NATIONAL PARK TRIP PLANNER FOR MORE YOSEMITE TRIP PLANNING INFO: MyYosemite.com LIKE US AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/myyosemite GET THE LATEST YOSEMITE NEWS ON TWITTER: @yosemitenp POST YOUR FAVORITE YOSEMITE PICS ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/myyosemitepark WATCH YOSEMITE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: Youtube.com/myyosemitepark START YOUR YOSEMITE BOARD ON PINTEREST: Pinterest.com/natlparktrips Travel Routes Map Trip Logistics Perfect Days Best Hikes Natural Wonders No matter which scenic road you take to Yosemite, discover what to see and do along the way. Get an overview of the park with a map and information about how to get there, what to do and where to stay. Learn more about the towns closest to the park, entrance fees, lodging and campgrounds. Our plan for 48 hours in paradise: Catch a sunrise, picnic on the beach, see the big trees and much more. Hike to the park s best waterfalls and catch amazing views with our guide to activities and attractions. Learn more about the park s enormous sequoias, incredible granite domes and hanging valleys.
Aboard the Sierra DinnerTrain Rich in gold rush history, Sierra DinnerTrain rolls through the open country-side of Central Valley. Our year-round experiences provide a unique venue for entertainment and help preserve this piece of American history for train-lovers of all ages. Book your ride by calling our reservations line at 800.866.1690 or by visiting SierraDinnerTrain.com Connect with us Experience all of the options! High Noon Express Beer Train Old Vine Express Sunset Dinner Murder Mystery Great Train Robbery and many more!
Loop VACATION ITINERARIES Who doesn t love a good road trip? Whether you re coming from the north, south, east or west, one of these six classic routes will get you to Yosemite in fine style. Vegas. TOP 6 ROAD TRIPS Gold Country SNOW SEASON TOUR Los Angeles Loop Best of the Coast Yosemite Viva Las Vegas San Francisco Loop Reno Snow Season Tour Sacramento Yosemite Stockton Sonora San Francisco Lee Vining Oakdale 580 Modesto San Jose 41 Mariposa Gilroy Santa Cruz Kings Canyon Fresno Monterey Pinnacles Visalia Big Sur NEVADA Bishop Valley 395 Independence Furnace Lone Creek Pine 190 Sequoia Las Vegas 1 P A C Pismo Beach Ridgecrest Bakersfield I F Buellton Ventura Camarillo Santa Barbara 14 I Lompoc C O C E A LOS ANGELES LOOP Miles 1,081 Visit five national parks on this loop through southern and central California. From Los Angeles, head straight to the giant trees of Sequoia to see the world s largest living tree and the majestic mountain scenery at Kings Canyon. Nearby towns of Visalia and Exeter make for great stopovers. Continue CALI ALIF FO RNIA Los L os A N Mojave Preserve Grand Canyon eles les Joshua Tree Channel Islands north to Yosemite and explore its granite domes and incredible hiking trails. Then leave the crowds behind and drive Tioga Road across the high country to Mammoth Lakes, Bishop and Lone Pine. Descend from the mountains to Death Valley before pressing on to L.A. VIVA LAS VEGAS Miles 1,175 The glittering lights in Las Vegas can be intoxicating, so get your entertainment fill and then head west to Death Valley. Explore this amazing place before pointing your wheels north through startlingly beautiful high-desert landscapes dotted with towns like Bishop and Lone Pine. Enter Yosemite through the East Entrance, taking the breathtaking Tioga Road. After exploring the park, exit through the South Entrance and visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks on your return route to Las BEST OF THE COAST LOOP Miles 1,105 See rugged beaches, seaside towns and vibrant culture on this far-ranging loop. From LA, drive to Ventura and Oxnard and take the ferry to Channel Islands. Return to the mainland and explore Camarillo, Buellton, Lompoc, Santa Maria and Pismo Beach and Monterey. Head inland to Pinnacles and Gilroy. Visit San Francisco before pointing your wheels east to Yosemite. Finish back in LA. GOLD COUNTRY LOOP Miles 449 Savor a slower pace on this central California trip. From Sacramento, drive south and east to Mariposa County for a dose of Gold Rush history. Enter Yosemite through the South Entrance and explore its amazing wonders. Leave the park via Groveland and visit Sonora and Jamestown, both full of Gold Rush historic sites. Head west through Oakhurst on your return route to Sacramento. SAN FRANCISCO LOOP Miles 431 There are few better places to start a road trip than San Francisco. Walk on the Golden Gate Bridge and then explore the city s fantastic