Temperature

Summer is the best time of year for warmer average temperatures but also more crowds to the park as peak season generally runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Weather will vary by month and location, but average temperature for Yosemite Valley typically ranges from a high of 72^oF in May to a high of 89^oF in August; average temperature lows can range from 45^oF in May to 56^oF in August. If you are seeking cooler average temperatures and waterfalls, Tuolumne Meadows, a part of the park approximately an hour east of Yosemite Valley, is typically 10 degrees cooler due to its higher elevation (~8,600 vs. 4,000 ft.).

Number of visitors

Park visitors build from over 400,000 in May to around 600,000 in July before settling back down to about 500,000 in September (based on a 5-year average, 2014-2018). As mentioned before, about three times as many people visit in July as those who visit in March, so keep this in mind as you're planning your trip.

Waterfalls & Precipitation

Waterfalls generally run until the end of summer when the snow run off from the mountains dries up, resulting in reduced waterflow. This usually occurs around August, with waterfalls peaking in May or June. Yosemite receives less than 5% of its annual precipitation during summer months, so early season is the time to see waterfalls. There's a Yosemite Falls webcam that shows the falls live and they even have a timelapse archive that allows you to watch videos from different days in the past; this will give you a sense for how the falls might look during your visit.

Hiking Trails

Hiking is a popular summer activity. The best hikes in Yosemite include Vernal and Nevada Falls Loop, Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Mist Trail, and perhaps the most popular, the Half Dome Trial.

Half Dome Hike

The Half Dome Trail is the 14.5-mile trip (~7 miles each way) to the top of Half Dome. This is one of the best hikes in Yosemite and requires a 4,500 ascent, including a terrifying last 400 ft. up the granite dome. It takes about 10-12 hours round trip to hike the Half Dome Trail, so be sure to leave early (around sunrise) and turnaround if you haven't made it to the top by 3-4pm.

It may pay to pack a headlamp for the trip back down. Also be sure to take plenty of food and water (about a gallon per person for the round trip) and wear comfortable shoes, we specifically recommend trail running shoes as these have better traction than typical running shoes and are lighter / more comfortable than hiking boots. A day pack may be necessary.

Permits are required to hike Half Dome Trail while the cables are up (Memorial Day through Columbus Day) and are granted on a lottery-basis with applications beginning March 1st. A limited number of permits are also available two days in advance. Saturday, to no one's surprise, is the most requested day in the lottery at roughly a third of all submissions. Tuesday and Wednesday are the least-requested at <10% of all submissions each. If you can be flexible with dates, it may help improve your chances of securing a permit.

Backcountry Hiking & Camping

Backcountry camping is a less popular but perhaps more rewarding activity. It's also a nice way to escape the crowds. If you're particularly ambitious and have the time, you can try the Yosemite Backcountry Loop. This is a 60.2-mile trip with over 20,000 ft. of total elevation change; an absolutely epic hike through the northern section of the park.

You'll need a Yosemite Wilderness Permit, which you can book up to 24 weeks (168 days) in advance by filling out a Yosemite Permit Request Form. There's a Wilderness Trailhead Map that's useful for planning your trip and you can check trailhead availability (hikes are reserved based on quotas for each trailhead starting point) on the Full Trailhead Report.

If you're going into the backcountry, the most important investment you can make is in your shoes. You want something that's breathable, not waterproof, and we recommend trail running shoes over hiking boots as they're lighter and more comfortable. Waterproof shoes and hiking boots will cause your feet to "sweat" which invariably leads to blisters - not good on a 60+ mile hike.

The second most important investment you can make is in your backpack. Hiking several days with ~40 lbs. of weight is challenging under the best of circumstances, but compounding that with a sub-par backpack is nearly unbearable. Osprey backpacks are the best in our opinion; they won't eliminate the challenge, but they'll make it slightly more enjoyable. If you're going for >3 days, get a 65L pack or larger. If for 2-3 days, ~50L should do it. If you can pack light, a smaller pack may work, but this will vary depending on your gear list.

