Yosemite National Park Guide : National Parks Navigator
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Yosemite National Park
How to get to the Park?
ACCESS: Drive up from Sacramento , on Highway 99 South to Highway 120 for the West entrance, or come East on Highways 580 to 205 to 5 to 120 from San Francisco for the West Entrance. The West Entrance brings you right to Yosemite Valley and the center of activies in the Park. Public transportation is as follows: Commercial Air Service is through Sacramento or San Francico. Car rental from the airports gives you the best access to the many park attractions. Bus service is available from Sacramento. Note that internal Park bus service is extensive. Your best transportation is via a car rental from the airport. Car rental. Train service is available via Amtrak.
Where to stay?
ACCOMOCATIONS: Outside the Park but nearby are Rush Creek Lodge and Yosemite View Lodge. Inside the Park stay at three fantastic Lodges: Yosemite Valley Lodge, Majestic Yosemite Hotel and Half Dome Village. For reservations go to Yosemite Lodges.
Booking.comFor a wilder experience, you also have the option of camping . The park has several campgrounds: Go online at Yosemite Campgrounds to reserve a spot at one of the campgrounds. Extensive campgrounds are found at Half Dome Village and the Pines. Other campgrounds are found outside of the Valley and near groves of giant sequoia trees at Wawona and at Crane Flat.
How to get around?
The area is captivating in nature’s splendor. Best option is to stay in the Valley itself at either Park Campsites or the hotels and walk, or rather hike, to the attractions. The trail system is extensive. For example staying at the Yosemite Valley Lodge one can walk or take the shuttle over to the Merced River’s Vernal Falls . Take the breathtaking Mist trail to the top of the Falls and then return by the John Muir trail . You are likely to see wildlife leaving early in the morning including bobcat, coyote, deer, ravens—and even bears! Deer own the place and roam freely even with hikers present. An alternative is to take the Park Shuttle buses. Rock climbing is very big here. This is very serious technical climbing that requires training. Day and evening classes are available. To learn all about the many possible climbs in the Park, check out Erik Sloan’s excellent book: Rock Climbing Yosemite Valley . Erik lives and works in Yosemite Valley.
Where to eat?
Yosemite offers restaurants at the hotels: Yosemite Valley Lodge and at The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, as well as in the Village area. A market is located in the Village.
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Tours:
Horseback riding : Horses are available at various locations including Yosemite Valley next to North Pines Campground.