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Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales are a scenic area of limestone hills and valleys in North Yorkshire in the north of England. Much of the area falls within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which extends into neighbouring Cumbria and Lancashire. The area includes Nidderdale though this is not part of the Park.

Understand
A "dale" simply means a valley, so it's a very common component of a place-name, in Yorkshire and elsewhere. The Dales described here are those in the Pennines, north of Skipton and south of Kirkby Stephen, and the hills between them. Their terrain is exposed limestone or karst country, scenically sculpted by glaciation and by water action. Similar terrain and scenery is found at the southern end of the Pennines, the Peak District, while the area between is overlain by tough millstone and looks quite different: bleak, boggy and infertile.

Rivers course down the dales, mostly flowing east, but Ribblesdale and Lonsdale flow south then west to the Irish Sea. As each river leaves the limestone hills, it comes into gentler rolling country then low plains, pastoral and bucolic. Names such as "Wharfedale" and "Nidderdale" are often extended to these broad valleys and meander plains, but they don't have classic Dales scenery, and they're only considered on this page to the extent that they have transport routes and amenities relevant to visitors to the Dales.

The area is at low altitude by European mountain standards, and is fertile, with cattle farming on the lower ground and sheep on the hills. In Norman times monasteries were established, eg at Bolton Priory and Fountains Abbey, that controlled much of this land and promoted agriculture. Later centuries saw the building of castles such as Castle Bolton and hunting lodges such as Barden Tower. The Industrial era brought lead and coal mining, quarrying, and the construction of roads and railways. This, plus new housing, was economically necessary but potentially ruinous to the area's natural beauty, so in 1954 the Yorkshire Dales National Park was created. Nidderdale wasn't included, but was separately protected in 1994 by designation as an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" (AONB). In 2016 the National Park was considerably extended westwards, almost to the M6, so it now includes Lonsdale.

The park borders upon several other protected areas: Nidderdale AONB as mentioned to the southeast, Lake District National Park to the west, Forest of Bowland AONB to the southwest, and North Pennines AONB to the north. So a huge tract of northern England is now within a joined-up protected habitat where development is tightly controlled. So maybe they could re-introduce bears, wolves, and other early denizens? Realistically not those, the combined area is still too small and too populated, but water voles and hazel dormice have been re-introduced. You've got to start small.

There are no park fees or road tolls in any of these areas. The usual charges apply for parking, campsites, and admission to attractions. Permits are required (as in the rest of the UK) for fishing, hunting, etc. Fishing licences are available at Post Offices.

As with the rest of the UK, winter (October–March) can be wet, cold (−5°C–15°C) and windy, and summer (June–August) can be warm and sunny (18°C–28°C). However there are no guarantees so it is quite possible for rainy weather in summer and moderate weather in winter.

Visitor information

 * Yorkshire Dales visitor information

Dales
The principal dales are Wharfedale, Wensleydale, Swaledale, Nidderdale, Ribblesdale, Airedale and Lonsdale, each with a distinct character. Many smaller dales feed into these.

Above Buckden the valley divides. The main valley of the Wharfe, feeding in from the west, is called Langstrothdale above here. The village of Hubberholme has a delightful church. The lane eventually crosses the hills to Hawes in Wensleydale. The lesser valley, feeding in from the northeast, is the line of the B6160 over to Bishopdale, entering Wensleydale near Aysgarth.
 * Wharfedale is very accessible from Leeds so it gets busy on summer weekends. Turn off A59 onto B6160 at Bolton Bridge to see the ruins of  (it was actually a priory), and the torrent of the Strid, where the River Wharfe rips between rocks. The Strid is so called because you could almost stride between river banks - but not quite, and that would be the end of you. The road and valley continue up through Burnsall,, Conistone (where Littondale joins), Kettlewell, Starbotton and Buckden.

 * Wensleydale is named for the village of Wensley, not for its river the Ure. It's in two parts: the upper "dale-like" reaches (on A684) are above, with a scenic waterfall. The dale runs up through Askrigg and , where it's joined by Fossdale tumbling over and Cotterdale. Above is Garsdale and the moors over to Dentdale, Cumbria and the Lune Valley. Downstream from Aysgarth, the river leaves the Park to flow through softer country alongside A6108 past Leyburn, Middleham (with its castle), Jervaulx Abbey and Masham; then it meanders south towards Ripon.

 * Swaledale, north of Wensleydale, starts just above ; Easby Abbey is nearby. The valley and A6108 / B6270 ascend east through, Thwaite, Gunnerside and Reeth. A lane from Thwaite crosses the pot-holed wilds of "Butter Tubs" to Hawes.
 * Nidderdale is not within the national park, but is similarly protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It's to the east, with the River Nidd rising in hills above Scar House Reservoir, then flowing south through Middlesmoor, Lofthouse and Ramsgill to enter Gouthwaite Reservoir. From there it flows on to and Summerbridge. On the hills north of Summerbridge are Brimham Rocks. The river then turns west and leaves the dales, meandering through farmland past Knaresborough to join the Ouse near York. There's a good road up the dale, B6165 (with a bus service) up as far as Pateley Bridge then a lane up to Lofthouse. The lane then climbs over the moors east towards Masham.
 * Ribblesdale together with Airedale forms the "Aire Gap" through the Pennines, a historically important low-level route. It's traversed by main roads with bus services, and railway lines, so it's very accessible. These roads are also a route from the Yorkshire cities to the Lake District, so they become congested on summer weekends. From Yorkshire, approach along A65 past and Gargrave. From the west follow M65 then A682 onto A65. Attractive limestone scenery starts above, with valley, B6479 and railway climbing north to Stainforth and . Horton itself is marred by quarrying, but above are the brooding "Three Peaks" of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent, sheep-farms enclosed with drystone walls, and the railway spanning the impressive . It's classic country for hiking, caving and pot-holing, with the extensive Alum Pot system.
 * The lower section of Airedale below Keighley is industrial, but the upper reaches are very attractive. Branch off A65 at Gargrave and follow the lane north past Airton to . Above here are spectacular Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, and Janet's Foss.
 * Lonsdale became part of the Park when this was extended westwards in 2016. This lies in Cumbria and is usually accessed via . A683 runs up the valley to Sedbergh then crosses the moors to Kirkby Stephen; minor roads stay in the Lune valley and parallel the M6 through the Lune Gorge to Tebay. Much of the area has millstone bedrock, but limestone karst scenery is found in the northern reaches around Great Asby Scar. This area also included the village of and its access to Ingleborough peak.

By plane

 * Leeds-Bradford Airport is the closest airport, with good connections across western Europe, including London Heathrow, Paris CDG and Amsterdam. There is an hourly bus from the airport to Harrogate.
 * If you're flying in and renting a car, Manchester Airport is a little further but has global connections and competitive fares. Follow M60 / M61 north to M65, and you can reach the Dales in a couple of hours.
 * Newcastle Airport has similar services to Leeds-Bradford. You'd only consider it if you were mainly touring the northern Dales, into Cumbria, County Durham and Hadrian's Wall.

By train
The principal railway stations around the Dales are:
 * Leeds with frequent direct trains from London, Manchester, the Midlands, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
 * From Leeds a train every couple of hours runs up Ribblesdale via Skipton, Gargrave, Settle, Horton, Ribbleshead, Dent, Garsdale, Kirkby Stephen and Appleby to Carlisle.
 * Frequent trains run from Leeds and Bradford to Ilkley and to Skipton, for buses onward to Grassington and Buckden in Wharfedale.

 * Harrogate, reached by train via Leeds or York, has buses up Nidderdale as far as Pateley Bridge.
 * Northallerton, on the line between York and Newcastle, has buses into Wensleydale.

By bus
Dalesbus has a good online map of the regular and summer-only bus routes into the Dales.

Get around
You probably need a car, but see Dalesbus link above for bus routes.

Waterfalls
The park has 32 waterfalls including:
 * Hardraw Force - England's highest single drop waterfall.
 * 6 at Keld
 * 4 on Ingleton Waterfalls Trail : Beezley Falls, Pecca Falls, Snow Falls, Thornton Force
 * 3 around Settle. Catrigg Force & Stainforth Force to the north. Scaleber Force to the east

Walk
Walk as far or as little as you like. As with other areas of natural beauty, anything within ten minutes of the car park may feel like a suburban picnic spot, but anything beyond suddenly propels you miles from anywhere. Several long-distance trails cross the area:
 * The Pennine Way from the south crosses A65 at Gargrave, follows the Aire Valley north to Malham and onto the limestone tops - this section around Malham Tarn is the most scenic of the entire path - then veers west over Pen-y-Ghent to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. From there it's practically straight north to Hawes. North again, the route leaves the Park at Tan Hill to head into the North Pennines and Teesdale.
 * The Dales Way runs the length of Wharfedale past Bolton Abbey to Grassington, Kettlewell and Hibberholme, into Langstrothdale and over into Cumbria.

The Three Peaks can be admired from the roadside, but do climb them if the weather's decent, there's nothing difficult. The three are:

Buy
The Dales is not known as a major shopping destination, but many of the towns and villages have a range of small tourist and craft shops as well as local amenities. The markets can be treasure troves of local produce. The nearest major shopping city is Leeds, but nearer-by Skipton and Harrogate have a selection of shops.

Eat
Find a traditional Yorkshire pub in any of the numerous villages, for a fair value hearty meal. Traditional favourite is Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding.

The local Wensleydale cheese... traditionally served with apple pie.

Drink
There are a variety of local beers to try in any local pub. Just a short journey westwards from the A1, main arterial road north, lies the village of Wensley. This village gives its name to the local dale and is a favourite spot in the whole of the Dales. Whilst here, drop into the local pub (there is only one) to sample the brews from the local Wensleydale Brewery, particularly the "Poacher" and "Gamekeeper". These are drinks to die for! But, take it easy if you want to be able to enjoy the scenery afterwards! These are brews of around 5 per cent. You can sit outside if the weather is good or sit inside and enjoy a pub interior that owes nothing to modern `drink-factory` design.

The Yorkshire Dales Brewing Company makes a variety of beers, taking inspiration from both Yorkshire and abroad. A number of pubs have a house beer brewed by the company. The brewery can be found in Askrigg, location of the TV series All creatures Great and Small.

Sleep
There are campsites throughout the Dales, but in winter & early spring camping is cold, wet, windswept and flood-prone. Hostels are available in the larger settlements.

