Best Time to Visit Yosemite National Park

Yosemite by season at a glance

Yosemite Valley is open all year, but what you can see changes a lot by season. Snowmelt drives the waterfalls, and snow decides when the high roads to Glacier Point and Tuolumne Meadows open and close.

The temperatures below are NPS averages for Yosemite Valley (about 4,000 feet) based on 1991 to 2020 data. Tuolumne Meadows, at 8,600 feet, runs roughly 15 to 20 degrees cooler.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is waterfall season. NPS says peak runoff typically comes in May or June: Yosemite Falls (2,425 feet) and Bridalveil Fall usually peak in May, while Vernal and Nevada Falls peak in late May or June. Expect to get soaked on the Mist Trail, which climbs more than 600 granite steps beside Vernal Fall.

Early spring can still bring snow and rain to the Valley, with average highs of 57°F in March and 63°F in April. Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road stay closed until crews clear them. Plowing on Tioga Road starts around April 15 and usually takes one to two months.

In 2026 both roads opened early: Glacier Point Road on May 9 and Tioga Road on May 15. In a big snow year, either road can stay closed into June, so if seeing Glacier Point or Tuolumne is essential, plan for June and check the NPS road status page before you go.

Summer (June to August)

Summer is the only season when the whole park is reliably open. Tioga Road crosses the high country to Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass, Glacier Point Road reaches the Valley overlook, and the free Mariposa Grove shuttle runs from the Welcome Plaza near the South Entrance (8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May 3 to September 23 in 2026).

It is also the busiest and hottest time in the Valley, where July and August average 89°F. Vernal and Nevada Falls keep flowing, but Yosemite Falls is often a trickle or completely dry by August. Tuolumne Meadows averages a much cooler 70 to 72°F and is the better place for summer hiking.

June is the sweet spot: the high roads are usually open, the waterfalls are still strong and the Valley is not yet at its hottest. If you can, visit midweek. NPS specifically encourages weekday trips because weekend and holiday traffic is heaviest.

Fall (September to November)

September and early October bring dry, stable weather, warm days (83°F in September, 71°F in October in the Valley) and fewer families once school starts. It is a strong choice for hiking, climbing-watching at El Capitan and driving Tioga Road. The trade-off is that most waterfalls are low and Yosemite Falls is usually dry.

Fall is also wildfire and smoke season in the Sierra. In early October 2026, Glacier Point Road was temporarily closed for smoke and firefighting on the Dome Fire, and several trails in the Glacier Point and Wawona areas were closed. Check current conditions and air quality before a fall trip.

The last day to use the Half Dome cables is normally the day after the second Monday in October. Overnight parking on Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road ends October 15 in 2026, and both roads typically close for the winter sometime in November, as soon as a major storm arrives.

Winter (December to February)

Yosemite Valley and Wawona stay open all winter, and a fresh snowfall on El Capitan and Half Dome is a sight most visitors never see. Valley highs average 46 to 51°F with nights below freezing. Crowds are light except around the late December and early January holidays.

Tioga Road is closed, so Tuolumne Meadows is not reachable by car. Glacier Point Road is plowed only as far as the Badger Pass Ski Area, roughly mid-December through early April, for downhill and cross-country skiing. The Mariposa Grove road closes to vehicles and the shuttle does not run from December to mid-April, so reaching the sequoias means about a 2-mile walk each way on the Washburn Trail, often on snow.

NPS often requires tire chains on park roads in winter. When chains are required you must carry them and know how to put them on, regardless of what you drive, including four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles.

Firefall at Horsetail Fall (February)

On some clear evenings in mid- to late February, the setting sun lights up Horsetail Fall on the east face of El Capitan so it glows orange. It only happens when the fall is flowing (which depends on snowpack) and the sky is clear to the west. Even light haze or clouds can dim it or stop it entirely, so many visitors see nothing.

In February 2026 no reservation was required. The main viewing area was the El Capitan Picnic Area, reached by walking about 1.5 miles from Yosemite Falls parking. Parking and stopping were restricted along Southside Drive, one lane of Northside Drive was turned over to pedestrians, and the Merced River area near the viewing zone was closed. Rules have changed from year to year, and NPS has not yet posted details for February 2027.

Do you need a reservation to enter Yosemite?

Not in 2026. After requiring peak-hours reservations in summer 2025, the park announced that a season-wide reservation requirement was not the most effective approach for 2026. Instead it is using real-time traffic monitoring, active parking management in the Valley and extra staff at key intersections during busy periods.

For 2027, nothing has been announced yet. Past decisions were announced in winter or early spring, so check the NPS entrance reservations page before booking a summer 2027 trip. Separate permits are still required for some activities: Half Dome's cables need a permit from a preseason lottery (applications in March) or a daily lottery two days ahead, and overnight wilderness trips need a wilderness permit.

Entrance costs $35 per private vehicle for seven days. Starting in 2026, visitors 16 and older who are not U.S. residents also pay a $100 nonresident fee unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Entrance stations do not accept cash.

Typical road and shuttle seasons

NPS cannot predict exact opening dates, because April and May storms affect plowing. Use these as typical ranges, and treat the 2026 dates as one year's result, not a forecast.

More Yosemite guides

• How Many Days Do You Need in Yosemite?Plan 2 days for Yosemite Valley and 3 to 4 to add Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove and Tuolumne. Sample itineraries plus where to stay inside and outside the park.