Yosemite National Park Hours

The nearly 1,200 square miles of rugged Yosemite National Park landscape includes towering cliffs, deep valleys, large waterfalls, historic gigantic sequoia trees and a sizable wilderness.

Yosemite National Park hours vary depending on the part of the region you plan to visit.

In general, Yosemite National Park opening hours last for the whole day. You can visit it every hour and every day of the year.

Yosemite entrance hours mean the park is open 24 hours a day on all national holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

However, approximately the Yosemite hours for the Hetch Hetchy entrance station are only during daylight hours.

The snow and bad weather also caused road closures from November until May or June.  

Trails, climbing, and camping are closed for specific periods during the year for various reasons. 

Start your exploration of the natural wonders to the fullest by embarking on the Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias day trip from San Francisco, which offers flexible operating hours.

Continue reading to learn more about the Hetch Hetchy hours and road, campground or trail closures.

Hetch Hetchy Park Entrance – Hours

While the Yosemite National Park entrance hours don’t have a limit, the Hetch Hetchy area opens only during the day. 

Hetch Hetchy’s opening hours are 8 am to 5 pm for everyone except authorized backpackers.

All-day visitors must leave Hetch Hetchy before it closes at 5 pm daily.

Road Conditions

Although Yosemite’s hours of operation are year-round, certain roads close from around November through May/June due to adverse winter conditions. 

Apart from the three roads—Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road and Mariposa Grove Road—all remain open all year.

Tire chains may be necessary on open highways, depending on the weather.

Tioga Road

Generally, Tioga Road remains closed from November to late May or early June due to the snow. 

The road closes from Tuolumne Grove, just east of Crane Flat, to the Tioga Pass Entrance Station. 

Tioga Road’s continuation beyond the park, Highway 120, is frequently blocked from Tioga Pass to five miles west of Lee Vining in the winter.

Consequently, you cannot enter Yosemite National Park or travel to Tuolumne Meadows from the east when the Tioga Road is closed. 

Highway 120 from the west, Hetch Hetchy, Highway 140, Highway 41 and all other park entrances are always open. 

Glacier Point Road

Similar to Tioga Road, snow-related closures of Glacier Point Road often occur from November to late May or early June.

You can access the first five miles of this route leading to the Badger Pass Ski Area from around mid-December to mid-March. 

However, you cannot reach Glacier Point by car while Glacier Point Road is closed.

For additional details on how to get to and around the park and its various sites, check the how to reach Yosemite National Park page. 

Mariposa Grove Road

Mariposa Grove Road and the connected shuttle system close on or around 30 November till 15 March. 

Typically, the road remains closed until some time in April. 

You can only access Mariposa Grove through the Washburn Trail in the winter. 

The one-way, two-mile (3.2 km) long Washburn Trail is always available for hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing.

With an elevation difference of 500 feet (150 m), the route might be slippery or covered in snow during the winter.

All trails in the grove are always available; however, some remain designated by trees’ reflectors for use only in winter.

The Hetch Hetchy Road, Big Oak Flat Road, El Portal Road, and Wawona Road (Highways 41, 140, and 120 from the west, respectively) are open year-round. 

However, tire chains could be necessary from late fall to early spring.

You can inquire about chain regulations and road closures by calling 209/372-0200 (press 1 then 1).

Alternatively, check the Yosemite National Park services website alerts for updated information on Yosemite road closures.

Trails and Wilderness Conditions

Yosemite National Park trails can close due to latent threats or if rockfall, snow, ice, or fire renders them inaccessible. 

Here are some pointers about frequent trail closures.

• The trail to Bridalveil Fall will be blocked until the summer of 2023 due to the Bridalveil Fall Rehabilitation Project. 
• The cables for climbing the top of Half Dome are usually available on Memorial Day weekend in May.
• Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Fall and the John Muir Trail near the top of Nevada Fall can remain closed due to dangerously icy conditions.  

Open trails still carry risks; when exploring the wilderness, ensure you fulfill all safety measures and use careful discretion.

Trails may be snowy and challenging to locate from November to May/June.

Climbing Closures

To protect peregrine falcons, a fully protected species in California, climbing restrictions are in place on numerous routes every year from 1 March through 15 July. 

As long as peregrine chicks still lay their eggs in those regions, public access to peregrine nesting cliffs for climbing and slacklining remains prohibited. 

Campground Information

As expected, camping is also affected by severe weather during the winter months.

Within Yosemite Valley, Lower Pines and North Pines campgrounds remain closed from November until around May or June.

Closed campgrounds outside Yosemite Valley include Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows.

You can check the campground’s expected opening dates or know the current campground availability by calling 209/372-0266.

Yosemite National Park peak hour reservation was required to enter the park from 6 am to 4 pm. That has been scrapped as of this year, however.

We highly recommend reservations during April–September, when open campgrounds book quickly

You can make campground reservations up to five months in advance.

Best Time to Visit Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is open all day year-round, offering various opportunities to enjoy the wilderness in all seasons. 

The best time to visit Yosemite will depend on what you want to see or do.

Spring

The best months to visit Yosemite Valley are May and June if you want to see the world-famous waterfalls in Yosemite flow at full capacity and beautiful wildflowers fill the valley.

