by Alex Gugel , all rights reserved
![]() | Yosemite GuideSeptember 29, 2021 - November 30, 2021 |
The October 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 September 29, 2021 - November 30, 2021
@YosemiteNPS
UPDATE
Wearing a face mask is required
in federal buildings regardless of
vaccination status. Check local
resources, area signage, and our
park website for updates, www.
nps.gov/yose.
Day-use reservations are
required through September
30, 2021: go.nps.gov/covid
Left: Chiura Obata, untitled original artwork, YOSE 109522, Yosemite National Park. Bottom Right: Chiura Obata, “El Capitan; Yosemite National Park U.S.A.,” YOSE 109528, Yosemite National Park. Upper Right: Chiura Obata, “Before
Thunder Storm, Tuolumne Meadow, High Sierra, Calif., U.S.A.,” YOSE 109529, Yosemite National Park. All Obata art reproduced with permission by the Estate of Chiura Obata.
Experience Your America Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Guide September 29, 2021 - November 30, 2021
Experience Your America Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Guide September 29, 2021 - November 30, 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
Yo
Mirror
Lake
seasonal
Sentinel Dr.
Yosemite
Valley
Lodge
Camp 4
Yosemite Falls Parking
Swinging
Bridge
Housekeeping
Camp
Yosemite Village Parking
il
Sentinel
Beach
ra
T te r
i le wi n
n
cl o ur
se M
d
1 mile
Lower
Pines
North
Pines
Half Dome
8836 ft
2693 m
Campground
Reservations
Curry
Village
Curry Village Parking
Upper
Pines
Happy Isles Loop is
closed to vehicles
except for motorists
with an accessibility placard
Trailhead
Parking
i
Fo
El Capitan
Picnic Area
Chapel
Yosemite
Conservation
Heritage
Center (YCHC)
Wawona
1 km
The Ahwahnee
se
U p p er
Yosemite Valley
Map
0
Medical Church Bowl
Clinic
Picnic Area
(Do Not Enter)
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
Merc
ed R
iver
Nevada
Fall
The Yosemite Valley Shuttle System will not
operate during the 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 September 29, 2021 - November 30, 2021
Things to Do
Summer in Yosemite
SAFETY ALERT
THINGS TO DO IN YOSEMITE VALLEY
Wearing a face mask is required in federal
Join a Yosemite Conservancy naturalist guide
buildings regardless of vaccination status.
or art instructor for a customized experience
Thank you for helping to keep yourself and
that fits your interests and schedule.
Custom Yosemite Experiences
others safe and healthy. Check local resources,
area signage, and our park website for updates,
Custom Adventures: Experience the park
www.nps.gov/yose.
on personalized day hikes, birding walks,
stargazing programs and backpacking trips.
WELCOME
yosemite.org/custom-adventures.
Ask A Ranger
Custom Art Classes: Explore nature through
Drop by the visitor contact station located in
drawing, painting, sketching and journaling.
front of Yosemite Valley Visitor Center to ask
We also offer creative activities for kids!
your Yosemite-related questions and to get
yosemite.org/custom-art.
park information and updates. Follow signs
to park in Visitor Parking then follow signs
Want to connect with Yosemite from home?
to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Open
Schedule a virtual adventure or art class:
9am to 5pm.
adventures@yosemite.org or art@yosemite.org.
Yosemite Mountaineering School (YMS)
YMS offers world-class rock climbing and
Park App
instruction, private guided climbs, custom
Download the National Park
and group hikes, guided backpacking trips and
Service app for an interactive
cross-country skiing. YMS guides, recognized
map, hiking trails, and park
as some of the finest rock climbers in the
updates. See page 11.
world, have a wide variety of skiing, climbing
and mountaineering skills and experience.
As the only authorized climbing guides in the
Reservations Required to
Park, they know these cliffs like no one else
Enter Yosemite
— and can share their unparalleled knowledge
A reservation is required to drive into Yosemite
with everyone from pros to novices. Reach
through September 30, 2021. You must display
your adventure goals with YMS, 209/372-8344
your permit on your dashboard at all times
or yms@aramark.com.
while inside the park. Permits are valid for
three consecutive days for unlimited entries
and are not valid for overnight use. For more
information, see go.nps.gov/covid.
