey Trust Glacier Point Road NO SERVICES - GLACIER POINT ROAD IS CLOSED DURING 2022 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. 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 (closes in November). Directions From Yosemite Valley, take Wawona Road (Hwy 41). Road Conditions Wawona Road (Hwy 41) remains open year round, with winter chain restrictions. Photo by Christine W Loberg Photo by Brian Whitehead 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. Distance from Yosemite Valley: 16 mi/26 km (30 minutes) Directions From Yosemite Valley, take Big Oak Flat Road (Hwy 120) to Tioga Road Junction at Crane Flat. Road Conditions Big Oak Flat Road (Hwy 120 W) remains open year round, with winter chain restrictions. Road Conditions Glacier Point Road is closed for the entire 2022 season. • 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. • Take a Yosemite Valley Floor Tour (see page 9). • See Hetch Hetchy, an area once described as Yosemite Valley’s twin. Do you have kids? • Pick up a Junior Ranger booklet and complete the activities to earn a junior ranger badge! • Make some art at Happy Isles Art and Nature Center (closes October 28). Yosemite National Park A Park Guide for Ages 4 to 12 Illustration by Tom Whitworth Yosemite Guide September 28, 2022 - November 29, 2022 3 Services Shutterstock Photo Hospitality Service Hours Dinner: Closed (Breakfast only from Nov 27 to Dec 15) YOSEMITE VALLEY Curry Village Bar 12pm to 9pm (closes Nov 27 to Dec 15) FOOD & BEVERAGE YOSEMITE VILLAGE Degnan’s Kitchen Breakfast 7am to 11am Lunch 11:30am to 6pm The Loft at Degnan’s Closed Village Grill 11am to 5pm (closes for the season on Oct 16) THE AHWAHNEE Dining Room Coffee Bar: 6:30am to 10:30am Breakfast: 7am to 10am Lunch: 11:30am to 2pm Dinner: 5:30pm to 9pm Sunday Brunch: 8am to 2pm Appropriate attire respectfully required for dinner. Reservations strongly recommended for dinner and Sunday Brunch. (209) 372-1489 YOSEMITE VILLAGE The Ansel Adams Gallery 10am to 4pm, may close for lunch (10am to 3pm, starting Nov 1) Yosemite Valley Visitor Center 9am to 5pm Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center 9am to 5pm Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore at Yosemite Museum 10am to 4pm, closed for lunch Village Store 8am to 8pm CURRY VILLAGE Peet’s Coffee Corner 6:30am to 11am (closes Nov 27 to Dec 16) (Jennie’s Ice Cream is closed) Pavilion Breakfast: 7am to 10am Lunch (to go only): 11am to 3pm 4 WAWONA Yosemite Valley Lodge Post Office Monday - Friday: 12:30pm to 2:45pm YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Mountain Room Restaurant Dinner: 5pm to 9pm POST OFFICES Meadow Grill Closed The Ahwahnee Bar 12pm to 9pm Mountain Room Bar Friday - Saturday: 12pm to 10pm Sunday: 9:30am to 10pm Monday - Thursday: 5pm to 10pm FOOD & BEVERAGE Yosemite Village Main Office Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 5pm Saturday: 10am to noon BOOKS, GIFTS, & APPAREL THE AHWAHNEE Gift Shop 9am to 7pm Sweet Shop 8am to 8pm YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Gift/Grocery 8am to 8pm CURRY VILLAGE Mountain Shop 8am to 8pm Gift/Grocery 8am to 8pm HOUSEKEEPING CAMP Gift/Grocery 8am to 8pm (closes for the season on Oct 1) Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Photo by Sheree Peshlakai Happy Isles Happy Isles Art and Nature Center 9am to 4pm (closes for the season on Oct 28) Pizza Deck 12pm to 9pm (closes Nov 27 to Dec 15) Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center 8am to 5pm (closes for the season on Oct 23) Base Camp Eatery Breakfast: 6:30am to 10:30am Lunch/Dinner: 11am to 9pm (closes at 8pm starting Oct 17) Shutterstock Photo TOURS AND ACTIVITIES YOSEMITE VILLAGE Tour and Activity Desk − Village Store Closed YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Tour and Activity Desk 7:30am to 7pm Yosemite Valley Lodge Pool Closed Bike Rentals 9am to 5pm CURRY VILLAGE Tour and Activity Desk Closed Mountaineering School 8:30am to 4:30pm Closed for 1 hour at noon Bike Rentals 9am to 5pm (closes for the season on Oct 30, depending on weather) Curry Village Ice Rink Tentatively opens for the season on Nov 18 (conditions permitting) WAWONA, MARIPOSA GROVE, GLACIER POINT Wawona Hotel Dining Room Breakfast: 7am to 10am Lunch: 11:30am to 2pm Dinner: 5pm to 8:30pm Lounge Service: 4pm to 9pm Golf Shop & Snack Stand 9am to 4:30pm (closes Oct 30) Glacier Point Snack Stand Closed BOOKS, GIFTS, APPAREL, & GROCERIES WAWONA Wawona Store & Pioneer Gift Shop 8am to 6pm Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore at Wawona Visitor Center 9am to 5pm (closes for the season on Oct 16) 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; closes for the season on Oct 10) Laundry 8am to 8pm (closes for the season on Oct 10) CURRY VILLAGE Showers open 24 hours 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. NPS Photo TOURS AND ACTIVITIES Golf Course & Disc Golf Closed Tennis Courts 8am to dusk (closes for the season on Nov 27) TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, TIOGA ROAD FOOD & BEVERAGE TUOLUMNE MEADOWS Tuolumne Meadows Grill Closed Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Dining Room Closed Shutterstock Photo Religious Services YOSEMITE COMMUNITY CHURCH Pastor Brent Moore, Resident Minister (209) 372-4831 www.YosemiteValleyChapel.org Sunday Services in the Yosemite Chapel 9:15am (year-round) Reservations are required for all campgrounds until Oct 1. After that, some campgrounds switch to first-come, first-served. To check a campground’s status, call (209) 372-0266. The following campgrounds are open: Wawona, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Camp 4 (tents only, no RVs or trailers), Hodgdon Meadow, and Tamarack Flat (until Oct 15). All other campgrounds are currently closed. Thanksgiving Service Thursday, November 24 at 10am Above services are subject to change based on Covid-19 policies. Please call the chapel office for current information about services before you travel. If you don’t have a reservation, you can check the website for possible cancellations. 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. WHITE WOLF LODGE White Wolf Lodge Dining Room Closed BOOKS, GIFTS, APPAREL, & GROCERIES TUOLUMNE MEADOWS Yosemite Museum & Indian Cultural Exhibit Gift/Groceries Closed Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore Closed POST OFFICE Tuolumne Meadows Post Office Closed Visitor Center and Theater Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore Museum Store Campground Reservations www.recreation.gov (recommended) (877) 444-6777 Camping & Lodging: How to Spend the Night in Yosemite 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 (closed Nov 27 to Dec 15) •Curry Village •Housekeeping Camp (closes for the season on Oct 10) 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 Village Shuttle Stop #4 Store GAS STATION Crane Flat Service Station Store hours: 8am to 5pm (closes for the season on Oct 29). Pay at the pump 24 hours with credit or debit card. 15 Northside D rive # 5 Shuttle Stop #2 Hiking & Biking Trail 5 Approx. Walking Time (minutes) P Roadway To Curry Village Authorized Vehicles (shuttles) 25 Sentinel Crossover P Shuttle Stop #1 Yosemite Guide September 28, 2022 - November 29, 2022 5 Yosemite Valley Shuttle System Yosemite Valley Sh Valleywide Shuttle East Valley Shuttle Val Shutterstock Photo The FREE Yosemite Valley shuttles operate from 7am to 10pm daily and El Capitan serve stops in numerical order. The 8 Valleywide Shuttle services ALL stops; the East Valley Shuttle services only M er selected stops. The Valleywide Shuttle ced Ri v er 9 10 runs approximately every 20 to 30 minutes with a total round trip time of Parking Trailhead approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Bathroom Bicycle Rentals The East Valley Shuttle runs Electric Car Charging Station Campground approximately every 15 to 20 minutes Information Lodging with a total round trip time of Wilderness Permits Food Service approximately 50 minutes. Expect Exhibits Groceries Theater Book & Souvenir Shop Picnic Area ATM Picnic Area Post Office delays during busy periods. See schedules posted at shuttle stops for Seasonal Accessible Spots Available more information. 8 9 7 6 North 0 0 5 Valleywide Shuttle (one way) 10 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 El Capitan Meadow – Information, Lodging, Gift and Grocery, Laundry – 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 Photo by Sheree Peshlakai 0 Shutterstock Photo 3 huttle System Yosemite Village Lower Yosemite Fall Yosemite Falls Trail The Ahwahnee 5 4 3 2 6 Yosemite lley 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 0.5 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 September 28, 2022 - November 29, 2022 7 Events and Programs Yosemite NP Archives A-13-521 TIME Shutterstock Photo PROGRAMS Yosemite NP Archives A-13-354 Shutterstock Photo DURATION EXCEPTIONS LOCATION SU 9:00am Climber Coffee Meet with climbing rangers to discuss climbing management issues, preventative search and rescue activities, and climbing current events. Meet at Camp 4. (NPS) 2 hrs Ends Oct 30 Yosemite Valley X 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 Ends Oct 28 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 11:00am Reception for High Spirit: New Paintings by Penny Otwell Artist Penny Otwell will be at a reception for her show on October 13 at The Ansel Adams Gallery. (TAAG) 2 hrs Oct 13 only Yosemite Valley 12:30pm Ask a Climber Join Yosemite Climbing Rangers and Stewards as they discuss climbing El Capitan. Telescopes will be set up and pointed at climbers on El Capitan. They will be set up on the west side of El Capitan Bridge. (NPS) 4 hrs Ends Oct 29 Yosemite Valley 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 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 Your Yosemite: Sense of Place Stroll Meet at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, walk