All others will be asked to enter Yosemite via Highway 140. Local residents and guests staying in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite West, and Wawona will be allowed to enter via South Entrance.
Visitors planning to visit the Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area will be asked to enter the park via Highway 140.
A series of winter storms are expected to pass through the Yosemite Area, beginning on Tuesday evening through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Yosemite National Park is open year-round with snow removal on all other roads within the park. Highway 120 West, Highway 140, and Highway 41 remain open year-round and provide access to Yosemite Valley. The Hetch Hetchy Road is open for day use throughout the winter months.
All roads within the park are subject to chain control or temporary closures due to hazardous driving conditions. All motorists are required to carry tire chains, even if their car is equipped with four-wheel drive, while driving in the park during the winter months.
For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200.
There are numerous skating session times available, and visitors purchase skating tickets/rentals at the Half Dome Village Kiosk (adjacent to the registration office). For pricing and more information, go to https://www.travelyosemite.com/winter/half-dome-village-ice-skating-rink.
WEEKDAYS Monday & Friday
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
WEEKENDS Saturday & Sunday
12:00 pm - 2:30 pm
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
HOLIDAYS
8:30 am - 11:00 am
12:00 pm - 2:30 pm
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area Season Pass savings is available from now until 9/30/2018! You can purchase the YSSA season pass online via the website below. Actual passes can be picked up at the ski area when it opens for the season. https://www.travelyosemite.com/special-offers/specials-packages/activities/ski-area-season-pass/
“As the largest protection, restoration and improvement project in park history, this milestone reflects the unbridled passion so many people have to care for Yosemite so that future generations can experience majestic places like Mariposa Grove,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Michael Reynolds. “These trees sowed the seeds of the national park idea in the 1800s and because of this incredible project it will remain one of the world’s most significant natural and cultural resources.”
Mariposa Grove is home to about 500 mature giant sequoias, which are among the largest living things on Earth. The grove and Yosemite Valley were protected in 1864 as part of the Yosemite Grant Act, the nation’s first legislation focused on preserving public lands. The National Park Service and Yosemite Conservancy donors each provided $20 million to fund the $40 million project. The grove has been closed to the public since July 2015 when restoration activities began.
At a new arrival area, where shuttle busses will drop-off visitors, officials marked the grove reopening with a ribbon cutting and a tribal blessing. Speakers highlighted the grove’s historical significance, the importance of preserving our natural places, and the effectiveness of the National Park Service and Yosemite Conservancy partnership to accomplish exceptional work in the park.
“The grove restoration occurred because tens of thousands of people all invested in protecting a unique natural phenomenon,” said Yosemite Conservancy President Frank Dean. “Trails are supposed to take visitors someplace magical. Today, a walk in the grove has been transformed into a more beautiful and peaceful experience with the focus squarely on the trees.”
Instead of parking amid the grove, a visit today starts at the new Welcome Plaza near the park’s South Entrance, where a cross section of a fallen sequoia that lived for more than 800 years reminds visitors of the ancient place they are about to explore. From the plaza, visitors will take a free two-mile shuttle bus ride to the Grove Arrival Area where habitat grows in what was once parking areas for vehicles, tour busses, trams and employees. The grove’s trails are now made of natural surfaces instead of pavement, and wooden boardwalks hover over sensitive wetland to protect habitat and sequoia roots. Rattlesnake Creek is flowing again after culverts blocking waterflows were replaced by one of the elevated boardwalks. Another new trail invites people of all abilities to experience the famous Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree.
“There is wetland or vegetation that was once pavement, but it’s impossible to know by looking now what was there before,” said Dean. “It is a remarkable transformation.”
A Yosemite Conservancy-funded assessment of Mariposa Grove became the foundation for the restoration plan. That survey, the first ever conducted in the grove, identified an estimated population of 5,803 trees of all sizes, including seedlings, saplings, juveniles and adults. Park biologists learned that 81 percent of the juvenile sequoias and 68 percent of saplings grow within 100 feet of wetlands, an important factor in the redesign of paths and installation of boardwalk to ensure the health of the grove.
Giant Sequoias can grow to be 300 feet high, 35 feet in diameter and 100 feet in circumference. One of the grove’s largest trees, the Grizzly Giant, is 209 feet tall and an estimated 1,800 years old. The grove is also home to more than 70 wildlife species, including rare wildlife such as pallid bats, Pacific fishers, and spotted owls.