There are no true hotels. Many pubs offer B&B, and there are also B&B guesthouses dotted about. But overall bed capacity is small - and under Park rules, always will be. You need to phone ahead, because places may be either closed for winter or booked out for summer.

Cope
There is little crime in the Dales except for petty theft from cars so leave valuables hidden. Take precautions against the weather if going out walking.

Beware the Bolton Strid: this innocuous-looking stream is far more dangerous than it appears, so don't go for a swim.

Go next

 * Leeds — the largest city in Yorkshire and is easily accessible, by road or rail.
 * York — historic and is easily accessible, by road or rail.
 * Lake District National Park — 1-2 hours by car to the north west following the A65

title: Yorkshire Dales


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North York Moors

The North York Moors is a National Park in the county of Yorkshire, UK. They are world-famous for their picturesque views and history.

Understand
Located in North Yorkshire, the North York Moors is a national park regulated by the North York Moors National Park Authority. In contrast to National Parks in some other countries, the North York Moors are not public land; the National Park status, which it received in 1952, prevents inappropriate development.

Displaying a range of stunning landscapes: heather-clad hills, woodland, impressive sea cliffs and secluded beaches; this area is one of the gems of Britain. At 554 square miles and with more than 1,400 miles of paths and tracks to choose from it really is worth a lengthy stay to truly enjoy the many faces of this part of the world. The National Park includes the largest continuous expanse of heather moorland in England while the seaward edge of the National Park is a Heritage Coast, 45 miles of stunning coastline running from Saltburn in the north to the edge of Scarborough in the south and including many traditional fishing villages to visit.

Geology
The moors are a plateau of Jurassic sandstone laid down 205 to 142 million years ago. This is poorly permeable to water, so it forms a tableland of bog and heath at about 300-400 m altitude. It lies over softer limestone so it ends in cliffs and bluffs studded with fossils. Where rivers have cut through the sandstone they carve deep dales, but the limestone is mostly covered and doesn't form the karstic scenery found in the Yorkshire Dales further west.

The main deposition of sandstone was early Jurassic, beneath a shallow tropical sea. Also deposited were shale, clay, limestone, ironstone and rocks bearing alum - the iron and alum were mined in modern times. The area then uplifted and became a coastal plain covered in river mud alternating with calcareous sea deposits. Near the end of the Jurassic it submerged again, for a time being shallow enough for corals.

30 million years ago, the area uplifted and tilted from north to south. The uppermost layers eroded so this created a scarp of the oldest rocks to the north, around the Cleveland Hills and above Guisborough. The middle section formed the boggy sandstone tableland, while limestone eroded into low hills at the southern margin.

The area was glaciated during the Ice Ages from 2 million years ago; Eskdale which drains the most northern moors (flowing east to Whitby) was carved into a U-shaped valley. At the end of the last Ice Age 11,000 years ago, meltwater had to flow south as it was blocked by ice in other directions, so it carved a gorge from Eskdale through Newtondale, and formed a lake in the Vale of Pickering where Malton now stands. To the east was also a great pile of glacial mud and gravel, the foundations of Scarborough, so when the water overflowed and carved a new course, it went west. This created the odd course of the River Derwent, which arises near the east coast yet flows inland.

Landscape and habitat
Boggy plateau is the predominant terrain, a treeless tableland with poor acid soil. It has dark peaty pools, cotton grass and sphagnum moss, which heaps into a raised bog which becomes colonised by heather, a glorious purple carpet in early summer. Earthworms don't care for such soil, so they and their predators are absent, and others such as the pigmy shrew occupy those niches. Birdlife includes merlin, lapwing, curlew, redshank, sandpiper, wheatear, golden plover and ring ouzel. But these, bluntly, do not pay their way: the money-earner is the red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica. These feed on the heather and hide in it, so you hear them before you see them, with a clucking goback, goback, goback then a distinctive whirr as they fly off carving low. The grouse shooting season is 12 Aug to 10 Dec and many tracts of moorland are closed in this period. Yes, despite this being a "national park", the hunting industry's profits come before conservation or the enjoyment of the general public. Heather left to itself gets very woody and "leggy" so it has to be pared back by controlled burning aided by sheep grazing. These also curb the invasion of bracken.

The plateau is higher to the north and west, but the Esk valley on the north flank peels off a lower strip, Gisborough Moor. The high point is Round Hill on Urra Moor at 454 m / 1490 feet; the broad dirt track of the Cleveland Way leads by it. "Round Hill" in practice means "it's around here somewhere" as it's a barely perceptible rise above the expanse of soggy heather. This section is called the Cleveland Hills, with the Hambleton Hills on the west flank of the moors. The plateau to the south is dissected by rivers flowing into the Ryedale and Derwent catchment.

Slopes and woods: the abrupt edges are too steep for farming, even for sheep or forestry conifers, so they have natural deciduous woodlands of great age, with ancient oaks. On the gentler slopes to the south forestry is possible, such as Dalby Forest, which has mountain bike trails and similar recreations. The lower pastures are dotted with farms, with drystone walls around the fields and bawling sheep. The limestone is close to the surface here, and its caverns may swallow up rivers, such as the upper Dove in Farndale. In spring that valley is spectacularly carpeted with daffodils.

Climate
It's Yorkshire, bring rainwear. The climate is typical of Yorkshire but modified by the altitude, so it's always cooler than the lowlands, the hills draw clouds and rain, and in winter there can be enough snow or ice to make roads hazardous or even blocked.

Towns

 * and are small market towns within the moors: you could step out of your car or accommodation here and start hiking.
 * With your own car you could base in a lowland centre such as York, or . These have good rail connections to the rest of the country, but scanty public transport into the moors. Bike on train would work, but you need train reservations, and be ready for stiff gradients.
 * and on the coast have transport into the moors, and alternative amusements for washed-out days.
 * At all the fun is in getting onto the moors, up the line of bluffs and cliffs. But once up, you're on a monotonous plateau of heath and bog, nothing to see or do but come back down again.

By plane

 * Leeds Bradford is close and has flights across west Europe including London Heathrow, Dublin, Paris CDG and Amsterdam.
 * Teesside near Darlington is closer but has very few flights.
 * Newcastle has similar flights to Leeds Bradford.
 * Manchester is best bet for anything beyond west Europe. Hire a car, and the drive might take two and a half hours.

By rail

 * Trains from London Kings Cross, the Midlands and Manchester Airport all converge on York. Change here for trains that stop at Thirsk or Middlesbrough.
 * Transpennine Express trains run from Liverpool Lime Street via Manchester Victoria, Leeds, York and Malton to Scarborough.
 * A less frequent service trundles up the coast from Hull via Beverley, Bridlington and Filey to Scarborough.
 * Trains wind along the Esk Valley from Middlesbrough via a dozen moorland village halts to Grosmont and Whitby.
 * North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs in summer, usually steam-hauled, from Pickering to Grosmont and sometimes extending to Whitby.

By bus

 * York and Leeds have long-distance coach services, with at least two a day from London Victoria taking 6-7 hours.
 * Coastliner 843 runs from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton to Scarborough.
 * Coastliner 840 runs from Malton to Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale; two per day continue across the moors to Whitby.
 * Buses run up the coast from Hull to Bridlington, change there for buses to Filey, Scarborough and Whitby.
 * There are two bus routes from Middlesbrough to Whitby: along the coast via Redcar and Saltburn, or inland via Guisborough.
 * Buses run from Scarborough to Pickering and Helmsley. There is no regular service west of Helmsley to Thirsk.

By road
All roads get very congested on summer weekends. From the south take A64 east past York to Malton. Either continue towards Scarborough or branch onto A169 north, which winds across the moors from Pickering to Whitby.

A170 crosses the moors from Thirsk: caravans and heavy vehicles must not attempt Sutton Bank, where the road climbs the western scarp of the moors. A170 continues east through Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Pickering and Brompton to Scarborough.

From the north head towards Middlesbrough then be on either A171 or A172 for minor roads leading into the hills.

Get around

 * Regular buses: see above for the buses from Malton to Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale and Whitby, from Scarborough to Pickering and Helmsley, and along the coast between Scarborough, Whitby, Guisborough and Middlesbrough.
 * The Moorsbus plies several routes at weekends May to Sept. It's always a sparse service, and in 2020 especially so. Beware that the same bus number runs different routes by day of the week. Sundays and Bank Holidays it's:
 * M1 Saltburn-by-the-Sea-Redcar-Guisborough
 * M2 Darlington-Middlesbrough-Guisborough
 * M3 Guisborough-Danby-Pickering
 * M4 Guisborough-Helmsley-Sutton Bank-Thirsk and Helmsley-Rievaulx
 * M5 Easingwold-Thirsk-Stokesley-Helmsley
 * M6 Malton-Rosedale Abbey-Danby
 * M7 Pickering-Thornton-le-Dale-Dalby Forest

 * Fridays and Saturdays it's:
 * M4 Redcar-Guisborough-Helmsley-Danby
 * M5 Easingwold-Thirsk-Stokesley-Helmsley Sunday
 * M6 Malton-Pickering-Rosedale Abbey-Lion Inn
 * M3 / M6 / M8 York-Malton-Pickering-Danby

 * For walking the most detailed map coverage is OS Outdoor Leisure series (yellow covers, 1:25,000): OL26 for the western half and OL27 for the east. For motoring and on-road cycling use the Landranger series (maroon covers, 1:50,000): Sheet 100 Pickering, 101 Scarborough and 94 Whitby.

See

 * is a magnificent Baroque 18th C stately home designed by Vanbrugh: see Malton for details.
 * Also near Malton are Eden Camp (museum in a former POW camp), Malton Priory, Kirkham Priory, Nunnington Hall and Wharram Percy abandoned medieval village.
 * Helmsley is a lovely market town at the south-western edge of the park. It is a popular foodie destination, with plenty of places to stay, eat and drink, good shopping, and historic sites including a castle and one of England's finest mediaeval abbeys, Rievaulx Abbey is a few miles outside the town.
 * Pickering - a pretty town with a castle and steam railway.
 * Rievaulx Abbey is near Helmsley
 * Robin Hood's Bay - south of Whitby
 * Whitby - delightful seaside town with spectacular cliffs
 * Robin Hood's Bay - south of Whitby
 * Whitby - delightful seaside town with spectacular cliffs
 * Whitby - delightful seaside town with spectacular cliffs
 * Whitby - delightful seaside town with spectacular cliffs

Do

 * North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway from Pickering 18 miles (29 km) through the Moors to the famous coastal town of Whitby. Featured on UK TV series Heartbeat and in the Harry Potter films.
 * If you are not sure about going out on your own then a great way to see the park in all its glory is with a guide. Guided walks and mountain bike rides can all be booked and with 500 miles (800 km) of bridleways throughout the park, horseback is a fabulous way to see this amazing countryside.  If you have your own horse, you could spend a week trekking in the area staying at designated B&Bs or there are plenty of stables dotted around that will happily take you on hacks.
 * Go Ape is a tree-top assault course in the Dalby Forest.
 * Fossil hunting: the coast has mainly examples from the Jurassic period, but Speeton has the later Cretaceous.

