by Alex Gugel , all rights reserved
![]() | Yosemite GuideMay 12, 2021 - June 15, 2021 |
The May 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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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