Yosemite National Park

Life of the Bear

Spring: April to June Food: Grasses, forbs and other plants. Bears are coming out of their dens. Cubs are just 10 pounds and still nursing. Their mothers begin to teach them about finding natural sources of food. Time to forage for food in lush meadows. Summer: June to August Food: Currants, raspberries, chokecherries ...

Camping in Yosemite

There are 13 campgrounds in the park, four of which are in Yosemite Valley. A seven-day camping limit is in effect in Yosemite Valley and Wawona from May 1 to September 15, and a 14-day limit outside of the Valley. For the rest of the calendar year, the limit ...

Superintendent Name:

Michael Tollefson

Yosemite National Park, one of the first national parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls and impressive granite walls. Within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can also find deep valleys, sprawling meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada John Muir describes as "the heart of the world".

Park Acreage:

747956

Highest Point:

Mount Lyell

Highest Point Elevation:

13114 feet

Visitor Count:

3242644

Visitor Count Year Recorded:

2006

Has Volunteer Program:

Yes

Has Recycling:

Yes

Has Shuttle System:

Yes

Park Sights:

Yosemite Valley; Bridalveil Fall; Yosemite Falls; El Capitan; Half Dome; Happy Isles; Mirror Lake; Mirror Meadow; Valley View Turnout; Tunnel View; Wawona; Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias; Glacier Point; Badger Pass Ski Area; Hetch Hetchy; Tioga Road; High Country; Olmsted Point; Tenaya Lake; Tuolomne Meadows

Endangered Species:

Red-legged Frogs (threatened); Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs (threatened); Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (threatened); Limestone Salamander (threatened); Giant Garter Snake (threatened); Great Gray Owl; Willow Flycatcher; Sierra Nevada Red Fox (threatened); California Wolverine (threatened); Thompson's Sedge; Yosemite Onion; Congdon's Lewisia; Congdon's Woolly Sunflower; Peregrine Falcon; Southern Bald Eagle; Yosemite Woolly Sunflower (threatened); Congdon's Lewisia (threatened)

Entrance Fees:

Individual Pass: $10 (on foot, horseback, motorcycle); Vehicle Pass (valid for 7 days): $20; Commercial Tour Fees: $25-300 (varies depending on seating capacity); Yosemite Annual Pass: $40

Nearest Major City:

Mariposa, CA

Gateway Communities:

Fish Camp, CA; El Portal, CA; Mather, CA; Lee Vining; Oakhurst, CA; Bass Lake, CA; Wishon, CA; Ahwahnee, CA; Midpines, CA; Coarsegold, CA; Groveland, CA; Big Oak Flat, CA; Mariposa, CA; Auberry, CA; Soulsbyville, CA; Twain Harte, CA; Hayward, CA; Strawberry, CA

Nearby Airports:

Fresno-Yosemite International (FAT); Merced Airport (MCE); Modesto City-County Airport (MOD); San Francisco International Airport (SFO); Oakland International Airport (OAK); San Jose International Airport (SJC); Sacramento International Airport (SMF); Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO)