A vast granite valley at sunset with a sheer monolith on the left, a rounded granite dome catching gold light in the distance and a thin high waterfall, forested valley floor below, Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
Trekkr Trail Journal · No. 047 · Yosemite & the Tioga Road

Yosemite & the TiogaRoad, California — Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, Glacier Point, the Mariposa Grove & Hetch Hetchy

There are two Yosemites. One is the Valley everyone photographs — and lines up for an hour to enter on a July morning. The other is the high country up the Tioga Road, a 9,943-foot pass that is buried in snow half the year and that most visitors never reach. This guide plans both: the 2026 entry-and-parking reality, the seasonal-road timing that decides your whole trip, the Half Dome cables lottery, the campgrounds that get you inside the gate, and the honest list of what nobody could confirm.

California · USA Yosemite Valley · Tuolumne Meadows · Wawona Tioga & Glacier Point Roads · seasonal Half Dome lottery · wilderness permits
9,943 ftTioga Pass — the highest highway pass in California, closed all winter
~300/dayHalf Dome cables day-hiker permits — by lottery only
1 hr+Reported summer entrance-line waits, ~8 a.m.–5 p.m., Jun–Aug
5 monthsHow far ahead reservable campgrounds release on Recreation.gov
Conditions compiled 22 July 2026 · The seasonal roads and the entrance line decide the day before the trail does · This block goes stale — the links don't

Two gates open this park: the seasonal roads, and the entrance queue

The rest of this journal is evergreen; this box is not. In Yosemite two things decide whether your plan works before you lace a boot — whether the Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are open (§03), and how you handle the peak-season entry and parking crush (§02). Both change season to season and week to week. Everything below is dated to the day we checked it. Trust the live NPS sources, not our date stamp.

  • 2026 entry — no day-use reservation reported, but the lines are realAs reported for the 2026 season, the National Park Service did not require a peak-hours day-use entry reservation for Yosemite, unlike recent pilot years. Instead expect the park to manage traffic and parking on the ground, with entrance waits of an hour or more from roughly 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., June–August, and Valley lots full by mid-morning. [VERIFY AT PUBLISH — nps.gov/yose reservations page; this policy has changed yearly] (§02)
  • Tioga Road (CA-120) opened 15 May 2026 — and closes with the snowThe Tioga Road over 9,943-ft Tioga Pass opened for 2026 on 15 May (per NPS). It closes with the first big autumn storm — often November, sometimes earlier — and is shut all winter. It is the only route to Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point and the Tioga Pass east entrance. Check NPS road status before you count on crossing. (§03)
  • Glacier Point Road opened 9 May 2026The Glacier Point Road opened to vehicles on 9 May 2026 (per NPS), reaching the Glacier Point overlook and the Bridalveil Creek campground and trailheads. Like Tioga, it is a seasonal road, closed all winter. Confirm current status before planning a Glacier Point sunset. (§03)
  • Half Dome cables — permit-only, by lotteryThe cables were targeted up around 22 May and down around 13 Oct 2026 (dates slip in heavy snow years). A permit is required and capped near 300 day hikers/day: a preseason lottery (apply 1–31 March, results mid-April), a daily lottery two days out, or an add-on to a wilderness permit. [VERIFY — Recreation.gov / nps.gov/yose Half Dome page] (§02)
  • Wilderness permits + bear canisters for every overnightEvery backcountry overnight needs an advance Yosemite wilderness permit (Recreation.gov, trailhead-quota system) and an approved hard-sided bear canister. Day hiking needs no wilderness permit (Half Dome excepted). Popular trailheads sell out — book early. (§04, §07)
  • Fire & smoke can reshape a Sierra summerYosemite and the surrounding Sierra National Forest, Stanislaus and Inyo national forests see wildfire and smoke most summers, and fire restrictions can ban campfires without much notice. [VERIFY THE WEEK YOU GO — nps.gov/yose alerts + each forest's current order] (§06, §07)
Live sources · NPS — current conditions & roads · NPS — Tioga & Glacier Point open/close dates · NPS — do I need a reservation? · NPS — Half Dome permits · Recreation.gov — camping & wilderness permits
In an emergency, 911 (or 209/379-1992 for park dispatch). This box was true at compile and will not stay true — the sources above are the truth on the day you travel.
01 / THE HOOK

One park, two worlds, and the seasonal roads between them

Yosemite is really two parks stacked on top of each other. Down low is the Valley — a mile-wide, glacier-carved trench with El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall stacked along seven miles of road, and the crowds and parking pressure that come with being one of the most famous landscapes on Earth. Up high, reached only when the Tioga Road melts out, is a second Yosemite of pale granite domes, meadows braided with rivers, and alpine lakes at 8,000 to 10,000 feet — Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point, the Cathedral Range. Most visitors see only the first. This guide is built to get you into both, and to keep you from wasting a morning at a gate or a closed road.

A classic wide view into a granite valley framed by forest, a sheer cliff wall on the left, a tall thin waterfall on the right and a rounded dome in the far center under soft light, Tunnel View Yosemite California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
Tunnel View, ~4,400 ft, on the Wawona Road. The postcard: El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Fall on the right, Half Dome centered down the Valley. It is the first stop most people make coming in from the south or west — and a reminder that almost everything famous here is stacked into one small, very busy Valley (§02).

The payoff

Waterfalls in spring — Yosemite, Bridalveil, Vernal, Nevada — then the high country in summer: Tenaya Lake, Cathedral Lakes, the Tuolumne domes, and the giant sequoias of the Mariposa Grove (§04, §05).

The crush

The Valley is small and wildly popular. Reported hour-plus entrance lines and full lots by mid-morning in summer mean the winning move is simple: arrive before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m., or sleep inside the park (§02, §07).

The season

The high country runs on snow. The Tioga and Glacier Point roads open late spring and close with the first storm; the falls peak with May–June snowmelt. When you go decides what you can even reach (§03, §09).