Giant Sequoias can grow to be 300 feet high, 35 feet in diameter and 100 feet in circumference. One of the grove’s largest trees, the Grizzly Giant, is 209 feet tall and an estimated 1,800 years old. The grove is also home to more than 70 wildlife species, including rare wildlife such as pallid bats, Pacific fishers, and spotted owls.
Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza is located at the park’s Southern Entrance at Hwy. 41 and is open every day.
Free shuttle busses from the Welcome Plaza to the grove depart in summer 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Yosemite Conservancy volunteers orient visitors and operate a new gift shop at the Welcome Plaza.
Parking in the new Southern Entrance Welcome Plaza includes 285 spaces, eight accessible, and 16 oversized vehicle spaces, two of which are accessible.
Parking at the trailhead to the grove, called the Grove Arrival Plaza, includes 33 spaces, and vehicles displaying valid disabled placards may drive there when the gate is open.
More than 1 million people visit Mariposa Grove annually.
There will be limited services available along Tioga Road. All campgrounds along Tioga Road remain closed. There is no anticipated opening date for the Tuolumne Meadows store and the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center. There is no gasoline available along Tioga Road. The closest gas station is located at Crane Flat.
Yosemite National Park is open year-round. All motorists should drive with caution and be aware of possible hazards in the roadway, including rocks, debris, and water. Tioga Road may be impacted by incoming storm activity, including snow and icy driving conditions, over the next week.
Tioga Road may temporarily close due to weather and unsafe driving conditions at any time. Tioga Road is a seasonal road through Yosemite National Park, typically open from late spring to early fall.
For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200.
Yosemite Medical Clinic has resumed its normal operating hours, i.e., 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call 372-4637.
There have been multiple sightings of mountain lions in the last week in the Hodgdon Meadows area. While lions are a normal and important part of Yosemite, their presence requires that we take certain precautions such as:
Keep children close to you.
Never feed wildlife such as deer, raccoons, squirrels, or coyotes- these animals are prey for mountain lions.
Feed pets inside and keep pets leashed.
Hiking or running alone is not recommended.
If you encounter a lion, take the following actions immediately:
Shout in a low voice, wave your arms to look large and threatening.
Maintain eye contact with the lion and do not crouch down.
Throw rocks or sticks at the lion.
Never run!
Pick up or restrain small children or pets.
If a lion attacks, fight back.
I would be smart to always assume there are mountain lions in the park and may be close by. They are shy and solitary animals, count yourself lucky to see one in the wild!
There will be limited visitor services available at Glacier Point. There is no projected opening date for the Glacier Point store or the Bridalveil Creek Campground.
The Four Mile Trail is open from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point.
Visitors are encouraged to slow down and drive with caution along all park roads, as bears and other wildlife may be present on or near the roadway. Drivers should be aware of potential hazards in the road, including wet and icy conditions or debris in the roadway.
or updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200, press 1 and press 1 again.
The NPS last October proposed a plan to adopt seasonal pricing at Yosemite and 16 other national parks to raise additional revenue for infrastructure and maintenance needs. The fee structure announced today addresses many concerns and ideas provided by the public on how best to address fee revenue for parks.
Revenue from entrance fees remains in the National Park Service and helps ensure a quality experience for all who visit. Here in Yosemite National Park, 80 percent of entrance fees stay in the park and are devoted to spending that supports the visitor. We share the other 20 percent of entry fee income with other national parks for their projects.
“Your recreation fee dollars support critical programs and services that directly benefit visitors to Yosemite National Park,” stated Yosemite Superintendent Michael Reynolds. “Visitors to Yosemite deserve to experience world class campgrounds and other facilities in a world class park. This fee increase will help the park address many important maintenance and infrastructure needs.”
The additional revenue from entrance fees at Yosemite National Park will help the park update aging restrooms and water treatment plants, support restoration needs at Bridalveil Fall, address maintenance needs in the Upper and Lower Pines Campgrounds, improve hiking trails, and improve visitor parking areas.
National parks have experienced record breaking visitation, with more than 1.5 billion visitors in the last five years. Throughout the country, the combination of aging infrastructure and increased visitation affects park roads, bridges, buildings, campgrounds, water systems, bathrooms, and other facilities. Maintenance deferred on these facilities amounts to $11.6 billion nationwide backlog.
Entrance fees collected by the National Park Service totaled $199.9 million in Fiscal Year 2016. The NPS estimates that once fully implemented, the new fee structure will increase annual entrance fee revenue by about $60 million.
Yosemite National Park has had an entrance fee since 1913. The current rate of $30 per vehicle or $20 per motorcycle has been in effect since 2015. The park is one of 117 in the National Park System that charges an entrance fee. The remaining 300 sites are free to enter.
