Yosemite is Open.Click here for more TRAVEL ALERTS and information.
Menu
Visitor Guide
Get Our Newsletter
Search
Updated April 14, 2025
Blog What to Know When Visiting Yosemite - Right Now
  • Traffic Delays:
    • There will be vegetation management on Wawona Rd between Chinquapin (turn off to Glacier Point Rd) and the Wawona Campground on 04/14 - 04/15. Please follow the Pilot Car while crews are on the road conducting this work.  
  • The Wawona Hotel is closed to the public for a multi-year repair project.  
  • Seasonal Closures:
    • Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road (beyond Badger Pass), and Mariposa Grove Road are all still closed for the season. 
    • Half Dome cables are DOWN for the season.
    • Four Mile Trail s closed due to hazardous conditions near Union Point (about halfway up) with no access to Glacier Point.
    • The John Muir Trail between Clark Point and Panorama Trail junction (near the top of Nevada Fall) is closed due to dangerously icy conditions. The Mist Trail provides access to the top of Nevada Fall
  • The John Muir Trail will be intermittently closed on Tuesday, April 15, from Happy Isles to the Vernal Fall footbridge, for blasting to clear rockfall debris.
  • A short section of the Valley Loop Trail at The Ahwahnee remains closed due to rockfall risk, although a short detour is available.
  • Happy Isles Art & Nature Center will open for the season on Monday April 14th. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for the remaining guide period.
  • Campground Status
    • In Yosemite Valley
      • Open - Upper Pines Campground (Reservation Required), Camp 4 (First-come, first served)
      • Closed - North Pines, Lower Pines
    • Outside Yosemite Valley
      • Open - Wawona & Hodgdon Meadow (both First-come, first served)
      • Closed - Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows 

Top Tips to Maximize Your Yosemite Experience

Looking for a great way to experience Yosemite all while leaving the driving to someone else? Take a guided tour!


Essential tips to maximize your experience during your visit to Yosemite:

  1. Optimal Visit Times: Arrive early in the morning (Before 5:00 AM) or later in the afternoon (After 4:00 PM) to avoid peak times and reservation requirements. Remember, the park is accessible 24 hours a day (excluding Hetch Hetchy), allowing for flexible planning.
  2. Weekday Visits: If possible, visit mid-week. While early Spring is generally less crowded than the Summer, weekends and holidays can still get busy. If your trip includes weekends, explore the diverse activities in Yosemite's Southern Gateway, such as local attractions, historical sites, wine tasting, hiking, axe throwing, and relaxing at Bass Lake.
  3. Guided and Adventure Tours: Take advantage of guided tours and hikes. Tours offer a unique perspective of Yosemite, relieve the hassle of parking, and are your ticket to the park during reservation periods.
  4. Explore Beyond the Valley: Visit areas like Wawona near the south gate entrance. Rich in history and activities, Wawona offers the Yosemite History Center, stagecoach rides, various hikes, a dog-friendly trail, and dining at the historic Wawona Hotel.
  5. Take Public Transportation: May - September, utilize YARTS for convenient travel to Yosemite with daily early buses on Highway 41, departing from Oakhurst at 7:10 AM and 8:55 AM; visit www.yarts.com for schedules and details.
  6. Stay Informed with Traffic Alerts: Sign up for Yosemite's valley traffic alerts by texting YNPTRAFFIC to 333111 to stay updated on traffic conditions, enhancing your visit planning.

For more information:

VISIT: Yosemite's Current Conditions page
CALL: Oakhurst Visitor Center at (559) 683-4636
STOP BY: Oakhurst Visitor Center located at 40343 Highway 41 (daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm)

There is so much to do here in the Yosemite and it's Southern Gateway. Click the image strip below to find out more.  


Our annual Visit Yosemite | Madera County Visitors Guide can answer all your questions about visiting California's Gateway to Yosemite. From the park itself to the museums, wineries, art galleries and more throughout Madera County, our guide can help you plan the perfect vacation. Please note that we mail to the USA only, but anyone can download the guide.
Visit Yosemite - Madera County
Oakhurst Visitor Center, 40343 Highway 41, Oakhurst, CA 93644
(559) 683-4636
Email us!

Hours:
7 days a week: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
FOLLOW US

Developed by Drozian Webworks | ©2025 Southern Yosemite Visitors Bureau. All Rights Reserved.