The way to think about the region — one Valley, four entrances, and a high road that gates the rest Yosemite has four road entrances, each tied to a gateway corridor: Big Oak Flat (Highway 120 from the west, through Groveland), Arch Rock (Highway 140 up the Merced canyon, through Mariposa and El Portal), the South Entrance (Highway 41 from Oakhurst/Fish Camp, past the Mariposa Grove), and the seasonal Tioga Pass Entrance (Highway 120 east, from Lee Vining and Highway 395 — open only when the Tioga Road is). Highway 140 through the Merced canyon is the lowest, gentlest approach and the one least likely to be snowbound. Everything funnels toward Yosemite Valley; the Tioga Road (§03) is the spine of the high country and the thing most likely to reshape your plan.
02 / ENTRY, PARKING & PERMITS

The reservation question, the parking crush, and the Half Dome lottery

Three separate systems decide access here, and people routinely confuse them. The first is whether you need a reservation just to enter the park — a policy that has changed almost every year. The second is parking, which is the real bottleneck in the Valley regardless of any reservation. The third is the permits for the marquee experiences: the Half Dome cables and any overnight in the wilderness. Sort out which of these applies to your trip before you drive in.

Two steel cables strung up a steep, rounded granite dome with wooden foot boards between them and a few hikers pulling themselves up, a vast drop and distant peaks behind, Half Dome cables Yosemite California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
The Half Dome cables — permit-only, by lottery. The final 400 vertical feet up the shoulder of Half Dome are climbed on a pair of steel cables. A permit is required, roughly 300 day hikers per day are allowed past the base of the sub-dome, and demand vastly exceeds supply (§04). People have died on and near the cables, especially in the wet.
The systemApplies toHow it works (reported)The catch
Park entry
changes yearly		 Everyone driving in No day-use reservation reported for 2026. Standard entrance fee applies (per-vehicle, 7 days) Lines, not permits, are the 2026 bottleneck — an hour+ from ~8 a.m.–5 p.m. in summer. Confirm the current-year policy at nps.gov
Valley parking
the real limiter		 Day visitors to the Valley First-come; day-use lots fill by mid-morning in peak season. A free shuttle loops the east Valley Arrive before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m., or camp/stay inside the park and leave the car parked
Half Dome cables
lottery		 Anyone going up the cables ~300/day. Preseason lottery (apply 1–31 Mar, results mid-Apr), daily lottery (2 days out), or wilderness-permit add-on Application + per-person fees; cables only up ~late May–mid Oct. Confirm dates & fees on Recreation.gov
Wilderness permit
overnights only		 All backcountry overnights Advance permit via Recreation.gov, trailhead-quota system; bear canister required Popular trailheads sell out months out. Day hikes need no wilderness permit

Every figure above is the reported 2026 arrangement. Yosemite's entry policy in particular has changed almost every year — confirm whether a reservation applies to your dates before you build a plan around driving in.

🔴 The single most common Yosemite access mistake People conflate the three systems above. They assume "I don't need an entry reservation" means "I can drive into the Valley and park at 11 a.m. in July" — and then sit in an hour of line and find every lot full. Or they hike toward Half Dome without a cables permit and are turned around at the sub-dome. Entry, parking and Half Dome are three different problems. The clean plan: get in before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. (or camp inside the park), and win a Half Dome permit in the March lottery if the cables are your goal. Do not improvise either at the gate.

Camping inside the park is the real edge

A campsite or lodge reservation inside Yosemite is the camper's version of a skip pass: you are already through the entrance and parked before the day-trippers arrive, and you can walk or shuttle to the trailheads. The Valley's Upper, Lower and North Pines are the prizes (§07), released on Recreation.gov five months out, on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific — and gone within minutes for summer dates.

Camp inside = skip the mid-day gateBook the 15th, 7 a.m. PT, 5 months out

What the entry rule is not

Not having an entry reservation is not a wilderness permit, a Half Dome permit, or a parking guarantee. Backpacking overnight needs a separate Recreation.gov wilderness permit and a bear canister (§07); the Half Dome cables need their own lottery permit; and the Valley lots fill regardless. Budget for each system that applies to your trip.

Dogs are heavily restricted — allowed only on paved roads, in developed areas and a few paved trails, leashed, and not on most trails or any wilderness. This is a national park, not a national forest (§06).

The 60-second Yosemite access decision
  1. Just want the Valley icons? Get in before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m., park once, ride the free Valley shuttle. Confirm whether an entry reservation applies to your dates first.
  2. Want to skip the gate entirely? Book a campsite or in-park lodging — you start each day already inside and parked.
  3. Set on Half Dome? Enter the preseason cables lottery in March, or try the daily lottery two days out. No permit, no cables — you'll be turned back at the sub-dome.
  4. Staying out overnight? Reserve a wilderness permit for your trailhead on Recreation.gov and carry a bear canister.
  5. Want the quiet Yosemite? Point at the high country (§03, §05) once the Tioga Road is open — Tuolumne, Tenaya Lake and the Mariposa Grove carry a fraction of the Valley's pressure.
03 / THE SEASONAL ROADS

Tioga, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy — and the four entrances

More than most parks, Yosemite is gated by its roads. Two of them climb into terrain that is snowbound half the year and simply do not exist as options in winter or early spring — and one of those, the Tioga Road, is the only way to two-thirds of the park's landscape. Know which roads are open before you plan a day, a crossing, or a shortcut around any of them.

A two-lane paved road winding through open high-country granite and lodgepole pine toward distant pale domes and peaks under a wide blue sky, patches of snow on the slabs, Tioga Road high Sierra Yosemite California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
The Tioga Road, climbing toward 9,943-ft Tioga Pass. Highway 120 across the park's roof — the only route to Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point and the east entrance. Opened 15 May 2026, closed all winter, and typically shut by the first big November storm. When it's closed, there is no through-road across Yosemite.