sights by ferry or foot. Then head to the Tri-Valley, known as the sunny side of the bay. Don t get so tangled up in the vineyards that you neglect the valley s amazing beer trail. From there head east to historic Mariposa at the most southern end of Gold Rush towns. Beyond lies Yosemite. When you leave the park, head to Tuolumne County where great state parks, apple orchards and gold panning await. SNOW SEASON TOURS Miles varies Try one of these three winter routes, which pass through festive gateway towns full of wintry fun. Head to Groveland to reach ski and snowshoe trails at Hetch Hetchy and Big Oak Flat; Mariposa for a direct route to ice skating in the Yosemite Valley; and Oakhurst for the quickest route to Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area, formerly Badger Pass Ski Area, on Glacier Point Road. BE AN INSIDER Get detailed itineraries, including the best places to eat and explore, online at myyosemitepark.com. MAP BY PETER SUCHESKI
PARK ENTRANCE PRIMER There are five entrances into Yosemite, and the road to each of them offers unique sights to see along the way. To give you a lay of the land, four of Yosemite s entrances are located on the western side of the park while the fifth, the Tioga Pass Entrance, is on the more remote eastern side. Choose your entrance based on your starting point, the likelihood you ll run into crowds or because of the attractions along the way. 1.HETCH HETCHY ENTRANCE (HWY.120) Leave the crowds behind at this entrance. The farthest north of the four western entrances, the Hetch Hetchy Entrance leads you to one of the park s quieter areas. In 2015, only 21,070 visitors ventured this far north in the park during all 12 months of the year in comparison to 4,305,301 visitors to the entire Yosemite, says Jamie Richards, a park public affairs officer. Access it via 120 and by Evergreen Road. It is open throughout the year, but only during daylight hours unless you have a backcountry permit. Inhabited for more than 6,000 years, the Hetch Hetchy Valley was home to Native Americans until the 1850s when settlers arrived in the area. It is believed that the word Hetch Hetchy comes from the Miwok word hetchetici, which described the seeds of native grass used for food and other things. Lower in elevation than other park areas, Hetch Hetchy has a long hiking season from early spring through fall. Two of North America s largest waterfalls are here, flowing from a thousand feet up over granite. This entrance is home to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which supplies water to 2.4 million residents and businesses in San Francisco and produces hydroelectric power. Because it is a drinking water source, the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is off limits to swimming and boating. 2. BIG OAK FLAT ENTRANCE (HWY.120) Driving from the Bay Area? One of the two direct routes is through the Big Oak Flat Entrance. To reach it, take I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 120 east via Manteca, Calif. Along the way, don t miss Groveland, a quaint town situated 24 miles from the park with shops, hotels and restaurants. It s the largest town between the entrance and Sonora, Calif. Discover live outdoor music during the summer on the historic Groveland Hotel patio and daily wine tastings at the historic Hotel Charlotte. Be sure to stop by the Iron Door Saloon, the oldest continuously operating saloon in the state, which opened its doors in 1852. You ll reach the Big Oak Flat Information Station after you go through the park entrance. Use the restroom and get more information about the park. The station has maps and sells books. From here, access the Yosemite Valley via Big Oak Flat Road. You also can reach Tioga Road, which heads farther north and east, cutting through the park. Along the way, you ll pass Tuolumne Meadows before reaching the Tioga Pass Entrance on the east side of the park. Tioga Road is closed November through May, depending on snow. 3. ARCH ROCK ENTRANCE (HWY.140) The other direct route from the San Francisco area leads you to the Arch Rock Entrance via I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 140 east into the park. Hwy. 140 becomes El Portal Road, which leads you to Yosemite Valley. The closest settlement to Yosemite is El Portal, which has a gas station, El Portal Market, a picnic area and campgrounds. To the west of El Portal is Midpines and Mariposa. Mariposa is the largest of the three with the most services. Home to a variety of shops, restaurants, lodging, quaint Mariposa was founded in 1849 and is the most southern