by Alex Gugel , all rights reserved
![]() | Yosemite GuideMarch 30, 2021 - May 11, 2021 |
The April 2021 Yosemite Guide with information about trip planning, activities, scheduled events, and hours of operations for different facilities and services at Yosemite National Park (NP) in California. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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covered parks
Yosemite Guide
Yosemite Guide March 31, 2021 - May 11, 2021
@YosemiteNPS
UPDATE
Wearing a mask is required in
federal buildings and outdoors
on federal land when social
distancing cannot be maintained.
Check local resources, area
signage, and our park website
for updates, www.nps.gov/yose.
Please follow CDC guidance:
• Maintain 6 feet of distance
between you and others.
• Wear a face covering when
social distancing is not possible.
• Wash hands often with soap and
water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your mouth and nose
when you cough or sneeze.
• Stay home if you feel sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes,
nose, and mouth.
See page 10 to read reflections on making art from the manager of Yosemite Conservancy’s art programs, and learn how you can get creative during your visit to Yosemite. Yosemite Conservancy Image / Kristin Anderson
Experience Your America Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Guide March 31, 2021 - May 11, 2021
Experience Your America Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Guide March 31, 2021 - May 11, 2021
Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System
Yosemite Valley
Map
Campground
Valley Visitor Center
Parking
Upper
Yosemite
Fall
Picnic Area
Restroom
Hetch
Hetchy
Walk-In
Campground
Yosemite
Village
Lower
Yosemite
Fall
i te
ai
Tr
ll
Fa
The Ahwahnee
se
U p p er
Yo
Yosemite
Valley
Lodge
Camp 4
Yosemite Falls Parking
Swinging
Bridge
Housekeeping
Camp
Yosemite Village Parking
il
Sentinel
Beach
Lower
Pines
North
Pines
ra
T te r
i le wi n
n
Curry
Village
8836 ft
2693 m
Curry Village Parking
Upper
Pines
Trailhead
Parking
i
d
cl o
Fo
Half Dome
Campground
Reservations
se
ur
M
1 mile
El Capitan
Picnic Area
Chapel
Yosemite
Conservation
Heritage
Center (YCHC)
Wawona
1 km
Mirror
Lake
seasonal
Yosemite Valley
Map
0
Medical Church Bowl
Clinic
Picnic Area
m
Yosemite
Valley
Area in inset:
N
The Ansel
Adams
Gallery
l
Tuolumne
Meadows
Glacier Point
Happy Isles Art
and Nature Center
closed in winter
Vernal
Fall
72I4 ft
2I99 m
Cathedral
Beach
&
oo
Mist Trail
r ai l
pT
Bridalveil
Fall
ho
rse
s on l
y
Merc
ed R
iver
Nevada
Fall
The Yosemite Valley Shuttle System will not
be operating during the Spring 2021 season.
il
ve
al
id
Br
na
wo
Wa
ad
Ro
l
Va
L
le y
Cree
k
Winter Weather Driving and Chain Control Information:
Illilouette
Fall
Winter road conditions through Yosemite can
vary widely and may require tire chains. Chain
requirements are strictly enforced. For
updated 24-hour road and weather conditions
for Yosemite National Park, please call 209/3720200. Signs will indicate when chains are
required. Here is a summary of chain control
signs on Yosemite roads:
R1 - All vehicles without mud
and snow tires are required to
install chains/cables. Vehicles with
mud and snow tires do not, but
must still carry chains. See chain
control regulations on www.nps.
gov/yose for vehicles towing
trailers.
R2 - Chains/cables must be
installed on ALL vehicles except
4-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles
with mud and snow tires. Fourwheel drive vehicles must have
4-wheel drive engaged.
R3 - ALL vehicles are required
to install chains/cables, regardless
of having mud and snow tires
or 4-wheel/all-wheel drive
capability, NO EXCEPTIONS.