Tioga Road (CA-120) — the dates & the rules

  • Opened for 2026: 15 May 2026 (per NPS). Open date swings widely — from April to July — with the snowpack
  • Typical winter closure: with the first big storm, often November; closed all winter and well into spring
  • The only route to Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point and the Tioga Pass east entrance toward Lee Vining / Hwy 395
  • No services for long stretches; fuel and food are scarce up high — fill up before you climb, and there is no gas station inside the park in the Valley
  • Tioga Pass, 9,943 ft: the east gate. Snow can close the road temporarily in any shoulder month — check NPS before you drive it
Opened 15 May 2026Closed all winterCheck NPS day-of

Glacier Point Road — the overlook road

A paved dead-end road climbing from the Wawona Road to Glacier Point (~7,214 ft), the cliff-edge overlook staring straight across at Half Dome and down into the Valley. It also serves the Bridalveil Creek campground and the Sentinel Dome / Taft Point / Panorama trailheads (§04).

Seasonal: opened 9 May 2026 (per NPS) and closes for winter with the snow. When it's shut, Glacier Point is a strenuous hike or a cross-country ski, not a drive. Confirm status before planning a sunset there.

Opened 9 May 2026Closed in winter
A sweeping viewpoint of bare glacier-polished granite domes and slabs with scattered wind-bent pines, a distant rounded dome and canyon beyond under clear high light, Olmsted Point Tioga Road Yosemite California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region

Hetch Hetchy Road & the entrances

The Hetch Hetchy Road (off Hwy 120 near the Big Oak Flat entrance) is open daylight hours only — sunrise to sunset — and can require chains or close in winter (§05).

The park's four entrances: Big Oak Flat (Hwy 120 W, via Groveland), Arch Rock (Hwy 140, via Mariposa/El Portal — the lowest, least snow-prone approach), the South Entrance (Hwy 41, past the Mariposa Grove), and the seasonal Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 E, via Lee Vining) — open only when the Tioga Road is.

Winter driving: chains can be required on any park road November–April; carry them and check conditions.

4 entrancesHwy 140 = lowest, gentlestChains Nov–Apr

The Valley loop & the free shuttle — the year-round core

Yosemite Valley stays open all year, on a one-way loop road, with a free shuttle bus serving the east Valley trailheads, campgrounds and Yosemite Village. In summer the smart play is to park once — at your campground or a day-use lot early — and ride the shuttle rather than fight the loop for parking all day.

Wawona Road (Hwy 41) connects the Valley to Tunnel View, the Glacier Point Road, Wawona and the South Entrance and stays open year-round (chains permitting), making it the reliable spine when the Tioga Road is shut.

Valley open year-roundFree Valley shuttle
04 / THE HIKES

The roster, from Valley icons to the high country

Yosemite publishes trail distances more consistently than a mixed-use forest does, but numbers still vary by trailhead sign, junction and source — so treat the figures below as planning estimates to confirm at the trailhead, and budget generously for altitude and heat in the Valley. Times are fit-hiker estimates, not official figures. All mileages are round trip unless noted, and several of the best hikes are gated by whether the Tioga or Glacier Point roads are open.

A wide green subalpine meadow braided by a slow clear river, surrounded by pale granite domes and distant peaks under a big sky, scattered pines, Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
Tuolumne Meadows, ~8,600 ft, up the Tioga Road. The hub of the high country and the trailhead cluster for Cathedral Lakes, Lembert Dome and the high passes. A different Yosemite entirely from the Valley — cooler, quieter, and only reachable once the Tioga Road melts out (§03).

Yosemite Valley — the icons

All from the Valley floor (~4,000 ft), reachable year-round. In summer, ride the free shuttle to the trailheads rather than hunting for parking.

The waterfall stairway — spring & early summerMist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Fall

~3 mi RT to the top of Vernal Fall, ~7 mi RT to Nevada Fall, with steep granite steps that run with spray at peak flow. Strenuous, iconic, and best May–June when the falls thunder. The stone steps are slick and crowded; many people turn at the footbridge (~1.6 mi RT).

People have died going into the Merced above the falls. Stay behind railings, keep off wet rock near the lip, and never swim above a waterfall. Distances are NPS-cited estimates — confirm at the trailhead.

~3–7 mi RTStrenuous · slick stepsBest May–June
~3 mi (Vernal) / ~7 mi (Nevada)
2–6 h (estimate)

The permit-only summitHalf Dome via the cables

~14–16 mi RT · ~4,800 ft of gain from the Valley, ending on the steel cables up the final dome. A very long, strenuous day — a permit is required (§02), roughly 300 day hikers/day, and the cables are only up part of the year.

Do not go up the cables in the wet or with storms building — the polished granite is deadly when slick, and people have died here. Start before dawn, carry gloves and plenty of water, and turn around for weather. Distance/gain are consensus estimates.

~14–16 mi RT · ~4,800 ftPermit required · cablesCables ~late May–mid Oct
~14–16 mi RT · ~4,800 ft
10–14 h (estimate)

The Valley's classic climbUpper Yosemite Fall

~7.2 mi RT · ~2,700 ft of gain to the top of North America's tallest waterfall, on a relentless switchbacking trail. Strenuous, fully exposed to sun on the climb — a hot, dry slog by mid-day. Start early with real water.

The rim near the fall is exposed and the rock is slick with spray in spring; stay on the trail and behind railings. Figures are NPS-cited estimates.

~7.2 mi RT · ~2,700 ftStrenuous · hot & exposed
~7.2 mi RT · ~2,700 ft
6–8 h (estimate)

The high country — Tioga Road (once it's open)

All reached up the Tioga Road (§03). Trailheads sit at 8,000–9,000+ ft — pace for altitude, and watch the afternoon sky.

A clear blue alpine lake ringed by pale granite slabs and domes with scattered pines and a sandy shore in the foreground under a bright sky, Tenaya Lake Tioga Road Yosemite California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
Tenaya Lake, ~8,150 ft, right on the Tioga Road. A glacier-carved lake ringed by granite, with a sandy east-end beach — one of the easiest high-country stops, no hike required. The Tenaya Lake loop and the granite slabs above it are a relaxed half-day when the road is open (§03).

The signature high-country lake hikeCathedral Lakes

~7 mi RT to Lower Cathedral Lake · ~1,000 ft of gain from Tuolumne Meadows, on the John Muir Trail to a granite-rimmed lake under the spire of Cathedral Peak. Moderate but at altitude (trailhead ~8,600 ft). One of the great half-days in the park.

A popular quota trailhead for overnights (day hiking needs no permit). Fully exposed up high — start early and be watching the sky by noon. Distances are consensus estimates.

~7 mi RT · ~1,000 ftModerate · altitudeTioga Road must be open
~7 mi RT · ~1,000 ft
4–6 h (estimate)

The big-view scrambleLembert Dome

~2.8 mi RT · ~900 ft of gain to the top of a granite dome above Tuolumne Meadows, with a huge panorama of the Cathedral Range. Moderate, with a walk-up granite-slab finish — no cables, but real exposure near the top.

The slabs are slick when wet and the drop-offs are serious; keep back from edges and don't go up in a storm. Figures are consensus estimates.

~2.8 mi RT · ~900 ftModerate · slab scramble
~2.8 mi RT · ~900 ft
2–3 h (estimate)

Glacier Point Road — short, high, huge views

The easiest big view in the parkSentinel Dome & Taft Point

Each ~2.2 mi RT, modest gain from the Glacier Point Road (they share a trailhead). Sentinel Dome is a gentle walk-up to a 360° granite summit; Taft Point ends at a railing-free cliff edge and the "Fissures." Easy-to-moderate, and open only when the road is (§03).

Taft Point has unfenced cliff edges with a lethal drop — hold children, stay well back, and don't clown for photos. Distances are NPS-cited estimates.

~2.2 mi RT each · easy–moderateTaft Point: unfenced cliff
~2.2 mi RT each · modest gain
1.5–2.5 h (estimate)
HikeAccessRound trip*Gain*Permit / gate
Vernal Fall footbridgeValley (Happy Isles)~1.6 mi~400 ftNone
Vernal & Nevada Fall (Mist Trail)Valley (Happy Isles)~3–7 mi~1,000–2,000 ftNone
Upper Yosemite FallValley (Camp 4)~7.2 mi~2,700 ftNone
Half Dome (cables)Valley (Happy Isles)~14–16 mi~4,800 ftPermit (lottery)
Cathedral LakesTuolumne Meadows~7 mi~1,000 ftNone (overnight = permit)
Lembert DomeTuolumne Meadows~2.8 mi~900 ftNone (Tioga Rd open)
Sentinel Dome / Taft PointGlacier Point Rd~2.2 mi eachmodestNone (road open)
Wapama FallsHetch Hetchy~5 mi~500 ftNone (overnight = permit)

*Distances and gains are consensus estimates from NPS pages and trail guides and vary by source and trailhead sign. Confirm at the trailhead. Half Dome and the high-country / Glacier Point hikes are gated by permits and by whether the seasonal roads are open. Times in the entries above are fit-hiker estimates, not official figures.

05 / THE MARIPOSA GROVE & HETCH HETCHY — THE PARK'S OTHER TWO WORLDS

The giant sequoias, and the reservoir most visitors never see

Two corners of Yosemite sit apart from the Valley-and-Tioga axis and reward the detour: the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias at the south end, home to the park's biggest living things, and Hetch Hetchy at the northwest edge — a glacial valley the size of Yosemite Valley, drowned under a reservoir a century ago, and now the park's quietest, lowest-permit backcountry gateway. Both have access quirks that catch people out. Here's the straight version.

Towering reddish-brown giant sequoia trunks rising far out of frame in a sun-dappled forest, a boardwalk trail and small human figures dwarfed at the base, Mariposa Grove Yosemite California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
The Mariposa Grove, ~5,600 ft, near the South Entrance. Roughly 500 mature giant sequoias including the Grizzly Giant and the walk-through California Tunnel Tree. In peak season the grove road closes to cars and a free shuttle runs from the Welcome Plaza; in winter the road is closed and you walk or ski in (§03).

The Mariposa Grove, plainly

The grove sits just inside the South Entrance (Hwy 41). In peak season private vehicles cannot drive to the grove — you park at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and ride a free shuttle, then walk. Easy loops reach the Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree (~2 mi RT); longer trails climb into the upper grove.

Shuttle operation is seasonal and the grove road closes in winter (walk/ski/snowshoe in). Confirm current shuttle status and any accessibility-vehicle rules on nps.gov before you go.

Hetch Hetchy — the quiet gateway

A separate entrance off Hwy 120 near Big Oak Flat leads to the O'Shaughnessy Dam and the 8-mile reservoir that supplies San Francisco's water. The road is open daylight hours only (sunrise–sunset), and the classic day hike crosses the dam to Wapama Falls (~5 mi RT, ~500 ft), thunderous in spring.

Wapama's footbridges can be dangerous or impassable at peak flow — people have been swept off. Overnights beyond Wapama need a wilderness permit; the Hetch Hetchy Entrance is an easy place to pick one up. Confirm daylight-hours gate times and Nov–Mar chain/closure rules.

A long curving concrete dam holding back a deep blue reservoir in a granite gorge, a tall thin waterfall dropping down the far wall and forested slopes around, O'Shaughnessy Dam Hetch Hetchy Yosemite California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
O'Shaughnessy Dam and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, ~3,800 ft. The 430-foot dam floods a valley John Muir compared to Yosemite Valley itself. It is the park's lowest, warmest and least-crowded backcountry gateway — and its access road runs daylight hours only, so time your visit and don't get gated in after dark.
🔴 The access quirks that catch people out here Hetch Hetchy Road closes at sunset — arrive with time to hike out and drive back before the gate. Wapama Falls footbridges can be impassable or lethal at peak snowmelt; if water is over the bridges, turn around. The Mariposa Grove road closes in winter and the shuttle only runs in season — check status, because "drive to the sequoias" isn't always an option. And both areas are lower and hotter than the high country in summer: carry water, and remember Hetch Hetchy has almost no shade on the Wapama trail.
06 / SAFETY — READ THIS FIRST

Water, heights, bears, altitude and heat

Most of what goes wrong in Yosemite is not exotic — it is water, heights, and complacency around famous scenery. Fast, cold rivers above waterfalls kill people almost every year. Unfenced granite edges kill more. Then come the practical hazards: black bears that are expert food thieves, altitude in the high country, and real heat and sun in the Valley and at Hetch Hetchy. None of it is a reason to stay home; all of it needs planning.

