Yosemite National Park
National Park · Yosemite Valley, California
Yosemite National Park in the central Sierra Nevada protects a glacier-carved valley of granite walls, waterfalls, meadows and a river, plus high country, giant sequoias and wilderness beyond the road. Yosemite Valley is the heart of it: El Capitan and Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Tunnel View on the way in. Glacier Point and the Tioga Road reach higher ground but close under snow, usually from late autumn to late spring. Mariposa Grove, Wawona and Hetch Hetchy are separate areas, each a long drive from the Valley. The park is crowded, especially from late spring to early autumn, with traffic, parking pressure and sometimes vehicle reservations at peak times. Waterfalls peak in spring and can thin to a trickle by late summer, which changes the whole feel of the Valley. Bears, wildfire smoke and winter chain rules shape every plan, so confirm fees, reservations and road openings before you set out.
9035 Village Dr, Yosemite Valley, California, 95389, United States
The park is open year-round, day and night, but many parts are not: Glacier Point Road and the Tioga Road close under snow, with the Tioga Road usually reopening between late May and June and closing again around November, though dates swing widely with the snowpack - confirm with the park. Visitor centers, shuttles, shops and lodges keep seasonal hours and shorten them in winter, so check each one. The Valley is reachable on lower roads most of the year but can need tire chains in snowy weather. In some peak periods the park uses a vehicle reservation system for entry during daytime hours, so check the official page for the dates you plan to visit and book ahead if required. Half Dome cables are up only in summer and need a permit.
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