How Will My Visit Be Impacted?
The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to
affect park operations in 2021. Visitation to the
park will be managed in accordance with
recommendations from public health officials.
Visit the park website, www.nps.gov/yose for
more updates and safety information.
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
Read about the first annual Obata Art Weekend, held in Yosemite National Park this past August, on page 10.
Chiura Obata, “El Capitan; Yosemite National Park U.S.A.,” YOSE 109528, Yosemite National Park. Reproduced
with permission by the Estate of Chiura Obata.
Walking and Hiking
Yosemite Valley has plenty of year-round
walking and hiking possibilities. Stop by the
outdoor visitor contact station in front of the
Currently open and
available
Not open or available
at this time
Unavailable in 2021
Yosemite Valley Visitor Center for trail maps
and updated weather and trail conditions.
An outdoor visitor contact
station is located in front of
the Valley Visitor Center.
Visitor Centers are closed until All shuttles and tours are
further notice; outdoor visitor canceled during this time
contact stations available.
Campgrounds in Yosemite
Valley are open, reservations
required, see page 7.
Many programs are canceled
until further notice, see page
4 for llist of current programs
Yosemite Theater and Yosemite
Museum are closed during
this time.
Yosemite Valley. Use your own bicycle or rent
Select dining and shopping
establishments are open and
encourage social distancing.
Some campgrounds are currently closed. There is no first
come, first served camping.
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge
and High Sierra Camps are
closed at this time.
Stand hours. Or, see page 4 to learn about the
Access for People with Disabilities
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
Bridalveil Fall and surrounding area, and
to protect natural and cultural resources.
When: 2021
Visitor Impact: Trail, comfort station and parking lot
will be closed 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.
Accessible parking spaces available west
of Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.
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: 2021 and 2022
Visitor Impact: 30-minute traffic delays along Tioga
Road due to construction.
Glacier Point Road Rehabilitation Plan
Why: Road maintenance and preserving natural and
cultural resources along the road.
When: 2022
Visitor Impact: Glacier Point Rd closure until Spring 2023
Where to Go and What to Do in Yosemite National Park
Bicycling
Experience several miles of bicycle paths in
one from Yosemite Valley Lodge or Curry
Village, conditions permitting. See page 5 for Bike
Yosemite Bike Share program. Bicycles are only
allowed on paved roads and paved bike paths.
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
Valley Visitor Center
Upper
Yosemite
Fall
We strongly recommend moving around the
east end of Yosemite Valley on foot or bike
in the white circles show the average walking
20
by the red circles.
Yosemite
Valley
Lodge
5
North
Pines
Mirror Lake
Trailhead
Campground
Reservations
Upper
Pines
Curry Village Parking
El Capitan
Picnic Area
25
Yosemite Valley Walking Map
5
Cathedral
Beach
Average Walking Times
Walking Routes
Campground
Interagency Military Pass (Free)
(Annual) for active duty US military,
US military veterans, and Gold Star
Bridalveil
families.
Fall
To
Lower
Pines
Curry
Village
Sentinel
Beach
- El Portal & Mariposa
4th Grade Pass (Free)
Must present paper voucher.
Housekeeping
Camp
Yosemite Village Parking
Interagency Annual Senior Pass $20
For U.S. citizens or permanent residents
62 and over.
d
oa
aR
n
Interagency
wo
Wa
Chapel
Swinging
Bridge
Interagency Senior Pass $80
(Lifetime) For U.S. citizens or
permanent residents 62 and over.
Interagency Access Pass (Free)
(Lifetime)
For permanently disabled
- San Francisco
U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The Ahwahnee
30
5
Yosemite Falls Parking
Interagency Annual Pass $80
Valid for one year at all federal
recreation sites.
To
10
Camp 4
Yosemite Pass $70,
Valid for one year in Yosemite.
W
Medical
Clinic
time between each destination, represented
Individual Valid for 7 days
$20 (In a bus, on foot, bicycle, or horse),
To
Yosemite
Village
Lower
Yosemite
Fall
if possible. On the map below, the numbers
10
Motorcycle Valid for 7 days
$30/motorcycle
Walking Yosemite Valley
Parking
Picnic Area
Restroom
N
0
1 km
1 mile
Walk-In Campground
Reservations
- Glacier Point
Campground Reservations
Wawona
(877) 444-6777; www.recreation.gov
The Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road close after
the first significant snowfall. Overnight parking on
these roads end October 15. For current road and
E3
weather information, please call (209)372-0200.
