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1. Introduction (The Yosemite FAQ)

Part 1: Introduction

• The Yosemite FAQ
• Location and Destinations
• Climate
• When to visit
• Transportation
• If you will visit Yosemite, please read this section

Copyright © 1996-2000 Jeffrey Trust.
Copyright © 2002-2007 Dan Anderson.
This document may be freely distributed for non-commercial purposes only, provided that it is distributed unmodified and in its entirety.

While I have attempted to keep all information correct, up-to-date, and complete, neither I, nor any other contributors to this FAQ, assume any responsibility for its correctness. In other words: use this information at your own risk. Additionally, while Yosemite, like many rural areas, has a relatively low crime rate, do not let your guard down: even though serious crimes may be relatively uncommon, keep your personal safety in mind.

This this document is kept at http://www.yosemite.ca.us/faq/

See also the Official NPS FAQ and another NPS FAQ.

Yosemite National Park is located in the central Sierra Nevada, roughly east of San Francisco. Elevations within the park range from 2,000 feet (610 m) to over 13,000 feet (3,950 m).

The most visited portion of Yosemite is Yosemite Valley, the elevation of which is about 4,000 feet (1,200 m). Other popular destinations in Yosemite are Glacier Point (7,200 feet/2,200 m), Tuolumne Meadows (8,500 feet/2,600 m), and Wawona (4,000 feet/1,200 m).

CLIMATE

Climate Data for Yosemite Valley

Yosemite High Country Climate, Including Tuolumne Meadows

Temperatures in the High Country, such as Tuolumne Meadows, are typically 10°F to 20°F (5-10°C) degrees cooler than in Yosemite Valley. The High Country receives several feet of snow per year, though summertime thunderstorms also occur, usually in the afternoon.

WHEN TO VISIT YOSEMITE

Visitation to Yosemite is controlled mostly by the climate (see the climate section above for climate information). Peak visitation occurs during the summer months (late May to early September). During winter, the amount of hiking one can do is substantially limited by snow. However, snow provides many other recreational activities. Snowmobiling is prohibited.

Hiking and backpacking in Yosemite can be done year-round, though those hiking in mid-fall through early-spring may encounter winter storms and abundant snow on the trails.

Please note that park roads may be temporarily closed or chains may be required following winter storms. YOU MUST CARRY CHAINS IN YOUR CAR between November 1st and March 31st-- NO EXCEPTIONS! Please also note that during periods of heavy visitation during summer weekends (holiday weekends, in particular) the park entrance stations may occasionally refuse entrance to visitors who do not have overnight reservations in the park.

TRANSPORTATION TO AND WITHIN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Yosemite road and weather conditions: 209-372-0200 California road conditions from CalTrans: 800-GAS-ROAD or 800-427-7623 http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/ Note that CalTrans may not have complete information for roads within Yosemite National Park.

Seasons

Yosemite National Park closes many roads by October or November and normally reopens them by late May or June. Yosemite Valley and Wawona normally remain open all year; Badger Pass Ski Area is open only in the winter (typically, December through March). Tire chains may be required on park road AT ANY TIME. For more information about winter conditions, see the winter section of this FAQ.

Fee schedule

Car and Individual fees are valid for 7 days, all other passes are valid for one year.

The Trans-Sierra Pass (which was valid for one-way passage over Tioga Pass) has been discontinued; nearby residents can drive through for free.

Upon entrance to the park, visitors receive a park map and the Yosemite Guide, which provides much information about facilities and current activities in the Park. The map is not a suitable replacement for a topographic map. READ THE YOSEMITE GUIDE! It has answers to most of your questions!!!

Please note that none of the entrance passes pays for other park fees, including campground fees (though a 50% discount is available with valid Golden Age and Golden Access passports). Entrance stations may be closed during the evening and night. In this case, fees may be collected upon leaving the park. Fees are not collected from hikers entering on remote trails. Day-use reservations are not required.

Roads

The best way to keep from getting lost is to spend a few bucks and get a map of California.

Between November 1st and March 31st, you are REQUIRED to carry tire chains even if you are driving a four-wheel drive vehicle and all roads are open with no restrictions. If you do not have chains you may be cited. In addition, you might be stranded in the park or have to buy chains for $80+. Learn from others' expensive and inconvenient lessons: always carry tire chains.

For fairly current road conditions, see http://www.nps.gov/yose/now/conditions.htm For current road conditions, call 209-372-0200.

Highway 41 (Wawona Road)
Connects with Hwy 99 at Fresno and ends in Yosemite Valley. Provides access to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Wawona, Badger Pass, and Glacier Point. Normally open all year, except during major snowstorms.

Highway 140 (El Portal Road)
Connects with Hwy 99 in Merced and ends in Yosemite Valley. Open all year except during major snowstorms, floods, or rockslides. This is the least likely road into Yosemite to require tire chains. Update (9/2006): due to a rockslide, a detour with two bridges has been installed. The detour is one way at a time and controlled by traffic signals. A temporary 28' vehicle limit is in effect, due to limited turning radius on the bridges. Bike access is allowed.