Water & waterfalls — the deadliest hazard

The single most common way people die here is going into cold, fast water above a waterfall and being swept over. The Merced in spring is snowmelt-cold and far stronger than it looks.

Stay behind railings, off wet rock near any lip, and never swim or wade above a fall. The Mist Trail steps and the Vernal/Nevada Fall rim are the highest-risk spots. This is the rule that saves lives here.

Never enter water above a fallRivers peak in spring

Heights & unfenced edges

  • Taft Point, Glacier Point, the domes and the Half Dome cables all have lethal, often unfenced drops
  • Keep well back from cliff edges, hold children's hands, and don't climb barriers or pose on the lip
  • Never go up the Half Dome cables in the wet or with storms building — polished granite is deadly when slick
  • Granite slabs (Lembert Dome, Sentinel Dome, Tenaya) are slippery when wet or sandy — respect the exposure

This is general safety guidance, not a substitute for posted signs and ranger advice on the day.

🔴 Bears & food storage — required, and enforced Yosemite is black-bear country (no grizzlies), and its bears are famous car-breakers and campsite raiders. Food storage is required by law: use the metal food-storage lockers at campgrounds and trailheads, and never leave food, coolers, scented items or trash in your vehicle — bears will break in for a cooler or even a wrapper. In the backcountry, an approved hard-sided bear canister is required for overnights. Store everything with a smell (food, toiletries, sunscreen); a bear that gets human food often ends up dead. Report bear activity to rangers.

If a black bear approaches: stand tall, make noise, and act aggressively to scare it off — never run, and never approach a bear or a cub for a photo. Give any bear a wide berth.

A very tall multi-tier waterfall pouring down a dark granite cliff into a misty pool with pines below and a granite valley wall, spring snowmelt flow, Yosemite Falls California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
Yosemite Falls, ~2,425 ft top to bottom, in spring flow. The tallest waterfall in North America roars with the May–June snowmelt and can slow to a trickle or vanish by late summer. Its beauty is also its hazard: the wet rock, cold pools and slick rim near the falls are where people get into trouble (§04).

Altitude in the high country

Tuolumne Meadows sits at ~8,600 ft, Tioga Pass at 9,943, and many trailheads run 8,000–10,000 ft. Acute mountain sickness can start around 8,000 ft regardless of fitness. If you've come from sea level, don't make your first day a big high-country climb — sleep a night lower, hydrate, and pace yourself. Afternoon thunderstorms build over the high country most summer days; be off exposed domes and passes by early afternoon.

Heat, sun & smoke

The Valley, Hetch Hetchy and the foothills get genuinely hot and dry in summer, and the classic Valley climbs (Upper Yosemite Fall, the Mist Trail switchbacks) are sun-blasted. Carry more water than you think, start early, and don't underestimate a "short" exposed climb. Wildfire smoke can settle into the Valley for days in late summer — check air-quality and fire alerts, and have a flexible plan. Confirm current fire and air-quality status before and during your trip.

Dogs, and wildlife distance Yosemite is a national park: dogs are allowed only on paved roads, in developed areas and on a few paved paths, leashed — not on trails or in the wilderness. Don't plan a hiking trip around a dog here. For wildlife, keep well back from everything, never feed or approach, and store food obsessively — the mule deer, coyotes and bears are all habituated near developed areas. Confirm current pet rules and any wildlife closures on nps.gov before you rely on them.
07 / THE CAMPING STRATEGY

Book the Valley months out, or work the corridors

Camping is the single best way to beat Yosemite's entry-and-parking crush — but the good campgrounds are as competitive as the park is famous. Thirteen frontcountry campgrounds run from the Valley floor up the Tioga Road, plus first-come Inyo National Forest grounds on the Tioga east side. The reservable ones release on Recreation.gov five months out, on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific, and Valley summer dates vanish in minutes. Book the Pines the instant the window opens, or aim at the easier corridors below.

A tent and a camp table set among tall pines and granite boulders with dappled evening light and a granite cliff rising beyond the trees, Yosemite campground California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
The camping strategy is corridor-by-corridor. A Valley site puts you inside the gate for the icons; a Wawona or Crane Flat site is an easier book near the south and west; the Tioga Road and Inyo east-side grounds put you in the high country — but only open once the road does. None are big-rig resorts; read the length and season limits before you tow.
CampgroundCorridor · elevSites*2026 season*BookingReported fee*
Upper Pines Valley · ~4,000 ft ~238 year-round Reservation $36
Lower Pines Valley · ~4,000 ft ~60 ~spring–fall Reservation $36
North Pines Valley · ~4,000 ft ~81 ~spring–fall Reservation $36
Camp 4 (walk-in, climbers') Valley · ~4,000 ft ~35 (shared) year-round Reservation (peak lottery) $10/person
Wawona South / Hwy 41 · ~4,000 ft ~99 year-round Reservation (summer); FCFS winter $36
Bridalveil Creek Glacier Point Rd · ~7,200 ft ~110 summer (road-season) Reservation ~$30 (confirm)
Hodgdon Meadow Big Oak Flat / Hwy 120 · ~4,900 ft ~105 year-round Reservation (summer); FCFS winter $36
Crane Flat Hwy 120 / Tioga jct · ~6,200 ft ~166 summer Reservation $36
White Wolf Tioga Road · ~8,000 ft ~56 summer (road-season) Reservation ~$24 (confirm)
Tuolumne Meadows Tioga Road · ~8,600 ft ~304 (post-rehab; confirm) summer (road-season) Reservation (2-mo + rolling) $36
Tioga Lake (Inyo NF) Tioga east side · ~9,700 ft ~13 ~Jun–Oct (pass-season) First-come confirm at site
Ellery Lake (Inyo NF) Tioga east side · ~9,500 ft ~12 ~Jun–Oct (pass-season) First-come ~$28 (+$10 extra vehicle)

*Site counts, seasons and some fees are compiled from Recreation.gov, NPS and Forest Service listings and vary by source and season. Confirmed 2026 fees: the Valley Pines, Wawona, Hodgdon Meadow, Crane Flat and Tuolumne Meadows at $36; Camp 4 at $10/person; small Tioga Road grounds around $24. Bridalveil Creek, White Wolf and the Tuolumne site count are shown as "confirm." Book by site on Recreation.gov and read the actual price, dates and RV limits. The Inyo NF grounds (Tioga Lake, Ellery Lake) are first-come and open only when Tioga Pass is.

