Yosemite Guide

Yosemite Guide Yosemite Guide May 12, 2021 - June 15, 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 to reduce the spread of COVID-19. • 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. Day-use reservations may be required: go.nps.gov/covid NPS Image Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Guide May 12, 2021 - June 15, 2021 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Guide May 12, 2021 - June 15, 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 se m Yosemite Valley Area in inset: U p p er Yo Yosemite Valley Map The Ahwahnee Yosemite Valley Lodge Yosemite Falls Parking Swinging Bridge il ra T te r i le wi n n 1 mile cl o ur se M d 1 km Housekeeping Camp Lower Pines North Pines Half Dome 8836 ft 2693 m Campground Reservations Curry Village Curry Village Parking Upper Pines Trailhead Parking i Happy Isles Art and Nature Center Fo El Capitan Picnic Area Chapel Yosemite Village Parking Sentinel Beach Mirror Lake seasonal 2 Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center (YCHC) Wawona 0 Medical Church Bowl Clinic Picnic Area 3 Camp 4 N The Ansel Adams Gallery l Tuolumne Meadows Glacier Point closed in winter Vernal Fall 72I4 ft 2I99 m Cathedral Beach l Va L le y oo Mist Trail r ai l pT ho rse s on l y 4 & Bridalveil Fall il ve al id Br Large vehicles longer than 30 feet will not be permitted on Sentinel Drive. Also, expect traffic re-routes through Summer 2021. See park website for more information. ed R iver Nevada Fall The Yosemite Valley Shuttle System will not be operating during the Spring 2021 season. Cree 1 na wo Wa ad Ro Merc k DRIVE, WALK, or BIKE to some of Yosemite Valley’s most scenic attractions! 1 2 Tunnel View Cook’s Meadow 3 Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead Illilouette Fall 4 Valley View i Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Guide May 12, 2021 - June 15, 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. yosemite.org/custom-adventures. Practice social distancing. Maintain Custom Art Classes: Explore nature through a distance of at least 6 feet between drawing, painting, sketching and journaling. you and others. We also offer creative activities for kids! yosemite.org/custom-art. Wash hands using soap and water or use hand sanitizer frequently. Looking for ways to connect with Yosemite from home? Contact us to schedule a virtual Wear a facecovering when social adventure or art class: adventures@yosemite. istancing cannot be maintained. Fern Spring, west Yosemite Valley, along Valley Loop Trail. NPS Image Walking and Hiking 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. Currently open and available Park App Download the National Park Service app for an interactive map, hiking trails, and park updates. See page 11. WELCOME Ask A Ranger Not open or available at this time org or art@yosemite.org. 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. Yosemite Valley has plenty of year-round walking and hiking possibilities. Stop by the outdoor visitor contact station behind the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center for trail maps and updated weather and trail conditions. Bicycling Experience several miles of bicycle paths that wind through Yosemite Valley. Use your own bicycle or rent one from Yosemite Village, Select dining and shopping establishments are open and encourage social distancing. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge and services are closed during this time. Yosemite Valley Lodge or Curry Village, conditions permitting. See page 6 for Bike Stand hours. Or, see page 4 to learn about the Yosemite Bike Share program. Bicycles are only allowed on paved roads and paved bike paths. Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center The Sierra Club’s Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center (formerly Le Conte Memorial Drop by the visitor contact station located Lodge) will not open this season, from behind the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center to May 1 through September 30, 2021, due ask your Yosemite-related questions and to get park information and updates. Look for signs to direct you to the exact location. Open 9am to 5pm. to COVID-19. All evening programs have What Does 6-ft Look Like? been cancelled for the season due to social The wing span of a bald eagle is distancing requirements. The Yosemite roughly 6 feet long. While social Conservation Heritage Center will reopen distancing, imagine the length on May 1, 2022. Call 209/347-7300 for of a soaring eagles’ wing span information and updates. 