Your Yosemite National Park Guide
Have you ever been to the world famous Yosemite national park? If you are in California and haven’t been to Yosemite, it’s a trip worth your while to make at least once (but will likely beckon you back again and again)! Something about being in that scenery is so awe inspiring and calming. A visit to Yosemite can be a great day trip or weekend getaway. This article will cover what you should know in advance of your upcoming Yosemite expedition!
Yosemite receives visitors from all over the world and if you’re visiting from far away it may be best to arrange for transportation and lodging in Yosemite park or in a nearby town…but if you’re coming from within California from a city or town only a couple hours away like Modesto, Merced, Mariposa, etc. you might appreciate a hassle free trip by booking private or public transportation through a company like YARTS, Yosemite shuttle, or Via Trailways.
Traveling to Yosemite via YARTS for a Solo or Small Group Trip
I wanted to do a nice solo day trip in Yosemite. So with everything I needed for the day I arrived at the Amtrak station in Merced for a 9:15 bus pickup, (YARTS buses leave as early as 5:40 am some days during the week). With all the stops I arrived in the park around 12:20.
It was about 4:15/30 pm when I boarded a bus heading back towards the Merced area and arrived at my destination around 7:30 pm. (For further details regarding: public transportation, full schedule, prices and fees checkout yarts.com)
In the time I was at the park I was able to checkout the le conte memorial (now called conservation heritage), take a walk on the trail heading to mirror lake and make my way over to the deck to order some pizza and enjoy it right next door at seven tents in the dining area.
With this form of transportation I was able to sit back and take in all the views on our way up, converse with fellow passengers from various parts of the world, have access to a restroom with out having to pull over in an unfamiliar location (just to be told a facility doesn’t have a public restroom), and I didnt have to worry about paying for access to the park, gas, parking, rushing back home to try and beat the departure crowds or being too tired to drive after the day’s activities. (This method would work great for small groups as well and
If you’re doing a weekend trip it may be more cost effective to stay a bit further away and then take the YARTS public transportation into the park. The busses come equipped with plenty of storage for luggage.)
What to do in Yosemite
-Hikes & backpacking (it’s famous for half dome)
-camping
-rock climbing
-breathtaking sites & waterfall views (driving through Yosemite valley in itself is unforgettable)
-swimming & fishing
-bike riding
-photography
-relaxing in nature
There are also designated areas, lookout points, and light trails for disabled persons.
Amenities
Yosemite valley also provides serval amenities and services including:
- Visitor/information stations
(If you haven’t been before, stop by a visitor station and pick up a map/brochure of Yosemite valley. It will include information about the various routes into Yosemite, ranger stations, gas stations, trails with their locations & intensity levels, and much more)
- Bathrooms with running water (near visitor stations and shuttle & bus stops)
** some YARTS bus stops & pickups differ from free shuttle stops and pick up locations
- Grocery store
- Bike rental shops
- Ranger stations for emergencies
- Camp sites and lodging rentals
- Amphitheater
- Restaurants and cafeteria style dining areas
- Rock climbing courses
- Coffee and gift shops
- A post office
- Historic sites and museums
What to Wear to Yosemite
Always check the weather forecast the day of your Yosemite trip!
(For every location- for any trip really)
During the summer, temperatures can reach up into the mid 80s during the day and down to lows in the 50s in the evening.
If you’ll just be doing some trails that don’t require very strenuous activity and endurance, such as the Mirror Lake/Meadow or Lower Yosemite Fall walk, I recommend dressing in comfortable layers. For anything more strenuous I recommend dressing in light comfy layers and bringing an extra change of clothes. The best shoes to wear for a Yosemite day trip is a comfy pair of tennis shoes or hiking boots. Also you’ll thank yourself later if you pack an extra couple of pairs of socks, 1 short thin pair and 1 long thick pair. **While comfy sandals with backs can be Yosemite friendly in the summer I do not recommend flip flops (even if you plan on water play I highly recommend water shoes instead)
What to Bring for a Day Trip to Yosemite
- Bug repellent
- Sunscreen
- Cash
- Snacks
- Water
- Small first aid kit & alcohol spray
- Masks (for crowded shuttles and buses)
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Water resistant Jacket and a change of clothes (including socks)
- Flashlight
- Whistle
- Walkie-talkies**
**best for large groups with children
I also like to take my smart watch, battery pack to recharge my phone, and a thin fleece blanket or sheet which can come in handy incase it’s windier than expected or you want to lay it over any seats, benches, or grassy pastures to create a small barrier between you and and dirt or bugs.
Yosemite Safety Requirements and Information:
- Wild life sometimes gets up close and personal (be careful! And DO NOT feed the animals …it’s illegal…up to $5,000 in fines illegal)
- For overnight stays outside of designated camp sites you need wilderness permit (you can find more information about that at http://nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildernesspermits.htm )
- Permits are also required for Rock climbing ( http://Yosemite.org/climbingpermits )
- Use of drones within Yosemite park’s boundaries is strictly prohibited
- You must have a reservation (and proof there of) to enter & drive through park between 6am-4pm (it is prohibited to park outside of campgrounds or on day parking roadways overnight)
- Always inform a trusted person of where you are going, the route you plan to take, and your estimated time of arrival to reach your destination and return
- Be very careful around falling or moving water (it can be much more forceful and dangerous than it appears)
- Stay on marked trails
- If engaging in strenuous activities and or being in the heat for extended periods of time drink lots of water & eat salty snacks to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes
Check out this healthy coconut beverage recipe, it’s a great alternative to sugary filled sports drinks!
Additional Tips and Suggestions:
In a way Yosemite a like Disney land…it may cost you an arm and a leg to stay on the actual premises but then you are right where you want to be with access to the free shuttles, so it may be worth staying on site or very close by. There are a variety of lodging locations available from tent camping, RV camping, or cabin camping inside Yosemite park itself or outside the park near by at places like Auto camp, Cedar lodge, Yosemite View lodge, Nature bridge inn, and additional bed and breakfast inns or Air BnBs.
(I’ve not stayed at any of these places personally before, when I go to Yosemite it’s only for the day and if I ever decide to be more adventurous I would like to try backpacking and staying overnight outdoors…which just a reminder, you do need a wilderness permit to do so)
** On you way back check out wine tasting in Merced at Vista Ranch! It’s a great little spot right off of the 140 and has RV Parking
**Go during a week day during the off season for a less congested visit
**Hikes and trails to fit various seasons (for instance Mirror lake is a beautiful trail destination in the winter when the water reflects surrounding cliffs but is a dry meadow in summer and fall and some trails available during summer are not accessible during winter due to ice such as the Mist or John Muir trails)