Fees and Permits

Park entrance fees are $20 for private vehicles and $10 for individuals on foot, bike and motorcycle. All entrance fees are valid for seven days. The Yosemite Annual Pass is available for $40, and allows park entry for one year. Alternatively, you can get a National Parks Annual Pass for $80 so you can visit any park for one year.

Driving

• Gas is available for purchase at Crane Flat, Tuolumne Meadows, Wawona, and in towns located outside of the park. Gas prices tend to be $0.60-$1 higher than in communities like Fresno, Merced and Modesto.
• Road Closures Be aware that the Tioga Pass Road and the Glacier Point Road are seasonal and close as soon as the first major snow falls. Other park roads may close during storms, but in general are always open.
• Speed Limits in all areas of the park are fairly slow and strictly enforced by rangers with radar guns. The speed limits are for your own safety on the twisting mountain roads, as well as for the safety of pedestrians and the many animals that use the area.
• One-way Roads The loop road through Yosemite Valley is one-way, Southside Drive going in and Northside Drive going out. Be aware that a wrong turn can send you on a one-way five-mile detour! It affects those entering from the west on Hwy 120 the most, as you will have to cross over to Southside Drive at the Pohono Bridge. Likewise upon leaving the park, those exiting on Hwy 41(Wawona Rd) also must cross the Pohono Bridge, backtrack one mile, then turn right onto Wawona Rd.

Wildlife

Bears like food and they’ll rip through car doors to get it! Park Rangers, by various means, have successfully reduced most bear incidents but they still occur so never leave food, food wrappers or scented items (deodorant, air fresheners, toothpaste) in your car or bring them into your tent. Heed this advice! Bear-resistant storage units are provided at park campgrounds and overnight parking areas: use them. To avoid bear and mountain lion encounters while hiking make noise so the animal knows you are coming. 

Other animals, such as the herds of deer which can be found in the park's meadows, can be equally dangerous; a young boy was killed by a deer in Yosemite Valley several years ago. Never feed any park wildlife and, as a rule, if you keep your distance from them they’ll keep their distance from you.

Hiking Safety

As discussed, the weather is changeable and can be extreme, either very hot or very stormy and snowy. Dress accordingly with options for sudden changes. Carry plenty of water, good shelter, back-up food provisions, have an emergency plan, wear sturdy boots and follow all posted signs - if a trail is closed due to ice, landslide, or some other reason do not ignore it! On the Half Dome trail hikers should ALWAYS remain inside the cables for both their ascent and descent - people have died on this section of trail as recently as Summer 2009.

Yosemite Medical Clinic

The Yosemite Medical Clinic (9000 Ahwahnee Drive, Yosemite Valley) is open for appointments 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, drop-in and urgent care 8am-7pm and emergency care 24 hours daily. It has paramedic/ambulance services, a limited pharmacy, a lab, x-ray and physical therapy.