1. What is Yosemite?

Yosemite is a popular United States National Park. Situated in California, Yosemite National Park attracts over 3.5 million visitors every year. People visit here to see the park’s granite cliffs, waterfalls and redwood trees. It is also known for its hiking trails and the photo opportunities in the park.

2. How is Yosemite pronounced?

yo-‘seh-m-itee / Yoh-SEM-ity

3. Where exactly is Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite National Park lies on the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range on the eastern part of the state of California.

Approximate distances from major cities in CA to Yosemite:
San Francisco – 170 miles
San Jose – 165 miles
Sacramento – 140 miles

Los Angeles – 280 miles
San Diego – 400 miles

4. What can you see in Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite is mostly known for its unique landscape, one that is made of gigantic granite structures carved out by nature, a large number of waterfalls that cascade down its famous rock faces and scenic views. There is even a grove of Giant Sequoias (a variety of the Redwood Tree, which is native to California).

5. How many days do you need to see this park?

Yosemite is a large park however, if you have only a day to spend here, you will be able to go see most of the popular points-of-interests.

If you can spend 2-3 days in the park you should be able to see all that makes this place special and explore it fairly well. And if that is in the summer, you can drive through the mountain pass that crosses the park, and the see several more attractions alongside it. During this time you might also be able to squeeze in a trip to Glacier Point, which is open during the summer months.

First time visitor?
Click here —Things to see and do in Yosemite Valley

6. How to get to Yosemite?

The most popular way into the park is to drive into it so you can take yourself to the different parts of this park that are spread over different levels.  Note: Parking can be problem during some weekends, holidays and peak season. (Look up the ‘What’s new in Yosemite’ column on the right to see if reservations are required when you plan to visit.)

If you’d like to avoid all the parking issues, you can see if you can find a YART bus to get you in, and then take the shuttles to the most popular points in the park. (The shuttles don’t make it to all the POIs in the park.)

7. When is the best time to visit this National Park in California?

Yosemite looks different every season. So it wouldn’t be wrong to say that every season is a good time to visit. However, if you are not able to make multiple trips, late spring and early summer might be the best seasons to make the most of that ‘one visit.’

8. Is there a fee to enter this park on the Sierra Nevada?

There is a fee to enter the park, most days of the year. There are some days when entry is free. (Our ‘What’s New in Yosemite’ column on the right of this page will have the dates/ fee-free days.) And if you enjoy visiting national parks and sites, an annual pass is a great investment.

9. Do you need reservations to visit Yosemite?

Usually, and most days of the year, you do not need a reservation. However, if you are visiting to see the Firefall, you might need to have a reservation. The park also has a reservation system in place summer, when it sees most visitors. Look up our News Column on the right to see if your visit coincides with the days/dates/time that need reservations. If yes, you could visit recreation.gov and reserve your entry.

10. Where to stay when visiting Yosemite?

Yosemite has a few lodges within the park if you’d like to stay inside the park. If you’d like to stay fairly close to the park, look for accommodation in Yosemite West.

And if you don’t mind a short drive, or would rather have a quiet stay, there are a large number of vacation rentals in the mountain towns around Yosemite ( Groveland, Mariposa, Oakhurst …
And then, there’s Casa Mariposa. 😉 Look up our calendar to check availabilities for the days you have in mind.)

Visit the Casa Mariposa Blog
Find more info on the park’s official site