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 Sentinel Beach El Capitan Picnic Area Upper Pines 25 Yosemite Valley Walking Map 5 Cathedral Beach Average Walking Times Walking Routes 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. N Wawona U.S.Fresno 5th Grade Voucher (Free) 0 1 km 1 mile 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 Campground Reservations Curry Village Parking 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 North Pines Curry Village U.S. Military VeteransBridalveil (Free) Must present suitable IDFall d oa Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau (209) 742-4567; www.yosemite.com Lower Pines Yosemite 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 Housekeeping Camp Swinging Bridge 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 30 Chapel 5 Yosemite Falls Parking 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 Yosemite Guide May 12, 2021 - June 15, 2021 Yosemite Valley 1 Yosemite Valley, open year-round, is world-famous for its impressive waterfalls, cliffs, and unusual rock formations. Get there via Highway 41/Wawona Road from Fresno, Highway 140/El Portal Road from Merced, Highway 120 west/Big Oak Flat Road from Manteca, and (during summer) via the Tioga Road/Highway 120 east from Lee Vining. Yosemite Valley is home to massive cliff faces like El Capitan and Half Dome, plunging waterfalls including the tallest in North America, and attractive meadows. While Yosemite Falls slows to a trickle by August, a moderate hike will bring you to impressive Vernal and Nevada Falls. Walk to Mirror Lake, where you will see reflections of Half Dome. Gaze up at El Capitan, a massive granite monolith that stands 3,593 feet from base to summit. Whether you explore the valley by foot, bike, car, or tour, you will behold scenery that will leave you breathless and eager to see what’s around the next corner. Glacier Point Road 2 Wild flowers in Yosemite Valley. NPS Image / Christine White Loberg Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Yosemite’s high country, is located 30 miles (a one-hour drive) from Yosemite Valley or Wawona. To get there from either of these places, take the Wawona Road (Highway 41) to Chinquapin, then turn onto Glacier Point Road. At Glacier Point, a short, paved, and wheelchair-accessible trail takes you to an exhilarating—some might say unnerving—view 3,214 feet down to Yosemite Valley below. Wawona and Mariposa Grove 3 The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is located 36 miles (1 ¼ hours) south of Yosemite Valley via the Wawona Road (Highway 41), two miles from the park’s South Entrance. The 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. The view from Glacier Point. NPS Image / Sarah Gulick Tioga Road and Tuolumne Grove 4 Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. It is usually open from late May or early June through November. The road’s elevation ranges from 6,200 feet to nearly 10,000 feet. The White Wolf area, midway across the park, is the starting point for day hikes to Lukens Lake and Harden Lake. To see giant sequoias, park at the Tuolumne Grove parking area on the Tioga Road, and walk one steep mile down to the grove. Or park at Merced Grove trailhead on Big Oak Flat Road and walk 1.5 steep miles down to the grove. These groves are smaller than the more-famous Mariposa Grove, but are quieter and off-limits to vehicles. Remember, walking down is easier than walking back up Tuolumne Meadows 5 Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. NPS Image / Jeffrey Trust Tuolumne Meadows provides a glimpse of the High Sierra. The Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River winds through broad sub-alpine meadows surrounded by even higher granite domes and peaks. It is the jumping off place for countless hikes, whether you venture out for a day or a week. Stop at the Tuolumne Meadows information center to find out about hikes to Cathedral Lakes, Elizabeth Lake, Lembert Dome, or along the Tuolumne River through Lyell Canyon. See page 6 for hiking suggestions. 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 Road Cathedral Peak. NPS Image 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. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. NPS Image 3 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Valley Information, Art, and Exhibits Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and Bookstore A visitor contact station is available behind May 10-14 Watercolor with Grace Fong May 17-21 Watercolor with Rachel Fisher May 24-28 Watercolor with Faith Rumm May 31-June 4 Watercolor with Robert Dvorak the visitor center for information and updates from 9am to 5pm. The Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore will operate as an outdoor “to-go” June 7-11 Watercolor with Rita Randolph June 14-18 Drawing & Painting Yosemite’s Leaves with Sue Fierston store, daily from 9am to 5pm. Art Retreats: Looking to stretch your YOSEMITE THEATER creative muscles for a little longer? Join artist Closed Spring and Summer of 2021 and alpinist Nikki Frumkin for a three-day Painting the Peaks art retreat (June 9–12 & Yosemite Museum June 21–24) to experience Yosemite Valley’s Closed Spring and Summer of 2021 seasonal beauty while capturing the landscape in watercolor and ink. INDIAN CULTURAL VILLAGE Walk through the reconstructed Indian Learn more about all our upcoming programs Village of Ahwahnee and learn about the in the park: yosemite.org/experience. structures the Ahwahneechee lived in and the plants they used for survival. Check out the interactive displays and see the ceremonial