ups welcome. (YC) 1 hr Yosemite Valley 5:00pm Yosemite Valley Sunset Walk Reservations required. Register at Yosemite.org/adventures. $ (YC) 2 hrs Yosemite Valley 7:00pm Halloween Valley Cemetery Tour Meet at the fire pit in front of the Indian Cultural Museum, walk-ups welcome. (YC) 1 hr 8:00pm Explore Yosemite Valley’s Night Sky Reservations required. Register at Yosemite.org/adventures. $ (YC) 1 hr 9:00pm Halloween Valley Cemetery Tour Meet at the fire pit in front of the Indian Cultural Museum, walk-ups welcome. (YC) 1 hr M TU W TH F X X X X X Yosemite Valley Oct 31 only Yosemite Valley X X X X X X Yosemite Valley X X X X X X X X X X X X If you are an artist inspired by Yosemite and the California Sierra Nevada, this is a fabulous opportunity to share your vision! The exhibit showcases works related to Yosemite National Park and the California Sierra Nevada region. For over 150 years, artists have played an important role in the establishment of our state and national parks, inspiring people to visit iconic natural sites, and to protect our parks, wild lands and natural resources. We encourage artists to celebrate the beauty and wonder of nature, and to explore environmental issues, ecology, history, current events, spiritual and cultural themes. We also encourage innovation, the use of new media, and new applications of traditional styles and techniques. The exhibit is open to artists working world-wide. $4,000 in cash awards will be presented at the Opening Reception in Spring 2023. The 37th annual exhibit is traveling, moving on to the Yosemite Museum Gallery from October 22 through December 18. PROGRAMS ACCESSIBILITY Indicates facilities accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. Short, steep inclines may be encountered. Contact (209) 379-5250 (v/txt) to request a sign language interpreter. Advanced notice of two weeks is requested, but not required. Assistive Listening Devices are available upon advanced request for any public program. Inquire at any visitor center or tour desk. 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 Yosemite Renaissance 38 Competition and Exhibition Call for Participation X X Yosemite Valley Oct 31 only SA 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. Shutterstock Photo Yosemite Valley (NPS) Ask a ranger your questions, become a Junior Ranger, explore exhibits, and find park resources at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, 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. The museum may be closed on some days due to staffing levels. Tuolumne Meadows The Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center and Bookstore and Parsons Memorial Lodge at the Soda Springs are currently closed for the season. Hetch Hetchy, Hodgdon Meadow, & Crane Flat The Big Oak Flat Information Station is open daily from 8am to 5pm for information including park history, current conditions, and wilderness permits. It closes for the season on October 16. Sierra Club The Sierra Club’s Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center (formerly LeConte Memorial Lodge) is closed for the winter season until May 2023. Shutterstock Photo Glacier Point Glacier Point Road is currently closed and Glacier Point is only accessible via steep hiking trails. No programs or events will be held there this season. Wawona & Mariposa Grove Visit the Yosemite History Center and experience life in the early days of Yosemite National Park. Take a self-guided tour of the area and then stop by the Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s Studio. It closes for the season on October 9. The Ansel Adams Gallery The Ansel Adams Gallery is open daily, 10am to 4pm (only until 3pm, starting November 1), and is located in Yosemite Village. The Gallery may close for lunch. Step inside the Gallery to experience a variety of fine arts, handcrafts, and a collection of Ansel Adams’ original photographs. They offer half-day or full-day photography classes and private guided tours led by a resident staff photographer. Classes leave from The Gallery and require reservations. Call ahead for reservations at (209) 372-4413 or visit anseladams. com/photography-education. •Exhibition: Sept 25 - Nov 5 “High Spirit: New Paintings by Penny Otwell” •Exhibition: Nov 6 - Jan 7 “Ansel Adams and The Eternal West: 60 Years of Photographs” Shutterstock Photo Yosemite NP Archives B-08-01-005 Yosemite Hospitality The Yosemite Mountaineering School offers half-day and full-day group hikes. Call (209) 372-8344 or stop by the Mountain Shop at Curry Village to make your reservation. In Wawona, join pianist and singer Tom Bopp in the Wawona Hotel lobby from 5:30pm to 9:30pm, Tuesday through Saturday, as he performs songs and tells stories from Yosemite’s past. In Yosemite Valley, reserve your spot on a Valley Floor Tour, offered daily at 10am and 2pm. GET THE OFFICIAL NPS APP NOW! Visit travelyosemite.com or call (888) 413-8869 to book your adventu