E4
Fresno
Lodging Reservations
(888) 413-8869
www.travelyosemite.com
Group Sales Office: (888) 339-3481
6
Regional Info
Yosemite Area Regional
Transportation System (YARTS)
www.yarts.com
5
Highway 120 West
Yosemite Chamber of Commerce
(800) 449-9120 or (209) 962-0429
Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau
(800) 446-1333; www.tcvb.com
Highway 41
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636; www.yosemitethisyear.com
Highway 132/49
Coulterville Visitor Center
(209) 878-3329
4
1
2
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
Yosemite Mariposa County
Tourism Bureau
(209) 742-4567; www.yosemite.com
Highway 120 East
Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce
and Mono Lake Visitor Center,
(760) 647-6629, www.leevining.com
3
Mariposa Grove Road CLOSES after
the first significant snowfall.
2
Happy
Isles
Mist
Trail
Yosemite Guide September 29, 2021 - November 30, 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, car or with a tour, the scenery will leave you in awe and eager to see what’s
around the next corner.
Glacier Point Road
2
Valley View in fall. NPS Image / Christine Loberg
Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome,
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 wheelchair
accessible 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
Half Dome view from Glacier Point. Image by Armand Williams
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 nearby
Yosemite History Center in Wawona is a collection of historic buildings associated with people
and events that shaped the national park idea in Yosemite.
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
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. NPS Image / Jeffrey Trust
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
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.
Tenaya Lake. Image by Kenny Karst
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
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. NPS Image
3
Experience Your America Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley
Programs, Art, and Exhibits
Yosemite Valley Visitor
Center and Bookstore
A visitor contact station is available in front of
the visitor center for information and updates
from 9am to 5pm. The Yosemite Conservancy
Bookstore will be operating as an outdoor “togo” store, daily from 9am to 5pm.
YOSEMITE THEATER AND MUSEUM
Closed Fall and Winter of 2021
Art Classes: Outdoor art classes meet in front
Future Exhibition
of the Valley Visitor Center, Monday through
Reverence: Photographs by Jeff Conley
Friday, 10am to 2pm, through October 22,
November 14, 2021 - January 15, 2022
and are taught by professional artists. Please
Jeff Conley has long been a part of The Ansel
register in advance at yosemite.org/art:
Adams Gallery family of artists. We are thrilled
to have his delicately crafted silver, platinum and
Sep 20-Oct 1 Watercolor Painting with Casey
to help wrap up our 2021 exhibition schedule.
Cheuvront
Oct 11-15
Walk through the reconstructed Indian
Village of Ahwahnee and learn about the
structures the Ahwahneechee lived in and
the plants they used for survival. View the
interactive displays and see the ceremonial
roundhouse, bark houses, and sweathouse
We hope you stop by to enjoy these amazing
Watercolor with John Gates
Image courtesy of The Ansel Adams Gallery
BECOME A JUNIOR RANGER
INDIAN CULTURAL VILLAGE
pigment prints on display in Yosemite Valley
Complete the activities that are the best fit for
you in the above self-guided handbook, sold
for $3.50 plus tax at stores throughout Yosemite
National Park and online. When you are done,
share your booklet with a park ranger at any
Yosemite visitor center during operating hours
to receive your Junior Ranger badge.
photographs in person.
Current Exhibition
Starting Smart: An Evolution of Photography
August 8, 2021 - October 2, 2021
This exhibit features images made by smartphones and printed as fine art photographs
finished in gold leaf, platinum, cyanotype and
pigment. Also on display will be a copy of the first
photograph ever made in Yosemite by Charles
L. Weed in 1859, and one of the first digital
members of the local tribes still actively use.
photographs of Yosemite made by Ted Orland
Located behind the Yosemite Museum in
in 1986. A monitor on hand will also feature a
Yosemite Village.
rotating slideshow of work by park guests.
YOSEMITE RENAISSANCE 37 -
by Roman Loranc
mission is to encourage the public to protect and
Growing up in Poland Roman Loranc found
www.yosemiterenaissance.org to learn more.
his own solace exploring the woods, rivers and
meadow marshlands in the mountains around
Yosemite Conservancy
park experience! Preregistration is required
his home, the small village of Rybarzowice.