Which corridor for which trip

  • Valley icons at sunrise: Upper / Lower / North Pines — book the instant the 5-month window opens on the 15th; these are the hardest, most valuable reservations in the park
  • Easier books near the south/west: Wawona (near the Mariposa Grove), Hodgdon Meadow and Crane Flat (near the Big Oak Flat entrance) — still book ahead, but less brutal than the Valley
  • Glacier Point Road: Bridalveil Creek, high and cool, for the Sentinel Dome / Taft Point / Glacier Point cluster (road-season only)
  • High country: Tuolumne Meadows and White Wolf up the Tioga Road, or the first-come Inyo NF grounds (Tioga/Ellery Lakes) on the east side — all open only once the road melts out

The booking mechanics that matter

Reservable Yosemite campgrounds release five months in advance, on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific, on Recreation.gov — and popular summer dates are gone within minutes. Be logged in and ready. Tuolumne Meadows uses a split system (a two-month-ahead block plus a rolling two-week window).

Food-storage lockers are mandatory at every campground — everything scented goes in the locker, not the car (§06). Generator hours, RV length limits and first-come winter rules vary by ground — read the site page. Confirm current opening dates on nps.gov; the high-country grounds' seasons track the Tioga Road.

Lockers mandatoryConfirm dates on nps.gov
Wilderness overnights — the permit-and-canister system Every overnight in the Yosemite wilderness needs an advance wilderness permit from Recreation.gov, issued on a trailhead-quota system that fills months out for popular trailheads (the John Muir Trail out of Happy Isles, Cathedral Lakes, Lyell Canyon and others). Every trip needs an approved hard-sided bear canister. Day hiking needs no wilderness permit — but Half Dome needs its own cables permit (§02). Confirm the exact trailhead quotas, dates and fees on the Recreation.gov Yosemite wilderness permit pages before you plan an overnight, and pick up the physical permit as required.
08 / TOWNS & SERVICES

Four gateways, four different resupplies

Yosemite has almost no groceries or fuel inside it — no gas station in the Valley — so your resupply plan is really a choice of which gateway you come through. Groveland guards the Big Oak Flat (west) entrance; Mariposa and El Portal sit along the Highway 140 Merced-canyon approach; Oakhurst and Fish Camp anchor the south; and Lee Vining, on Highway 395, is the east-side gateway that only matters when the Tioga Road is open. Stock up in the gateway town, because prices climb and choices thin as you near the park.

A cliff-edge overlook with a railing looking across a deep granite valley to a huge rounded granite dome and distant high peaks catching warm evening light, Glacier Point Yosemite California, ultrarealistic photograph representative of the region
Glacier Point, ~7,214 ft, staring straight at Half Dome. The park's grandest drive-to overlook — reached by the seasonal Glacier Point Road (§03). Its gateway towns supply what the park does not: fuel, groceries, gear and a bed. Plan your resupply around which entrance you use.

The west & south — Groveland, Mariposa, El Portal, Oakhurst

  • Groveland (Hwy 120 W, ~23 mi to Big Oak Flat): a historic gold-rush main street — lodging, restaurants, a market and fuel. Last real services before the west entrance
  • Mariposa (Hwy 140): the county seat and the biggest resupply on the Highway 140 approach — supermarket, fuel, gear, restaurants, and a hospital (John C. Fremont)
  • El Portal (Hwy 140, at the Arch Rock entrance): a small strip of lodging and services on the Merced right at the park boundary — the closest beds to the Valley outside the park
  • Oakhurst / Fish Camp (Hwy 41): the south-entrance gateway — Oakhurst has full supermarkets and fuel; Fish Camp is a tiny cluster by the South Entrance

Store and service specifics change; confirm hours before relying on them. There is no fuel in Yosemite Valley — fill up in a gateway town.

The east — Lee Vining & Highway 395 (Tioga-season only)

  • Lee Vining (Hwy 395 at the Tioga Pass junction): the east gateway on the shore of Mono Lake — motels, restaurants, a market and fuel. Only relevant when the Tioga Road is open (§03)
  • Fuel inside the park (east): there is a gas station up the Tioga Road at Tuolumne Meadows in season, but never rely on it — fill in Lee Vining or the western gateways
  • Mammoth Lakes, ~30 mi south on Hwy 395, is the nearest full-service town and airport (MMH) on the east side
  • Medical: no hospital in Lee Vining. Nearest are Mammoth Hospital (east) and John C. Fremont in Mariposa (west)

The east side is a long, high drive from the Valley and only connected when Tioga is open. Confirm current Lee Vining services before relying on them.

Gateway businesses worth knowing — links, not prices All of the following are real, currently-trading businesses whose own websites we resolved. Season, pricing and menus change, so we link rather than quote.

West & south — Groveland, Mariposa, El Portal

  • Iron Door Saloon & Grill (18761 Main St, Groveland) — a historic saloon and grill on the Highway 120 approach, billed by its owners as the oldest continuously operating saloon in California
  • Groveland Hotel (18767 Main St, Groveland) — a historic boutique hotel with an on-site restaurant, near the Big Oak Flat entrance
  • Hotel Charlotte (18736 Main St, Groveland) — a historic 1921 hotel on the National Register, downtown Groveland
  • Happy Burger Diner (5120 Hwy 140, Mariposa) — a large-menu diner on the Highway 140 approach, with vegetarian/vegan options
  • 1850 Restaurant + Brewing Company (5114 Hwy 140, Mariposa) — a local brewpub and burger house in downtown Mariposa
  • Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort (6979 Hwy 140, Midpines) — hostel, tent-cabins, rooms and a café on the Highway 140 approach
  • Yosemite View Lodge (El Portal, Hwy 140) — a large riverside lodge at the Arch Rock entrance, the closest beds to the Valley outside the park

East — Lee Vining (Tioga-season)

  • Whoa Nellie Deli / Tioga Gas Mart (22 Vista Point Rd, Lee Vining) — a well-known gas-station deli at the Highway 120/395 junction, a classic east-side stop when the pass is open

We list only businesses whose own public websites we could resolve. Several well-known Lee Vining spots (e.g. Nicely's, the Mono Market) we could not tie to an official site, so we left them off rather than guess. Confirm hours and seasonal opening before you drive over.