Eat

 * The best reviews are earned by Star Inn in Harome near Helmsley, White Swan in Pickering, Malton Grill within Talbot Hotel in Malton, Cookfella's in Guisborough, and Buck Inn at Maunby near Thirsk.
 * Scarborough and Whitby don't have any outstanding food but score on quantity. You're seldom more than ten paces from fish & chips or similar cheap and cheerful fare, which the seagulls will try to snatch if you eat outdoors.

Drink

 * Scarborough and Whitby have the greatest concentration of pubs.
 * Helmsley has its own brewery, tours available. Malton's brewery is Brass Castle Taphouse, they don't do tours.
 * Malt whisky is distilled in nearby Filey, with the first "Yorkshire Spirit" going on sale in Dec 2019. (Mustn't call it "Scotch"!) Distillery tours are available.
 * Campers, if you use raw water, just consider for a moment how many hind ends of various species it's likely to have passed through already.

Sleep

 * Wild camping is not permitted in this area.
 * There are some 18 camping and caravan sites around the moors. The coast from Scarborough south towards Filey is back-to-back caravan sites but they mostly lack camping pitches.
 * Scarborough and Whitby have lots of traditional seaside B&Bs and small hotels, from the spruce to the dilapidated.
 * Top reviews are earned by Black Swan at Oldstead and Carpenter's Arms at Felixkirk (both a few miles from Thirsk), the Talbot in Malton, The Windmill and Wrea Head Hall in Scarborough, Raven Hall Hotel south of Whitby, Broom House at Egton Bridge above Whitby, and Gisborough Hall Hotel (sic) at Guisborough.

Stay safe
There is little crime in the Moors except for petty theft from cars so leave valuables hidden. Take precautions against the weather if going out walking.

Go next

 * York is a remarkable walled city, with many visitor attractions.
 * Near Ripon is Fountains Abbey.
 * Leeds is the place for big city attractions.
 * Durham is a charming old city, and base for exploring County Durham.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: North York Moors


text:
Yorkton

Yorkton is a city of 16,000 people (2016) in East Central Saskatchewan, Canada.

Understand
In 1882 a group of businessmen and investors formed the York Farmers Colonization Company. The company founded the settlers' colony on the banks of the Little Whitesand River where lots were given freely to settlers who purchased land from them. The colony remained at its site until 1889 when the rail line was extended to the Yorkton area. The colony townsite was relocated alongside the new rail line.

The first settlers to the Yorkton colony were English from Eastern Ontario and Great Britain. west were Scottish settlers at the settlement of Orkney, Saskatchewan. A significant number of residents are also descended from immigrants from Ukraine who came in the early 20th century.

Yotkton is primarily a service centre for the farming industry in the region.

By car
Yorkton is northeast of Regina on Saskatchewan Highway 10, or  southeast of Saskatoon on Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway). Once into Manitoba Highway 16 is renamed Provincial Trunk Highway 16.

By plane
The closest major airport with scheduled service is in Regina, served by Air Canada and Westjet. The Yorkton Shuttle provides ground transportation to/from Regina Airport.

Get around

 * Taxi: Yorkton is served by Redline Taxi (+1 306-783-1010), York City Taxi (+1 306-782-6666), and G & M Taxi (+1 306-782-4420).
 * Bus: The Yorkton Community Dial-a-Bus is personalized transportation that uses a central dispatch centre which takes your call, and dispatches the bus to the stop you require when you need it, M-F 7AM-7PM and Sa 9AM-4PM. The bus operates on two routes covering the north and south halves of the city. If you are downtown, you can catch the bus at the Transit Center on the hour and half hour. Call (306) 786-1789:

Local maps are available at the Yorkton Tourism Centre, at the junction of Highways 9 and 10.

See
Located on several buildings in downtown Yorkton are murals depicting historic personalities.

Parks
There are ten parks in or near the city, including three provincial parks. Highlights include
 * York Lake Regional park with a 18-hole golf course, four-diamond slowpitch complex including two lighted fields, and the Yorkton Canoe and Kayak Club's facilities.
 * BMX bike course located east of Columbia School.
 *  Skateboard Park: on the Gallagher Centre grounds, just to the east of the main entrance on the north side of Broadway. Skateboard park users are welcome to use the washroom and food service facilities at the Gallagher Centre. Includes obstacles such as a bowl, ramps, grind bars, and staircase.
 *  Heritage Heights Park: tennis courts; in the northeast end of Yorkton on McBurney Drive.
 *  Knights of Columbus Park: tennis courts; on Circlebrooke Drive, southwest side of Yorkton.
 *  Silver Heights Water Park and Playground: water park and tennis court; located on the southwest end of Yorkton, on Sunset Drive North.

Sports
Yorkton is home to the Yorkton Terriers, Yorkton's SJHL hockey team. It is also home to the Yorkton Cardinals, a baseball team playing in the Western Major Baseball League. Yorkton has many other sports teams, ranging from children's to adults.

 * Jubillee Baseball Park: On Foster Street, the city's main baseball park. A batting cage, 4 diamonds including 2 senior (one with grass infield), 1 bantam and 1 pee wee diamond.

Do

 * Yorkton Historical Walking Tour: A self-guided walking tour, taking approximately one hour, that passes by 30 private and public buildings that capture the essence of Yorkton's early years, and the many beautiful yards and gardens in the city. Brochures are available from Tourism Yorkton and City Hall.
 * Yorkton Historical Walking Tour: A self-guided walking tour, taking approximately one hour, that passes by 30 private and public buildings that capture the essence of Yorkton's early years, and the many beautiful yards and gardens in the city. Brochures are available from Tourism Yorkton and City Hall.
 * Yorkton Historical Walking Tour: A self-guided walking tour, taking approximately one hour, that passes by 30 private and public buildings that capture the essence of Yorkton's early years, and the many beautiful yards and gardens in the city. Brochures are available from Tourism Yorkton and City Hall.
 * Yorkton Historical Walking Tour: A self-guided walking tour, taking approximately one hour, that passes by 30 private and public buildings that capture the essence of Yorkton's early years, and the many beautiful yards and gardens in the city. Brochures are available from Tourism Yorkton and City Hall.
 * Yorkton Historical Walking Tour: A self-guided walking tour, taking approximately one hour, that passes by 30 private and public buildings that capture the essence of Yorkton's early years, and the many beautiful yards and gardens in the city. Brochures are available from Tourism Yorkton and City Hall.

Stay safe
Although generally safe and pleasant, there has been an increase in gang activity. It is not recommended to venture alone after dark unless you plan on staying on the main streets.

Be alert when leaving bars or nightclubs at closing time on weekends. As with anywhere else in the world fights occur.

title: Yorkton


text:
Yorktown (New York)

Yorktown is a town in Westchester County in the state of New York in the United States of America. It contains quaint houses and IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center. The town includes communities named Crompond, Jefferson Valley, Lake Mohegan, Shrub Oak and, Yorktown Heights.

By plane

 * Westchester County Airport, 240 Airport Road, White Plains (New York), +1 914 995-4860 (airlines). The closest airport, about 30 minutes drive. Rental cars are available.
 * Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, New Windsor, +1 845 564-2100. Another alternative to the congestion of the 3 major airports. Allegiant Air, American Eagle, and JetBlue	operate flights from Florida and Philadelphia (Mar 2021).
 * Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport: The three major international airports in the New York City area offer service to just about anywhere. Westchester-based taxi and livery cars offer regular service to and from the three internationals from most areas of the county. New York City yellow cabs will take you to Westchester in a pinch, but the fares can be exorbitant. If staying in Westchester, ask if your hotel offers shuttle service.

Eat

 * Next to Saw Mill River Road and Commerce Street is the Triangle Shopping Center, which includes multiple restaurants like the Jewel of the Himalaya, which serves Nepalese cuisine.

title: Yorktown (New York)


text:
Yoro

Yōrō (養老町 Yōrō-chō) is a small town in southwestern Gifu Prefecture, Japan nestled between the farming land of greater Nagoya and the mountains.

Understand
Yōrō lies at the foot of the mountains and is a popular momiji (autumn colours) viewing spot of central Japan. It is also the region chosen by the architectural duo Arakawa-Ginz to be first turned into their vision of the future.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
Yoro Railway (養老鉄道) operates trains along the Yoro Line that stop in Yoro. To reach the Yoro Line, you can transfer from Ogaki or Kuwana.

Nexco also upkeeps an expressway service area and interchange on the northern fringe of town.

Get around
Walk, or if you are staying over, hop in the courtesy car that most local onsen-resorts provide.

See
Autumn colors and waterfalls in the nearby mountains. Numerous hiking courses exist as well as a chairlift.

Sleep
There are a tonne of upmarket onsen resorts a ways north-west of the train station.

Stay safe
Yōrō Park is still open during mild rain, so while it is undoubtedly more fun this way, be careful.

Go next

 * Kuwana
 * Ogaki
 * Wanouchi
 * Kaizu
 * Godo
 * Ikeda
 * Ono
 * Ibigawa
 * Motosu

title: Yoro


text:
Yoron

Yoron (与論島 Yoron-tō) is a small island and Town in the Amami Islands chain in Kagoshima, Japan.

Understand
Yoron is tiny, only about 20 km², and has a population of about 6,000 people. It does not "feel" like the other Amami or Okinawan islands: it is similar to a rural village in the ocean. Chabana (茶花), located on the west side of the island near the small airport and ferry port, is the main population center of Yoron. While tourism is part of the local economy, it is geared more towards Japanese than Westerners. Hotels are not luxurious compared to those on the larger islands.

If you're looking for nightlife or a wide variety of activities, Yoron is not a good option. However, if you want a sleepy island with pristine beaches and crystalline ocean, Yoron may be a well-kept secret.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Talk
There is almost no spoken or written English. Be friendly, respectful of locals, and willing to get by without English.

