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Yosemite Park Entrance Fee
When you arrive in a private car, the park entrance fee is $20 per car. It is valid for seven days, and includes all occupants of the car. Keep the little green receipt they give you and show it each time you enter or exit the park.
In 2012, entrance fees will be waived on:
- January 14-16 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
- April 21-29 (National Park Week)
- June 9 (Get Outdoors Day)
- September 29 (National Public Lands Day)
- November 10-12 (Veterans Day weekend)
Other Passes
These passes admit the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private car. Purchase these passes at any park entrance station.
Yosemite Pass (annual pass): $40
America the Beautiful-National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass: $80
This is an annual admission pass covering admission and standard amenity fees. This replaces the National Parks Pass and Golden Eagle Pass.
Access Pass: Free
This is a lifetime admission and discount pass for US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities.
Senior Pass: $10
This is a lifetime admission and discount pass for US citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 or older.
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YOSEMITE IS VAST!
Here are some of the main points of interest:
1. Yosemite Valley, the center of the Park is where you will find many of the water falls as well as the dramatic granite cliffs, including Half Dome and El Capitan.
2. Glacier Point has a dramatic view overlooking Yosemite Valley. The Glacier Point road is generally open May through October. If so, this is an amazing view point overlooking Yosemite Valley. If it's not open, or if you are inclined for some strenuous exercise, you can do it on foot. It's a great hike about 9 miles round trip.
3. Giant Sequoia Groves. Of the three groves, the main one, Mariposa Grove is located at the south entrance to the park, about an hour and a half drive from us, has hundreds of trees, and because you can drive right to the grove there are usually hundreds of people. However there are two other lovely groves within 15 miles of us, with the same amazing giant Sequoias, but only a handful of them. You have to hike 2 or 3 miles round trip to get to these groves and consequently there are far fewer visitors. The short hike to either of these groves, the Tuolumne, or the Merced Grove, is highly recommended.
4. The high country, Highway 120 east- Tioga Pass Road (generally open Memorial Day, ‘till the snow flies’ in October/November): White Wolf, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, & Tioga Pass. This drive takes you up through and above tree line where the vast expanse of the Sierra really opens up. The views are spectacular! Summer hiking in this region is outstanding!
5. HIKING: There are many great hikes inside the Park, and a few in our surrounding area.
Some of the short hikes in Yosemite Valley, including Vernal Falls and Mirror Lake are great, and extremely popular! A short walk, well worth the 10 minutes, is to the base of Yosemite Falls. To avoid the crowds in Yosemite Valley, avoid the Village areas at the east end of the Valley and instead park in a pull out along the side of the road and walk out into a meadow or down to the river. You will leave the majority of tourists behind.
In the summer time, the high country, specifically Tuolumne Meadows and the Tioga Pass region are ideal for hiking as it is always a little cooler at the higher elevations, and the majority of the crowds are far behind in Yosemite Valley. Just to name a few; Cathedral Lakes, Gaylor Lakes, Lyell Canyon, and Dog Lake are all terrific hikes, with minimal crowds. A few hikes on the way up to the Tuolumne region include Hardin Lake and May Lake/Mount Hoffman. There are also some great, short hikes along the Glacier Point Road including Taft Point, & Sentinel Dome. A little longer, lovely hike is to Dewy Point.
6. Winter, early spring, and the fall are great times to visit the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite, and it is just 20 miles from us. It is a valley like Yosemite Valley, with the granite cliffs and waterfalls, but was dammed at the turn of the last century. It is a beautiful area, particularly appealing in the spring with the waterfalls and wildflowers, as well as the fall with beautiful autumn colors. And since it is a little out of the way, it is not nearly as 'touristy' as Yosemite Valley.
7. Even closer to Sunset Inn, drive about 2 miles to the South Fork of the Tuolumne River on Evergreen Road and you can either walk about ¼ mile downstream for a lovely swimming hole, or go upstream to Carlon Falls, a great hike about 2 or 3 miles round trip!
8. For further advance planning, you might check out the book: 'Moon Handbook- Yosemite', by Ann Marie Brown. You may be able to get this at your local library. It is such a comprehensive guide to the Park that we keep a copy in each of our cabins for your use.
