Hey does anyone who works here or is visiting have a spare bouldering mat? I’d happily rent it off someone for a day or two, any help would go along way.

Many thanks.

Where should we stay for two nights in the park. We are a couple in our 60s taking our 18y grandson for a graduation trip.

Pretty self explanatory. I already plan on doing the mist trail but besides that I can’t decide what’s best to see. I know it ultimately comes down to my preference, but what can’t I miss? And are there any trails that are nearby each other I can loop together?

Hello! Me and a group of friends are planning a backpacking trip in Yosemite in late September. We are fairly experienced backpackers, but looking for a more easy/moderate route for this trip.

We are planning on starting at McGurk Meadow and heading to Dewey Point to camp and have as our base camp for two nights. We will do day hikes around the area once we set up camp.

My question is: just confirming that we will need McGurk Meadow permits as we will be starting there? But then camping at Dewey Point

Also, if there are any recommendations on 5-7mile round trip day hikes from Dewey point. Thank you!

Hi all -

I'm backpacking Yosemite for the first time in June. I won't have a car, so I'll be taking the Amtrak to Merced and then YARTS to the park. I've already reserved my YARTs ticket for Merced to Yosemite. However, I'm not entirely sure what time I'll be back to the campground on the last day. It should be afternoon but you never know with trail conditions, weather, etc. There are a couple scheduled YART rides I could take that afternoon/evening back to the Merced Amtrak. It is wise to wait and buy my ticket on the day or should I go ahead and purchase the ticket in advance? Do they typically sell out? My greatest concern is finishing my backpacking trip only to find out my only transportation for getting back to Merced is completely sold out. But I also don't want to be locked into a time if I book in advance. Any advice on the matter is appreciated!

Hi everyone, I am going Yosemite tomorrow and will be there for a few days. The forecast looks like there will be Snow on Thursday and Friday and I am wondering if hiking the trails during snow is feasible. Hotels are already booked so it would be a shame to miss out, and I don't mind hiking in the snow but just wanted to get other people's input. Any recommendations for half day hikes in the snow?

Thanks!

Trying to reduce duplicate posts on this as the summer season planning gears up. All other generic trip planning posts will be deleted and redirected here. Please add your suggestions in comments!

**The park is requiring peak hour entry reservations from mid April to October, in varying forms. Please read the other pinned post for all of those details.**

Shoulder Season (April and May) Specifics

• Winter road and trail closures remain in effect until plowing/snowmelt completes. Check the current conditions page for updates on Tioga Rd, Glacier Pt Rd, Mist and 4 Mile Trail.
• You are no longer reqd by law to carry tire chains, but conditions can warrant them at any time. Plan ahead and check the weather.

Summer (May- Sep) Ideal Five Day Trip

2 Days of hikes from Valley

- 4 Mile to Glacier Pt https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/four-mile-trail/four-mile-trail.htm

- Mist Trail to Nevada Falls https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/mist-trail/mist-trail.htm

You can link the 2 above for an epic 18 mile day.

Other hikes:

Lower Yosemite Falls https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/lower-yosemite-falls/lower-yosemite-falls.htm

Mirror Lake https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/mirror-lake/mirror-lake.htm

Raft down Merced (raft rentals at Curry Village usually open in June), bike around Valley Loop (rentals at Curry Village and Yosemite Lodge are now open), Swim at Sentinel Beach (check water levels and temp)

1 day of hikes from Tioga Rd (Note this road is not yet open, check for updates before your trip)

- Olmsted Pt (pull out viewpoint on the way to other hikes if driving from the Valley)

- Porcupine Creek to North Dome https://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/north-dome/north-dome.htm

- Clouds Rest https://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/clouds-rest/clouds-rest.htm

Other Hikes:

Cathedral Lakes: https://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/cathedral-lakes/cathedral-lakes.htm

Lembert Dome: https://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/lembert-dome/lembert-dome.htm

1 Day along Glacier Pt Rd: (Note this road is not yet open, check for updates before your trip)

- Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. Same trailhead, only need to park once. https://www.yosemitehikes.com/glacier-point-road/sentinel-dome/sentinel-dome.htm

https://www.yosemitehikes.com/glacier-point-road/taft-point/taft-point.htm

- Glacier Pt lookout. This is a paved viewpoint with a great straight on Half Dome and Valley view. Some people prefer the view at Washburn Point, a little before Glacier Pt when driving. Glacier Pt has restrooms, water fountains, and a snack/gift shop (TBD if open summer 2023). You could hike a little down Panorama (and hike back up to Glacier Pt) if you want. https://www.yosemitehikes.com/glacier-point-road/panorama-trail/panorama-trail.htm

There is also a trail linking Taft Pt/Sentinel Dome to Glacier Pt. You'll need to make it a loop or have 2 cars.