This is a great time to visit if you intend to experience the rush of water in Yosemite’s creeks and climb the tops of waterfalls or tall granite domes for magnificent views.

You can also try fishing or other water activities during these months. 

Although the weather is frequently fantastic during the day, be ready for frigid conditions at night.

Summer

Do you want to go hiking or camping in the High Sierra? August and July are the best months.

However, Yosemite is packed with tourists in the summer, from late May to September. 

You will find crowded hiking trails, congested roads, filled campsites and high hotel prices, among other things. 

But the entire park is open just during this period. With more daylight and maximum temperature in the low 80s, you can make full use of your days in Yosemite.

If you plan to visit during summer, weekends or holidays, leave early to reach Yosemite before sunrise and avoid traffic at the entrance. 

If you want to visit during this time, book your hotels, campgrounds and other facilities months in advance. 

Learn more tips for visiting Yosemite National Park to make the most of your days in the park. 

Fall

Are you looking to see Yosemite without the crowds? Great weather and far fewer tourists are present in September.

Tourist numbers again fall in Autumn as the temperature starts to drop. 

September is among Yosemite Valley’s best months for trekking and rock climbing.

Winter

Yosemite’s winter season has the lowest number of visitors, yet the park is breathtaking, with a fresh dusting of snow.

Snow keeps many Yosemite roads and trails closed most of the winter.

However, the snow-covered park appeals to those who enjoy winter activities, including skiing, snowboarding and hiking. 

The Badger Pass Ski Area is the most popular cross-country and downhill skiing area. 

With discounts on lodgings and no crowds, the winter months are best for enjoying the beautiful, calm scenery. 

Snowfall can start as early as October, peak in November and often last into March. 

All closed trails and roads for the season don’t open until May or June, depending on the circumstances.

You will need tire chains to drive across Yosemite when the roads open.

The Yosemite Ski Area opens in the winter when you might see the Natural Firefall.

Conclusion

In short, the sightseeing opportunities and activities in Yosemite change according to the season.

The best time to visit is spring if you want to view overflowing waterfalls.

Summer is the best time if you want long hours to go on lengthy hikes, swim in rivers and enjoy wildflowers and green valleys.

From November to February, the winter months are the best for winter activities, quiet surroundings and affordable accommodations.

Yosemite National Park hours mean you can visit anytime; even during harsh weather, there are still many activities to enjoy.

How Long Does It Take to Visit Yosemite National Park?

You can plan to spend anywhere between one to four days in Yosemite National Park, California. 

Yosemite has much to offer, including camping, rock climbing, hiking, picnicking, and more.

On average, visitors stay three to four days to appreciate Yosemite’s marvels.

Plan at least three full days for sightseeing in Yosemite if you want to engage in an activity like rafting, fishing, horseback riding, bicycling or hiking a longer trek.

With a park roughly the size of the state of Rhode Island, it takes hours to reach from one location to the next.

In a single day, you should expect to visit only Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point, the two most popular areas of the park. 

One day is enough to hike short trails to well-known viewpoints and waterfalls.

Is it possible to explore the iconic sights of Yosemite Park in just one day? Yes, it is possible with a full-day trip to the Yosemite National Park with this Guided Tour.

However, if you want to see some breathtaking views from the top of large granite domes and climb to the top of waterfalls, you will require more days.

Peaks, including Sentinel Dome and Half Dome, demand long and strenuous hikes that might take a full day to complete. 

You can still see attractions such as Bridal Veil Falls, El Capitan, Tunnel View, Mirror Lake, Sentinel Dome, Half Dome and more from beneath in a day.

Or, you can also spend the day camping or picnicking beside.

You need at least two days to visit the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, near the park’s south entrance and Yosemite Valley.

The Mariposa Grove offers various trails to see some of the world’s most gigantic and old trees, from around 30 minutes long to multi-day hikes.

Schedule two to four days in Yosemite if you want ample time to see all the spectacular views. 

Three days will give you plenty of time to walk several hiking paths and cover more attractions, including Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Grove, Tuolumne Meadows and Glacier Point.

Since the Yosemite National Park hours provide flexibility, the extent of how much you explore in a day is different for everyone. Get going early and come back late to cover more in a day.

You will be able to explore the attractions along Tioga Road for three days.

If you want to return to nature with a 3-day guided camping trip, go for the Yosemite Valley 3-Day Camping Adventure.

With breathtaking vistas of lakes, rivers, mountains, and animals, this route winds through Yosemite’s high alpine terrain at a height of nearly 10,000 feet above sea level.

Four days are optimal if you wonder how many days you should spend in Yosemite to cover all its attractions.

Spending four days in Yosemite will allow you to take in everything the park offers without feeling rushed. 

From visiting some well-known locations to trekking for hours on end, you can do it all in Yosemite. 

Remember that the park is vast and incredibly stunning, so a minimum of 2 days is necessary for a first-timer to get an overview of the park.

For a 2-day fun trip to the crisp, incredible mountain and a visit to Yosemite National Park, you can purchase the Cedar Lodge 2-Day Yosemite Park Tour.

Instead of choosing only one or two places to visit, you will have more time to experience the many sites if you can do 3 days instead.

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