Illustration by Stefani Lacy
The Ansel Adams Gallery
Outdoor Adventures: Our naturalist guides
10am to 4pm, closes at 3pm beginning Nov 1.
The Ansel Adams Gallery is open daily from
Experience a variety of fine arts, hand-crafts,
and more. Register: yosemite.org/adventures.
and a collection of Ansel Adams original
Oct 2-3
Day Hikes: Big Walls and Boulders
classes and private guided tours, reservations
Oct 14-17
Workshop: Autumn Light
Photography
Oct 22-24
Day Hikes: Historic Roads
Nov 6
Day Hike: Woodpeckers and
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 Yosemite Falls Day Use Parking Area.
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.
These were “safe havens” which became
muses. Today throughout his many travels, Mr.
for all Conservancy adventures and art classes.
lead day hikes, backpacking trips, art retreats
3.
October 3, 2021 - November 13, 2021
preserve parks and wild lands through art! Visit
Join Yosemite Conservancy for a memorable
1.
Silver Pastoral: Original Photographs
artists world-wide and offers cash awards. Our
ADVENTURES AND ART CLASSES
The free Yosemite Bike Share is open until Friday,
October 29, dependent on weather conditions!
You can use the bike share for short trips (up to
two hours) in Yosemite Valley.
2.
Next Exhibition
A call to artists! This competition is open to
Yosemite Bike Share
photographs. We offer half-day photography
required. Call 209/372- 4413 or visit
anseladams.com/photographyeducation.
Located in Yosemite Village.
Loranc trains his large-format camera on these
subjects, composing visual poems from light
and silver. His images reveal the tranquility
he still finds in these settings, and his prints
commemorate an ideal pastoral.
Roman currently lives and works out of his
studio in Northern California producing
delicate hand printed gelatin silver photographs
that are toned in sepia and selenium. Please
join us at The Ansel Adams Gallery for his
exhibition Silver Pastoral opening from
Fire Ecology
October 3 through November 13, 2021.
TIME
PROGRAMS - (NPS = National Park Service; YC = Yosemite Conservancy;
9:00am
Climber Coffee: At Camp 4 Meet with NPS climbing rangers to discuss current events surrounding
the climbing community. Meet near Camp 4 registration booth. (NPS)
2 hrs.
9:00am
A Stroll Through Time: Dive into Yosemite’s dynamic cultural history. yosemite.org/adventures. $10 (YC)
2 hrs.
Yosemite Valley
9:00am
Ansel Adams’s Legacy and Your Digital Camera Register at The Ansel Adams Gallery. $ (TAAG)
4 hrs.
Yosemite Valley
9:00am
In the Field: Creative Smartphone Photography Register at The Ansel Adams Gallery. $ (TAAG)
3 hrs.
Yosemite Valley
= Accessible)
DURATION
EXCEPTION DATES
LOCATION
Ends Oct 31
Yosemite Valley
SU
M
TU
W
TH
F
SA
Sunday
X
Wednesday
X
Sunday
X
Monday
X
Programs printed in ALL CAPS AND COLOR are
especially for children and their families.
9:00am
In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams Register at The Ansel Adams Gallery. $ (TAAG)
4 hrs.
Yosemite Valley
9:00am
Demystifying Digital Exposure Register at The Ansel Adams Gallery. $ (TAAG)
2 hrs.
Yosemite Valley
12:00pm
Stagecoach Stories All aboard for a ride through history. Register at yosemite.org/adventures. $10 (YC)
2 hrs.
Yosemite Valley
12:30pm
Ask-A-Climber View climbers on El Capitan through spotting scopes and discover the world of vertical
adventure on Yosemite’s big walls. West side of El Capitan bridge (NPS)
4 hrs.
1:00pm
In the Field: Creative Smartphone Photography Register at The Ansel Adams Gallery. $ (TAAG)
3 hrs.
Yosemite Valley
1:00pm
In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams Register at The Ansel Adams Gallery. $ (TAAG)
4 hrs.
