Eight years before Yellowstone was established as America’s first national park, President Abraham Lincoln signed a document called the Yosemite Valley Cessation Act in 1864. This act protected Yosemite Valley and the nearby Mariposa Big Tree Grove in Northern California for public recreation.
“This is groundbreaking legislation. It’s the first time (in the United States) that land has been set aside for conservation and public enjoyment,” Yosemite National Park spokesman Scott Gediman said.
Today, the valley and the surrounding area is known as Yosemite National Park, designated in 1890. Yosemite National Park is one of America’s most popular national parks, with an estimated 3,897,070,000 visitors in 2023. You’ve likely heard of world-famous sites like Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and the towering ancient sequoia trees.
“Yosemite is an iconic national park. It draws visitors from all over the world,” Gediman said.
Here’s what visitors need to know about Yosemite, the penultimate national park in USA TODAY’s yearlong series.
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What is so special about Yosemite National Park?
With an area of 1,200 square miles, Yosemite has a lot to offer its visitors.
“Yosemite has so much to see and do: natural history, cultural history, wildlife, beauty, size,” Gediman says. “I feel like Yosemite embodies so many of the ideals and things that come to mind when you think of a national park.”
Of course, the park has natural beauty too, with iconic monoliths like Half Dome, the beautiful Yosemite Valley that drew famous naturalist John Muir, and some of the world’s tallest waterfalls.
Gediman said the park is steeped in history beyond its natural wonders, from the Native Americans who lived there for centuries to the facilities that tell the story of “the growth of the national park system.” One of California’s first mountain resort hotels, the Wawona Hotel, was established in 1856 during the Victorian era and has a pool and golf course within the park, while the Ahwahnee Hotel, built as a luxury hotel in 1927, is considered “the crown jewel of national park lodges” today, Gediman said.
Do I need a reservation to visit Yosemite National Park?
Yes, if you are planning to visit this summer.
To help manage crowds, the park is testing a reservation system on select days between April 13 and October 27 that allows visitors to enter the park during peak hours, from 5am to 4pm (though visitors can enter without a reservation before 5am and after 4pm). Reservations cost $2 and are accepted seven days in advance of your visit, but you’ll need to hurry as they sell out quickly.
Can I drive through Yosemite National Park?
Yes, you can drive through Yosemite (reservations required).
Tioga Road (also known as Highway 120) is one of the most scenic drives in the park. At 46 miles, it passes landmarks like Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows, and reaches an elevation of just under 10,000 feet at the top of Tioga Pass. However, like all roads, Tioga Road is subject to seasonal closures.
What is the closest town to Yosemite National Park?
Yosemite’s four corridors are surrounded by several historic gateway towns, including Sonora, Jamestown and El Portal, where visitors can find hotels, campgrounds, restaurants and gas stations, as well as rich gold mining and railroad history.
When is the best time to visit Yosemite National Park?
There’s no bad time to visit Yosemite, but the most touristy times are spring and summer.
“The park comes alive after spring,” Gediman says. As the ice melts, the waterfalls roar and the meadows bloom. “Summer is beautiful, perfect for hiking,” he says. The park’s lake is a popular spot for tourists to swim and canoe.
But Gediman says visiting in the fall means fewer crowds and “better weather and longer days.” The park remains open in the winter, although some areas are closed. “Winter is the quietest time of the year and it’s a really beautiful time. We do get snow, but it depends on the elevation of the park.”
Who are the Native Americans who live in Yosemite National Park?
Yosemite’s Native American history dates back nearly 4,000 years, and many tribes continue to call Yosemite home to this day. Currently, seven American Indian tribes and groups with traditional ties to the valley make up the Mariposa County American Indian Council: Southern Sierra Miwok Tribe, Bishop Paiute Tribe, Bridgeport Indian Colony, Mono Lake Kootsaducah, North Fork Rancheria of California Mono Indians, Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, and Tuolumne Band of Miwok Indians.
For more information about Yosemite’s native peoples, visitors to the park can stop at Wahoga Village, the valley’s last American Indian village, which was demolished in 1969 when its residents were evicted.
The National Park Service worked with the tribe to build a round house at the village, where Native Americans could hold religious ceremonies and which also served as a place for public education.
“They’re helping us build a facility that respects the land,” Gediman said.
The tribe also consults with the National Park Service about planned, or cultural, burns, a centuries-old practice aimed at reducing the likelihood of naturally occurring wildfires and encouraging the growth of other plants.
“We have a very close relationship with the tribes,” Gediman said. “It’s a privilege, so to speak, to be able to work with these tribes.”
Kathleen Wong is a Hawaii-based travel writer for USA TODAY. She can be reached at kwong@usatoday.com.