The price of the annual America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass and Lifetime Senior Pass will remain $80.
For more information go to https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Yosemite National Park will be hosting an Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 21, 2018 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in front of the Valley Visitor Center. All activities are free for all ages and entrance to the park is free on Saturday.
Join Park Rangers and our partners and learn how we are working to preserve and protect natural and cultural resources in Yosemite National Park. The park will also be celebrating National Junior Ranger Day, National Park Week, Park Rx Day, and John Muir’s Birthday.
Some of the day’s highlights include:
Visit informative and interactive booths in Yosemite Village. Enjoy face painting and traditional tool demonstrations.
Enjoy a fun and interactive musical performance with Ranger Kate
Connect with a Park Ranger and learn about bears and other wildlife that call Yosemite home.
Visit the Happy Isles Art and Nature Center and share your love of Yosemite with an art project sponsored by Yosemite Conservancy
Join a photo walk and explore Yosemite Valley through your camera’s lens with photographers from The Ansel Adams Gallery
Experience how Shakespeare and Yosemite National Park come together through a free performance of UC Merced’s Shakespeare in Yosemite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. For more information, visit https://www.ucmerced.edu/Shakespeare
Visitor parking will be available at the Yosemite Village Parking Area and at Half Dome Village. Visitors are encouraged to park and utilize the free park shuttle to get to the Yosemite Valley Village and Visitor Center.
Public transportation is a wonderful way to visit Yosemite Valley. YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) buses run multiple times daily and provide visitors with a safe and convenient way to visit the park. YARTS buses will be Free on April 21 and April 22, 2018. For more information, visit https://yarts.com/news/free-yarts-yosemite-earth-day-weekend-april-21-22-2018/
For more information on Earth Day in Yosemite and helpful travel tips, visit the park’s website: www.nps.gov/yose
The weekend of April 21 and 22, 2018 will be very busy in Yosemite National Park. Visitors planning to join us are encouraged to plan their trips in advance. Parking areas throughout the park are expected to fill early in the day.
The Spring Bear Dance Ceremony will be held this Saturday and Sunday, April 7th to April 8th, at the Village of Ahwahnee behind the Valley Visitor Center.
Road crews will begin snow removal operations on the Glacier Point Road beyond Badger Pass. The gate at Chinquapin is now closed and locked. There will no longer be public access. Administrative Access will be authorized only between Chinquapin and Badger. Recreational activities such as bicycling will not be allowed on the road during this time.
The Mist Trail is closed due to hazardous conditions from the John Muir Trail junction to the top of Vernal Fall. The 4 Mile Trail above the gate near Union Point is also closed until further notice due to snow and ice.
New program to improve visitor experience and reduce traffic congestion. Reservations Required This Year To See Yosemite ‘Firefall’
Yosemite National Park announces a new program for the Horsetail Fall event taking place from February 12-26, 2018. This program has been created to improve the overall visitor experience to view the natural Horsetail Fall phenomenon that occurs each year in mid-February when the sun’s light at sunset causes the waterfall on El Capitan to glow like it is on fire.
Due to the skyrocketing popularity of the Natural Firefall, which now attracts thousands of spectators, Yosemite National Park is testing some new rules for 2018.
From February 12 – 26, the park service is creating a restricted zone from Yosemite Valley Lodge to El Capitan Crossover. This zone offers some of the best views of Horsetail Fall. This pilot program was created to reduce traffic jams, which have become a problem in recent years.
All visitors can enter the restricted zone on foot. To park inside the zone, you must obtain one of 300 free permits (250 available online, 50 first-come, first-served).
Free parking reservations for each day of the event will be available online, beginning on Saturday February 3, 2018 at 9:00 am PST. To book a parking reservation, visit https://2018horsetailfall.eventbrite.com/.
250 parking reservations (a parking reservation is good for a carload of passengers) will be available for each day of the event through EventBrite. 50 first come, first served permits will be available each day from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village.
All online reservation holders will need to bring a printed copy of their reservation confirmation in person to The Ansel Adams Gallery between 9:00 am to 3:00 pm to pick up their vehicle Parking Permit for the event on the day of the reservation. Any permits not picked up by 3:00 pm will be forfeited.
Visitors interested in walking to the event site are encouraged to park in the Yosemite Falls Day Parking Area, park at El Capitan Meadow, or ride the free park shuttle to Shuttle Stop #7 and walk into the event site approximately 1.2 miles one way.