Yosemite Valley
2:00pm
VERTICAL WILDERNESS WALK (12 person limit) Walk with a climbing ranger and learn about life on
Yosemite’s big walls. Moderately strenuous 2-mile roundtrip walk. West side of El Capitan bridge. (NPS)
2 hrs.
3:00pm
Yosemite Valley Sunset Walk Register at yosemite.org/adventures. $10 (YC)
2 hrs.
Yosemite Valley
Tuesday
X
Thursday
7:00pm
Explore Yosemite’s Night Sky Register at yosemite.org/adventures. $25 (YC)
2 hr.
Yosemite Valley
Tuesday
Thursday
4
Ends Oct 30
Ends Oct 30
Yosemite Valley
Wednesday
X
Saturday
X
Wednesday
X
Sunday
X
Monday
X
Tuesday
X
Wednesday
X
Thursday
X
Thursday
X
Friday
X
Saturday
X
Saturday
X
Monday
X
Yosemite Valley
Saturday
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Yosemite Guide September 29, 2021 - November 30, 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.
The Ahwahnee Dining Room. NPS Image / Sheree Peshlakai
Hours listed are core hours and may be
extended during peak visitation.
Food and Drink
YOSEMITE VILLAGE
Village Grill
11am to 5pm, closes for the season Oct 24
Degnan’s Kitchen
7am to 11am; 11:30am to 6pm
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
Closed for the Season
Base Camp Eatery
Breakfast: 7:30am 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,
closes Nov 28; Reopens Dec 18
Pizza Deck
12pm to 9pm,
closes Nov 27; Reopens Dec 17
Bar 1899
2pm to 9pm,
closes Nov 27; Reopens Dec 17
Meadow Grill
7am to 10:30am
closes Nov 28; Reopens Dec 18
WAWONA AREA
Wawona Hotel Dining Room,
closes for the season Nov 29
Breakfast: 7am to 10am
Lunch: 11am to 2pm
Dinner: 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Groceries
YOSEMITE VILLAGE
Village Store
8am to 8pm
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
Gift/Grocery
8am to 8pm
CURRY VILLAGE
Gift/Grocery
9am to 7pm,
10am to 6pm beginning Oct 31
EL PORTAL
El Portal Market
9am 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 (outdoor “to-go” store)
The Ansel Adams Gallery
10am to 3pm
Village Store
8am to 8pm
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 Rental Stand
10am to 5pm, closes for the season Oct 31
Yosemite Mountaineering School
8:30am to 12pm; 1pm to 4:30pm,
closes for the season Nov 21
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
Bike Rental Stand
10am to 5pm, closes for the season Oct 31
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 7pm,
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
THE AHWAHNEE
Gift Shop
9am to 7pm
Sweet Shop
11am to 6pm
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
Gift/Grocery
8am to 8pm
CURRY VILLAGE
Gift/Grocery
9am to 7pm,
10am to 6pm beginning Oct 31
Yosemite Mountain Shop
8am to 4:30pm
GLACIER POINT
Glacier Point Gift Shop
9am to 5pm, closes for the season Oct 17
WAWONA
Wawona Store & Pioneer Gift Shop
9am to 5pm
Yosemite Conservancy Depot at
Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza
9am to 5pm, closes for the season Oct 17
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
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias NPS Image
Choose Your Adventure
PARK UPDATE
• If you are not fully vaccinated,
wearing a mask is required in crowded
outdoor spaces on federal land.
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
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
Know Before You Go:
Top of Upper Yosemite Fall
Same as above
7.2 miles round-trip, 6–8 hours
Very Strenuous 2,700-foot gain
• Stay away from swift-moving water
Mirror Lake (A seasonal lake)
East of North Pines Campground
2 miles round-trip, 1 hour
Easy
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
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 closed or
rerouted. Please comply with all
posted signs.
• Always supervise children closely.
• Never swim upstream from a waterfall.
TRAIL / DESTINATION
Bridalveil Fall - CLOSED due to Construction
WALKS/HIKES IN WAWONA AREA
HIKES IN CRANE FLAT AREA
HIKING IN TUOLUMNE MEADOWS
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
Yosemite History Center explores Yosemite’s
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.
history and interpretive signs explain how Yo-
The former route of the Big Oak Flat Road
mile round-trip hike (about three hours) into
The Soda Springs are small, naturally carbon-
semite was the inspiration for national parks
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
across