September and October are a great time to visit Yosemite National Park, weather is much cooler in the valley, and there are fewer crowds throughout the park.

 

Weather –

Visit Yosemite Valley in fall or spring seasons for moderate temperatures. Tuolumne Meadows is at higher altitude (8,000 ft) has coolers temperatures than Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite Valley is open year round, but Tioga Road Hwy 120 through Tuolumne Meadows often closes in October for the season, due to snow.

Best weather forecast to consult is national weather service: weather.gov.

In autumn there can be wildfires, check CalFire , and Smoke Outlook for air quality.

 

Yosemite Valley parking and shuttle buses –

Free shuttle buses loop around the valley, and run year round.

Your best bet is park at Yosemite Village or Curry Village, take the shuttle buses to get around Yosemite Valley.

To get text messages about road conditions including parking lot information – ynptraffic to 333111.

Tip: There are no gas stations in Yosemite Valley. Nearest gas is Crane Flat, Wawona, or El Portal outside the park.

 

Yosemite Valley bike rental –

There are miles of paved bike paths throughout the valley.

One of our favorite things to do is rent bikes, zip around on the bike paths, stop where you like, go at your own pace.

Rent bikes, including kids bikes, at Yosemite Valley Lodge, behind Village Store, and at Curry Village. Bike rentals at Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village have trailers for little ones.

 

Cell phone coverage –

Do not rely on your cell phone for hiking maps, unless offline map in phone.

In Yosemite Village, we did have cell phone coverage, also up a Glacier Point, but park rangers say coverage isn’t always available even in Yosemite Valley.

We had no phone connectivity in Tuolumne Meadows, even at Tuolumne Meadows store.

 

Day hikes –

At visitor centers and park entrance kiosks, ask for free copies of Yosemite Pocket Trail Maps:
Yosemite Valley
Tuolumne Meadows
Wawona and Mariposa Grove
Crane Flat and White Wolf

Each map is detailed, and you’ll be able to easily follow them on your hike.

Maps also have useful information, e.g. pets not allowed on trails, ask rangers about trail conditions store food properly, don’t get close to wildlife, stay hydrated, higher elevation hiking can be difficult, stay on the trail, pack out your trash.

Our sample trail map above is one of our favorite hikes in Tuolumne Meadows.

Here’s Twin Bridges and panorama of the high country.

 

Where to stay –

When your family visits Yosemite, you have three options – hotels, vacation rentals, campgrounds.

Before booking accommodation, plan which parts of the park you want to explore.

For accommodations inside the park, reserve months in advance.

For all the details, read our blog post: Where to Stay in Yosemite?

And to plan your next trip, on Travel for Kids check out fun things to do with kids in Yosemite.

 

Art in Yosemite –

Since the 1850s, artists have been captivated by spectacular landscapes of Yosemite.

One of our favorite artists is Chiura Obata, woodblock print of Tuolumne Meadows is below.

At Happy Isles Art and Nature Center, there are art activities for kids, daily from 10am – 3pm, April to October.

Before you go, or after your visit to Yosemite, kids will have fun doing art projects.

Make colorful leaf prints, watercolors of Yosemite Falls, scratch art, print making, and download coloring pages: Park Art from Anywhere

Clouds, Upper Lyell Trail, Along Lyell Fork, 1930
Chiura Obata (1885 – 1975)
Woodblock print, ink on paper.
Yosemite National Park, YOSE 109531

Travel for Kids
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