The Ansel Adams Gallery roundhouse, bark houses, and sweathouse The Ansel Adams Gallery is open seven days members of the local tribes still actively per week from 10am to 3pm. We are located use for ceremonies and special gatherings. in the heart of Yosemite Valley, between the Located behind the Yosemite Museum in Visitor Center and main Post Office. Join us Yosemite Village. on an unforgettable photography excursion, or step inside the Gallery to experience a YOSEMITE RENAISSANCE ART EXHIBIT unique variety of fine arts, hand-crafts, and Yosemite Renaissance has supported the arts an extraordinary collection of Ansel Adams in Yosemite since 1985. If you are an artist original photographs and exclusive editions. inspired by Yosemite and the California Sierra We offer half-day photography classes and Nevada region, this is the show for you! The Yosemite Conservancy Art Workshop. Yosemite Conservancy Image / Kristin Anderson 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 lead day hikes, backpacking trips, art retreats • 10am-12pm: Classic Naturalist Walk $10 and more. Register: yosemite.org/adventures. • 1pm–3pm: Nature Journaling $15 • 9pm–10pm: Explore Yosemite’s Night Skies $25 June 17-20 Backpack: Glen Aulin June 25-27 Intro Backpack: Southern Yosemite Waterfalls adventures. Fees per person apply. Wednesdays Art Classes: Outdoor art classes meet in front (Monday–Friday, 10am to 2pm) through • 9am–11am: A Stroll Through Time $10 October, and are taught by professional artists. • 12pm–2pm: Stagecoach Stories $10 Please register in advance: yosemite.org/art. 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 • 9pm–10pm: Explore Yosemite’s Night Skies $25 of the Valley Visitor Center every weekday 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. 3. • 10am-12pm: Classic Naturalist Walk $10 stroll in the Valley. Register: yosemite.org/ Yosemite Bike Share 2. Fridays • 1pm–3pm: Nature Journaling $15 Naturalist Walks: Join a naturalist for a • 9pm–10pm: Explore Yosemite’s Night Skies $25 1. Thursdays private guided tours led by a resident staff photographer. Classes leave from the Gallery 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 May 12, 2021 - June 15, 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. Village Grill / NPS Image Hours listed are core hours and may be extended during peak visitation. Food and Drink YOSEMITE VILLAGE Village Grill 11am to 5pm, beginning May 15 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, 5:30pm to 9pm beginning May 28 The Ahwahnee Bar 2pm to 9pm YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Starbucks Coffee 7am to 3pm Base Camp Eatery Breakfast: 7am to 10am Lunch: 11am to 3pm Dinner: 4pm to 8pm, 4pm to 9pm beginning May 28 Mountain Room Bar 5pm to 9pm Mountain Room Restaurant Temporarily closed due to COVID-19 CURRY VILLAGE Coffee Corner 6:30am to 11am, 6:30am to 2pm beginning May 28 Pizza Deck 12pm to 8pm, 12pm to 9pm beginning May 28 Bar 1899 12pm to 8pm, 12pm to 9pm beginning May 28 Meadow Grill 7am to 10am; 11am to 6pm WAWONA AREA Wawona Hotel Dining Room, opens for the season on June 10 Breakfast: 7am to 10am Lunch: 11am to 2pm Dinner: 5:30pm to 8:30pm Groceries YOSEMITE VILLAGE Village Store 9am to 8pm, 8am to 9pm beginning May 28 YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Gift/Grocery 8am to 8pm CURRY VILLAGE Gift/Grocery 10am to 6pm EL PORTAL El Portal Market 10am to 6pm WAWONA Wawona Store & Pioneer Gift Shop 9am to 5pm Books, Gifts, & Apparel YOSEMITE VILLAGE Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center 9am to 5pm daily (operating as an outdoor “to-go” store) The Ansel Adams Gallery 10am to 3pm Village Store 9am to 8pm, 8am to 9pm beginning May 28 THE AHWAHNEE Gift Shop 9am to 7pm SUNDAY - CHAPEL SERVICES: 9:15am – Year-round 11am – Memorial Day to Labor Day *Subject to Covid -19 policies. Please call the chapel for current information before you travel. Recreation CURRY VILLAGE Bike Stand 8am to 6pm Yosemite Mountaineering School 8:30am to 12pm; 1pm to 4:30pm, beginning May 21 YOSEMITE VILLAGE Bike Stand 8am to 6pm YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Bike Stand 8am to 6pm 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; Emergency: 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 RELIGIOUS SERVICES YOSEMITE COMMUNITY CHURCH (THE CHAPEL) Resident Minister: Pastor Brent Moore 209/372-4831 – www.YosemiteValleyChapel.org www.YosemiteValleyChapelWeddings.org Sweet Shop 11am to 6pm YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE Gift/Grocery 8am to 8pm CURRY VILLAGE Gift/Grocery 10am to 6pm Yosemite Mountain Shop 8:30am to 4:30pm GLACIER POINT Glacier Point Gift Shop 9am to 5pm WAWONA Wawona Store & Pioneer Gift Shop 9am to 5pm Yosemite Conservancy Depot at Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza 9am to 5pm (operating as an outdoor “to-go” store) CHURCH OF CHRIST (Non-denominational) El Portal Chapel / Worship: Sunday 11am 209/379-2100 SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS No meetings at this time Oakhurst Hotline: 559/683-1662 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. 