“Yosemite is a prison on wheels!” – this is how my husband summarized our trip to Yosemite this month, July 2024. Visiting Yosemite National Park in 2024 is not an easy endeavor without detailed planning months in advance. This California National Park is becoming more and more popular every year with crowds waiting at its doorstep every day of the peak season which runs from April to October. However with my tips your trip to Yosemite will be much less of a headache.
Here is what you NEED TO KNOW before you go – Yosemite National Park Tips
Yosemite National Park Tip #1
There is a reservation system currently in place (on top of your regular entry fee) from April 13 to October 27 . You can find more information on Yosemite reservation system HERE. There is a limited amount of people allowed in the Park per day so you would think the lines at the entry to Yosemite will be less.
No chance! The new reservation system adds about 20 seconds for each car processing (if you are lucky, it may be more) which means if there are 100 cars waiting in front of you, and there WILL BE at least 100 cars waiting ahead of you in the peak season, it adds over 30 minutes to your wait time right there.
Also, please, bear in mind that the reservations sell out days and sometimes weeks in advance so I suggest buying one as soon as the they open to the public.
Yosemite National Park Tip #2
The first official information you will see about Yosemite on the way to the Park is a sign saying it is “60 minutes waiting time to enter” from where you are. BELIEVE IT, it’s TRUE!
Unfortunately, there is no sign warning you about 90 minutes wait or 2 hours wait. If you saw those warnings in advance you may have reconsidered waiting and turned around. But once you have invested and hour already you will be reluctant to turn back.
So if the waiting line starts before you see the “60 minutes” marker, please, be aware it is going to be a long, LONG time.
Yosemite National Park Tip #3
If you plan to travel to Yosemite between May and September, avoid weekends, also avoid the entire week of the 4th of July. The wait lines will not get better during the day. We waited for 2 hours to enter at 8 am and then when we were leaving at 4.45 pm the line was at 60 minutes wait time marker.
If you want to avoid waiting lines the best time to arrive to Yosemite during the peak season is before 6 am.
Yosemite National Park Tip #4
During the peak season you cannot see Yosemite’s major attractions in your own car, you will have to use a shuttle. That includes Yosemite Valley and giant sequoia grove in Wawona area.
There will be long waiting lines at the shuttle stops and the shuttles will be packed so account for that.
Yosemite National Park Tip #5
During the peak season between May and September during weekends and holidays consider visiting less crowded attractions within Yosemite National Park that you can actually visit by car, without a shuttle. A great little area to explore is Wawona.
Here are a few interesting attractions to see in Wawona without a shuttle:
Chilnualna Falls
Chilnualna Falls is probably the least visited waterfall in Yosemite. At least on our hike (and it was the busy week of the July 4) we didn’t meet any people, ZERO!
Chilnualna Falls is a series of waterfalls totaling 690 feet. It consists of five tiers ranging from 30 to 300 feet in height. The total hike length is close to 8 miles out and back and it is strenuous but you can get to the first tier in under half a mile and it is an easy hike even with small kids.
Chilnualna Falls is located on Chilnualna Creek in Wawona area.
Chilnualna Creek
Chilnualna Creek in Wawona area is a cool little place to relax near water. If you don turn on the hike trail at the beginning but follow the main road it will take you to a bridge over the Creek. Very nice overlook on both sides. In spring it is probably magnificent, full of water, When we were there in July it was not raging so we could even get down to the water level. Be careful, the rocks may be slippery!
Pioneer History Museum
Pioneer History Museum is a true gem in Yosemite National Park. It is located near Wawona hotel. It is an outdoor museum with many historic buildings dating back to the 19th century, some of which also have exhibitions inside. My favorite structure was a covered bridge over the Merced River (a beautiful spot in itself)
Also from the week of July 4 and for 8 weeks onwards there are historical demonstrations every day at the museum. Specifically, you can see blacksmiths at work. And they not just show you what they do and how, they tell the history of the craft which is very fascinating.
Visiting Pioneer History Museum was like time travel – and with very few people too, like in the good old days.
Yosemite National Park Tip #6
Not many people realize one other “difficulty” about visiting Yosemite – mosquitos. If you are visiting mostly coastal areas of California you would not encounter any mosquitos so you may think the same is true anywhere in the State and you will be wrong.
There are a LOT of mosquitos in Yosemite, especially near the water and this is exactly the reason why you are visiting Yosemite, to see its majestic waterworks, right?
So do not forget to take a good, natural mosquito repellent with you.
Conclusion
So to sum up, plan ahead, avoid peak times and visit less popular attractions so that you don’t feel like you got stuck inside a car or a shuttle for a big portion of your visit.
If you found this article about Yosemite National Park useful, please, share it with other as it may help them in to plan their trip too.
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