Operating Hours
Open year-round.

Visitation
Highest June through August; Lowest December through February.

Permits
Wilderness permits are required for any overnight travel into the park's backcountry. Reservations: (209)372-0740. Information: (209)372-0745. Permits are required for certain special activities, and are obtainable through the Special Use Permit Office at (209)379-1850.

Visitors Center and Programs
Visitor Center: There are 4 visitor centers in Yosemite National Park. The Valley Visitor Center, located in Yosemite Valley, is the largest and most comprehensive in terms of displays, books, postcards and maps. The Big Oak Flat Information Station, Wawona Information Station, and Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center are open on a more limited basis.

Programs: There are regularly scheduled ranger-led walks, talks, and evening programs.

Food Supplies and Concessions
Food/Supplies: Food service and groceries are available in the park and in surrounding communities.

Concessions: Bus tours, guided horseback rides and bicycle rentals are available. The Ansel Adams Gallery is located in Yosemite Valley. The Yosemite Bookstore is located at the Valley Visitor Center and is operated by the Yosemite Association.

Visitor Impact
Yosemite is bear country. There are strict guidelines concerning proper food storage and other necessary precautions, to ensure the safety of park visitors and of the bears for whom Yosemite is home.

Additional Information
To prevent congestion and overcrowding, automobile access may be temporarily restricted (mid-morning to early evening) in Yosemite Valley on spring weekends and on busy holiday weekends such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

The Tioga Pass entrance is closed from the first major snowstorm in November until early June. The roads entering the park on its west side are kept open all year, but may require tire chains November through April.