Get in
Round trip ferries depart from Kagoshima City's south port daily, stopping at the Amami Islands, including Yoron, and continuing to Okinawa. These are serviced by Marix and A-Line Ferry companies. Fare is about ¥13,000 to Yoron from Kagoshima City. There may be additional ferries to other parts of Japan, such as Osaka, from time to time.

Ferry departures change from time to time, but in general resemble the following: Ferries depart Kagoshima at 18:00 and arrives at Yoron the next day by 13:40, continuing south to Okinawa at 14:00. Return ferries arrive at Yoron from Okinawa at 11:45, and depart for Kagoshima at 12:10, arriving the next day at 08:30.

The walk from the port to most accommodation is significant, but very doable and even pleasantly rural. Make arrangements if you want to skip the short walk. The taxi companies are Minami Taxi(南タクシー　)　or Taiyo Taxi(大洋タクシー　).

Yoron also has an airport with service to Amami Oshima, Okinoerabujima, Naha(Okinawa), and Kagoshima, but flights are more pricey.

Get around
You may want a rental car or scooter to travel around Yoron, as there is almost limited transportation. If you want to rent a car, you need an international driving permit - the rental agencies on Yoron are more strict than in other parts of Japan. Nankoku motors (南国モータース　) Yoron Rent-a-car (ヨロンレンタカー　)

However, there is a bus that tours the tiny island several times daily, going in a circuit both north and southward. In Chabana town:

Southbound buses leave at 08:32, 11:32, 14:32, 16:02, and 18:32

Northbound buses leave at 07:32, 09:32, 10:32, 13:02, and 17:42

Additionally, though a bit inconvenient, roughing it on foot isn't impossible on an island of this size.

See
Besides diving or snorkeling, the main attraction of Yoron is the pristine beaches. Since Yoron is so small, the beaches are small; the biggest are a few hundred meters long, but you'll have them mostly to yourself.

There is a cultural museum and shrine on the island's hill called the Southern Cross Center. It is worth a look if you have some extra time on your hands. The entrance fee is ¥300 for adults (¥150 for children) and hours are 09:00-18:00. There is also a nice little garden called the Yunnu Rakuen　(ユンヌ楽園), which is the island's name in it's original language followed by the Japanese word for paradise. You can see traditional huts once lived in and a variety of plant life, some of it looking very exotic indeed.

Far from town is a campground near a stretch of beach from which a sandbar called Yurigahama (百合ヶ浜)　can be seen rising out of the ocean when the tide is right. There are boat rides to the sandbar for about ¥2000, and if you are an extremely strong swimmer, you should be able to snorkel out to the sands.

There is also a small cave shrine on the island.

There is a "folk" village on the island with traditional huts.

These sights and many more are on a map available for free at the sightseeing center near the bus stop in Chabana. You can't miss it.

Do
Diving, glass-bottom boat rides, riding a jet ski or kayak, and wind sailing are all options. While the coral around Yoron is healthy, it tends to be rather dull colors. However, a wide variety of fish populate the waters. A single coral head may have 50 or more species of fish. Certain times of the year bring small local festivals as well.

Eat
Almost all restaurants and food stores are located in Chabana.

 * Seaside Avenue (海岸通り, Kaigan-dōri) has a comfortable atmosphere. It features basic Japanese food like curry rice, along with western favorites like pizza and hamburgers. It is on the top floor of the two story building near the pier.
 * Frypan (ふらいぱん) is in a small house close to the post office. It has well-prepared yōshoku food.
 * Izakaya Kayoibune (居酒屋かよい舟) is a basic izakaya on the main street in Chabana. It has a picture menu, making it one of the more foreigner-friendly restaurants on Yoron.
 * Izakaya Hyōkin (居酒屋ひょうきん) has excellent food. However, there is no English menu or picture menu.  Also, the place has a decidedly "locals-only" orientation.

Drink

 * Bar Natural Reef (opens at 20:30) is on the main street in Chabana.

Wherever you go, you might like to give the Amami islands' brown sugar shochu a taste.

Sleep
There is a campsite at Yurigahana beach on the east coast of the island. It costs ¥350 per tent per night, and there is also the option to rent a 'bungalow' (a one roomed mushroom shaped structure atop a pillar, in which 2 people can fit comfortably and perhaps 4 at a squeeze) for ¥610 a night.

Hotels, and traditional Japanese guesthouses are available on the island. Traditional guesthouses tend to include meals at set times, but sometimes a discounted room without meals is no problem. Most accommodation is organized either around Chabana, on the west side of the island near the ferry port and airport, or on the east side of the island (near the campground). There are about 12 places to stay on each side, mostly guesthouses with a couple hotels or resorts. The sightseeing center can make recommendations or provide phone numbers for each place (again, English is unlikely to non-existent on Yoron).

Stay safe
Yoron does have a small hospital in Chabana and a few clinics.

title: Yoron


text:
Yoruba phrasebook

Yoruba (èdè Yorùbá) is a language native to West Africa, mainly near the Bight of Benin. With an estimated 50 million speakers worldwide as of 2020, Yoruba is one of the most influential African languages. It is spoken chiefly in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana, where it is an official language. Internationally, Yoruba can be heard in Brazil, where it is a recognised minority language, plus England, Maryland, Texas, and New York.

Vowels
A a - [ah] like in the Spanish alphabet E e – [a] like “a” in skate Ẹ ẹ - [eh] like the first “e” elephant (dot written underneath the vowel to get the new sound: E / e + ̣: E / é) I i – [ee] like in sweet O o – [o] like “o” in sofa Ọ ọ - [or] like the first “o” in octopus (dot written underneath the vowel to get the new sound: O / o + ̣: O / O) U u – [u] like “u” in blue

Consonants

 * B:
 * D:
 * F:
 * G:
 * Gb:
 * H:
 * J:
 * K:
 * L:
 * M:
 * N:
 * P:
 * R:
 * S:
 * Ṣ:
 * T:
 * W:
 * Y:

Basics
I am Hungry
 * Hello? (informal) : Ẹ ǹlẹ́ o?
 * How are you? : Bawo ni?
 * Fine, thank you. : Daada ni, Ẹshe.
 * What is your name? : Kini Orúkọ rẹ?
 * What is your names?: Kíni Orúkọ yin? (plural but also used for politeness towards elders)
 * My name is Eseosa . : Orúko mi n jẹ Eseosa. / Orúko mi ni Eseosa.
 * Nice to meet you. (informal) : Inu mi dùn lati mọ̀ ọ́.
 * Nice to meet you. (plural/honorific) : Inu mi dùn lati mọ̀ yín
 * Please. : (é) Ẹ jọ̀ọ́/ Ẹ dákun (note: [e] is plural in Yoruba but also used in respect to elders)
 * Thank you. : ẹ ṣe / o ṣe           (note: [o] is singular and used amongst friends.)
 * You're welcome. :Kò si nkan kan . (ko to ope)
 * Yes. : bẹ́ẹ̀ni
 * No. : bẹ́ẹ̀ ko / ó ti / ra ra
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : Ẹ jọ̀wọ́
 * Don't be annoyed. (begging pardon): Ẹ ma bínú (literally: "Don't be angry.")
 * I'm sorry. : (E) jè bù rẹ́/ E ma binu
 * Goodbye :  O dabọ̀!
 * I can't speak Yoruba [well]:  N kò lè sọ Yorùbá [daradara] / N kò le gboo èdè Yorùbá [daradara]
 * I speak Yoruba a little bit:  Mo gbọ èdè Yorùbá díẹ̀
 * Do you speak English? : Se o le s èdè oyinbo /gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Sé énikéni wà nibi ti o lè sọ òyìnbó?
 * Help! :  ẹgbà mi o! / ran mi lọwọ!
 * Look out! : (E) wo bẹ̀ yẹn!
 * Good morning. : ku àárọ̀ (singular) = Ẹ káàrọ̀ (plural and used to show respect to elder ones)
 * Good evening. : ku ìrọ̀lẹ́ /Kaalẹ (singular)= Ẹ ku ìrọ̀lẹ́/ Ẹ Kaalẹ (plural and used to show respect to elder ones)
 * Good night. : O dàárọ̀ (dismissal at night to bed)
 * I don't understand. : Kò ye mi.
 * I understand. : O ye mi.
 * I have a question. : Mo ni ìbéèrè
 * Where is the toilet? : Nibo ni ilé ìgbọ̀nsẹ̀ wà?
 * Where is the toilet? : Nibo ni ilé ìgbọ̀nsẹ̀ wà?

Ebi npa mí

Problems

 * Leave me alone: Fi mi silẹ
 * Don't touch me!: Maṣe fi ọwọ kan mi!
 * Police!:Olopa
 * Stop! Thief! : Duro! Olè jíjà!
 * It's an emergency: Pajawiri ni
 * I'm lost: mo sonu
 * I lost my bag: Mo padanu apo mi
 * I lost my wallet: Apamọwọ mi ti sọnu
 * I'm sick: Mo ṣaisan
 * I've been injured: Mo ti farapa
 * I need a doctor: Mo nilo dokita kan
 * Can I use your phone?: Ṣe mo le lo foonu rẹ

Numbers
ọkan (OR-kãh) or ẹni (er-nee) or kan (kãh) (one) eji (EH-gee) or meji (MAY-gee) (two) mẹta (MARE-tar) (three) mẹrin (MARE-rinh) (four) márùn (MAH-roon) (five) mẹfa (MARE-far) (six) meje (MAY-jay) (seven) mẹjọ (MARE-jaw) (eight) mẹsan (MARE-sawn) (nine) mẹwa (MARE-wah) (ten) mọkanla (eleven) mejila (twelve) mẹtala (thirteen) mẹrinla (fourteen) mẹdogun (fifteen) note: fourteen is the last number in Yoruba, besides those in the tenth position) mẹrindilõgún (sixteen) note: to make sixteen Yoruba will subtract four (mẹrin) from twenty (õgún) mẹtadilõgún (seventeen) mejidilõgún (eighteen) mọkandilõgún (nineteen) õgún (twenty) note: Yoruba numbers uses increments of ten, but not like in English. It is shifted upward 15-24, 25-34, etc. mọkanlelõgún (twenty one) note: to make twenty-one Yoruba will add one (ọkan) to twenty (õgún) mejilelõgún (twenty two) mẹtalelõgún (twenty three) mẹrinlelõgún (twenty four) mẹdọgbọn (twenty five) ọgbọn (thirty) mọkanlelọgbọn (thirty one) márùndilogoji (thirty five) ogoji (forty) adọta (fifty) ọgọta (sixty) adọrin (seventy) ọgọrin (eighty) adọrun (ninety) ọgọrun (one hundred)

Clock time
Ago me loo lo lu? (What time is it?)

