Yosemite National Park
Granite cliffs, waterfalls and giant sequoia groves in California's central Sierra Nevada. Most visitors spend most of their time in Yosemite Valley, a glacier-carved valley of about seven square miles.
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Yosemite National Park sits in California's central Sierra Nevada, covering about 1,187 square miles across four counties, centered on Tuolumne and Mariposa. The National Park Service manages it. Most visitors spend most of their time in Yosemite Valley, a glacier-carved valley of about seven square miles. There you find El Capitan, a huge granite cliff that climbers come to for its size and routes, and Half Dome, which rises about 4,800 feet above the valley floor. Yosemite Falls, at 2,425 feet, is the fourth tallest waterfall in North America, according to the World Waterfall Database.
The park suits visitors who like to walk. The valley has short strolls and longer hikes, and more than 800 miles of trails run through the park in total. Tuolumne Meadows, in the high country, is known for hiking and climbing. Three giant sequoia groves are in the park, including Mariposa Grove with about 200 trees. Waterfalls run strongest in April, May and June, when the snow melts. From June to August, traffic is heavy in the valley and parking is often full, so use the free shuttle bus that runs there.
Yosemite National Park in five
- No reservation to enter in 2026The park does not require a reservation to enter in 2026. From spring to fall, arrive before 9am or after 5pm to avoid entry lines.Permits and reservations
- Budget for the nonresident surchargeNon-US residents 16 and over pay a $100 fee per person on top of the $35 vehicle fee, unless they hold an annual pass. See how the pass math works before you buy.Park fee for visitors
- Apply for Half Dome in MarchThe cables need a permit. Apply in the preseason lottery from March 1 to 31, or in the daily lottery two days before your hike.Half Dome permits
- See the waterfalls in springYosemite Falls and the valley falls run strongest in May and June. By late summer several are a trickle or dry.
- Check Tioga and Glacier Point roadsBoth close in winter and reopen in late spring or early summer, depending on snow. Check the NPS road status before you plan a high-country day.
Things to do in Yosemite National Park
See all attractions in Yosemite National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- $35 per vehicle, 7 days. Non-US residents 16+ add $100 each Read more
- Permits
- Half Dome (lottery) and overnight wilderness trips; no entry reservation Read more
- Season
- Valley open all year; Tioga Road usually June to November
- Nearest town
- El Portal, Mariposa, Oakhurst or Groveland
- Getting there
- Fresno (FAT) about 2 hours; San Francisco about 4 hours
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow11 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh2°Low-8°Snow, quietJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -8°
- Precipitation
- 245 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 9
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, quiet
- FebruarySnow10 rainy days8 snowy daysHigh2°Low-9°Horsetail FallFebruarySnow
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -9°
- Precipitation
- 223 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 8
- Days with storms
- 0
Horsetail Fall
- MarchSnow13 rainy days11 snowy daysHigh2°Low-8°Waterfalls risingMarchSnow
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -8°
- Precipitation
- 274 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 11
- Days with storms
- 0
Waterfalls rising
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh7°Low-4°Waterfalls strongAprilPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Waterfalls strong
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh11°Low-1°Peak waterfallsMayPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak waterfalls
- JuneClear5 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh19°Low6°Tioga often opensJuneClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Tioga often opens
- JulyClear4 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh24°Low10°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, busy
- AugustClear4 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh23°Low10°Hot, smoke riskAugustClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, smoke risk
- SeptemberClear4 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh19°Low6°Quieter, falls lowSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Quieter, falls low
- OctoberClear4 rainy days1 snowy day1 day with stormsHigh14°Low1°Fall colorOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 1
Fall color
- NovemberClear8 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh7°Low-4°Roads closingNovemberClear
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Roads closing
- DecemberSnow10 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh3°Low-7°Snow, quietDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -7°
- Precipitation
- 281 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, quiet
Average daily high and low in Yosemite Valley, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Yosemite National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
5
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 97%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Yosemite National Park
04:04 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today6°-6°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue3°-9°37%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -9°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Wed4°-9°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 4°, Low -9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu6°-2°0%Thursday: Fog. High 6°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri10°0°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat12°2°0%Saturday: Clear. High 12°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun13°2°0%Sunday: Clear. High 13°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 12:33 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Yosemite National Park
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Yosemite National Park, checked
- Half Dome: permit required beyond the subdome when the cables are up, by preseason or daily lottery on Recreation.govChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
- Overnight wilderness trips need a wilderness permitChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
- Nonresident fee: $100 per person aged 16 and over, on top of the entrance fee, unless you hold an annual passChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Yosemite National Park
Entry rules, money and the park reservation picture
Read the guideSan FranciscoThe usual gateway city, about 4 hours away
Read the guideKings Canyon National ParkGiant sequoias and deep canyons to the south
Read the guideMammoth LakesEast-side base across Tioga Pass when it is open
Read the guideNational park fee for visitorsThe extra nonresident charge and the annual pass
Read the guideTravel insurance for the USARescue, smoke closures and US medical bills
Read the guideYosemite National Park FAQ
Do I need a reservation to enter Yosemite in 2026?
No. There is no day-use or peak-hours reservation in 2026. You pay the entrance fee at the gate, and need reservations only for lodging, camping and permits.
How do I get a Half Dome permit?
Apply in the preseason lottery from March 1 to 31, or in the daily lottery two days before your hike. It costs $10 to apply plus $10 per person if you win.
When are the waterfalls best?
May and June, when snowmelt peaks. Yosemite Falls often dries up by late summer.
How many days do I need in Yosemite?
Two days covers the valley and Glacier Point. Add a day for Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows when the road is open.
Where should I stay for Yosemite?
In the valley if you can book far ahead; otherwise El Portal or Mariposa on the west side, which are about an hour from the valley floor. Oakhurst and Groveland add a longer drive.