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 accommodate social distancing Lower Yosemite Fall Across from Yosemite Valley Lodge 1.0 mile round-trip, 20 minutes Easy protocol. Please comply with all 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 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 • Always supervise children closely. *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 • Expect trail closures. • Some trails may be re-routed to TRAIL / DESTINATION posted signs. Know Before You Go: • Never swim upstream from a waterfall. *Trails may be closed due to unsafe conditions. Ask a ranger for current conditions and heed all warning and closure signs! WALKS/HIKES IN WAWONA AREA HIKES IN CRANE FLAT AREA Pioneer Yosemite History Center Tuolumne Grove Merced Grove Parsons Memorial Lodge, McCauley 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 Cabin and Soda Springs covered bridge, and log cabins. A visit to the sequoias is near the intersection of the Big Merced Grove, a group of approximately 20 Two trails, both flat and 3/4 mile-long, lead to 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- this historic area accessible only by walking. semite’s history and interpretive signs explain The former route of the Big Oak Flat Road mile round-trip hike (about three hours) into The Soda Springs are small, naturally carbon- how Yosemite was the inspiration for national leads downhill from the parking area into the the grove. The trail drops down 1.5 miles ated springs that attract deer, birds and other parks across America and around the world. grove. The trail drops 500 feet (150 meters) making this a moderately strenuous hike on wildlife. There is a toilet in the area. 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 There are many day hikes in this area. Stop by Located near Yosemite’s South Entrance, lot. The trip is moderately strenuous on the to bring drinking water with you. The grove the visitor center for maps and ideas. the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequioas is the uphill portion. Within the Tuolumne Grove is located 3½ miles north of Crane Flat and • Thank you for staying on official trails to protect 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 • Dogs, bicycles, and strollers are only allowed 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 on roads that are open to public vehicle traffic. two-mile, one-way walk to reach the grove. water with you. labeled B-10. HIKING IN TUOLUMNE MEADOWS fragile meadow ecosystems. • There are no toilets on the trails. Day-hikers Interpretive signs provide a self-guiding tour and backpackers must go at least 100 feet away once in the grove. from water, trail and camp areas; bury human waste six inches deep and pack out ALL trash. 6 Yosemite Guide May 12, 2021 - June 15, 2021 Permit Information Camping, Hiking, and Wilderness Use Wilderness Permits Camping Reservations Wilderness permits are required for all For the 2021 season, campgrounds that will overnight trips into the Yosemite Wilderness. be open are Upper, Lower and North Pines, Following adaptive management guidelines Wawona, Bridalveil Creek and Tuolumne and the need to protect the health and safety Meadows. Campground reservations are of our visitors and employees, there will be no available up to five months in advance and first come, first served (FCFS) permits issued are released on the 15th of each month at in the park for 2020. The FCFS quota will be 7am Pacific time. Log onto the website or call available through a rolling lottery using the as soon as possible as most campgrounds fill advanced reservation system. Please go to within a few minutes of the opening period. www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits Camp 4 will be available via a one-day-in- to check trailhead availability and for more advance lottery on recreation.gov, and each information on how to apply for these permits. site will be assigned to only one party. Reservations can be made online at yosemite. org/yosemite-wilderness-permit-request-form For campground reservations, visit www. and by using our contact form at yosemite. recreation.gov (recommended) or call 877/ org/contact-us-wilderness. A processing 444-6777 or TDD 877/833-6777 or 518/ 885- fee of $5 per permit plus $5 per person is 3639 from outside the US and Canada charged to each confirmed reservation. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/yose/ Sleeping in vehicles and frontcountry camping planyourvisit/backpacking.htm, the Leave No are only permitted in designated campsites. Trace website at www.lnt.org, or the Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue website at www. Lower Pines Campground campsite, Yosemite Valley. NPS Image friendofyosar.org YOSEMITE VALLEY Open daily from 8am to 5pm. Under COVID modified operations, the center offers permit reservation pick up and bear canister rentals only. The Valley Wilderness Center is located in Yosemite Village, between the post office and the Ansel Adams Gallery. WAWONA Beginning May 21, Hill’s Studio