1 Day at Mariposa Grove:

- Mariposa Grove: https://www.yosemitehikes.com/southern-yosemite/mariposa-grove/mariposa-grove.htm

If you are just going for a long weekend, I would do 1 day from Valley above, 1 day on Tioga, 1 Day on Glacier Pt Rd.

Summer (May- Sep) Ideal Trip WITH KIDS OR LESS ACTIVE GROUP

- Day in Valley: Lower Yosemite Falls, float down Merced River (check water levels), rent bikes

- Day on Tioga Rd: stop at Olmsted Pt, spend the day swimming/picnic at Tenaya Lake or hike Lyell Canyon (go as far as you like, pretty flat)

- Day at Mariposa Grove: stop at Tunnel View, assuming shuttle is running from parking area walk around Mariposa Grove, Wawona History Center (if open, TBD)

- Day in Valley: Mirror Lake, picnic/swim at Sentinel Beach, El Cap Meadow to watch climbers with binoculars (sometimes a ranger/educator there to talk to as well)

Where can I eat/ What is open?

https://www.travelyosemite.com/ (click on dining)

What are the conditions / are the waterfalls flowing?

https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

Where should I stay?

- Campgrounds in the park went on sale 5 months before on the 15th of each month. You can check recreation/gov for cancellations. No campgrounds are FCFS this summer. Here's more info: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

- All in park lodging should be booked on travelyosemite.com for the Lodge, Curry Village, Housekeeping, etc. Beware of 3rd party sites for any of these options.

- There are many campgrounds and hotels outside of the park in gateway communities like Mariposa, Midpines, Groveland, and Oakhurst. Be sure to check the drive time from these hotels to your actual destination (e.g. Valley Visitors Center) rather than "Yosemite National Park". This will tell you drive time to the gates, which requires 30-60min more driving to your likely location. Remember you may need an entry permit if you stay outside the park.

People in this sub commonly recommend Yosemite Bug, Tenaya Lodge, Rush Creek, and Autocamp all outside the park.

What trails are open?

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Hi All - Which app would you recommend to help us navigate in Yosemite? We're going backpacking in mid-April and understand that many trails will be covered in snow.

Thanks !

Coming from the UK next month, looking for opinions on mariposa grove or Muir woods to visit.

We are going to Yosemite so mariposa would make sense but we are flying into San Fran so don’t mind going out to Muir. Looking at them both we cannot decide. We don’t have anything like that over here so which ever one we see will be an experience but just looking to find out some opinions if one has something the other hasn’t or one has more history I don’t know, just can’t decide! Thanks

Not original I know, but it was my first time and holy moly it was breathtaking!

Hello everyone I wanted to ask how to find the best information up to date on what trails and hikes are open. Along with any food places recommended during this time. Any tips as well for people who aren’t use to the 30 degree and below.

Thoughts on conditions and recommended gear? Snowshoes/spikes necessary?

Anyone have a current trip report?

Thanks!

I will be visiting Yosemite for the first time in September. What city would you recommend to stay? From the little research I have done so far, it seems like regardless of where, there will be a good amount a driving, which I am fine with. Have read good things about Mariposa, Oakhurst and Groveland.

Howdy! My friend and I are two 22-year-old females from Australia, planning an adventurous multi-day hiking and camping trip in Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and the Sierra Nevada this coming October. We're no strangers to the great outdoors, having spent quite a bit of time hiking and camping back home. However, this will be our first time exploring these parks.

One of our main concerns, though, is bears. We've heard a lot about bear encounters in these areas, and given we have zero experience dealing with wildlife of this sort, it's fair to say we're a bit apprehensive. We want to make sure we're fully prepared and acting responsibly, not just for our safety but for the well-being of the bears and other wildlife we might encounter.

