Yosemite National Park
Welcome to Yosemite
On behalf of the National Park Service, welcome to Yosemite!
There are as many ways to experience this amazing place as there are granite rocks in the Sierra Nevada landscape. To make the most of your time here, I invite you to read through and enjoy this edition of the American Park Network guide to Yosemite. Keep it with you as you make your way through the park. Pass it along to friends and family when you get home. Or perhaps, save it as a memento of your trip. My hope is that it becomes well-used and dog-eared during your Yosemite stay.
This guide represents the collaborative energy of the National Park Service, American Park Network and our park partners—organizations dedicated to Yosemite and making your visit enjoyable and inspiring (see pages 35—37). The grandeur of Yosemite brings us together with a common sense of awe. I am grateful to the legions of staff and volunteers who work together to ensure that the wonders of this park are preserved for future generations.
John Muir once wrote, "As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can."
Many volunteers, park employees and park partners participate in providing you a rich visitor experience. This guide is the product of such an effort. It is meant to provide you a broad spectrum of information and should in no way be construed as an endorsement by the National Park Service of any of the sponsors whose messages or advertisements appear in this publication.
National parks were established to preserve what is truly special about America. They are places to be shared, places where everyone is welcome, places where we can re-connect with our American spirit. Whether you are here for a few hours or a few days, let Muir's words—and this guide—bring you nearer to the heart of Yosemite!
Yosemite In Depth
- Yosemite National Park
- Activities & Programs
- Bears in Yosemite
- Beyond Yosemite
- Campgrounds in Yosemite
- Camping in Yosemite
- Effects of Altitude
- Eight Tips for Yosemite
- Evolution of Yosemite Valley
- Flora & Fauna
- Heart of Yosemite
- Highlights
- Hikes in Yosemite
- History of Yosemite
- Hybrid Buses
- Important Numbers
- John Muir
- Just For Kids
- Keep Wildlife
- License Plates
- Life of the Bear
- Mountain Lions
- Oh, Ranger!
- Only A Day
- Plan For Future
- Plan Your Visit
- Preserve Yosemite
- Red Bear, Dead Bear
- Sights To See
- Spirit Of Yosemite
- Visitor Services
- Walking & Hiking
- Welcome to Yosemite
- Who's Who in the Park
- Yosemite Regulations
- Yosemite Waterfalls
- Event Calendar
- Yosemite Map
- Yosemite Photos
- Recent Yosemite News
News from the Parks
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.


