Yosemite National Park

Activities & Programs There is something happening every day in Yosemite. Whether this is your first visit to Yosemite or your fifth, get the most out of your park experience by attending one of many interpretive programs. ... read more.

Bears in Yosemite About 300 to 500 American black bears live in the park. The name "black bear" is misleading, since the color of each bear varies from blond to cin- namon brown to black. The typical adult male weighs ... read more.

Beyond Yosemite Wawona: Wawona Meadow Wawona Hotel 3.5 miles round-trip Easy Loop 1.5 hours Swinging Bridge Wawona Store/ 4.75 miles round-trip Moderate Loop Pioneer Yosemite  2 hours Hist. Ctr. Parking Ar ... read more.

Campgrounds in Yosemite Campground Number Daily Fee Availability (Elevation) Sites/Spaces In Yosemite Valley  North Pines 81 $20/site April—September (4,000 ft) Reservations required. Upper Pines 238 $20/site ... read more.

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 ... read more.

Effects of Altitude Altitude sickness may develop in otherwise healthy and fit people who are exposed to rapid increases in altitude. It can develop at altitudes as low as 8,000 feet (Yosemite Valley's elevation is 4,00 ... read more.

Eight Tips for Yosemite To make your trip a memorable one, we have compiled the following travel tips gleaned from park "regulars."  •â€‚ Bring It With You. Read and carry with you the map and all park informatio ... read more.

Evolution of Yosemite Valley 500—200 million years ago The Sierra Nevada region was once submerged beneath a sea. Sediments slowly accumulated on the ocean floor, growing thousands of feet thick and compressing the layers ... read more.

Flora & Fauna Yosemite's wide range of elevations, from its semi-arid foothills to its snowcapped mountains, has produced a habitat distribution that nurtures 37 types of native trees, over 1,000 species of wildfl ... read more.

Heart of Yosemite The Yosemite Falls area is one of the most popular destinations in Yosemite Valley. In 2005, the National Park Service and The Yosemite Fund completed a 10-year, $13.5 million renovation of the area, ... read more.

Highlights These highlights have been excerpted from The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park by Steven Medley, published by the Yosemite Association. You can purchase the guide at any visitor center, ... read more.

Hikes in Yosemite Trail/ Starting Distance/ Difficulty/ Destination Point Time Elevation Bridalveil Fall Bridalveil Fall 0.5 mile round-trip Easy Parking Area 20 minutes Lower Yosemite Lower Yosemite Fall 1.0 mile ... read more.

History of Yosemite Although Yosemite's history as a national park goes back more than 100 years, its geologic history is timeless. Glaciation is one of the many geologic forces at work shaping the Yosemite landscape (s ... read more.

Hybrid Buses A fleet of cleaner, quieter, and more fuel-efficient transit buses powered by hybrid electric-diesel technology are used in Yosemite. They replaced the aged fleet of 1986 diesel buses and have up to ... read more.

Important Numbers General Park Information (209) 372-0200 www.nps.gov/yose   (recording) Guidebooks (209) 379-2648 www.yosemitestore.com Road & Weather (209) 372-0200 www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditi ... read more.

John Muir When a young Scotsman named John Muir arrived in San Francisco in 1868, it is said that he asked for directions to "anywhere that's wild." He was pointed toward the Sierra Nevada, and it was there th ... read more.

Just For Kids Starry Skies over Yosemite and Wawona: Spend a summer evening lying in a meadow looking up at a brilliant sky. This program is offered for a fee (summer only) in Wawona and Yosemite Valley. Space is ... read more.

Keep Wildlife Keep wildlife wild—and alive. Each year, countless animals are killed by speeding vehicles. Please slow down so that you can catch a glimpse of Yosemite's wild creatures. Observe wildlife from ... read more.

License Plates How can your car help Yosemite? Every Yosemite license plate helps fund projects that preserve, protect and enhance the park. To get your plate and preserve Yosemite for future generations, visit on ... read more.

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 natu ... read more.