*“M+S” will be on the side of your
tires if they are mud and snow tires.
i
Experience Your America Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Guide March 31, 2021 - May 11, 2021
Things to Do
Winter in Yosemite
THINGS TO DO IN YOSEMITE VALLEY
Custom Yosemite Experiences
Join a Yosemite Conservancy naturalist guide
or art instructor for a customized experience
SAFETY ALERT
that fits your interests and schedule.
For your safety and the safety of other visitors
and employees, we encourage you to follow
Custom Adventures: Experience the park
CDC guidance to reduce the spread of
on personalized day hikes, birding walks,
COVID-19.
stargazing programs and backpacking
trips. Learn more: yosemite.org/customadventures.
Practice social distancing. Maintain
a distance of at least 6 feet between
Custom Art Classes: Explore nature through
you and others.
drawing, painting, sketching and journaling.
Wash hands using soap and water
or use hand sanitizer frequently.
We also offer creative activities for kids! Learn
Wear a facecovering when social
Looking for ways to connect with Yosemite
more: yosemite.org/custom-art.
Pacific Dogwood, Yosemite Valley. NPS Image / Christine Loberg
distancing cannot be maintained.
adventure or art class.
Cover your mouth and nose when
How Will COVID-19 Impact My Visit?
you cough or sneeze.
Following guidance from federal, state, and local public health authorities and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, we are increasing access and services in a phased approach at Yosemite
Additionally, avoid touching your eyes, nose,
National Park. Visit the park website, www.nps.gov/yose, for more updates and safety information.
and mouth, and most importantly, stay home
if you feel sick.
Download the Yosemite app
for an interactive map, hiking
trails, and park updates. See
page 11 for more information.
WELCOME
Ask A Ranger
Not open or available
at this time
Unavailable in early
2021
An outdoor visitor contact
station is located behind
Yosemite Valley Visitor
Center.
Visitor Centers are closed
until further notice.
All shuttles and tours are
canceled during this time
Most roads and trails are
open. Some trails may be
closed or re-routed.
Some campgrounds are
currently closed.
Yosemite Theater and Yosemite
Museum will be closed during
this time.
Campgrounds in Yosemite
Valley are open, reservations
required, see page 7.
Most programs are canceled
until further notice
There is no first come, first
served camping.
Select dining and shopping
establishments are open and
encourage social distancing.
signs to direct you to the exact location. Open
9am to 4:30pm, then hours will change to 9am
to 5pm beginning February 13
walking and hiking possibilities. Stop by the
outdoor visitor contact station behind the
and updated weather and trail conditions.
Bicycling
Experience several miles of bicycle paths that
wind through Yosemite Valley. Use your own
Lodge or Curry Village, conditions permitting.
See page 6 for Bike Stand hours, beginning
April 9. Bicycles are only allowed on paved
roads and paved bike paths.
Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge
and services are closed during
this time.
The Sierra Club’s Yosemite Conservation
Heritage Center (formerly Le Conte
Memorial Lodge) will not be open from May
1 through July 31, 2021 due to COVID-19.
behind the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center to
get park information and updates. Look for
Yosemite Valley has plenty of year-round
bicycle or rent one from Yosemite Valley
Drop by the visitor contact station located
ask your Yosemite-related questions and to
Walking and Hiking
Yosemite Valley Visitor Center for trail maps
Currently open and
available
Park App
from home? Contact us to schedule a virtual
In addition, all evening programs have been
What Does 6-ft Look Like?
cancelled for the entire season due to social
The wing span of a bald eagle is
distancing requirements. Call 209/347-7300
roughly 6 feet long. While social
for information and updates.
distancing, imagine the length
of a soaring eagles’ wing span
between you and others.
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 (page
9) and those designed for your safety (page 8).
Fire – Police – Medical
Emergency:
Dial 911
Medical Clinic (in Yosemite Valley)
Open 7 days per week from 9am to 7pm.
Medical Clinic Phone: (209) 372-4637.
Road, Weather, and Park
Information: (209) 372-0200
Yosemite Village Garage - 8am to 5pm,
24 hour AAA towing, NO gas, propane service
until 4:30pm. (209) 372-1060
Access for People with Disabilities
Upcoming Park Projects
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.