of the Gold Rush towns. You ll find quirky places like the Happy Burger Diner, which, despite its name, offers vegan and vegetarian options and the largest menu you re likely to ever see. The Smithsonian Institute has named the Mariposa Museum and History Center one of the best small museums in America. It features people and lifestyle of the Gold Rush days and late 1800s. 4. SOUTH ENTRANCE (HWY. 41) If you are traveling from San Diego or the Los Angeles area, your nearest entrance will be the South Entrance, accessed by Highway 41. Fish Camp, a tiny settlement that has several different types of lodging and a general store, is the last town before the park. Thirteen miles from Fish Camp is the more bustling town of Oakhurst with some national chain hotels, along with art galleries, locally owned restaurants, bookstores and gold-panning activities. En route from Oakhurst to the park, stop at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, which offers three different rides on two operating steam engine train locomotives: a 30-minute excursion, a 1-hour ride and the Moonlight Special, a 3-hour evening that includes a BBQ dinner, a train ride, campfire sing-along and entertainment. 5. TIOGA PASS ENTRANCE (HWY. 120) Going to Yosemite from the Lake Tahoe area, Las Vegas or Death Valley from May through October? If so, head to Yosemite from the eastern side of the park via the Tioga Pass Entrance. Reno is about 140 miles and about a 3-hour drive away from this entrance. Las Vegas is a little less than a 6-hour drive. Death Valley is 225 miles and 4 hours and 15 minutes away (depending on where you are in Death Valley). The only park entrance on the east side, it s usually open May through October, depending on snow and weather conditions. Check the park site in advance to be sure it is open. Sandwiched between the park and Mono Basin Forest Scenic Area, Lee Vining is a charming, tiny town and the closest one to the entrance. Home to a little more than 200 residents, you won t find a Holiday Inn or Denny s here. This is where locally owned businesses thrive. You ll find a collection of restaurants and lodges to stay. BIKERS RIDE ALONG THE BOARDWALKS IN YOSEMITE VALLEY. MAP BY PETER SUCHESKI
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48 HOURS IN YOSEMITE Only have 48 hours? Make the most of your time by visiting some of our favorite spots in the park. MARIPOSA GROVE Slated to reopen in summer 2017 after a lengthy restoration project, this grove is the largest of the park's three groves and home to approximately 500 giant sequoias. BREAKFAST AT BIG TREES LODGE (FORMERLY WAWONA HOTEL) With the sun streaming through large windows, this charming restaurant set in a Victorian-era hotel has a great breakfast menu to fuel you for the day. HIKE DOWN FROM GLACIER POINT ON FOUR-MILE TRAIL Absolutely stunning views surround you at Glacier Point, a popular viewpoint, before you descend through forested and rocky terrain with amazing views to the valley bottom. VALLEY VISITOR CENTER AND ANSEL ADAMS GALLERY Stop at the Valley Visitor Center, an intimate place for all ages to learn about the geology and cultural history of the park. Next door, you ll find the Ansel Adams Gallery, featuring Adams work and a gift shop. Reserve your spot for the free camera walk at 209-372-4413. Learn more at anseladams.com.. PHOTOS BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE, ARAMARK (PIZZA DECK)
FLOAT ON THE MERCED Cool off by renting a raft at Half Dome Village (formerly Curry Village). The Service has reduced the number of rafts allowed on the river, so check with the boat kiosk in Half Dome Village to rent your boat and learn the latest regulations. DRIVE TIOGA ROAD AND PICNIC AT TENAYA BEACH Located off Tioga Road, Tenaya Lake is impossible to miss as you descend from Tuolumne Meadows. The 150-acre snowmelt lake offers polar-bear swimming in summer and a great place to picnic on sunny, whitesand beaches. Follow the 1-mile path around the lake s south side to a shoreline away from the crowds. HIKE MIST TRAIL This trail climbs 1,000 feet to reach the top of 317-foot Vernal Fall in 1.5 miles. It continues nearly 1,000 more feet to the top of 594-foot Nevada Fall. EAT DINNER AT THE PIZZA DECK In the heart of Half Dome Village, enjoy hand-tossed pizza and salads on this legendary outdoor deck with views of Glacier Point. DINE AT THE MAJESTIC YOSEMITE HOTEL (FORMERLY AHWAHNEE HOTEL) Opened in 1927, Yosemite s legendary hotel serves gourmet cuisine in a stunning dining room with 34-foot-high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.
