Yosemite Orientation
- Yosemite Basecamp
- Apr 2
- 7 min read
Your source for weekly news, information and updates in the Yosemite National Park region and beyond updated April 2nd, 2024.
Information Desk is located at 11892 Ponderosa Lane at our Yosemite Basecamp and is open from 8am - 6pm!
Reservations
ATTN: The Reservations system for 2025 has been postponed.
Road Conditions, Closures & Detours
During the winter months, all roads within Yosemite National Park are chain controlled, so motorist must have chains in their vehicle when entering. When chain controls are in effect, signs will be posted along the road indicating the type of requirement.
Requirement 1 (R-1): Chains are required on all vehicles except vehicles with snow tires.
Requirement 2 (R2): Chains or cables are required on all vehicles except four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires.
Requirement 3 (R3): Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.
Tioga Road
Tioga Road and the Highway 120 entering the Park from Lee Vining and Mammoth Lakes, CA is closed for the season.
Hetch Hetchy Road
Hetchy Road, from the intersection of Evergreen Road and Mather Road, is open from Sunrise to Sunset, but may have chain controls in place during inclement weather.
Big Oak Flat Road
Big Oak Flat Road & Highway 120 entering the Park from Groveland, CA is open, but may have chain controls in place during inclement weather.
Wawona Road
Wawona Road & Highway 41 entering the Park from Oakhurst, CA, is open, but may have chain controls in place during inclement weather. .
A team will be inspecting the Wawona tunnel and the tunnels along Big Oak Flat Road this week. Traffic Management has been contracted to conduct one lane closures Tuesday and Wednesday while visual inspections are occurring.
Mariposa Grove Road
The road leading into the Mariposa Grove is currently closed for the season.
Mariposa Grove transportation service is discontinued temporarily, due to icy road conditions, a winter weather advisory, and freezing overnight temperatures in the forecast. Road conditions will be re-assessed on Sunday, Nov 17. The Welcome Center parking area remains open. The grove accessible to hike-in visitors who are prepared for snow and ice (J. Donovon)
El Portal Road
El Portal Road and Highway 140 entering the Park from Mariposa, CA is open, but may have chain controls in place during inclement weather.
State Route 140 (SR-140) between Cathey’s Valley and the town of Mariposa will undergo improvements throughout the summer. Work will include pavement preservation with hot-mix asphalt, and removal and installation of guardrails, culverts, dikes, shoulder backing, signage, and corner curb ramps at seven intersections. Crews will work night shifts for approximately 170 working days, Sunday through Thursday, with alternating lane closures on eastbound and westbound SR-140. Project completion is expected in December 2024.
Glacier Point Road
Glacier Point Road is closed for the season. The Badger Pass cutoff road is closed.
As part of the Glacier Point Road Rehabilitation project, the Aquatics Restoration crew will be conducting stream channel work at the culvert on the east portion of Summit Meadow on Glacier Point Road. Work will begin October 21st and continue through October 22nd. As part of this work there will be single lane closures, with delays of up to 15 minutes, between 6AM and 8PM, Monday and Tuesday. A portion of the Summit Meadow pullout one mile east of Badger Pass will also be closed to allow workers access. Please be patient and aware of workers and equipment on the road and allow extra time to reach your destination.
Yosemite Valley Roads
All roads within Yosemite Valley are open, but may have chain controls in place during inclement weather.
Recreational Conditions
Valley Loop Trail near El Capitan
The Valley Loop trail will be barricaded at the west end of the project site near El Capitan and at the entrance to the project site south of the El Capitan picnic area. A trail detour is available to hikers by walking north of the project site. The contractor will also be periodically closing the left-hand lane of Northside Drive for approximately 2500 feet west of and in front of the El Capitan picnic area in order to stage trucks for off hauling of waste/soil from the site.
Closed Campgrounds
Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Housekeeping Camp, Porcupine Flat, Tuolumne Meadow, North Pines, Lower Pines.
The laundromat at Housekeeping Camp will stay open throughout the winter, and all other facilities will be closed until the 2025 season.
Half Dome
The Half Dome cables are down for the season; they are usually installed the the Friday before the last Monday in May, conditions permitting. A permit is required to hike to the top of Half Dome when the cables are up.
John Muir Trail
The John Muir Trail between Clark Point and Panorama Trail junction (near the top of Nevada Fall) is closed for the season due to dangerously icy conditions. It is also closed from Happy Isles to Vernal Fall footbridge due to a rockfall.
Valley Loop Trail
A short section of the Valley Loop Trail at The Ahwahnee is closed due to rockfall risk, although a short detour is available..
