Current Conditions

Alerts

 

 

Current view of Yosemite Falls
(Yosemite Conservancy webcam)

 

Road Status

 

Tire chains may be required

Carry tire chains in your car and be prepared to use them (even if your car has four-wheel drive): chains may become mandatory at any time. Emergency or plastic tire chains are not acceptable. Drive carefully even when there are no chain requirements: you may encounter icy spots on mostly dry roads.

 

Call 209/372-0200 (press 1 then 1) for the most up-to-date conditions (the information below only reflects planned or long-term closures)

Wawona Road (continuation of Highway 41 from Fresno) Reopens on March 24 at 5 pm with three single-lane sections controlled by traffic lights. No stopping or parking between southern park boundary and Wawona.	Closed
El Portal Road (continuation of Highway 140 from Merced)	Open
Big Oak Flat Road (continuation of Highway 120 from Manteca) One single-lane section is controlled by traffic lights. Use caution.	Open
Yosemite Valley Roads	Open
Hetch Hetchy Road When open, hours are 8 am to 5 pm.	Open
Tioga Road (continuation of Highway 120 through the park)	Closed
Badger Pass Road Glacier Point Road is closed for the season beyond Badger Pass.	Closed
Mariposa Grove Road When open, road is open only to vehicles displaying disability placards. All others must use the free shuttle from Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza (near South Entrance).	Closed

Feeling lost? Find driving directions. You can also view a map showing road conditions outside of Yosemite.

 

Seasonal Information

• Rivers & Waterfalls: Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, Bridalveil Fall, and Yosemite Falls are flowing high for this time of year. On March 1, snowpack was 186% of average in the Tuolumne River basin and 160% of average in the Merced River basin for this time of year.
• Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions: Weekly blog post from the park's high country winter rangers.
• Bears: Bears remain active throughout the park, including Yosemite Valley and Badger Pass. Be sure to store your food properly and to remain at least 50 yards from bears in forest and meadows (but yell at/scare away a bear that approaches you or is in a developed area).

 

Fire and Smoke

Prescribed fires and pile burning are planned for this spring, which may cause smoky conditions at times, mainly in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Crane Flat areas. Yosemite's air quality may be affected by fires elsewhere in the region or by prescribed fire in Yosemite; hazy or smoky conditions are always possible.

• Current air quality in Yosemite
• Smoke outlook
• Yosemite fire news
• Fire closure map (There are currently no fire-related trail closures.)

Fire and Smoking Restrictions

There are no fire restrictions currently in effect beyond the normal fire regulations.

Current Air Quality in Yosemite Village

 

View More Data

 

Campground Information

• Yosemite Valley:

  Open: Reservations required: None
  First-come, first-served: None

  Closed: Lower Pines, North Pines, Upper Pines (tentatively reopens April 5), Camp 4 (tentatively reopens March 27)

• Outside Yosemite Valley:

  Closed: Wawona (reopens April 10), Hodgdon Meadow (reopens April 10), Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows

  Open: Reservations required: None
  First-come, first served: None

Check today's campground availability by calling 209/372-0266.

View estimated opening and closing dates in 2023 for all campgrounds.

Reservations are available up to five months in advance and are strongly recommended. If you don't have a reservation, get details about camping without a reservation.

Visit Yosemite Hospitality's website for lodging information (including information about Housekeeping Camp and High Sierra Camps). Reservations are available and recommended up to 366 days in advance.

 

Trails and Wilderness Conditions

Trails in Yosemite may be closed when there are hidden hazards or when they are impassable due to rock fall, snow, ice, or fire. Open trails aren't necessarily free of hazards--by entering the wilderness, you assume responsibility for your safety and must use good judgment. Trails not listed below are open, but may be snowy and very difficult to find from about November through May/June (and may have other hazards).

While several miles of paved pedestrian paths in Yosemite Valley are plowed, all hiking trails are covered in snow. Wear waterproof boots and traction devices as even plowed paths can be icy. Hiking on snow-covered trails is not recommended.

Stay away from all rivers and creeks, which are running high and with snowbanks that may collapse.

Yosemite Valley Area

• The Lower Yosemite Fall loop trail is open, however off-trail areas remain closed. Please remain on the trail.
• The Mist Trail from its junction with the John Muir Trail above Vernal Fall footbridge to the top of Vernal Fall is closed due to icy conditions. The John Muir Trail between Clark Point and Panorama Trail junction (near the top of Nevada Fall) is closed due to dangerously icy conditions. It is possible to hike to the tops of Vernal and Nevada Falls via the winter route, although these may also be snowy and/or icy.
• The Four Mile Trail is closed.
• The boulders around the base of Lower Yosemite Fall (the off-trail area between the footbridge/viewing area and the waterfall) is closed.
• The trail to Bridalveil Fall is closed due to the Bridalveil Fall Rehabilitation Project until summer 2023.
• The Half Dome cables are down for the season. They are usually available for use starting Memorial Day weekend in May. A permit is required to hike to the top of Half Dome when the cables are up.

Wawona and Mariposa Grove Area

• The trail from the Mariposa Grove toward Wawona is closed. The western portion of the Perimeter Trail (from the Galen Clark Tree to near the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail) is also closed. Please stay on trails: hazards may exist off trail in the Mariposa Grove. View a map for details. The Washburn Trail reopened on August 18.

Crane Flat to Tuolumne Meadows Area

• Soda Springs Road and Lembert Dome picnic area are closed.
• Elizabeth Lake Trailhead (in Tuolumne Medows Campground) is closed. Start from the visitor center or Dog Lake parking areas instead.

Climbing Closures

Climbing closures are in effect on several routes each year from March 1 through July 15 to protect peregrine falcons. Additionally, a free wilderness climbing permit is required for all overnight big wall climbs.

More Information Sources