It looks like a painting, but it's real. This is Yosemite National Park in California. It's a beautiful and awe-inspiring home to El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls. Amazing!
This summer, you need a reservation to visit the park. Starting May 21st, every car that passes through the gate needs either a day pass reservation or a reservation at a hotel, lodge, or campground inside the park.
The day pass costs $35 and is good for 3 consecutive days. You can buy it at recreation.gov. I did a quick check and there were still tickets available for some days in July and most of August. I entered a date that showed no availability and the computer indicated that more tickets would be released about a week before. So keep trying!
And if you have a National Park annual pass, be sure to check the box so you don't pay for the day pass. I missed that, but the ranger at the entry gate told me how to ask for a refund. I arrived at the entry gate at 7:30am and there were only 4 cars in line ahead of me. A friend of mine left the park in the afternoon the week before and said the line was 2 miles long.
So it may be smart to arrive early. Gates open at 5am. There are multiple gates to enter the park depending on from which direction you arrive. Hwy 41 is closest to Fresno, Hwy 140 is closest to Merced and Hwy 120 is closest to San Francisco.
I entered on Hwy 120 which is a super windy road known as the New Priest Grade with nearly 100 hairpin curves. Apparently, the new Priest Grade is actually better than the old Priest Grade. Hard to believe. If you are prone to car sickness, I do not recommend this route.
I exited by Highway 41 which is much less curvy and you pass the Mariposa Grove with the giant Sequoias. However, there are no shuttle buses this summer so the hike to the Grove is 4 miles roundtrip.
Once inside, Highway 41 will lead you through a long tunnel and then let you out into the valley. Spectacular! Down on the valley floor, day pass parking is available near the Yosemite Lodge. It's a good starting point since it's just a 5 minute walk from there to the Lower Yosemite Falls. The Lower Falls is an easy walk. The Upper Falls is a 6-8 hour hike.
From the Falls, you can continue walking into Yosemite Village where there is a souvenir shop, Ansel Adams Gallery, and a giant Sequoia stump. If you continue walking towards the Ahwahnee Lodge, you will come upon a meadow with a great view of Half Dome.
As far as accommodations, if you book early or are super lucky, you may find something inside the park. The only campground that offers reservations the day before is camp 4 located next to the Yosemite Lodge. Reservations open at 12:01am the night before. All the other campgrounds filled up months ago. There were a few rooms available when I checked but they were priced upwards of $300 per night.
Oakhurst is a popular town 16 miles outside of the Hwy 41 Entrance Gate with all the major hotel brands and a couple of grocery stores.
Enjoy the park and remember to get your day pass!