Duration
Igbawo ni (When)

Days
Ọjọ Aiku (Sunday/Воскресенье) Ọjọ Aje (Monday/Понедельник) Ọjọ Isẹgun (Tuesday/Вторник) Ọjọ Riru (Wednesday/Среда) Ọjọ Bọ (Thursday/Четверг) Ọjọ Ẹti (Friday/Пятница) Ọjọ Abamẹta (Saturday/Суббота)

Months (Oṣù)
January = Ṣerẹ

February = Èrèlé

March = Ẹrẹ́nà

April = Igbe

May = Èbìbí

June = Okúdù

July = Àgẹmọ

August = Ògún

September = Ọ̀wẹ́wẹ̀

October = Ọ̀wàwà

November = Bélú

December = Ọpẹ́

Colors (Awo)

 * Red: Pupa
 * Blue: Bulu
 * Silver: Awo fadaka
 * White: Funfun
 * Black: dudu
 * Yellow: ofee fee

Transportation
All forms of air transport - Oko ofurufu (ofurufu being sky) All forms of rail transport - Oko oju irin (irin being steel/metal/rail All forms of water transport - Oko Oju omi. ( You can now ellaborate further with size e.g. Nla (large), for a ship; Kekere (little/small) for a canoe or boat... E.g. Oko oju omi kekere ni mo wo wa (I can by a small water vehicle (canoe/boat))

Bus and train
Train- Oko Oju Irin

Directions
Right- Otun Left- Osi Front- Iwaju Back- Eyin/Ehin Up- Oke Down- Isale Under- Abe/l'abe On top of- L'orii

Taxi
Many people use motorcycles to get around the heavy traffic in Nigeria. These motorcycle taxis are called OKADAs, pronounced oh-ka-dah. "Cabi" is Nigerian Pidgin, which is an alternative word for taxi.

Eating (Ohun jíjẹ)
Àmàlà (made from yam or bananas. It's more better to be taken for dinner at night as it's lighter than other food substances. Furthermore, it can be taken with Vegetable soup known as Ẹ̀fọ́ rírò, or Ewédú combined with gbẹ̀gìrì)

Gbẹ̀gìrì (made from beans)

Ewédú (Draw soup)

Iyán (Pounded yam, made from yam)

Ẹ̀bà (made from cassava flakes otherwise known as Gàrí in Yorùbá Land)

Ẹ̀fọ́ (Vegetables used to prepare vegetable soup)

Fùfú ( Also from cassava flakes but made in a different taste)

Ìkokóré or Ìfokóre (depending on the dialect) to the Yoruba's(the Ijebu people to be precise) or Epé people in Lagos

Parts Of the Body

 * head: ori
 * face: oju
 * eyes: eyin oju
 * ears: eti
 * nose: imu
 * throat: onafun
 * chin: agbon
 * neck : orun
 * shoulders: ejika
 * chest: aya
 * waist: ibadi
 * arms: apa
 * wrists: orun owo

Family

 * Father: bàbá.
 * Mother: ìyá.
 * Grandfather: bàbá bàbá.
 * Grandmother: ìyá ìyá/iya gbà.
 * Child:omo.
 * Child(male):omo okunrin.
 * Child(female):omo obinrin.
 * Husband:oko
 * Wife: ìyàwó.
 * Sister:aburo/egbon obinrin.
 * Brother:aburo/egbon okunrin.
 * Cousin:ara.
 * Cousin(male):arakunrin.
 * Cousin(female):arabinrin.

Authority
King

Oba, Otunba

title: Yoruba phrasebook


text:
Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sierra Nevada mountains in east-central California. Approximately four million visitors each year come to Yosemite to marvel at its spectacular granite cliffs, towering waterfalls, remote wilderness, massive sequoia trees, and high mountain meadows.

Understand
The park encompasses a massive, area and contains thousands of lakes and ponds,  of streams,  of hiking trails, and  of roads.

History
Humans may have first visited Yosemite as long as 8,000 years ago, and there is evidence that people have lived in the area for nearly 4,000 years. In 1849 the lives of the native Miwok population changed dramatically as the California Gold Rush brought thousands of miners into the region, resulting in a massive disruption to the way of life practiced by the existing people. By the 1930s the population of Native Americans had dwindled to the point that the last Indian village was disbanded, and by 1969 the last private Indian residences (by then solely inhabited by park employees and their families) were abandoned.

The beauty of Yosemite Valley inspired early visitors to the area and led to concern about exploitation by commercial interests. After prominent individuals advocated for its protection, on June 30, 1864 President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill granting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias to the State of California as an inalienable public trust. This was the first time in history that the US federal government had set aside scenic lands for the purpose of preservation and public use. Following further lobbying by the conservationist John Muir, additional restrictions were put in place against grazing in the subalpine meadows surrounding Yosemite Valley, and on October 1, 1890 the area was declared America's third national park. However, as Mackinac River National Park in Michigan became a state park, Yosemite is the second oldest that still holds the "national park" title today.

Despite its national park status, California controlled the initial grant area until 1906. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that city began looking to Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley as a source of drinking water and hydroelectric power, and a bitter political struggle ensued between environmentalists and the city. In 1913, with the passage by Congress of the Raker Act, permission was granted to San Francisco to build the O'Shaughnessy Dam, allowing the Tuolumne River to flood the valley. Today, efforts to remove the dam and restore the Hetch Hetchy Valley continue.

Landscape
Yosemite is best known for its impressive granite cliffs and domes. These formations were born approximately ten million years ago when the Sierra fault began uplifting the Sierra Nevada mountains, forming relatively gentle western slopes and more extreme eastern slopes. Erosion, combined with at least four glacial periods, exposed the underlying granite and resulted in many of the cracked, rounded, and weathered formations that make the park famous. Streams cut deep, narrow valleys, while glaciers covered the area in up to of ice and generated wide, U-shaped valleys.

The Tuolumne and Merced rivers are the two major river systems in the park, carving canyons that are to  deep. In addition, smaller rivers flow through the extreme elevations, generating some of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. In Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, at, is the tallest waterfall in North America, while Ribbon Falls has the highest uninterrupted vertical drop at.

Flora and fauna
95% of Yosemite has been designated as wilderness, making it a haven for wildlife. In addition, over of the park is old-growth forest, having never been significantly altered by logging. The protected habitat, combined with the wide range of elevations, supports a wide array of animals. Over 400 species of vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish live in the park, along with thousands of different plants.

Herbivores in the park include the commonly seen mule deer and golden-mantled ground squirrels, and less commonly seen animals like mountain beavers, pika, yellow-bellied marmots, white-tailed hares, and the rare Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep that are found only around Tioga Pass. Predators include black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcat and gray fox. While once common, bear incidents have declined significantly in past years due to careful management, but be aware that while visitors are unlikely to see a bear, the animals are particularly active at night throughout the park, including in Yosemite Valley, and will seek out food sources that are available to them; heed all park regulations regarding storage of food items or items such as deodorants that have a smell that might interest a bear. Other animals found in the park include 17 species of bats, as well as over 150 species of birds such as great gray owls, spotted owls, white-headed woodpeckers, Steller's jays and northern goshawk. Reptiles are not common but include the mountain kingsnake and Gilbert's skink.

With elevations ranging from up to  the park's vegetation zones range from scrub and chaparral communities at lower elevations to subalpine forests and alpine meadows at the higher elevations. Visitors will most commonly experience the park's extensive coniferous forest, but will also be drawn to the isolated groves of giant sequoias, the largest trees in the world. At elevations above beautiful subalpine meadows flower during July and August, while the treeline ends at  and the vegetation is limited to hardy plants that bloom quickly during the few snow-free months.

Climate
Weather can change rapidly during all seasons of the year, and will also vary greatly with elevation. When visiting it is wise to pack for any season with clothing that can be layered, ready to peel off or add on as conditions dictate. Always include some kind of rain gear; the park receives most of its precipitation in the winter months, but storms are common during the transitional spring and fall seasons, and spectacular thunderstorms may occur during summer.

For Yosemite Valley and Wawona (subtract 10-20°F (5-10°C) for Tuolumne Meadows), average weather is as follows:

 * Summer: Typically warm and dry, with occasional thunderstorms; temperatures from 50°F (10°C) to the low 90°F (30°C) range.
 * Fall & Spring: Highly variable, with typical high temperatures ranging from 50-80°F (10-27°C), with lows from 30-40°F (-1 to 4°C). Rain is less likely early in fall/late in spring and rain or snow is likely late in fall/early in spring.
 * Winter: Snowy, rainy, or (sometimes) even sunny days are possible, with highs ranging from 30-60°F (-1 to 16°C) and lows in the high 20°F (-4 to 0°C) range. Winter Storm Warnings indicate a significant storm is impending or occurring.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By car
Warning: There are no gas/petrol stations in the Yosemite Valley!

There are four major entrances into the park. All of these routes are relatively winding mountain roads and appropriate time should be budgeted for them.

 * State Route 120 from the west from Oakdale. This is the fastest route from locations west (Bay Area) and northwest (Sacramento). Route 120 is a bit steep, so RVs and trailers should consider Route 140 instead. In winter, snow makes the lower elevations of Route 140 more attractive.
 * State Route 140 west from Mariposa and Merced. This route mostly travels up the Merced River Canyon into Yosemite Valley and is the most scenic western entrance. RV and tour bus traffic used to congest this road a bit too much in summer, but the Ferguson rockslide in 2006 has caused restrictions to be imposed that prevent vehicles longer than . Highway 140 is now pleasantly less congested and the bridges afford an excellent view of the massive rock slide.
 * State Route 41 north from Fresno and Los Angeles/Southern California. Be sure to fill your gas tank in Oakhurst (several stations along highway), or pay dearly as you get closer to the park. Many businesses (including two more gas stations) are on the first half mile of adjoining State Route 49 in Oakhurst.
 * State Route 120 from the east (Tioga Pass Road) from Lee Vining and points east. This road is only open when free of snow (usually May - October) so check road conditions in advance.