NAME CHANGES You may not recognize the names of some of Yosemite s legendary landmarks next time you visit. The 2016 name changes came on the heels of a trademark dispute between the Service and Delaware North, the company that operated Yosemite s concessions from 1993 until it lost a bid to renew its contract. officials changed some names [see which ones to the right] to avoid issues when Aramark, the new park concessionaire, took the reins on March 1, 2016. Delaware North has said it had to buy intellectual property from the previous concessionaire, including the lodges original names, when it became the park s concessionaire. The Service refutes the names were part of the deal and is fighting to retain the names. The name, Yosemite, also is part of the dispute, but it remains in use. OLD NAME Badger Pass Ski Area Wawona Hotel Curry Village Yosemite Lodge at the Falls Ahwahnee Hotel NEW NAME Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area Big Trees Lodge Half Dome Village Yosemite Valley Lodge Majestic Yosemite Hotel PARK PASS A park pass costs $30/vehicle at the Yosemite entrance stations and is valid for seven days. You also can purchase the Yosemite Pass for $60 for unlimited visits to the park for 12 months. Planning on visiting more than one park this year? Consider the America the Beautiful annual pass for $80. The Access Pass is a free lifetime admission and discount pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with lifelong disabilities. The Senior Pass costs $10 for U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are 62 and older. Don t forget fourth graders and their families get in free. To get a complimentary one-year pass, print out a paper voucher at everykidinapark. gov and present the voucher at a national park entrance station. FLOAT THE MERCED RIVER WITH VIEWS OF HALF DOME PHOTOS BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE
NATURAL WONDERS Yosemite and other nearby parks are full of incredible natural features from the world s largest trees to one-of-a-kind geologic formations. Here s where to see the best of them. See the Big Trees Yosemite is home to hundreds of the world s largest trees, the giant sequoia. Crane your neck with this handy guide. MARIPOSA GROVE Read the Rocks Yosemite s natural history of glaciation, erosion and flowing water is written on the landscape if you know where to look. Here s how to decipher the park s unique geology. GRANITE DOME These round-topped peaks formed about 65 million years ago when igneous rock deep within the Earth cooled to form granite and was uplifted to the surface. The top layers cleaved off over time, progressively rounding the peaks. SEE IT Half Dome and El Capitan, both strenuous hikes or climbs, are visible from many viewpoints in the valley. For an easier trip, hike the 1.1-mile (one-way) trail to the top of Sentinel Dome (trailhead on Glacier Point Road). No doubt about it. Giant sequoias are impressive trees. Part of the redwood family, the sequoia is the largest tree species on the planet and the third longest-lived. These mammoths can reach more than 300 feet in height and 40 feet in diameter. They grow only between 4,500 and 7,000 feet in elevation on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. MARIPOSA GROVE, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK About 500 mature sequoias grow here, making Mariposa the park s largest grove. You ll see famous specimens such as Grizzly Giant (1,800 years old, with a 96-foot circumference), California Tunnel Tree, and Columbia Tree (the tallest tree in Yosemite at 285 feet). Get there In 2016 the access road to Mariposa Grove remained closed for a restoration project that is removing pavement and adding hiking trails. One portion of the grove will be accessible to hikers and horseback riders via a difficult, 12-mile round trip from Wawona to the Outer Loop Trail, from which several sequoias can be seen. Mariposa Grove is slated to reopen fully in spring 2017. TUOLUMNE AND MERCED GROVES, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK These two smaller groves offer the most accessible way to see the big trees at Yosemite while Mariposa Grove remains closed. Get there Tuolumne Grove: at Tuolumne Grove parking area on Tioga Road near Crane Flat and hike the steep, 1-mile trail. Merced Grove: at the Merced Grove trailhead on Big Oak Flat Road and hike the steep, 2-mile trail. In winter, both groves are reachable via ski or snowshoe. GIANT FOREST, SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK This enormous grove holds thounds of sequoias, including the world s most famous: General Sherman Tree. At 275 feet tall and 103 feet in circumference, it s the biggest tree on Earth. Hike the 2-mile Congress Trail and the 1.2-mile Big Trees Trail to see General Sherman and many more. Get there near the Giant Forest Museum or the lot off Wolverton Road in Sequoia about 2.5 hours south of Yosemite. REDWOOD MOUNTAIN FOREST GROVE, KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK One of the world s largest groves, this stand has thousands of old-growth sequoias. Loop trails (up to 10 miles) wind through the forest. Get there Turn right off the General s Highway at Quail Flat in Kings Canyon and take the dirt road 2 miles to the grove. ROCHE MOUTONNÉE These features are similar to domes but have asymmetrical ridges smoothed over by passing glaciers. SEE IT Hike 5.2 miles (round-trip) to summit Lembert Dome (despite its name, it s actually a roche moutonnée), a fun scramble with views of Tuolumne Meadows (Tuolumne Meadows shuttle stop #4). HANGING VALLEY Sometimes, the main channel of a valley is downcut by glaciers more deeply and quickly than its tributary valleys. This leaves the tributary hanging above the primary valley when the glaciers melt. SEE IT Bridalveil Fall pours dramatically from a hanging valley. Get a glimpse from Tunnel View on Wawona Road. NUNATAK Nunataks are mountains that towered high enough to escape the grind of advancing glaciers, leaving their jagged, toothy peaks intact. SEE IT Take the 7-mile (round-trip) hike to Cathedral Lake to see 10,912-foot Cathedral Peak, a double-peaked nunatak, rising above the water. GLACIAL ERRATIC Ever wonder how a hulking, out-ofplace boulder came to rest in a flat meadow? Glaciers plow up huge chunks of rock and debris as they pass through a valley and deposit them haphazardly across the landscape. SEE IT Scan the rocky slopes at Olmsted Point just west of Tenaya Lake off of Tioga Road to see erratics dotting the area.