We confirmed no operator pricing — any number you see elsewhere should come from the business. Phone numbers and hours change; check the current website before you rely on it.

Getting there Yosemite is a 3–4.5 hour drive from the Bay Area (via Hwy 120 or 140) and a similar drive from the Central Valley cities. The nearest commercial airports are Fresno (FAT) and Merced (MCE) to the west and south, Mammoth (MMH) and Reno (RNO) to the east; the big hubs are San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento. Highway 140 up the Merced canyon is the lowest, gentlest, least snow-prone approach in winter. The Tioga Pass (east) approach only works when the Tioga Road is open (§03). Confirm current drive times, road status and any chain requirements with live sources before you travel.
09 / TIMING

When to go — waterfalls, high country, or quiet

Yosemite has three good answers depending on what you're chasing, and one hard constraint. The constraint is snow: the Tioga and Glacier Point roads are only open roughly late spring through the first big autumn storm, and that window defines whether the high country is even reachable. Inside and around it, the falls peak with the spring melt, the high country comes into its own in summer, and fall brings stable weather and thinner crowds.

Season by season, straight

  • Spring (Apr–Jun) — the waterfalls. Yosemite, Bridalveil, Vernal and Nevada Falls roar with snowmelt, and the Valley is green. But the Tioga and Glacier Point roads may still be closed, and the high country is snowbound. Rivers are dangerously high — stay out of the water (§06)
  • Early summer (late Jun–Jul) — everything opening. The seasonal roads are usually open by now; the falls are still flowing; the Valley is at its busiest and hottest. Book far ahead and get in early
  • Peak high country (Jul–Sep) — Tuolumne's window. Tenaya Lake, Cathedral Lakes, the Tuolumne domes and the passes are snow-free and glorious; afternoon thunderstorms build most days, so start early and get off exposed ground by early afternoon
  • Fall (Sep–Oct) — the quiet sweet spot. Thinner crowds, stable weather, cool nights. The falls may be low or dry; the Tioga Road can close early in a bad storm year. Often the best all-round time to visit
  • Winter (Nov–Mar) — a different park. The Valley stays open, snowy and calm; Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road and the Mariposa Grove road are closed; chains are often required. Great for a quiet Valley, not for the high country

Crowd & access strategy

  • Book campgrounds and permits the moment they open. Valley campsites (5 months out, the 15th at 7 a.m. PT) and the March Half Dome lottery are the two things to plan around
  • Arrive before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. to beat the entrance lines and parking crush — the single most useful habit here
  • Weekdays beat weekends everywhere, and dramatically so in summer and on fall-color weekends
  • Use the high country as a pressure valve — Tuolumne, Tenaya Lake and the Mariposa Grove carry a fraction of the Valley's crowds
  • Have a smoke plan. Late-summer wildfire smoke can settle in for days — watch air-quality and fire alerts and stay flexible
The one-paragraph answer Go in May–June for the waterfalls (accepting that the high roads may still be closed), or July–September for the high country once the Tioga Road is reliably open, or late September–October for the quiet and the most stable weather. Whichever you pick: confirm the current entry policy and the seasonal-road status before you commit, book your campsite the instant the window opens, get in before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m., store every scrap of food in a locker, and stay out of the rivers above the falls.
10 / THE SHAPE OF THE TRIP

Five days, Valley to high country

One workable shape, not the only one. It front-loads the Valley icons to early mornings, saves the high country for the middle of the trip (assuming the Tioga Road is open), and keeps a flexible day for weather or smoke. Adjust freely — but book the campsite and any Half Dome permit first, get in early every day, and confirm the seasonal roads before you count on them.

01

Day 1 — Arrive, resupply, first light in the Valley

  1. Resupply and fuel in your gateway town (Groveland, Mariposa, Oakhurst) — there's no gas in the Valley.
  2. Enter before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Park once at your campground; ride the free Valley shuttle.
  3. Easy legends: Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Lower Yosemite Fall, Cook's Meadow. No permits, huge payoff.
  4. Store every scented item in the food locker. Confirm whether an entry reservation applies to your dates.
Arrive early or lateFood in the locker
02

Day 2 — The Mist Trail (or Half Dome, if permitted)

  1. Start at dawn from Happy Isles. Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal (and Nevada) Fall — slick steps, huge water in spring.
  2. Holding a Half Dome permit? This is the day — pre-dawn start, gloves, turn around for weather; never the cables in the wet (§04).
  3. Stay behind railings and out of the river above the falls — the deadliest hazard in the park (§06).
Never enter water above a fallHalf Dome = permit only
03

Day 3 — The high country, up the Tioga Road

  1. Confirm the Tioga Road is open first (§03) — if it's not, swap in Glacier Point Road or the Mariposa Grove.
  2. Drive up to Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows; hike Cathedral Lakes or Lembert Dome.
  3. Trailheads sit at 8,000–9,000+ ft — pace for altitude and be off exposed granite by early afternoon.
  4. Full tank before you climb — services up high are scarce and unreliable.
Confirm Tioga Road statusStorms build after noon
04

Day 4 — Glacier Point & the big overlooks

  1. If the road's open, drive Glacier Point Road to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point (~2.2 mi each), then Glacier Point itself.
  2. Taft Point and Glacier Point have unfenced, lethal edges — stay well back, hold children (§06).
  3. Time Glacier Point for sunset on Half Dome — but know the drive down in the dark.
Unfenced cliff edgesSunset on Half Dome
05