A secondary entrance exists to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir exclusively (no Yosemite Valley access) off of State Route 120 from the west. It requires taking a side road near the main Route 120 west entrance of Yosemite. Hetch Hetchy has restricted hours for access due to security for the Reservoir.

During the snow season, usually November through March, snow chains may be required. Chain requirements are strictly enforced in Yosemite with potential fines being as much as $5,000, so chains should be carried during those months.

During summer months traffic becomes heavily congested in Yosemite Valley, and parking can be nearly impossible to find. Summer visitors to Yosemite Valley are therefore strongly encouraged to use the YARTS shuttle system (see below) to get into the park.

By plane
There are no landing strips within the park. Airports in surrounding communities include:

Bay Area airports including San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International , and San Jose International are much larger than any of the above airports and have more frequent flights to more destinations. Driving distance from the Bay Area is approximately four hours. However, landing at SFO requires crossing one of the San Francisco Bay bridges which are usually congested during the morning and evening rush hour. (Likewise for the return flight, and this direction includes a toll booth.) Sacramento International airport, north of Sacramento, is another large airport option that is also about a four-hour drive from the park. Visitors arriving from the east may choose Reno/Tahoe International in Reno, which is about 3½ hours (by car) from the Tioga Pass Entrance (summer only). Combining a flight to a major airport with an Amtrak or Greyhound ride can be an affordable and scenic option.

Small private aircraft land at  about 5 mi/8 km northwest of the town of Mariposa on State Route 49. There is no control tower, and car rentals in the area are very limited. The YARTS shuttle (see below) is another possibility. Park entrance is an additional 27 mi/44 km via State Route 140.

By train
Amtrak offers service to Yosemite by means of a motorcoach bus that meets its San Joaquins trains in Merced. The San Joaquins provide several departures each day along its route from Bakersfield in the south, Sacramento in the north, and the San Francisco Bay Area in the west. With ample motorcoach connections to and from the trains, this train service serves most of the state, allowing quick and easy access to Merced from most places within the state. The trip to/from San Francisco will take 6+ hours by public transport, compared to 5 hours via car.

By tour bus
Many tour bus companies run tours from the Bay Area. Some will just take you to Yosemite Valley; others provide full tours to see the Giant Sequoias and/or Glacier Point.

By public bus
The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) offers reasonably-priced transportation into Yosemite Valley from locations east and west of the park including Highway 41 (Fresno, Oakhurst, Coarsegold), Highway 140 (Merced - where you can transfer to Amtrak trains to/from San Francisco, Mariposa, El Portal), Highway 120 (Sonora, Jamestown, Groveland) and Highway 120/395 on the east side of the Sierras (Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes). Ticket price includes park admission, and adult tickets include a free ticket for one child 12 or under. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time or from the shuttle driver, and round-trip fares are between $7 (from El Portal) to $36 (from Mammoth Lakes) into Yosemite Valley; reduced fares are available to seniors, disabled individuals, and children 12 and under. When combined with the free shuttle service that operates within Yosemite Valley, YARTS can eliminate many hassles for summer visitors.

Fees and permits
Entrance fees are valid for seven days, allowing unlimited re-entry for the week. Fees as of 2020 are:
 * $20 for individuals age 16 or older on foot, bicycle, horse, or non-commercial bus.
 * $30 for motorcycles (no per person fee).
 * $35 for private vehicles (no per person fee).
 * $70 Yosemite Annual Pass (allows park entry for one year)

Get around
Yosemite has grown from a little visited, yet historically significant, park to one of the "crown jewels" of the US National Park System. With this stature comes difficulties; Yosemite is the third most visited national park in the United States, with an annual visitation of approximately 4 million, and a majority of those visitors are concentrated in the within Yosemite Valley (about 1% of the total park land).

By car
With most of the park visitors destined for Yosemite Valley, traffic and parking are significant problems during the busy summer season. As a result, while a car is a great way to tour the park, if visiting the Valley, taking YARTS and the shuttle bus may be a vastly better option. Be aware that the Tioga Pass Road and the road to Glacier Point 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. The speed limit in all areas of the park is fairly slow, and is 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.

The loop road through Yosemite Valley is now one-way. For many years this was a two-lane road, but motorists travelling slowly to admire the scenery often created a long backup of annoyed drivers, so the Park Service converted most of the roads in the valley into one-way roads to allow passing. As a result, when driving in the valley be aware that a wrong turn can send you on a one-way detour.

The one-way routing affects those entering from Oakdale on Hwy 120 the most. You will have to cross over to Southside Drive at the Pohono Bridge. Likewise upon leaving the park, those taking the south exit on Hwy 41 to Fresno also cross the Pohono Bridge, backtrack, before turning right onto Wawona Road.

Fuel stations
There are three fueling stations in Yosemite. Fuel may be paid for with a credit or debit card 24-hours a day. The stations can be hours away from your location in the park––if you are running even a little low on gas, it's advisable to fill up at the closest station despite regular wait times of 15-20 minutes or more.

There are no stations in the Valley. The nearest to the Valley is Crane Flats, a drive from Yosemite Village so plan appropriately.

For disabled drivers, an attendant will assist with pumping gas during business hours.

By shuttle
To limit traffic congestion the park service normally runs several free shuttle buses throughout the park (these are not the YARTS system):

 * Yosemite Valley. Shuttles operate every 15 minutes from 7AM until 10PM in the eastern portion of Yosemite Valley year-round, stopping at or near all accommodations, shopping areas, and major sights.
 * Badger Pass Bus. During the ski season a free bus travels twice daily between Yosemite Valley and the ski area.
 * Tuolumne Meadows Shuttle Bus. During the summer season this bus provides access to points in and around Tuolumne Meadows.
 * Tuolumne Meadows Hikers' Bus (fee charged). This bus travels in summer between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows, dropping hikers off along the way. To guarantee seating tickets should be purchased one day in advance by calling.
 * Glacier Point Hikers' Bus (fee charged). This bus provides service between Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point, making stops along the way. To guarantee seating tickets should be purchased one day in advance by calling.

The shuttle buses all have wheelchair lifts and tie-downs. Drivers provide assistance.

By bicycle
Yosemite Valley has a network of bicycle paths along its north and south sides. Bikes can be rented for the day at Curry Village & turn a thirty-minute walk into a five-minute ride.

By foot
Although the road network covers the most popular sights in Yosemite, the vast majority of the park's area can only be accessed using the park's network of trails. Trails including the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail lead to areas outside of the park's north and south borders.

See

If you only have a single day to visit the park, a drive around Yosemite Valley is probably the best option. Longer visits provide options for hiking, visiting sites outside the Valley, and getting a fuller experience of what the Sierra Nevadas have to offer. Visiting in winter provides the opportunity to see dramatic winter landscapes in Yosemite Valley or to ski in Badger Pass, but much of the park will be inaccessible due to winter road closures. Spring is the best time to see the waterfalls at their strongest. During the summertime all park roads are open, and Tuolumne Meadows will be snow-free and full of flowers. The Fall offers a time with smaller crowds, cooler weather, and access to the entire park (unless there is an early snowstorm). The vast majority of tourists to Yosemite will spend almost all of their time in Yosemite Valley––returning visitors and experienced travelers alike would be well-served to avoid the valley and explore the rest of the park, which is considerably less developed and trafficked but equally, if not more, beautiful.

Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is the reason why Yosemite was America's first place set aside by the federal government for its scenic beauty. The cliffs rise around the valley at impossibly vertical angles, waterfalls tumble down unimpeded from a thousand feet (300 m) above, and the Merced River meanders aimlessly along the valley floor. The Valley is also one of the most accessible places in the park, with roads open year-round and plenty of amenities including lodging and food (but no gas stations). During summer months traffic can make the valley highly congested, so consider using the shuttle to cut down on stress.

Those entering the valley via Highway 41 will be treated to the spectacular viewpoint known as Tunnel View. Named for the tunnel that bores through the granite, the eastern side provides a dramatic view of Yosemite Valley with El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Fall on the right and Half Dome in the center. Photographers should consider this area for pictures after storms, as many of the most famous pictures of the Valley have been taken from this spot as rough weather clears. There are two small parking lots that can get congested, so arrive early in the day if visiting during Summer to ensure a spot.

The sights in the valley include the granite monolith of Half Dome, a mountain that looks like it was split in two, leaving only a vertical face and rounded granite summit behind. In reality Half Dome was formed in the same way that many of Yosemite's granite formations were created - long ago an intrusion of magma deep underground solidified to form a massive granite block, and that block was eventually exposed to the surface via a combination of erosion and uplift. Glaciers that flowed through Yosemite did the rest, carving out the wide, U-shaped valleys that are bordered by sheer vertical walls. These same forces created the wall of El Capitan, a mecca for rock climbers and another of the Valley's famous formations.

Waterfalls in Yosemite Valley include Yosemite Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the world at. Bridalveil Fall is another easily accessible waterfall, while Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall can be reached by those willing to do some hiking. While some water flows over the waterfalls year-round, by mid-Summer flows are significantly diminished - plan on visiting in the Spring to see these waterfalls at their grandest. Yosemite is one of two places in the US – the other is Cumberland Falls State Resort Park – where "moonbows", or faint nighttime rainbow produced by the moon's light, can be seen. When the water is flowing and the moon is near the full, you may be able to see one, if you're in the right spot and have sharp eyes. https://www.yosemitemoonbow.com/ has predicted days, times, and locations for these special moments.

Wawona

Wawona is the home to the historic Wawona Hotel, dating from the late nineteenth century. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center, a collection of historic buildings, is just over the covered bridge from the hotel. Wawona is accessible by car year-round.

The Mariposa Grove is the largest of the three giant sequoias groves in the park (the Merced Grove and Tuolumne Grove are the other two) and is home to over 500 mature trees. While not the tallest or oldest things on earth, by volume the giant sequoias are the largest living organism known to man. The grove is south of Wawona near the entrance station, with parking available in a lot located from the grove, and a shuttle bus available to bring visitors from the parking lot into the grove. Trails lead from the Lower Grove to the Upper Grove - traversing the entire route is a 3-4 mile (5-6 km) hike, depending on the paths chosen. Trees within a short walk of the lower parking area include the Grizzly Giant, a massive 1800 year old tree, and the California Tunnel tree, which was cut in 1895 to allow carriages to pass through. Further on, in the Upper Grove, is the Clothespin Tree, which has a natural tunnel in it created by fire that is large enough for a car to pass through, the Wawona Tunnel tree, another tree with a man-made tunnel in it that fell in 1969, and the Telescope Tree, a living tree that is hollow inside, allowing visitors to enter its trunk and stare upwards.