Highway 120 (Big Oak Flat and Tioga Roads)
Connects with Hwy 99 in Manteca and with Hwy 395 in Lee Vining. Provides access to Big Oak Flat, Crane Flat, White Wolf, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, and Tioga Pass. The portion of the road from Big Oak Flat Entrance Station to Crane Flat is normally open all year. From Crane Flat, the Big Oak Flat Road (open all year) continues to Yosemite Valley. CLOSED during winter (Oct/Nov-May/Jun) from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass.

Glacier Point Road
Runs from from Chinquapin (junction of Glacier Point Road and Wawona Road) to Glacier Point. Provides access to Badger Pass and Glacier Point. CLOSED to Glacier Point during winter (Oct/Nov-May/Jun); open to Badger Pass December through March.

Hetch Hetchy Road
Runs from Big Oak Flat to Hetch Hetchy Valley. Provides access to Mather Ranger Station, O'Shaughnessy Dam, and Hetch Hetchy Valley. May be CLOSED during winter.

Mass transit to Yosemite

There are no airports in Yosemite National Park. The nearest large airport is Fresno-Yosemite International (Fresno Air Terminal). The nearest municipal airports are in Mariposa and Lee Vining. There are flights to and from Fresno-Yosemite International (Fresno Air Terminal) and the Merced Airport. Air travel to Yosemite is beyond the scope of this FAQ.

Trains and Buses

Amtrak and Greyhound provide service to Yosemite. Amtrak runs train service through the Central Valley of California (the train is called "the San Joaquin"). Buses connect major cities in California (Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento) to the San Joaquin. (It is possible to connect to the San Joaquin by buses or trains from other cities as well.) To get to Yosemite, passengers should exit the train at Merced or Fresno, where Via Bus connects to Yosemite Valley. Greyhound also runs buses from major California cities (and many smaller ones along the way) to Merced, where you can connect to Via Bus.

Yosemite Area Regional Transit System offers transportation along hwy 140 into the park and limited transportation along hwy 120 east and west and within the park between Wawona and Yosemite Valley.

For more information:
Amtrak: 800-USA-RAIL (800-872-7245)
Greyhound: 800-231-2222
VIA Bus: 800-369-PARK (800-369-7275) or 209-384-1315
YARTS: http://www.yarts.com/ I have frequently used Amtrak, Greyhound, and VIA bus, and I can attest that traveling to Yosemite by any of these means (particularly via Amtrak + Via) is nice.

REGULARLY SCHEDULED BUS SERVICE INTO YOSEMITE -- visit http://www.yosemite.com/yarts/ for details!

Transportation withIN Yosemite National Park

Bus service information: 209-372-1240 or at Yosemite Lodge Tour Desk.

FREE shuttle buses!

I strongly encourage you to use shuttle buses, within the areas they serve, in lieu of driving your car. Use of the shuttle buses decreases traffic congestion and pollution, and allow you to enjoy the scenery without concentrating on driving and being concerned about finding a parking space. Please note that during summer days, the Mariposa Grove road CLOSES frequently to ALL traffic except shuttle buses and vehicles displaying disabled-person placards. The road closes when the parking lot at the Grove fills up, so park at Wawona and take the shuttle bus.

FREE shuttle buses run:

1. around eastern Yosemite Valley (including stops near all major trailheads, concessions, and most campgrounds),
2. between Wawona and the Mariposa Grove (summer), and
3. Between Tioga Pass and May Lake, including several stops in Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, and Olmsted Point (summer).

For-fee shuttle buses

A hikers' bus runs daily (during summer) between Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. A fee is charged for this service. This is a good way to visit the Glacier Point area without having to hike up to Glacier Point and back.

A hikers' bus runs from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows daily during the summer. A fee is charged for this service. The bus driver will stop at trailheads along the Tioga Road between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows if you inform the driver in advance.

Bus Length Restrictions

• Highway 41 (Wawona Rd.) - buses up to 45 feet in length allowed.
• Glacier Pt Road - buses over 30 feet in length are restricted from travelling beyond the turnoff to Badger Pass.
• Mariposa Grove of Big Trees - Buses over 40 feet in length are not allowed, parking is extremely limited.
• Hetch Hetchy Rd - Any vehicle exceeding 25 feet in length or 96 inches in width is prohibited.
• Highway 140 (El Portal Rd.) - buses up to 45 feet in length are allowed. Update (9/2006): due to a rockslide, a detour with a temporary 28' vehicle limit is in effect.
• Highway 120 (Big Oak Flat Rd. and Tioga Rd.) - buses up to 45 feet in length are allowed.
• Highway 120 West, outside of the park, from the park boundary near the Big Oak Flat Entrance to the Highway 49 Junction at Moccasin is restricted to buses over 40 feet in length. CHP is enforcing this restriction, so before you suggest a bus use this route please be sure that the bus is no longer than 40 feet. This is a Caltrans/CHP-enforced restriction that has been in effect for over 5 years.

