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Home » California » Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is best known for majestic waterfalls flowing into the picturesque Yosemite Valley. But there is plenty more to see in the giant sequoia groves, grand meadows and expansive backcountry.

Yosemite is one of the first national parks, established in 1890. John Muir was instrumental in lobbying for the park’s designation as a way to protect and preserve the landscape.

Basic Information

Entrance Fee: Standard Entrance Pass. Vehicle reservations required during summer season.
Size: 1,169 square miles (748,542 acres) with five entrances.
Operating Schedule: The park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. However, some entrance stations have limited hours or are closed during winter months.

Cinnamon-colored black bear in California.
Posted inWildlife

Stay safe without bear spray in Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson July 11, 2025July 11, 2025

The first time I went to Yosemite National Park, I knew the reputation for bears in the area, and I was planning to be prepared with a can of bear spray.  I was shocked when I found out that bear spray is illegal in both Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. But after talking […]

Tuolumne Meadows Campground is Yosemite’s largest, and is located along the Tioga Road, with some areas located close to the Tuolumne River.
Posted inCamping

High-country Yosemite campground to reopen after $26 million rehabilitation project

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson July 1, 2025July 1, 2025
Photo of Traffic at Yosemite National Park can back up for miles once parking lots fill
Posted inPolitics

Uncertainty surrounds the Yosemite 2025 reservation system

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson March 31, 2025April 1, 2025
A baby bear is fed by a ranger in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park.
Posted inHistory

The wild history about feeding bears in America’s National Parks

Avatar photo by Will De Man March 28, 2025April 1, 2025
Posted inTravel

Yosemite National Park releases summer campground reservations

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson March 26, 2025March 26, 2025
Claire Marie Hodges, the first female ranger in Yosemite National Park.
Posted inHistory

Breaking Trails: How Claire Marie Hodges became Yosemite’s first female ranger

Avatar photo by Will De Man March 7, 2025March 7, 2025
A rare photo of the unnatural Yosemite Firefall.
Posted inHistory

When real fire fell from the sky: The story of Yosemite’s Firefall

Avatar photo by Will De Man February 21, 2025February 26, 2025
Photo of the Yosemite Firefall taken by Sarah Bethea.
Posted inTravel

Capturing the magic of Yosemite’s Firefall this February

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson February 12, 2025February 13, 2025
The 25th Infantry of Buffalo Soldiers.
Posted inHistory

How the Buffalo Soldiers built our national parks

Avatar photo by Will De Man February 7, 2025February 5, 2025
Snow blankets Yellowstone in winter.
Posted inTravel

5 National Parks for Snow Seekers and Winter Enthusiasts

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson December 16, 2024January 5, 2025

Posts pagination

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Follow us on Instagram @natl.parkexplorer

When the Dragon Bravo Fire began on July 4, the NPS decided to manage it as a controlled burn in a defined perimeter. Over the weekend, three visitors at Glacier National Park fell into Avalanche Creek while posing for a photo. One managed to grab a branch; two were swept downstream. National parks across the country are preparing for one of the busiest weekends of the year as visitors flood iconic landscapes to celebrate Independence Day. The puppy cam is live in Denali National Park! It might not reach a hundred ninety-nine degrees, but temps in the Grand Canyon are often in the triple digits throughout the summer. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is officially open for the season.
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