Glacier Point and Badger Pass
Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite's high country, is generally regarded as the most spectacular viewpoint in the park. It is accessible by car from approximately late May through October or November. Driving time from Wawona and Yosemite Valley is about an hour, but during the busiest summer weekends delays of up to two hours are possible if the Glacier Point parking lot fills. From the parking lot a quarter mile long paved walkway leads to a viewpoint above the Yosemite Valley floor. From mid-December through March the road is usually closed, but cross-country skiers can experience this view after skiing 10.5 miles (17 km). The area is particularly popular late in the day to watch the light changing on Half Dome, and is also an excellent area for stargazing. Washburn Point, just south of Glacier Point, offers views of the southern side of Yosemite Valley.

Badger Pass is the oldest ski area in California, and is along the road to Glacier Point. The road to Badger Pass is plowed year round, and this area is the starting point for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing during the winter. During winter months a free shuttle runs twice a day from Yosemite Valley to Badger Pass.

Tuolumne Meadows

The Tioga Road (Highway 120 East) is an amazingly scenic route through Yosemite's high country that crosses the park from west-to-east and provides access to the Eastern Sierra and Mono Lake. This road is closed in winter and usually opens to vehicles only from late May or early June through the first snowfall in November. It offers a scenic drive between Crane Flat and Tuolumne Meadows through forests and past meadows, lakes, and granite domes. Many turnouts offer broad and beautiful vistas. From Tioga Road all the way to the south of Mount Whitney, no other roads cross the High Sierra, making this the northern end of the largest contiguous roadless wilderness in the continental United States. The high point of the Tioga Road at Tioga Pass (elevation ) is the only place in the park where visitors might encounter the endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.

Along the Tioga Road at elevation, Tuolumne Meadows is one of the largest high-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada. The Tuolumne River meanders across the meadow while rugged mountain peaks and glacially carved domes surround it. During the brief snow-free summer season the meadow is the site of a massive wildflower bloom, making this an excellent area for day hikes and photography.

Crane Flat
Crane Flat is a pleasant forest and meadow area (30 minutes) from Yosemite Valley. Crane Flat is accessible by car all year. Bears can be spotted in the meadows in this area regularly, so keep your eyes open and don't block traffic if you see one!

The Tuolumne Grove has about two dozen mature giant sequoias and is on the Tioga Road just east of Crane Flat. Sequoias are only visible after a hike with  of elevation loss. (The hike back to the parking lot gains  and is strenuous.) The drive takes about 1½ hours from South Entrance. Parking is limited.

The Merced Grove is on the Big Oak Flat Road east of Big Oak Flat Entrance and is home to about two dozen mature giant sequoias. Sequoias are only visible after a 1½-mile hike with of elevation loss. (The 1½-mile hike back to the parking lot gains and is strenuous.) The drive takes about 1½ hours from South Entrance. Parking is extremely limited.

Hetch Hetchy Valley

Until the completion of the O'Shaughnessy Dam in 1923, the Hetch Hetchy Valley was said to rival Yosemite Valley for beauty. The fight over the dam was a bitter battle between environmentalists including John Muir and the city of San Francisco, and efforts are still ongoing to remove the dam and restore the valley, though restoration of the habitat would likely take decades or more after the dam's removal. Today, the dam is used to deliver water from the Tuolumne River west to San Francisco. Even though Hetch Hetchy Valley is flooded, it is still home to spectacular scenery and is the starting point for many less-used wilderness trails. Although the road to Hetch Hetchy is open year-round, on a day-to-day basis it has restricted hours due to security for the reservoir. It may close periodically due to snow in winter and spring. Swimming and boating are not allowed in the reservoir.

The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne lies upstream from Hetch Hetchy and is accessible to hikers. Hikers can also visit two of North America's largest waterfalls in the Hetch Hetchy Valley: Wapama Falls, at, and Tueeulala Falls, at.

Hiking
Yosemite is one of the world's most spectacular hiking destinations, and all visitors should consider at least a short hike. The Vernal Fall trail is a short and rewarding trek for valley visitors, numerous trails in the high country along Route 120 are suitable for brief trips to see alpine lakes or granite domes, and the sequoia groves all offer the option of short hikes that can easily be extended. More adventurous and physically-fit hikers might consider the Half Dome trail or any of the park's backcountry trails. Prior to hiking check with rangers for trail conditions; snow and hazards from falling rock close many trails in winter, and the cables on the Half Dome trail are only up from late May through early October (ascending Half Dome when the cables are not erected is possible but is dangerous and strongly discouraged). No permits are required park-wide for day hikes, with the exception of the Half Dome Summit.

Yosemite Valley
Many of the meadows have short trails, some of which are handicap accessible. For those staying in the valley, walking to get around is easy, scenic, and avoids the stresses of car travel in the valley.

Tuolumne Meadows

Rock climbing

The Valley also offers some of the most challenging and spectacular rock climbing in North America, with vertical faces and more feet tall. Wilderness permits are not required for nights spent on a wall, but it is illegal to camp at the base of any wall in Yosemite Valley. Additional regulations:

 * 1) Do not litter or leave anything behind, including food or water "for future parties". Pick up any litter you see, including tape wads and cigarette butts.
 * 2) Don't leave fixed ropes as permanent fixtures on approaches and descents. These are considered abandoned property and will be removed.
 * 3) Minimize erosion on your approach and descent. If an obvious main trail has been created, use it. Avoid pushing soil downhill and avoid walking on vegetation whenever possible.
 * 4) If an unplanned bivouac is necessary on a summit, fires are allowed only in an existing fire ring and building a new windbreak is prohibited. Make sure your fire is completely out before you leave.
 * 5) Clean extra, rotting slings off anchors when you descend. Bring earth-toned slings to leave on anchors.
 * 6) Check the Camp 4 Kiosk or the Mountain Shop for the current peregrine falcon closures.
 * 7) Minimize the impact of first ascents by choosing routes that minimize erosion, bolts, and loss of vegetation. "Gardening", e.g. killing plants, is illegal in Yosemite. Motorized drills are prohibited.

Commercial guided climbing trips are also available:

Horseback riding
There are still commercial horseback-riding concessions in the Yosemite Valley, Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows areas.

Water activities
Swimming is allowed in most bodies of water in the park, but is either prohibited or strongly discouraged near waterfalls due to the extreme danger of being swept away - to cite just one tragic example, as of 2010 the total number of people who have died after underestimating currents and being swept over Vernal Fall stands at seventeen. Other places where swimming is prohibited include the following:

 * Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and within one mile upstream along any tributary (e.g., Rancheria Falls).
 * Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River
 * Emerald Pool and Silver Apron (above Vernal Fall)
 * Lake Eleanor Reservoir (when posted)
 * Wawona Domestic Water Intake (and upstream)

Rafting is permitted on the Merced River between Stoneman Bridge (near Curry Village) and Sentinel Beach picnic area between 10AM and 6PM when the river stage (depth) is less than at Sentinel Bridge and the sum of air temperature and water temperature is greater than. All raft occupants must have a personal flotation device immediately available, and children under age 13 must be wearing one. Rafting is also allowed on the South Fork of the Merced River below Swinging Bridge (in Wawona).

Fishing is allowed in streams and rivers from the last Saturday in April through November 15, with the exception of Frog Creek near Lake Eleanor, where fishing season does not open until June 15 to protect spawning rainbow trout. Fishing is allowed in lakes and reservoirs year-round. A valid California fishing license is required for anyone aged 16 or older. Fishing supplies, including fishing licenses, are available at the Yosemite Village Sport Shop and at the general stores in Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows.

Special regulations that apply when fishing in the park include the following:

 * No live or dead minnows or other bait fish, amphibians, non-preserved fish eggs, or roe may be used or possessed.
 * Fishing from bridges and docks is prohibited.
 * In Yosemite Valley and El Portal (Happy Isles to Foresta Bridge):
 * Rainbow trout are catch-and-release only.
 * Brown trout limit is five per day or ten in possession.
 * Only artificial lures or flies with barbless hooks may be used; bait fishing is prohibited.
 * Mirror Lake is considered a stream and is only open during stream fishing season.
 * In the Tuolumne River from the O'Shaughnessy Dam downstream to Early Intake Diversion Dam
 * Maximum size limit of in total length.
 * Trout limit is two per day or two in possession.
 * Only artificial lures or flies with barbless hooks may be used; bait fishing is prohibited.

Arts

Buy
Souvenir shops abound in Yosemite. Stores are run by the park concessionaire (Aramark), the Yosemite Conservancy, or the Ansel Adams Gallery, with a few smaller family stores. Aramark, YC, and the Ansel Adams Gallery offer some form of mail order. The Yosemite Conservancy stores specialize in educational materials about Yosemite, many of which are published by the organization; membership offers a 15% discount on most purchases.

Gas is available for purchase at Crane Flat, Tuolumne Meadows, Wawona, and in towns outside of the park. Gas prices tend to be 60 cents to 1 dollar higher than communities like Fresno, Merced, and Modesto.

Eat

Groceries can be purchased in Yosemite Village, Crane Flat, Curry Village, Wawona, and Tuolumne Meadows.

Sleep

Demand for lodging in Yosemite Valley in both the hotels and the campgrounds is extremely heavy during the peak season, so you need to book well ahead of time during the late spring, summer and early fall; vacancies are more common during the off-season. As an example, by mid-May in 2015 not a single reservation remained in any campground for any night during the summer season. Cancellations occur on a random basis, so it is also advised to call back frequently for a desired reservation date.

Cheaper and more abundant lodging can be found outside the park. The nearby towns of El Portal, Mariposa, Groveland, Fish Camp, and Lee Vining have lodging. In addition, the community of Yosemite West borders the park and offers numerous rentals; it is accessible only from within Yosemite and provides a convenient option to visitors planning to stay near Wawona or Yosemite Valley. Be aware that despite names like "Yosemite View", no lodging outside the park has a view of the Valley. Lodging is particularly close to the park near the Route 140 entrance and the Route 120 East entrance; for those approaching from the Route 41South entrance, there are many affordable lodging options in Oakhurst, but at the cost of a longer commute distance. In addition, Yosemite is surrounded by national forests that offer numerous campgrounds.

Park lodging
The following lodging options are operated by the National Park Service through a concessionaire.

Private cabins
In addition to the lodging operated through the park service, there are also a handful of private cabins within the park boundaries that can be rented.