Bridalveil Fall Rehabilitation Project
Why: To rehabilitate visitor facilities at the
base of Bridalveil Fall and surrounding
area, and to protect natural and cultural
resources in the area.
When: 2020 - 2021
Visitor Impact: Trail, comfort station and parking lot
may not be available due to construction.
Sign Language interpreting is available
upon request. Contact Deaf Services at
(209) 379-5250 (v/txt). Two weeks
advance notice is requested.
Assistive Listening Devices available upon
advance request at any visitor center.
Audio tours available at Yosemite Valley
Visitor Center. Refer to the Accessibility
Guide, or contact an Accessibility
Coordinator for more information.
Tioga Road Rehabilitation Plan
Why: To make safety improvements and manage
roadside parking and traffic flow while preserving
natural and cultural resources along the road.
When: 2020 and 2021 seasons
Visitor Impact: 30-minute traffic delays along Tioga
Road due to construction.
Accessible parking spaces available west
of Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.
Where to Go and What to Do in Yosemite National Park
Inside:
01
Things to Do
04
Exhibits and Programs
05
Services
07
Permit Information
09
Protecting Yourself
10
Feature Story
Back Yosemite Valley Map
1
Experience Your America Yosemite National Park
Discover Yosemite
Let your curiosity guide you to new places
Entrance Fees
Non-commercial car, truck, RV, or van
with 15 or fewer passenger seats
(No per-person fee)
Vehicle Valid for 7 days
$35/Vehicle
Motorcycle Valid for 7 days
$30/motorcycle
Walking Yosemite Valley
Valley Visitor Center
We strongly recommend moving around the
Upper
Yosemite
Fall
east end of Yosemite Valley on foot or bike
if possible. On the map below, the numbers
time between each destination, represented
Yosemite
Valley
Lodge
5
30
Chapel
5
Yosemite Falls Parking
Housekeeping
Camp
El Capitan
Picnic Area
5
Cathedral
Beach
Average Walking Times
Campground
Parking
Picnic Area
Restroom
Walk-In Campground
Families (Free)
Must present paper voucher
Interagency 4th Grade Pass (Free)
- Glacier Point
Must present paper voucher.
Wawona
U.S.Fresno
5th Grade Voucher (Free)
0
1 mile Badger
The Tioga
Road
and Glacier Point1 km
Road, beyond
N
Pass, may still be closed due to snow and ice. For current
road and weather information, please call 209/372-0200.
6
Must present paper voucher.
E3
Reservations
E4
Campground Reservations
(877) 444-6777; www.recreation.gov
Lodging Reservations
(888) 413-8869
www.travelyosemite.com
Group Sales Office: (888) 339-3481
5
Regional Info
Yosemite Area Regional
Transportation System (YARTS)
www.yarts.com
4
1
Highway 41
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636; www.yosemitethisyear.com
2
Highway 132/49
Coulterville Visitor Center
(209) 878-3329
Highway 140/49
California Welcome Center, Merced
(800) 446-5353 or (209) 724-8104
www.yosemite-gateway.org
Mariposa County Visitor Center
(866) 425-3366 or (209) 966-7081
2
25
Walking Routes
R
na
wo Star
Gold
Wa
Highway 120 East
Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce
and Mono Lake Visitor Center,
(760) 647-6629, www.leevining.com
Upper
Pines
Yosemite Valley Walking Map
U.S. Military VeteransBridalveil
(Free)
Must present
suitable IDFall
d
oa
Yosemite Mariposa County
Tourism Bureau
(209) 742-4567; www.yosemite.com
Campground
Reservations
Curry Village Parking
Interagency Military Pass (Free)
(Annual) For active duty U.S. military
and dependents.
Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau
(800) 446-1333; www.tcvb.com
North
Pines
Curry
Village
Sentinel
Beach
Interagency Annual Senior Pass $20
For U.S. citizens or permanent residents
62 and over.
Highway 120 West
Yosemite Chamber of Commerce
(800) 449-9120 or (209) 962-0429
Lower
Pines
Yosemite Village Parking
Swinging
Bridge
Interagency Senior Pass $80
(Lifetime) For U.S. citizens or permanent
residents 62 and over.
To
The Ahwahnee
10
10
Camp 4
Interagency Annual Pass $80
Valid for one year at all federal
recreation sites.
To
Medical
Clinic
20
Yosemite Pass $70,
Valid for one year in Yosemite.
Interagency Access Pass (Free)
- El Portal & Mariposa
(Lifetime) For permanently disabled
U.S.
citizens
or permanent residents.
- San
Francisco
W
by the red circles.
Individual Valid for 7 days
$20 (In a bus, on foot, bicycle, or horse),
To
Yosemite
Village
Lower
Yosemite
Fall
in the white circles show the average walking
3
Mariposa Road is closed to vehicles
Yosemite Guide March 31, 2021 - May 11, 2021
Yosemite Valley
1
Yosemite Valley is world-famous for its impressive waterfalls, cliffs, and unusual
rock formations. It is open year round and can be reached via Highway 41 from
Fresno, Highway 140 from Merced, Highway 120 West from Manteca, and via the Tioga
Road (Highway 120 East) from Lee Vining in summer. The Valley is known for massive
cliff faces like El Capitan and Half Dome, its plunging waterfalls including the tallest in
North America, and its attractive meadows. While Yosemite Falls will be dry until rain and
snow recharge it, a moderate hike will take you to Vernal and Nevada Falls. Yosemite’s
meadows are great places to see wildlife and to photograph fall and winter scenery. Admire
El Capitan, the massive granite monolith that stands 3,593 feet from base to summit.
Whether you explore the Valley by foot or car, the scenery will leave you in awe and eager
to see what’s around the next corner.
Glacier Point Road
2
Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome,
Wild flowers in Yosemite Valley. NPS Image / Christine White Loberg
and Yosemite’s high country, is located 30 miles (1 hour) from Yosemite Valley.
The road stays open as weather permits, however, overnight parking along it ends October
15. Glacier Point Road closes beyond the Badger Pass Ski Area after the first significant
snow fall. When the road is snow-covered and conditions permit, a system of cross-country
ski tracks are maintained on it. From Yosemite Valley, take the Wawona Road (Highway
41), then turn left onto Glacier Point Road. At Glacier Point, a short, paved, and wheelchairaccessible trail leads you to a stunning view looking into Yosemite Valley.
Wawona and Mariposa Grove
3
The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is located 36 miles (1¼ hours) south of
Yosemite Valley via the Wawona Road (Highway 41), two miles from the park’s south
entrance station. While the Mariposa Grove Road closes to cars in the winter, approximately
from the end of November until mid-March, the road is open to hikers, snowshoers, and
skiers, and all trails in the grove remain open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The
The view from Glacier Point. NPS Image / Sarah Gulick
nearby Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Wawona is a collection of historic buildings
associated with people and events that shaped the national park idea in Yosemite.
Crane Flat and Tuolumne Grove
4
Crane Flat is located 16 miles from Yosemite Valley at the junction of the Big Oak
Flat and Tioga Roads. A number of hikes through pleasant meadows are available—
when snow covers the ground these turn into delightful ski and snowshoe tracks. To see
giant sequoias, park at the Tuolumne Grove parking area located on the Tioga Road, and
walk one steep mile down to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. Or, park at Merced
Grove trailhead and walk two steep miles down to this small grove. These groves north of
Yosemite Valley are smaller than the more-famous Mariposa Grove, but are quieter and
off limits to vehicles. Remember that the walk down is easier than the walk back up.
Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Road
5
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. NPS Image / Jeffrey Trust
The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes, and
granite domes. The road closes after the first big snowfall, and overnight parking
ends on October 15. 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. The Wild and Scenic
Tuolumne River winds through broad sub-alpine meadows surrounded by granite domes
and peaks. It is the jumping off place for countless hikes, whether you venture out for a
day or a week. In winter, Tuolumne Meadows is often reached by skiers via the Snow Creek
Trail from the Mirror Lake trailhead, a short distance east of Yosemite Valley.