Yosemite Hospitality, Inc., the park’s primary concessioner, will be offering naturalist-guided tours each day for a fee to the Horsetail Fall Event. To learn more please visit https://www.travelyosemite.com/.
Visitors who plan to get to Yosemite Valley using the Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS) should review the YARTS schedule at www.yarts.com to make sure that you do not miss the last bus of the day. The closest YARTS stop to the event is located at Yosemite Valley Lodge. YARTS buses will not be picking up visitors in the event zone.
To reduce traffic congestion in the event zone and to ensure easy visitor access to Yosemite Valley, the park will convert Southside Drive to two-way traffic from El Capitan Crossover to Sentinel Bridge. No roadside parking will be permitted while two-way traffic is in place for the safety of both pedestrians and motorists.
On Northside Drive, the left-hand traffic lane in the event zone will remain open as an exit route for YARTS buses, commercial buses, and other vehicles exceeding 25’ in length.
The Department of Interior sent the guidance shortly after 7 a.m. Saturday, hours after Congress failed to reach an agreement on a spending bill to fund federal operations.
Each park will post signage which starts: “Due to the lapse in federal appropriations, the National Park Service (NPS) is unable to fully staff the properties under its management. It is not feasible to close or otherwise prohibit all access to NPS properties. Park visitors are advised to use extreme caution if choosing to enter NPS property, as NPS personnel will not be available to provide guidance, assistance, maintenance, or emergency response. Any entry onto NPS property during this period of federal government shutdown is at the visitor’s sole risk.”
Gediman stressed that park visitors would enter at their own risk and emergency response would be delayed with the limited staffing. However those with camping reservations could still camp, just with few amenities and park employees to assist them.
Yosemite’s concessionaire, Yosemite Hospitality, has agreed to stay open. However, each national park is dealing with its concessions operations on an individual basis.
With no rangers manning the front gates, visitors Saturday could enter the park without paying the usual $30 car fee, said park ranger Scott Gediman.
“The majority of employees signed a form today and were sent home,” Gediman said. “The gates are open, but there’s no ranger programs, no visitor center … no trash collection, no restrooms.”
Statement by Congressman Tom McClintock on Shutdown Contingencies
I have received assurances from the Secretary of the Interior... Entrances to the parks will remain open and businesses within the parks may continue to operate under contingency plans now being finalized with the Park Service. The medical clinic at Yosemite Valley will remain open and public safety personnel will remain on duty. Reservations will continue to be honored at concession venues and the parks will be administered with the objective of causing the least inconvenience and discomfort to park visitors.
The 4 Mile Trail will be closed until further notice at the Union Point gate beginning at 1700 on Thursday January 18. The Mist Trail along the Vernal Fall steps will be closed until further notice beginning at 1700 on Thursday January 18. The John Muir Trail from Clark Point to the Panorama Trail Junction will remain closed until further notice.
A winter storm is almost here, and we're expecting rain and snow in Yosemite Valley. If you're visiting on Friday, bring tire chains and watch for rocks while driving. Call 209/372-0200 (then 1, 1) to check on road conditions.
The Half Dome Village Ice Rink is closed today January 4th due to a mechanical issue with the Zamboni. Reopening is anticipated on January 5th. Please note that the ice rink will now offer night skating. Purchase ice skating tickets at the Half Dome Village Tour & Activity Desk adjacent to the Registration Office.
Hours of operation as of 1/9/18:
Mon-Fri: 1:30pm to 7:00pm
Sat/Sun: 12:00pm to 9:00pm
The Half Dome Village Ice Rink will open for the season on Saturday, December 16th. The ice rink is now located back in its original spot near the Huff Housing area, near Half Dome Village, formerly Curry Village.
There is currently no lighting available for night skating, so the rink will be open during daylight hours only. Skating will be available from 9am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, then noon to 4pm during the weekdays.
An updated schedule will be sent out as soon as the lights are installed.
The Tioga and Glacier Point Roads in Yosemite National Park are closed for the season, due to hazardous driving conditions. Recent winter storm activity throughout Yosemite National Park has resulted in snow accumulation above 6,000 feet. Glacier Point and Tioga Roads close each fall, when snow and ice create hazardous driving conditions, and remain closed throughout the winter months until weather conditions permit reopening in the spring.
Yosemite National Park is open year-round with snow removal on all other roads within the park. All roads within the park are subject to chain control or temporary closures due to hazardous driving conditions. All motorists are required to carry tire chains, even if their car is equipped with four-wheel drive, while driving in the park during the winter months.