Camping
Camping is by far the cheapest way of staying within the park, but campgrounds fill quickly during summer months and may require making reservations months in advance. Reservations can be made through the National Park Service from 7AM-7PM Pacific time, or by calling or  from outside the United States. Written reservation requests can be made by including desired location, type of equipment you will be camping in (i.e., tent, RV, etc.), as well as method of payment. Send written requests to NPRS, P.O. Box 1600, Cumberland, MD 21502.

All campgrounds offer bear-safe food storage containers, tap water (except where noted), and flush toilets. Pay showers and laundry are in Curry Village in Yosemite Valley. During summer, showers are also available afternoons at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge.

For backpackers, North Pines in Yosemite Valley and the Tuolumne Meadows campground both have "backpacker camps". These are walk-in sites offered for people with valid wilderness permits to stay the night before and the night after their backcountry trips. For more information contact the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center or any park campground office.

Yosemite Valley
Use Southside Drive to get to the Pines Campgrounds. Do not cross the Sentinel Bridge, but make a right turn just before this bridge. If staying in the North Pines, cross the river at Clark's Bridge. (The one-way roads in the valley have been reversed to make it easier to get to the campground.)

Crane Flat

Tioga Pass Road

Backcountry
Backcountry permits are free and are required year-round for all overnight trips into Yosemite's wilderness. Wilderness areas operate under a quota system that limits the number of people who may begin overnight hikes from each trailhead, each day. While permits may be reserved for $5 per party plus $5 per person, at least 40% of each trailhead quota is available on a first-come first-served basis the day of, or one day prior to, the beginning of your trip.

Permits can be obtained in person from the wilderness stations in Yosemite Village, Big Oak Flat, Tuolumne Meadows, Badger Pass, Hetch Hetchy and Wawona. In addition, permits can be reserved up to 24 weeks in advance for a fee. There are three ways to reserve a wilderness permit, and forms for advance reservations can be found on the Yosemite wilderness permit web site:

 * 1) By fax. A fax sent to  is the park service's preferred method of obtaining a wilderness permit. Forms can be found on the Yosemite wilderness permit web site. Faxes received before 7:30AM are processed before phone calls.
 * 2) By phone. Reservations for summer trips are accepted from 2 days to up to 24 weeks in advance by calling . Phones are staffed M-F 8:30AM-4PM, with extended hours from Memorial Day through Labor Day (M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-4PM). You must know your entry and exit trailheads prior to calling.
 * 3) By mail. Reservation requests for summer trips are accepted from 2 weeks to 24 weeks in advance by writing to Wilderness Permits, PO Box 545, Yosemite, CA, 95389. See Yosemite's web site for the reservation form to include with written requests. If your requested trailhead and dates are available, you will receive a confirmation letter in the mail. A payment method must be provided with all written requests.

All backcountry campers are expected to leave the wilderness in the same condition as they find it; this means no trash, fire scars, or other evidence of a visit should be left behind. Backcountry campsites must be at least four trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy or Wawona, or at least one trail mile from any road. Groups are limited in size to 15 people, including guides and small children. Pets, weapons, bicycles, strollers, and mechanized vehicles of any kind are not allowed in the wilderness areas, while fires are only allowed in existing fire circles, and are not allowed above elevation.

Bear canisters are required in all areas of the Park and highly recommended in areas close to Yosemite's borders. These canisters must be used for food storage, as well as for storing scented toiletries such as soap, deodorant and toothpaste, and should be stashed at least 100 m from your campsite. Canisters can be rented from the ranger station where you pick up your backcountry permit for $5, good for up to two weeks. Bear canisters are not just to protect hikers' food––they protect bears. There is no good excuse for conditioning bears to rely on human food.

Stay safe
For any emergency in Yosemite National Park, dial 911 from most phones (hotel and retail phones may require 9+911). Yosemite NPS runs its own dedicated emergency dispatch. If you dial from a cell phone, first mention that you are in Yosemite as many cell phones route to a call center in your number's area code.

Wildlife
Over the years the park's bears have become accustomed to scavenging trash and food left out by humans, and will even break into cars and tents to get it. While not the larger grizzly bears that once roamed California, black bears are strong enough to tear a door off of a car with ease. Luckily they usually prefer to avoid humans, so they'll most likely do their work on vehicles left at trailheads or in parking lots. Prevention is remarkably simple: never leave food or scented items (deodorant, air fresheners) in your car or bring them into your tent. Heed this advice! Leaving even just a tube of toothpaste or empty food wrappers in a car may result in thousands of dollars of damage to your vehicle should a bear choose to investigate the smell! Bear-resistant storage units are provided at park campgrounds and overnight parking areas: use them.

To avoid bear encounters while hiking, make noise so that the animal knows you are coming. This approach will also help to avoid encounters with mountain lions, which also inhabit the park. 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. Give all animals their space, and never feed any park wildlife.

Light
Yosemite Valley Lodge (and possibly other accommodation areas) has no outside lighting. This is to reduce light pollution and allow the stars to shine down. If moving about the area at night (even to go to the reception office or restaurant) ensure that you have a flashlight (torch), as walking in the dark can be quite hazardous. In general, avoid long hikes after dark.

Weather
Other natural dangers in the park come from the weather. Hypothermia can be a concern at higher elevations where temperatures can drop below freezing throughout the year. Dress in layers, and be prepared for storms and rapid changes in temperature. When storms are approaching avoid open areas such as the summits of the park's many granite domes; lightning strikes these areas regularly. If a storm does approach, get off of high, open ground. When hiking wear sturdy footwear and drink plenty of water - if you are thirsty that is an early sign of dehydration. Be aware that the sun can be intense at higher elevations and when reflected off of snow, so sunscreen is important. In the winter, take the weather term "Winter Storm Warning" very seriously as it means a significant storm is definitely coming.

Being prepared
Yosemite, because of its size, exposure, and cliffs, can be dangerous to those who fail to exercise basic precautions. While the park has amenities to aid tourists, Yosemite is huge and you can easily find yourself hours' drive away from potable water, emergency services, or a cell signal. Always do your homework before any hike. Remember to follow the basic safety guidelines for hiking:

 * Understand the details of where you are going and plan ahead of time
 * Always bring enough food/water to last you longer than you expect to be on the trail and remember park amenities may be hours away––and even if you get to them, they may have long wait times at the high season.
 * Don't camp in the backcountry if you don't know what you're doing.
 * Set a time to turn around and never stay on a trail past sunset if you don't have access to heat and light.
 * Tell someone where you are going––if you don't, no one will know where to find you.

On the trails
Hikers should follow all posted signs - if a trail is closed due to ice, landslide, or some other reason do not ignore the closure as doing so endangers both the hiker and any area that must be traversed to go around the closure. On the Half Dome trail, hikers should always remain inside the cables for their ascent and descent. Hikers died on this section of trail in Summer 2009.

The park's waterfalls pose another potential hazard. Do not attempt to get close to the waterfalls, especially in the spring. This includes swimming above the waterfalls at a distance of less than 1 mile (about 1.6 km). The force of the water will easily sweep a person off their feet and over the falls, even if it appears to be flowing slowly. Being swept over any of Yosemite's waterfalls is invariably fatal. Even if you see other people bathing in the pools above certain water falls––and you will––do not get into the water.

Other concerns
The greatest danger in the park comes from the thousands of park visitors. Petty thieves and traffic accidents are two issues to be aware of. Follow park speed limits, lock your vehicle, and be aware of your belongings, especially in Yosemite Valley. Violent crime is extremely rare in Yosemite, but given the numbers of people that visit you should expect that a few unsavory characters will be visiting too.

The National Park Service provides the primary law enforcement and fire protection in the park. NPS is supplemented by Aramark Security, who handle a number of calls for service on Aramark land assignments. Aramark Fire is paged out along with NPS Fire, and handles a large number of calls in Yosemite Valley.

Lost and found

There are two major Lost and Found operations in Yosemite. One is run by the National Park Service. It can be reached at. The other is run by Aramark, and can be reached at. They coordinate as best as possible, considering they are a half-hour away from each other. They process thousands of items each year and surprisingly get a number of items back to the rightful owner. Because of the thousands of items lost or found, generally, you will not get a return call unless your item has been found and turned in correctly.

Items that are found that cannot be returned to the owner are generally turned over to recognized charities. So, if you don't get your item back, and if it is turned in by the finder, at least you can rest easy that it will eventually go to a good cause.

Go next
The towns of El Portal (west on SR140), Mariposa (west on SR140), Groveland (west on SR120), Fish Camp (south on SR41), Lee Vining (east on SR120) and Yosemite West (midway between Yosemite Valley and Wawona) are all within a few miles of the park border. Other nearby destinations include:

 * Devils Postpile National Monument. This national monument protects a formation of lava basalt columns formed 80,000 to 100,000 years ago, and also provides an access point to the High Sierra wilderness. The monument is about south of Yosemite off of highway 395.
 * Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The most extensive groves of the world's largest trees can be found approximately south of Yosemite. Sequoia and Kings Canyon are managed as a single unit and provide access to vast groves of giant sequoia trees as well as a huge network of trails that lead to some of the most pristine and remote areas of the High Sierra. Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States with an elevation of, is within the borders of Sequoia. There is no vehicle access to these parks via US Highway 395, though it's much easier to get a good view of Mt. Whitney this way. To enter, take State Highway 41 (south exit) to Fresno, then State Highway 180 (in downtown Fresno) to Kings or State Highway 198 (via Visalia) to Sequoia.
 * Tuolumne County, California's historic gold mining country of the mid-1800s. Towns include Jamestown, Sonora, and Columbia. Take State Highway 120 west to State Highway 49 north (turn at Parrott's Ferry Rd. [E-18] for Columbia).
 * Mono County - Yosemite's eastern gateway, remote and expansive Mono County is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It is home to the Old West ghost town of Bodie, as well as Mammoth Lakes, a favorite winter skiing getaway. The gigantic Mono Lake is perhaps the county's premier attraction, a stopover for millions of migratory birds and thousands of tourists who explore its alkaline waters and bizarre tufa formations.
 * Manzanar National Historic Site During World War II more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were interned in camps, the largest and best preserved of which is between the towns of Independence and Lone Pine off US Highway 395, about south of Yosemite. Manzanar is situated in one of the more isolated spots of California, and the climate can be quite extreme at times with heat, dust, and in the wintertime, cold (elevation ).

title: Yosemite National Park