General Camping

Camping in Yosemite is also a popular pastime. Tuolumne Meadows Campground is an excellent location that's typically open July through late September. This is also a great way to escape the crowds in Yosemite Valley during peak season. Half of reservations are available online through recreation.gov and are block-released five months in advance on the 15th of each month. The other half are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camp 4 is also a popular site and is open year-round, but operates on a first-come, first-served basis only. You can find further campground details and historical campsite open and close dates on the Yosemite National Park site.

Whether your trip involves hiking, camping, rock climbing, full moon tours, or rafting, spring and summer are an ideal time for most activities.

Yosemite Firefall

Fall and winter bring fall colors and an entirely different visitor experience to Yosemite with fewer crowds and a chance to see the elusive Yosemite Firefall - a natural occurrence that lasts roughly two weeks in mid- to late-February. Yosemite Firefall occurs when the setting sun strikes Horsetail Fall at just the right angle, causing an orange glow that makes it look as if fire is streaming down the waterfall.

Waterfalls, particularly Yosemite Falls, generally dry up by October or November; Vernal Falls and some of the other falls will usually run all year, but with a significantly reduced flow.

Road Closures

Parts of the park at higher elevation close, e.g. Tuolumne Meadows (~8,600 ft.), in late fall and winter; however, most areas remain open through October and sometimes September with the occasional temporary closing due to snowfall here and there.

The Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road close due to snowfall and occasional snow storms beginning in around early November and remain closed until reopening in late May. However, Glacier Point is plowed up to the Yosemite Ski Area to allow visitors access to the site. Yosemite Valley and Wawona are accessible all year, but tire chains are typically required in winter months.

Temperature

Weather will vary in the fall with an average high of 82^oF in September, 71^oF in October, and 56^oF in November in Yosemite Valley; lows will reach 51^oF, 42^oF, and 33^oF for each month, respectively. For winter, the average high falls to 47^oF in December, 48^oF in January, and then back up to a balmy 52^oF in February; lows will average 28^oF, 29^oF, and 30^oF, respectively. Layering becomes more important due to the large swings in temperature; therefore, we recommend taking a baselayer, some sort of midlayer, and an outer layer depending on the weather. You should take warm socks, pants, and other essentials too, but you already knew that.

Number of Visitors

Visitations to the park fall off pretty spectacularly after peak season with average monthly visitors at ~500,000 in September, ~400,000 in October, and then dropping in half to ~200,000 in November (based on a 5-year average, 2014-2018). January is the least-visited month at around 125,000 visitors. This presents something of an opportunity for those who don't mind a little bit of snow and can handle the cold temperatures. Activities are limited, of course, but the trade-off in reduced crowding may be worth it to some travelers. Yosemite in November and December, in particular, seem like unusually good opportunities with reasonable weather and only 5-7k visitors per day.

Lodging & Activities

If you're visiting in winter, we recommend a stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel (now The Majestic Yosemite Hotel) as they offer a number of events and entertainment opportunities. Fall and winter in the park are much quieter and bring with them winter activities such as skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating. In addition, these seasons can also produce extraordinary and unique photos of the snow covered mountains. Looking for a more photographic point of view? Checkout this photographer's tips for visiting Yosemite.

While road closures and reduced hiking opportunities may scare some visitors off, this makes all of what remains that much sweeter to the rest!

Trips from San Francisco to Yosemite take about 3 hours by car (without traffic). But before you head out, always check park information for current weather conditions including road closures due to weather, forest fires, and other potential issues in the park.

As the United States' second oldest National Park, Yosemite houses some of the most spectacular natural sites in America, so a trip in any season is likely worth the effort. However, if you time it right, you can maximize the benefits of good weather, while minimizing the inconvenience of large crowds.

Visit the National Park Service's Yosemite Seasons site for further information.

Also, check out our article on how to make the most of your time at Yosemite National Park for tips on where to eat, where to stay, and what to do during your next trip to the park.

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