Hitch hiking

Hitch hiking is discouraged in Yosemite, and for good reason. In 1995, a National Park Ranger picked up a seemingly-nice hitch hiker and was subsequently kidnapped. Don't do it. There are plenty of buses to take you where you want to go. Hitch hiking in Yosemite is not as reliable as in other parts of the country because of the relative rarity of vehicles with room to take on an additional passenger and his/her gear.

IF YOU WILL VISIT YOSEMITE PLEASE READ AND REMEMBER THIS SECTION!

If you love Yosemite and you believe others should have a chance to see it as you have, please abide by these rules. If that's not enough of a reason, if you violate these regulations you are in a violation of FEDERAL LAW, and you may be fined, arrested, and/or evicted from the park and possibly barred from reentry for a period. If that is not enough of a reason, keep in mind that many people have found out the hard way that if you violate the safety-related rules you may be seriously injured or killed.

IF YOU HAVE A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY IN YOSEMITE, DIAL 911. Report crimes, and property damage caused by wildlife, to park rangers.

• DO NOT feed the animals! The animals in Yosemite are wild: please keep them that way. By feeding them, you are spoiling them. The animals will lose their ability to feed themselves. They will rely on you to feed them. When you aren't there, they will starve. If animals become too aggressive because humans are feeding them, they may have to be killed. In addition, human food is bad for, and may kill, wildlife. Think of it this way: if you feed an animal, you are killing it.

  These animals MAY BE DANGEROUS! By feeding them you risk serious injury or death! And if you are injured, the animal will be killed as a result of your irresponsibility. There is always a risk of transmission of often-fatal diseases, such as black plague or Hanta virus. Store your food properly. In campgrounds, Curry Village tent cabins, and Housekeeping Camp, ALWAYS use food storage lockers ("bear boxes"); in the backcountry use bear cannisters.

• DO NOT LEAVE ANY FOOD (or anything resembling food or food containers, including ice chests, pizza boxes, candy wrappers, or any kind of food packaging or any other packaging that might interest a bear or anything that might possibly smell like food, including toothpaste, soap, cosmetics, lotions, sunscreen, lip balm, coffee, garbage, fragrance containers, etc.) IN YOUR CAR!!!

  During the daytime, it's probably safe to leave food in your car, IF NECESSARY, but it MUST NOT be visible (put it in your trunk, if possible). During nighttime hours, NEVER leave ANY food ANYWHERE in your car. A bear will smell it (even if you can't) and a bear will get it. Store your food indoors (in a hard-sided structure) or use a bear box, if one is available, AT ALL TIMES. Bears don't care about car alarms, door locks, or any other anti-theft devices. Never leave unstored food unattended. If a bear obtains food from your campsite or vehicle, it is one step closer to death-- and it's your fault!

• DO NOT feed, taunt, or tease the bears. Bears are stronger than you. (If you'd like to see how strong they are, take a look in the Valley Visitor Center.) If you feed, taunt, or tease them, they may attack you. There has never been an unprovoked attack by a black bear in Yosemite. If a bear approaches, make noise, wave your arms, and throw SMALL stones at the bear. (The point of throwing objects at the bear is to scare it away-- not to injure it!) Do not chase the bear. Do not run from the bear. Bears run faster than you and climb trees better and faster than you.

  If a bear approaches you because you have food and is not frightened by the above measures, leave the food and walk away. Do not argue with the bear. NEVER try to retrieve anything from a bear.

• DO NOT feed, taunt, or tease the deer. The deer may appear to be harmless, but they have killed people in the past! In fact, the only death due to a wildlife attack that has occurred in Yosemite was caused by a (taunted) deer.

• DO NOT feed the squirrels. By feeding them, you support an unnaturally large population of squirrels. The squirrels may have bubonic (black) plague. If you come into contact with squirrels, YOU could get bubonic plague!

  Remember this: The best way to enjoy the wildlife is to watch it.

• DO NOT ride your bicycle on trails. You are allowed to ride your bicycle ONLY on roads and designated, paved bike paths. If it is not a well paved path with a yellow line down the middle, it is not a bike path. Roads and bike paths are easy to recognize. And remember, pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way. So do not assume that because you are on a bike path, you can ignore everyone else. Use a light if riding at night.

• Pets are not permitted on ANY trails within the park, only on paved surfaces (excluding the tram road in the Mariposa Grove).

• DO NOT collect or deface any of the natural or historical resources. This includes rocks, berries, leaves, cones, pine needles, flowers, arrowheads, or petroglyphs. Do not remove anything from the park (except trash) unless you brought it into the park.

• DO NOT hunt. Hunting is illegal in Yosemite. You will be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.

This list of rules is by no means a complete list, but some of the more important and commonly violated rules.

Have a correction or addition for this FAQ? Then please fill out this Comment Form.

  Copyright © 1996 - 2000 Jeffrey Trust. Copyright © 2002 - 2010 Dan Anderson. All rights reserved. If you have questions or comments, please send a message to Dan Anderson.

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/faq/1.html