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| Budd Lake and Cathedral Peak |
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TIOGA PASS & GLACIER POINT ROADS
The incredibly scenic Tioga Pass road, Highway 120, crosses the Sierra descending through Yosemite from an elevation of 9,943 at Tioga Pass, the highest trans-sierra route in California, down to about 5,000 feet at the Big Oak Flat entrance gate. It traditionally opens some time in the spring or early summer each year, once the snow has been plowed and conditions are determined safe by the National Park Service.
Just for fun, below is the National Park Service's official chart of
opening and closing dates for the Tioga Pass and Glacier Point Roads,
and now the Mariposa Grove Road as well.
Road Opening and Closing Dates
Clearing of the Tioga Road begins on or about April 15 each year and usually takes between one and two months. Predicting when these roads will open is not possible, even in late spring, because weather in April and May can affect plowing progress significantly.
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Tioga Road |
Glacier Point |
Mariposa Grove |
Snowpack |
|
Year
|
Opened |
Closed |
Opened
|
Closed
|
Opened
|
Closed |
as of Apr. 1
|
| 2011 |
June 18
|
? |
May 27
|
? |
Apr 15
|
? |
178% |
2010
|
June 5
|
Nov 19
|
May 29
|
Nov 7
|
Mar 26/
May 21
|
Nov 20 |
107% |
2009
|
May 19
|
Nov 12
|
May 5
|
Nov 12
|
|
|
92% |
2008
|
May 21
|
Oct 30
|
May 2
|
Dec 12
|
|
|
99% |
2007
|
May 11
|
Dec 6
|
May 4
|
Dec 6
|
|
|
46% |
2006
|
Jun 17
|
Nov 27
|
May 25
|
Nov 27
|
|
|
129% |
2005
|
Jun 24
|
Nov 25
|
May 25
|
?
|
|
|
163% |
2004
|
May 14
|
Oct 17
|
May 14
|
?
|
|
|
83% |
2003
|
May 31
|
Oct 31
|
May 31
|
Oct 31
|
|
|
65% |
2002
|
May 22
|
Nov 5
|
May 17
|
Nov 5
|
|
|
95% |
2001
|
May 12
|
Nov 11
|
May 15
|
?
|
|
|
67% |
2000
|
May 18
|
Nov 9
|
May 15
|
Nov 9
|
|
|
97% |
1999
|
May 28
|
Nov 23
|
May 28
|
Nov 23
|
|
|
110% |
1998
|
Jul 1
|
Nov 12
|
Jul 1
|
Nov 6
|
|
|
156% |
1997
|
Jun 13
|
Nov 12
|
May 22
|
Nov 12
|
|
|
105% |
1996
|
May 31
|
Nov 5
|
May 24
|
Nov 5
|
|
|
111% |
1995
|
Jun 30
|
Dec 11
|
Jul 1
|
Dec 11
|
|
|
178% |
1994
|
May 25
|
Nov 10
|
|
|
|
|
51% |
1993
|
Jun 3
|
Nov 24
|
|
|
|
|
159% |
1992
|
May 15
|
Nov 10
|
|
|
|
|
58% |
1991
|
May 26
|
Nov 14
|
|
|
|
|
79% |
1990
|
May 17
|
Nov 19
|
|
|
|
|
45% |
1989
|
May 12
|
Nov 24
|
|
|
|
|
83% |
1988
|
Apr 29
|
Nov 14
|
|
|
|
|
31% |
1987
|
May 2
|
Nov 13
|
|
|
|
|
51% |
1986
|
May 24
|
Nov 29
|
|
|
|
|
137% |
1985
|
May 8
|
Nov 12
|
|
|
|
|
97% |
1984
|
May 19
|
Nov 8
|
|
|
|
|
85% |
1983
|
Jun 29
|
Nov 11
|
|
|
|
|
224% |
1982
|
May 28
|
Nov 15
|
|
|
|
|
131% |
1981
|
May 15
|
Nov 12
|
|
|
|
|
77% |
1980
|
Jun 6
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Dec 2
|
|
|
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144% |
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