Hetch Hetchy
6
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a source of drinking water and hydroelectric power for
the City of San Francisco, is home to spectacular scenery and the starting point for
many wilderness trails. The area’s low elevation makes it a good place to hike in autumn and
winter. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is located 40 miles (1¼ hour) from Yosemite Valley
via the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120W) and the Evergreen Road. The Hetch Hetchy
Cathedral Peak. NPS Image
Road is open from 8am to 5pm. Vehicles and/or trailers over 25 feet long, and RVs and
other vehicles over 8 feet wide are not permitted on the narrow, winding Hetch Hetchy
Road.
Buy Your Site Pass on Recreation.gov
Purchase your Yosemite National Park site pass on Recreation.gov before you arrive. Your site pass can easily be
downloaded on your phone or tablet, or be printed to be
displayed when you arrive. Learn more at https://www.
recreation.gov/sitepass/74296
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. NPS Image
3
Experience Your America Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley
Information, Art, and Exhibits
Yosemite Valley Visitor
Center and Bookstore
Art Classes: Outdoor art classes start April
5. Register: yosemite.org/art. Classes meet
in front of the Valley Visitor Center and are
A visitor contact station is available behind
offered every weekday (Monday–Friday, 10
the visitor center for information and updates
am–2 pm) through October, and are taught by
from 9am to 5pm. The Yosemite Conservancy
professional artists.
Bookstore will operate as an outdoor “to-go”
store, daily from 9am to 5pm.
YOSEMITE THEATER
Closed Spring and Summer of 2021
Yosemite Museum
Apr 5-9
Nature Drawing with Watercolor
Apr 12-16
Watercolor with Steve Curl
Apr 19-23
Watercolor with Jennifer Bentson
Apr 26-30
Watercolor with Jo Neal Graves
May 3-7
Mosaics in Yosemite
May 10-14 Watercolor with Grace Fong
Closed Spring and Summer of 2021
Learn more about all our upcoming programs
INDIAN CULTURAL VILLAGE
in the park: yosemite.org/experience.
Walk through the reconstructed Indian
Village of Ahwahnee and learn about the
structures the Ahwahneechee lived in and the
The Ansel Adams Gallery
plants they used for survival. Check out the
The Ansel Adams Gallery is open seven days
interactive displays and see the ceremonial
per week from 10am to 3pm. We are located
roundhouse, bark houses, and sweathouse
in the heart of Yosemite Valley, between the
members of the local tribes still actively
Visitor Center and main Post Office. Join us
use for ceremonies and special gatherings.
on an unforgettable photography excursion,
Located behind the Yosemite Museum in
or step inside the Gallery to experience a
Yosemite Village.
unique variety of fine arts, hand-crafts, and
an extraordinary collection of Ansel Adams
YOSEMITE RENAISSANCE ART EXHIBIT
original photographs and exclusive editions.
Yosemite Renaissance has supported the arts
We offer half-day photography classes and
in Yosemite since 1985. If you are an artist
private guided tours led by a resident staff
inspired by Yosemite and the California Sierra
photographer. Classes leave from the Gallery
Nevada region, this is the show for you! The
A view of Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge, Yosemite Valley. NPS Image
competition is open to artists word-wide and
offers $4000 in cash awards. The organization
seeks to encourage the public to protect and
preserve our parks and wild lands through
art. The exhibit will open at Yosemite Gateway
Art Center in Oakhurst in March, Kings Art
Center in Hanford in June, Carnegie Arts
Center in Turlock in August, and the Yosemite
Museum Gallery in October. Visit www.
yosemiterenaissance.org to learn more.
Yosemite Conservancy
ADVENTURES AND ART CLASSES
Join Yosemite Conservancy for a memorable
park experience! Preregistration is required
for all Conservancy adventures and art
classes.
Outdoor Adventures: Our naturalist guides
Wednesdays (Except May 5)
lead day hikes, backpacking trips, art retreats
•
person.
and more. Register: yosemite.org/adventures.
•
Apr 17-18
Apr 22-24
9am–11am: A Stroll Through Time $10/
12pm–2pm: Stagecoach Stories $10/
person.