The closing date for the Glacier Point Store & Snack Stand has been extended to Sunday, October 22nd. The closing date for the Yosemite Valley Lodge Bike Stand has been extended to Sunday, November 12th.
2017 Total Bear Incidents: 33 2017 Total Property Damage: $2,546 Compared to this same week 2016 (the lowest year on record for bear incidents), bear incidents in 2017 are up by 3% while bear damages are down by 47%. Compared to 1998 (when incidents in the park peaked), bear incidents in 2017 are down by 98%, and damages are down by 99%.
Bear Activity Summary: Bear activity has remained relatively slow in Yosemite this month, likely because they are taking advantage of the abundance of natural foods. Bear activity has, however, picked up at the Crane Flat campground. In the past week there have been numerous bear sightings and one bear incident that resulted in a damaged tent while people were away from their campsite. Please remember that even when you don’t see a bear, they could be very near by. Store any food or scented item (including sealed items) in a secured food storage locker while camping in Yosemite. Never in your tent or vehicle.
Residents and locals (or anyone who lives in bear habitat): please remember that there is often an increase in bear incidents and sightings in neighborhoods in the fall as bears are looking for high calorie foods to fatten up for hibernation. Please keep all doors and windows closed and latched in unoccupied homes and offices. Additionally, pick any remaining fruit from your fruit trees, and make sure other attractants are not stored outside your home. Although it’s always fun to see a bear, a bear in the neighborhood is at risk getting into trouble quickly.
Red Bear, Dead Bear: So far, 20 bears have been hit by vehicles. Please help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways.
Fascinating Bear Fact: The home range of the black bear can depend on food source availability, season, and gender. Males generally range between 8-60 square miles, while females can range between 1-15 square miles.
Other Wildlife Sightings: Mountain lion observations have been reported recently in El Portal. For more information on mountain lions in Yosemite National Park, please visit the National Park Service website, http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/mountainlion.htm
The total amount of water flowing past the USGS Merced River Pohono Bridge gauge in water year 2017 was the most recorded since gauge installation in 1916 (101 years of record). Flows totaled 1.16 million acre-feet surpassing the previous record of 1.06 million acre-feet recorded in 1983. The water year is defined as October 1st of the previous year through September 30th of the current year. Other large years in descending order were 1995, 2011, and 1969.
After a 2 year-long restoration project led by the National Park service, Mariposa Grove will reopen to visitors in November 2017. Featuring new hiking trails and a consolidated parking area, the many improvements will revive the grove's ecology and strength for years to come.
Yosemite National Park is experiencing high fire danger along with continued hot and dry weather patterns. Due to current and predicted fire conditions and fire behavior the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park will be implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions until further notice is given.
By order of the Superintended of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 2.13 (c):
No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or cooking fire (including charcoal fires) within Yosemite Wilderness below 6,000 feet in elevation. "Sierra" (twig) stoves are not permitted. Portable stoves using pressurized gas, liquid fuel or propane are permitted as are alcohol stoves (with and without a shutoff valve) including alcohol tablet/cube stoves.
No smoking below 6,000 feet except within an enclosed vehicle, a building in which smoking is allowed, a campground or picnic area where wood and charcoal fires are allowed or in designated smoking area.
Campfires and cooking fires may still be used in designated campgrounds, picnic areas, and residential areas in developed portions of the park in accordance with park regulations.
Designated Picnic Areas: Lambert Dome, Tenaya Lake, Yosemite Creek, Wawona, Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point, Cascade, El Capitan, Cathedral Beach, Sentinel Beach, Swing Bridge, Church Bowl, and Lower Yosemite Falls.
There are no administrative exemptions to this order. This designation will remain in place until rescinded.
Tuolumne Meadows Campground opened August 1st. This campground is 1/2 Reservation and 1/2 first come, first served (FCFS), except for the 4 Horse and 7 Group Sites. Hopeful campers must go directly to the campground office to secure a regular, 6 person FCFS site. Horse camp reservations are only available by calling rec.gov directly (877-444-6777); Group Site reservations may be booked via www.recreation.gov, calling 877-444-6777 or at any campground office. The campground office will normally be open from 9AM to 5PM, seven days per week. Currently, their phones do not work, but they do have internet access. For questions about Tuolumne, please email ryan_kirtland@nps.gov or call Eric Bissmeyer at 372-0331.