We'd love to hear from you all on a few points:

1. Bear Safety Tips: What are the must-know tips for avoiding bear encounters and ensuring safety in case of an encounter? We're especially interested in advice on food storage, behavior around bears, and any specific gear we should bring.
2. Trail Recommendations: Are there particular trails or areas we should prioritize for safety and beauty in October? Conversely, are there any areas known for frequent bear activity that we might consider avoiding?
3. General Safety: Besides bears, are there other safety considerations we should be aware of while exploring these parks in the fall?
4. Personal Experiences: If you've had a bear encounter or have navigated these concerns yourself, we'd love to hear about your experience and any advice you might have.

We're eager to learn from this community and ensure we're respecting the natural habitat of the incredible wildlife in these parks. Thanks in advance for your insights and advice!

Hey everyone! I’m going to be heading out to Yosemite for my first time in a few days. I’ll be staying with my S.O in Curry Village for 2 nights. I have a few questions regarding food. We had planned to make sandwiches and brought small snacks to eat to avoid depending on the nearby restaurants. I know we need to keep all food items in the bear cage however when it comes to actually eating the food are we allowed to eat it in our tent or outside the tent? I’ve read posts where people say it’s completely not allowed and others saying it’s fine. I’m kind of anxious now bc I really did not want to spend money on the restaurants.

Some new show on streaming has terrible marketing supervision

I’m planning a trip for sometime this summer. Looking at reservation.gov for some of the high Sierra campsites such as Sunrise and Glen Aulin, the only availability are walks ups. I have no problem with this, but if we’re backpacking, what happens if we walk up and the site is full? Are these sites traditional campsites or cabins?

Hello everybody,

I will be in the Bay area between 25th April - 28th April May for a work conference. Thinking of heading to Yosemite National Park from 29th April to 2nd May to do some hiking and sightseeing.

I understand it would be early in the season but would it be possible to do the following trails during that period:

1. Four Mile Trail

2. Pohono Trail

3. Panorama Trail

I have experience hiking these trails in fall. However, just not very sure about the conditions of these trails during early spring especially with the recent snowfall. Will be packing microspikes and poles for the trip as well.

Any advice or suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi all. Taking my Dad for his 70th bday to Yosemite next week in April. The shuttle for Mariposa Grove is shutdown but I read that it’s a two mile walk or hike to the Grove Arrival Area from the Welcome Center. Is this 2 mile walk/hike doable for a healthy 70 year old? Is it steep and do you need snow shoes? Also is it possible to just park at the Grove Arrival Area? Is the arrival area open year long even for handicap parking? Thanks in advance 🙏

We will be visiting Yosemite 10th-14th of May. Now I know you can't predict weather but with the recent blizzards do you have any experience of what conditions we could be facing?

Tioga Pass will be closed I am guessing, if Glacier Point Road is closed, can we still hike there?

Thank you!

I’ve done some research online and it all appears to be 3-5 years old so I was wondering if any campsites inside Yosemite have outlets. We want to car camp in our Tesla but we’re hoping to plug in so we are not just draining battery constantly (a traditional outlet will work). If anyone has good info or insights I would love it.

Would mist trail be doable in ~30 degree weather? I’m trying to go this Saturday. I have reservations to stay for two nights near the valley but if it’s too icy/difficult is there another trail i should do instead?

Hey everyone, I'm a little confused about the lottery and hoping someone can help. On the website it says the lottery opens tomorrow, but I'm seeing online that the lottery was months ago. What is this about? I want to apply for the lottery for summer 2025 and not sure when is correct.

Hey guys, I visited Yosemite in October. Only had one day there and got lucky it wasn't packed. I stopped in the big souvenir shop/grocery store, and was wondering if anyone knows if they ship apparel? If they don't, I would gladly pay anyone who lives near there or is going there to buy a few hats for me and ship them to me.

I bought this hat when I was there. I usually buy t-shirts/hats at every NPS, State Park I go to. This quickly became one of my favorite hats to wear casually out in public, the gym. My dad really likes it too. I've tried to search online to find it and buy it, but the only ones in any online store I can find only say California Republic, not Yosemite Republic. It's made by the Wild Tribute folks, but even on their website it's the California Republic version and not the Yosemite Republic.

I wanted to buy 2-3 more of these, and again, would gladly pay for the cost+shipping+extra for the convenience of your time. It's such a low key comfy and great looking hat. I want to wear one just for the gym, keep one just for the casual night out/off day errands, and give one to my dad. I know there's an actual post office right across the street from the big shop. I believe every official NPS bookstore will ship anywhere in the US, but I don't know if the big shop is part of the NPS since there were several different souvenir shops in Yosemite.