Birding: Intro Weekend
Yosemite Field School:
Climate Change
Thursdays
May 1
Day Hike: Nature Journaling
•
May 9
Day Hike: Yosemite Valley
Waterfalls
5pm–7pm: Yosemite Valley Sunset Walk
$10/person.
•
8pm–9pm: Yosemite Valley Stargazing
$25/person.
Naturalist Walks: Join a Yosemite Conservancy
Naturalist for a stroll in the Valley. Advanced
Fridays (Except April 2 and 9)
registration required: yosemite.org/adventures.
•
8am–10am: Birding in Yosemite Valley
(binoculars available) $10/person.
Maximum group size of 9 people (no exceptions).
•
11am–1pm: Nature Journaling (journals
available) $15/person.
Yosemite Bike Share
The free Yosemite Bike Share will open for the season in late spring, depending on weather
and road safety. When it opens, you can use the bike share for short trips (up to two hours)
in Yosemite Valley.
1.
2.
3.
Get connected: Download the Yosemite Bike Share mobile app for Apple/iOS or Android
in advance.
Get a bike: Use the app to unlock a bike at one of the Yosemite Bike Share stations,
located at the Yosemite Village Parking Area and on the Village mall (between the Valley
Wilderness Center and the Valley Visitor Center).
Get pedaling: Ride safely! Use the helmet provided with the bike (or wear your own)
and stay on roads and paved bike paths.
Visit yosemite.org/yosemite-bike-share to learn more about this program, see a map of bike
paths and plan your routes.
4
every day and require reservations. Private
guides are first-come first-serve and require
advance reservations. Excursions have been
modified to limit group size and accommodate
social distancing for guest safety. Call ahead for
reservations 209/372- 4413 or visit anseladams.
com/photographyeducation.
Current Exhibition
Ansel Adams & The Spirit of Yosemite
April 1, 2021 - June 5, 2021
On exhibition will be a selection of rare and
iconic original photographs by Ansel Adams
that celebrate his life’s work, his passion for the
arts and environment and the Spirit of Yosemite.
Yosemite Guide March 31, 2021 - May 11, 2021
Services in Yosemite
Schedule
All available operations and hours of operations are subject to change. Check local resources
and area signage in light of changing public health requirements related to COVID-19.
Curry Village Bike Stand / NPS Image
Hours listed are core hours and may be
extended during peak visitation.
Food and Drink
YOSEMITE VILLAGE
Degnan’s Kitchen
7am to 11am; 11:30am to 6pm
The Loft at Degnan’s
Closed for the Season
THE AHWAHNEE
Dining Room
Breakfast: 7am to 10am
Lunch: 11:30am to 2pm
Dinner: 5:30pm to 8:30pm
The Ahwahnee Bar
2pm to 9pm
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
Starbucks Coffee
Sunday-Thursday, 7am to 3pm,
open daily beginning April 5
Base Camp Eatery
Breakfast: 7am to 10am
Lunch: 11am to 2pm
Dinner: 4pm to 8pm
Mountain Room Bar
5pm to 9pm
Mountain Room Restaurant
Temporarily closed due to COVID-19
CURRY VILLAGE
Coffee Corner
6:30am to 11am
Pizza Deck
12pm to 8pm, beginning April 2
Bar 1899
12pm to 8pm, beginning April 2
Meadow Grill
7am to 10am,
11am to 7pm, beginning April 3
WAWONA AREA
Wawona Hotel Temporarily Closed
Groceries
YOSEMITE VILLAGE
Village Store
9am to 7pm,
8am to 8pm beginning April 2
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
Gift/Grocery 10am to 6pm
CURRY VILLAGE
Gift/Grocery
10am to 6pm, beginning April 2
EL PORTAL
El Portal Market
10am to 6pm
WAWONA
Wawona Store & Pioneer Gift Shop
9am to 7pm, beginning April 2
Books, Gifts, & Apparel
YOSEMITE VILLAGE
Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore
at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center
9am to 5pm daily
(operating as an outdoor “to-go” store)
Yosemite Museum Store
Temporarily closed due to COVID-19
The Ansel Adams Gallery
10am to 3pm
Village Store
9am to 7pm,
8am to 8pm beginning April 2
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
YOSEMITE COMMUNITY CHURCH (THE CHAPEL)
Resident Minister: Pastor Brent Moore
209/372-4831 – www.YosemiteValleyChapel.org
www.YosemiteValleyChapelWeddings.org
SUNDAY CHAPEL SERVICES:
9:15am – Year-round
11am – Labor Day to Memorial Day
EASTER WEEK SERVICES
Maunday Thursday Service (April 1) – 7pm
Good Friday (April 2) – 12pm and 7pm
EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES (April 4):
Lower Pines Campground – 7am
Chapel - 9:15am and 11am
MARRIAGE RENEWAL: May 2 at 9:15am and 11am
*Subject to Covid -19 policies. Please call the chapel
for current information before you travel.