Bridalveil Creek Campground also opened August 1st. This campground is FCFS, except for the 3 Horse and 2 Group Sites. Campers must go directly to the campground to obtain a regular, six-person site. Horse camp reservations are only available by calling rec.gov directly (877-444-6777); Group Site reservations may be booked via www.recreation.gov, calling 877-444-6777 or at any campground office. Please advise Bridalveil campers to conserve water/flushing at this campground to help keep leach fields from backing up. If you have questions about Bridalveil, please contact the Wawona CG office at 375-9535.
WASHINGTON – In order to meet requirements set by legislation passed by Congress in December 2016, the price of the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass will increase from $10 to $80. The change will take effect August 28, 2017. Pass holders are given lifetime access to more than 2,000 sites and parks. The fee increase will support critical investments in maintenance projects at national parks and federal recreational lands nationwide.
The Senior Pass has cost $10 since 1994. Until August 28, U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are 62 years or older can purchase the lifetime Senior Pass for $10. Previously purchased lifetime Golden Age or Senior Passes will be honored for the lifetime of the pass holder.
The legislation requires that the price of the lifetime Senior Pass be the same as the Inter-agency Annual Pass, which is currently $80. The legislation also introduces a new annual Senior Pass that can be purchased for $20. Seniors who purchase annual Senior Passes for four years can trade them in for a lifetime Senior Pass at no additional charge.
The Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park (Highway 120 through the park) will open for the season to all vehicular traffic beginning at 8:00 am on Thursday, June 29, 2017. There will be limited visitor services available from the Tioga Pass Entrance Station to Crane Flat. Tioga Road will open for bicycle and pedestrian users at 8:00 am Wednesday, June 28, 2017.
All visitors on the road are encouraged to use caution as there may be dirt, debris, and water flowing over sections of the road. Visitors are encouraged to keep an eye out for maintenance vehicles working on the roadway.
The Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park (Highway 120 through the park) remains closed to all vehicular traffic, including bicycles. Melting snow is causing water to run over the road in multiple locations, creating a safety hazard. Park staff and partners continue to conduct necessary repairs to power, communications, water, and sewer systems along the Tioga Road following a record-breaking year for winter snow pack.
The park is diligently working to ensure that adequate sanitation facilities are in place to meet visitor needs and to protect the water quality in the Tuolumne River watershed. Due to safety and sanitation concerns, Tioga Road will remain closed until the impacted power, communications, water and sewer systems are operational to meet the needs of park staff and visitors. There is no anticipated opening date at this time.
April snow surveys indicated that in the high elevation regions of Yosemite, the park saw the highest snow pack on record. In many locations above 8,000 feet in elevation, the snow pack measured over 200 percent of average (based on water content). The increased snow pack has resulted in a late opening of the Tioga Road for the summer season. Warm summer weather has led to increased melting of the snow pack, resulting in high water levels that are fluctuating daily.
Anyone planning to hike or backpack in the higher elevations of Yosemite should be prepared for winter hiking and camping conditions. Trails are still impacted by snow and ice. River crossings are high and swift moving. There are several high water areas currently impacting the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and the John Muir Trail (JMT) in Yosemite National Park. Anyone planning a trip on the PCT through Yosemite should use caution and be prepared to turn back in the event of high water crossings.
All visitors planning to hike or camp in the high elevation regions of Yosemite are urged to be prepared for snowy conditions and possible treacherous stream crossings while hiking in wilderness areas this summer season. Stream crossings on the PCT, JMT and other trails can be deceiving and should be avoided until water levels decrease.
There will be limited visitor services available at Glacier Point. The Glacier Point Store will be open at 10:00 am on Friday, May 12, 2017. There is no projected opening date for the Bridalveil Creek Campground.
Due to a historically-high snow pack, visitors planning to hike on any trails along the Glacier Point Road should be prepared for winter hiking conditions. Most trails remain covered in snow. In these conditions, it is very easy to lose one’s way and hike off trail.
The Four Mile Trail is open from Yosemite Valley to Union Point. The trail remains closed from Glacier Point down to Union Point due to unstable ice sheets.
Visitors are encouraged to slow down and drive with caution along all park roads, as bears and other wildlife may be present on or near the roadway. Drivers should be aware of potential hazards in the road, including wet and icy conditions or debris in the roadway.
The bike rental stands are open daily from 10 am – 6 pm weather dependent. For more information go to http://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/biking.
Between now and Memorial Day, contractors will install culverts between El Capitan X-Over and Pohono Bridge on Northside Drive. They will completely close one lane during the week with rare 30 minute delays of both lanes. Expect slow traffic during the evening commute. No work will take place on weekends.