YOSEMITE WEATHER

In Yosemite Valley, the daytime highs have been in the upper 60s to low 90s with over night temperatures in the mid 40s to mid 50s, with mostly sunny skies. In Tuolumne Meadows, the daytime highs have been in the low 60s to low 70s with over night temperatures in the upper 20s to mid 30s.

A late spring snow storm in the early morning hours of Thursday June 8, 2000 has dumped several inches of snow above 6000 feet, temporarily closing the Tioga and Glacier Point Roads. [Both roads reopened later on June 8th.]

YOSEMITE IS BEAR COUNTRY

Bears are breaking into cars in parking lots and campgrounds in search of food. Do not leave food in your car. Store food properly at all times. Over the last week , 1 vehicle was broken into by bears and there were 5 bear damage reports in campgrounds. There have been a total of 150 bear incidents in 2000 resulting in $37,437 in property damage. Always obey speed limits, and watch for animals crossing the road. Never throw food or food packaging in open dumpsters. Make it safe for Yosemite bears. Bear sightings, wildlife feedings, overflowing dumpsters, or other bear-related concerns can be reported by calling the Save-A-Bear Hotline at (209) 372-0200 (press 2, then 4).

PARK ROADS

The park is open 24 hours a day. For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions in Yosemite, call (209) 372-0200. The entrance fee is $20 per vehicle and is good for seven days. No reservations are needed to enter the park. Vehicles are allowed to drive into and around the park. For regional road conditions, visit the YATI website at www.yosemite.com, or call Caltrans at (800) 427-7623. Visitors en route to the park should monitor the YATI changeable message signs and highway advisory radios for the latest road information.

The El Portal Road, the road entering the park from Highway 140, is open between 6:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. daily, including weekends with no delays. The scheduled completion date for this project is September 30, 2000. The road remains largely unpaved and is very rough.

The Tioga, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove, and Hetch Hetchy roads are open.

For park road and weather information, call 209-372-0200. The recording is updated as conditions change.

PARK LODGING

The Ahwahnee Hotel, Wawona Hotel, Yosemite Lodge, Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp are open seven days a week. Lodging reservations may be made by calling (559) 252-4848 or at www.yosemitepark.com.

PARK CAMPGROUNDS

In Yosemite Valley, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, and North Pines Campgrounds are open with reservations required, and Camp 4 (Sunnyside Walk-In Campground) is open on a first-come, first-served, year-round basis. Outside of Yosemite Valley, The Hodgdon Meadow and Wawona Campgrounds are open with reservations required. All Park Campgrounds have been filling nightly. Do not expect to arrive at the Park and find camping without a reservation.

The Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, Tuolumne Meadows, and Bridalveil Creek Campgrounds have not yet opened for the season.

Camping is permitted only in designated campgrounds. There are no RV-hookups or showers in park campgrounds. Visitors are reminded that sleeping in their vehicle overnight is only allowed in designated campsites. When park campgrounds are full, there may be sites available outside Yosemite. For information on areas outside the park, call local area visitor bureaus: (209) 966-2456 for Hwy. 140 areas; (559) 683-4636 for Hwy. 41 areas; (209) 962-7825 for Hwy. 120 west areas; and (760) 647-3044 for Hwy. 120 east areas.

The National Park Reservation Service is currently taking campsite reservations for the period ending September 14 -- five months in advance. The toll-free reservation number (800) 436-7275 (PARK) is answered between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (PT), seven days a week. The reservation number for international callers is (301) 722-1257, the TTY toll free number is (888) 530-9796. Mail-in reservations are processed on the same schedule as those accepted by phone. The address is N.P.R.S., P.O. Box 1600, Cumberland MD, 21502. Reservations, information and campground maps are available on the internet at http://reservations.nps.gov/.

HIKING TRAILS

All trails from Yosemite Valley are open.

Wilderness permits are required for all overnight trips into the wilderness in Yosemite National Park. Permits are available at the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Permits are also available from 2 days to 24 weeks in advance by writing Wilderness Permits, P.O. Box 545, Yosemite CA 95389, or by calling (209) 372-0740 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.

Most high country trails remain partly to mostly snow covered or are very muddy. Hikers in these areas are reminded to stay on the path, regardless of mud, as your boots will dry much faster than the meadow can restore itself from trampling damage.

MISCELLANY

The Yosemite Valley Visitor Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily; The Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, The Big Oak Flat Information Station: 9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday; The Wawona Information Station: 8:30 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m. daily; The Mariposa Grove Museum is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily (closed for lunch); and The Pioneer Yosemite History Center is open for self guided tours.

The free Mariposa Grove/Wawona Shuttle operates between the Wawona Store parking lot and the Mariposa Grove parking area from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last bus departing the grove at 5:30 p.m. The one-hour Mariposa Grove Tram Tour runs daily.

The YCSC Stables (2 and 4 hour rides available) and Kennels in Yosemite Valley are open for the season.

The Merced River is open to rafting between Stoneman Bridge and Sentinel Beach. c

Changes to food storage regulations are:

• Little Yosemite Valley campground and High Sierra Camp backpacker campgrounds: All garbage and food items must be stored in a food locker or canisters. The counterbalance technique (either from a cable or tree branch) may not be used where bear boxes exist, this method is not recommended in Yosemite due to its ineffectiveness.
• Wilderness areas above 9600 feet: Food and scented items must be stored in portable food canisters.
• Frontcountry campgrounds: Food must be stored at all times in food storage lockers. If the locker is full of food, excess food items will be disposed of, or another locker that is not being used by campers in another site will be sought.