Elizabeth Lake Trailhead
Elizabeth Lake Trailhead (in Tuolumne Meadows Campground) is closed. Start from the visitor center or Dog Lake parking areas instead.
Peregrin Falcon Climbing Closures
All Falcon closures are lifted on July 15th through March 1st
Additional Climbing Closures
Serenity Crack and Super Slide Climbing Area Closure: Closure includes all routes between and including Peruvian Flake West to the Rhombus Wall. The popular routes Serenity Crack/Sons of Yesterday, and Super Slide are included in the closure.
Fire Update – Nothing to report
Yosemite Bear Facts
Latest Report | October 20, 2024
2025 Total Bear Incidents: 8
2025 Total Property Damage: $704
Bear Incident Comparisons (year to date—previous years compared to 2025):
Last year (2024) - There were no incidents yet last year at this time.
Most Incidents (1998) - down by 60%
Fewest Incidents (2019) - up by 700%
Bear Activity Summary: Bears are being reported consistently in Yosemite Valley, but are likely active throughout much of the park’s lower elevations. This week bears got food from an unlatched food locker in Curry Village and trash from a residential garage. So far this year bears have been documented getting into human food and trash in most lodging and camping areas, as well as in many residential areas.
Last week, wildlife management staff captured and GPS collared an adult male bear suspected of getting into a garage so its behavior could be monitored. Bear jams are occurring almost daily and several sow and yearling pairs have been observed and have caused small crowds in Yosemite Valley. No cubs have been seen yet, but yearlings and adult bears appear to be in good body condition coming from hibernation. Acorns, especially black oak, are still abundant on the ground in the Valley from last fall. Please remember that if you see a bear in the park give it plenty of space (at least 50 yards, but if the bear is reacting to you, you are too close). If you see a bear in a campground, hotel, or other human developed area yell and make lots of noise to scare it away.
Red Bear, Dead Bear: Please help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways. Twenty-one bears were hit by vehicles in 2024 with three confirmed dead. No bears have been documented as hit-by-vehicle so far in 2025.
Fascinating Bear Facts: Black bears have an average of two cubs at a time. Litters of one or three are not uncommon and bears can even have four or more. The litter size often increases with age and body size/condition of the mother. Females generally become sexually mature at three to four years of age, but may be delayed to as late as seven in less productive habitats.
Other Wildlife: Avian influenza is still being reported and monitored throughout the United States. This virus can impact animals beyond birds, including mammals. Remember to not handle or approach any wildlife in Yosemite and report sick and dead animals to Wildlife Management.
Please report bear incidents and sightings:
Call the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322 or e-mail yose_bear_mgmt@nps.gov.
For more information about Yosemite’s bears, please visit:
Current Waterfall Conditions
Yosemite Falls | 2,425 ft | Flows: approximately November through July, with peak flow in May.
Bridalveil Fall | 620 feet | Flows: Generally all year, with peak flow in May
Nevada Fall | 594 feet | Flows: All year, with peak flow in late May.
Vernal Fall(s) | 317 feet | Flows: All year, though by mid to late summer, it narrows and separates into one, two, or three falls as water flows decrease; peaks in late May.
Wapama Falls | 1,400 feet | Flows: strong with peak in May
Chilnualna Falls | 2,200 feet | Flows: all year, with peak flow in May
Tuolumne River Flow Rates
For permitting and access information contact the Groveland Ranger District.
Flows will continue to remain elevated and may vary significantly over the coming weeks as weather changes and spring runoff season progresses.
Stated flow rates are best estimates and are subject to change as conditions and operational constraints evolve.
Nature in the News
Scientists are reporting success with a 15-year program at Yosemite National Park to reestablish the endangered Sierra Nevda yellow-legged frog.
Yosemite National Park officials release video of a white-lined sphinx moth. Is it a hummingbird?
Yosemite and Gateway Communities in the News
MSN
Kevin Costner is back on screen with the docuseries Yellowstone to Yosemite. He will explore Theodore Roosevelt's historic expedition.
Current and former national parks employees and their supporters protested in Yosemite Valley on Saturday over a federal hiring freeze and other
National Parks Traveler
Yosemite National Park will be delaying selling campground reservations at five of its most popular campgrounds this summer.
Advnture
The Badger Pass Ski area won't be opening its doors, but there are still plenty of winter activities to enjoy at Yosemite National Park.
Serious and pressing issues' at Yosemite National Park: Concessionaire responds to criticisms.
MSN
An open letter on Reddit accused Aramark Destinations of mismanagement, ignoring structural issues, and failing to look after their staff at Yosemite ...
This weekend's Mother Lode Views will feature a conversation with Kevin Day and Lloyd Mathiesen.
Comentários