WHERE TO SLEEP Essential park information for camping, staying in a lodge or backpacking LODGING Reserve all lodging in Yosemite (including the High Sierra Camps) through the park s concessionaire, Aramark. lodging is often fully booked months out, so plan ahead and make your reservations early (www.travelyosemite. com). The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, formerly known as the Ahwahnee Hotel: The park s most luxurious hotel, this historic lodge has an upscale restaurant, more casual bar and gift shop. From $448 Half Dome Village, formerly known as Curry Village: Rustic cabins, tent cabins and motel rooms, plus a food court. From $126 Housekeeping Camp: Threesided concrete structures with privacy curtains. From $99 High Sierra Camps: The price for each of the five backcountry tent cabins includes beds, dinner and breakfast. The cabins are along a stunning loop trail accessible only on foot and horseback. From $151 for adults and $81 for children ages 7-12 Tuolumne Meadows Lodge: Tent cabin village on Tioga Road near the park s East Entrance. From $127 Big Trees Lodge, formerly Wawona Hotel: This Victorian-era lodge near the South Entrance offers golf, a museum, and dining. From $130 White Wolf Lodge: Small collection of cabins and tent cabins off Tioga Road, plus dining room. From $139 Yosemite Valley Lodge, formerly Yosemite Lodge at the Falls: Hotel with restaurant and food court near Yosemite Falls. From $234 CAMPGROUNDS AND PERMITS Car Campgrounds Yosemite has 13 campgrounds. Seven are on a reservation system in high season. The rest are first-come, firstserved, although some reserve half the sites for walk-ins (recreation.gov). Upper Pines: The largest of the campgrounds in Yosemite Valley, this 238-site facility is open year-round and fits RVs up to 35. $26 Lower Pines: This smaller campground in the valley (just 60 sites) is open April through October. Max RV is 40. $26 North Pines: The valley s third campground has the best waterfront access for easy swimming. Open spring through fall; fits RVs up to 40. $26 Camp 4: This tent-only, climberdominated campground is first-come, first-served. Open year-round. $6/ person Wawona: Get easy access to Mariposa Grove from this south-side, 93-site campground. Open year-round; fits RVs up to 35. $26 Bridalveil Creek: Located on Glacier Point Road, this 110-site camp is only open summer and early fall. First-come, first served. Max RV length is 35. $18 Hodgdon Meadow: Large (105 sites) campground on Oak Flat Road on the park s west side. Open year-round; fits RVs up to 40. $26 Crane Flat: Also located on Oak Flat Road, this camp is close to the Merced and Tuolumne groves of sequoias. Open spring through fall. Fits RVs up to 40. $26 Tamarack Flat: This quiet, 52-site campground is on a short dirt road off of Tioga Road. Open late spring through fall; first-come, first-served; no RVs. $12 White Wolf: Up in the high country off Tioga Road, this 74-site campground is open late spring to early fall. RVs up to 27. $18 Yosemite Creek: This summer-only campground is on a dirt road off Tioga Road at 7,700 feet; first-come, firstserved; no RVs. $12 Porcupine Flat: Head up Tioga Road for your best shot at a last-minute walkin campsite; first-come, first-served. This 52-site camp tends to fill later in the morning than others. Open summer through fall. Fits RVs up to 24. $12 Tuolumne Meadows: Lovely highelevation campground on the park s east side. It s the park s largest with 304 sites. Open summer and early fall. 50 percent of sites are first-come, firstserved. Fits RVs up to 35. $26 Wilderness Camping Yosemite offers extensive opportunities for backpacking on 800 miles of trail. Free permits are required. Reservations are recommended (except in winter) because of high demand and are available up to 26 weeks in advance. Cost is $5/permit plus $5/person. Obtain a form and info at: myyosemitepark.com/resources. Submit permit by fax 24 hours a day. Permits are also available on a first-come, first-served basis at six Wilderness Permit Stations throughout the park. To up your chances of receiving your top choice, head to the permit station closest to your desired trailhead by 11 a.m. the day before your intended start date. THE MAJESTIC YOSEM- ITE HOTEL, FORMERLY AHWAHNEE HOTEL PHOTO BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE
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