CHURCH OF CHRIST (Non-denominational)
El Portal Chapel / Worship: Sunday 11am
209/379-2100
OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS
Catholic Mass
Sunday - 10am (year - round)
Yosemite Theater at Valley Visitor Center,
Yosemite Village
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
No meetings at this time
Oakhurst Hotline: 559/683-1662
THE AHWAHNEE
Gift Shop
9am to 7pm
Sweet Shop
11am to 6pm
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
Gift/Grocery
10am to 6pm
CURRY VILLAGE
Gift/Grocery
10am to 6pm, beginning April 2
Yosemite Mountain Shop
12pm to 4:30pm, April 2 only
8:30am to 4:30pm, beginning April 3
GLACIER POINT
Glacier Point Gift Shop
9am to 5pm, beginning May 7
WAWONA
Wawona Store & Pioneer Gift Shop
9am to 5pm
Recreation
CURRY VILLAGE
Bike Stand
8am to 6pm, beginning April 9
Yosemite Mountaineering School
8:30am to 12pm; 1pm to 4:30pm,
beginning May 21
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
Bike Stand
10am to 5pm,
8am to 6pm, beginning April 9
Gas Stations
EL PORTAL
Pay 24 hours with credit or debit card
WAWONA SERVICE STATION
Pay 24 hours with credit or debit card.
CRANE FLAT
Pay 24 hours with credit or debit card
General Services
Medical Clinic - Yosemite Valley
(209) 372-4637
For emergency care CALL 9-1-1
Monday - Friday: 9am to 5pm,
Closed during federal holidays
Yosemite Village Garage
Towing available 24 hours
NO gas in Yosemite Valley.
11am to 3pm
Post Offices
YOSEMITE VILLAGE
Main Office
Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to noon
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
Monday - Friday: 12:30pm to 2:45pm
EL PORTAL
Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 5pm
Closed 12:30pm to 1:30pm
WAWONA
9am to 5pm
NPS Image
5
Experience Your America Yosemite National Park
Hiking
Mist Trail, NPS Image / Sheree Peshlakai
Choose Your Adventure
PARK UPDATE
• Please practice social distancing
while walking on trails.
• Expect trail closures.
What better way to enjoy the beauty of Yosemite than on foot. Ask a ranger at any visitor contact station for updated
trail conditions and one of several free day-hike handouts.
Yosemite Valley Day Hikes*
STARTING POINT
DISTANCE / TIME
DIFFICULTY / ELEVATION
Bridalveil Fall - CLOSED due to Construction
Bridalveil Fall Parking Area
0.5 mile round-trip, 20 minutes
Easy
Lower Yosemite Fall
Across from Yosemite Valley Lodge
1.0 mile round-trip, 20 minutes
Easy
Upper Yosemite Fall Trail to Columbia Rock
Camp 4, across from Yosemite Valley
Lodge
2 miles round-trip, 2–3 hours
Strenuous 1,000-foot gain
Top of Upper Yosemite Fall
Same as above
7.2 miles round-trip, 6–8 hours
Very Strenuous 2,700-foot gain
Know Before You Go:
Mirror Lake (A seasonal lake)
East of North Pines Campground
2 miles round-trip, 1 hour
Easy
• Stay away from swift-moving water
Vernal Fall Footbridge
Happy Isles
1.4 miles round-trip, 1–2 hours
Moderate, 400-foot gain
*Top of Vernal Fall
Happy Isles
3 miles round-trip, 2–4 hours
Strenuous 1,000-foot gain
Top of Nevada Fall
Happy Isles
5 miles round-trip, 5–6 hours
Strenuous 1,900-foot gain
*Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point
(Partially closed in winter)
Southside Drive
4.8 miles one-way, 3–4 hours
one-way
Very Strenuous, 3,200-foot gain
Valley Floor Loop
Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead
13 miles full loop, 5–7 hours full loop
Moderate
• Some trails may be re-routed to
accommodate social distancing
protocol. Please comply with all
posted signs.
• Always supervise children closely.
• Never swim upstream from a waterfall.
TRAIL / DESTINATION
*Trails may be closed due to unsafe conditions. Ask a ranger for current conditions and heed all warning and closure signs!
WALKS/HIKES TO DO IN WAWONA
HIKES IN CRANE FLAT
Pioneer Yosemite History Center
Tuolumne Grove
Merced Grove
Go back to a time of horse-drawn wagons, a
The trailhead for this grove of about 25
Yosemite’s quietest stand of sequoias is the
covered bridge, and log cabins. A visit to the
sequoias is near the intersection of the Big
Merced Grove, a group of approximately 20
Pioneer Yosemite History Center explores Yo-
Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road at Crane Flat.
big trees accessible only on foot. It’s a three-
semite’s history and interpretive signs explain
The former route of the Big Oak Flat Road
mile round-trip hike (about three hours) into
how Yosemite was the inspiration for national
leads downhill from the parking area into the
the grove. The trail drops down 1.5 miles
parks across America and around the world.
grove. The trail drops 500 feet (150 meters)
making this a moderately strenuous hike on
in one mile. The way down can seem much
the uphill portion. There is no potable water at
Mariposa Grove
easier than the uphill return to the parking
the parking area or down in the grove. Be sure
Located near Yosemite’s South Entrance,
lot. The trip is moderately strenuous on the
to bring drinking water with you. The grove
the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequioas is the
uphill portion. Within the Tuolumne Grove
is located 3½ miles north of Crane Flat and
park’s largest stand of giant sequoias, with
there is an easy, half-mile, self-guided nature
4½ miles south of the Big Oak Flat Entrance
about 500 trees in the grove. Shuttles will
trail. There is no potable water at the parking
along the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120
not operate during the 2021 season, expect a
area or in the grove. Be sure to bring drinking
West). The trail is marked by a sign and a post
two-mile, one-way walk to reach the grove.
water with you.
labeled B-10.
Interpretive signs provide a self-guiding tour
once in the grove.
6
A tunnel tree in Tuolumne Grove. NPS Photo
Yosemite Guide March 31, 2021 - May 11, 2021
Permit Information
Camping, Hiking, and Wilderness Use
Wilderness Permits
CAMPING RESERVATIONS
For the 2021 season, campgrounds that will
Wilderness permits are required year-round
be open are Upper, Lower and North Pines,
for all overnight trips into the Yosemite
Wawona, Bridalveil Creek and Tuolumne
Wilderness. Self-registration quota sheets
Meadows. Campground reservations are
and permits are available at Yosemite Valley
available up to five months in advance and
Visitor Center, Hill’s Studio in Wawona, Big
are released on the 15th of each month at
Oak Flat Information Station, and the Hetch
7am Pacific time. Log onto the website or call
Hetchy Entrance Station. Bear canisters
as soon as possible as most campgrounds fill
are only available for rent at the Yosemite
within a few minutes of the opening period.
Conservancy Bookstore in the Valley Visitor
Camp 4 will be available via a one-day-in-
Center. For summer trips, reservations are
advance lottery on recreation.gov, and each
taken 24 weeks (168 days) in advance of the
site will be