Day 5 — Sequoias or the reservoir

  1. South: the Mariposa Grove — park at the Welcome Plaza, ride the shuttle, walk to the Grizzly Giant (~2 mi RT) (§05).
  2. Northwest: Hetch Hetchy — cross O'Shaughnessy Dam toward Wapama Falls (~5 mi RT); road is daylight-hours only.
  3. If Wapama's footbridges are underwater, turn around. Carry water — both areas are hot and low.
Grove shuttle is seasonalHetch Hetchy gate closes at dark
+

The backpacking variant

  1. Only with an advance Recreation.gov wilderness permit (§07) for your trailhead — Cathedral Lakes, Lyell Canyon, the JMT out of Happy Isles.
  2. Approved hard-sided bear canister required, every trip, no exceptions.
  3. Acclimatise before going high; afternoon storms and exposed passes are the norm.
  4. Mid-summer to early fall is the most reliable snow-free window up high.
Permit + bear canister requiredHigh trailheads, real altitude
11 / TRIP-READY

The departure check

Run it before you leave. Tap each item as it's done — these are the ten things specific to Yosemite that a general road-trip habit will skip. Most come back to two facts: the reservations, permits and seasonal roads decide your trip before the trail does, and the water, heights and bears here demand real discipline.

0 / 10 confirmed — the reservations set the schedule.
12 / QUICK ANSWERS

Asked at every Yosemite entrance

Do I need a reservation to enter Yosemite in 2026?
As reported for 2026, no — the Park Service did not require a day-use or peak-hours entry reservation, unlike recent pilot years. But that doesn't make it easy: expect entrance-line waits of an hour or more from ~8 a.m. to 5 p.m., June–August, and Valley lots full by mid-morning. The fix is to arrive before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m., or camp inside the park. Entry policy has changed almost every year — confirm the current rule on nps.gov/yose before you travel.
Is the Tioga Road open, and can I drive across the park?
Only in the warm months. The Tioga Road (Hwy 120) over 9,943-ft Tioga Pass is closed by snow every winter and typically opens between late May and early July — for 2026 it opened 15 May — and closes with the first big autumn storm. It's the only route to Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point and the east entrance, so its status decides whether the high country is even on your trip. When it's closed, there's no through-road across Yosemite. Check the NPS road-status page.
When does the Glacier Point Road open?
It's a seasonal road, closed all winter. For 2026 it opened on 9 May. It reaches the Glacier Point overlook, the Bridalveil Creek campground and the Sentinel Dome / Taft Point / Panorama trailheads. When it's closed, Glacier Point is a strenuous hike or a ski, not a drive. Confirm the current status on nps.gov before planning a Glacier Point sunset.
How do I get a Half Dome permit?
A permit is required for the cables and demand far exceeds the ~300 day-hiker spots a day. Three routes: the preseason lottery (apply 1–31 March, results mid-April), a daily lottery two days before your hike, or as an add-on to a wilderness permit. Application and per-person fees apply. The cables are only up part of the year (for 2026, targeted ~22 May to ~13 October). Apply through Recreation.gov and confirm current dates and fees.
Do I need a wilderness permit and bear canister to backpack?
Yes to both. Every overnight in the Yosemite wilderness needs an advance permit via Recreation.gov, on a trailhead-quota system that sells out for popular trailheads. An approved hard-sided bear canister is required for food storage on essentially all backcountry trips. Day hiking needs no wilderness permit (Half Dome excepted). Book early and pick up the physical permit as required.
Where should I camp to skip the entrance lines?
Camp inside the park — you start each day already through the gate and parked. The Valley's Upper, Lower and North Pines are the prize; Wawona, Hodgdon Meadow and Crane Flat are easier books. Reservable grounds release 5 months out, on the 15th at 7 a.m. Pacific, on Recreation.gov, and summer Valley dates go in minutes. A standard Valley site was $36 for 2026. High-country and Inyo east-side grounds open only when the Tioga Road does.
Can I bring my dog?
Barely. This is a national park — dogs are allowed only on paved roads, in developed areas and on a few paved paths, leashed, and not on trails or in the wilderness. Don't plan a hiking trip around a dog here. If you're bringing one, look at kennels or dog-friendly lodging in the gateway towns instead.
Why is everyone so intense about food storage?
Because Yosemite's black bears are expert car-breakers and campsite raiders. Storing food is required by law: use the metal lockers at campgrounds and trailheads, and never leave food, coolers, toiletries or trash in your vehicle — a bear will break a window for a cooler or a wrapper. Backcountry trips need a hard-sided bear canister. A bear that learns to get human food often ends up being killed — food discipline protects the bears as much as your car.
When's the best time to go, in one sentence?
May–June for the waterfalls (high roads may still be closed), July–September for the high country once the Tioga Road is reliably open, or late September–October for stable weather and thinner crowds. Winter gives you a quiet, snowy Valley but closes Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road and the Mariposa Grove road. All of it depends on confirming road status and the current entry policy for your dates.
13 / WHAT WE COULD NOT CONFIRM

The honest gaps, all in one place

Every guide has these; most don't print them. Yosemite's entry policy resets almost yearly, its seasonal roads open on the snowpack's schedule, and its distances and fees vary by source and season — so several numbers here are flagged in place. Everything below was compiled 22 July 2026 and should be re-checked against the linked official source before you rely on it.

Why this section exists Anyone can write a Yosemite guide that sounds certain. The hard part is knowing which numbers are real — and in a park whose entry rules reset every year, whose two best roads open on the weather's schedule, and where the deadliest hazards hide behind the most beautiful scenery, plenty of them need a same-week check. The null is the product. "Confirm whether a reservation applies before you drive in" and "never go up the Half Dome cables in the wet" are usable instructions. A confident wrong answer here costs a wasted morning at a gate — or worse, on wet granite above a fatal drop.
🔒

The printable field guide

Everything above, condensed into a print-ready PDF built for the glovebox — for a park where the entry rules reset every year, the two best roads open on the snowpack's schedule, and the deadliest hazards hide behind the most famous scenery. The 2026 entry-and-parking reality, the Tioga and Glacier Point road timing, the Half Dome cables lottery decoded, the campgrounds by corridor with 2026 fees, the hike roster at honest numbers, the wilderness-permit and bear-canister rules, the Mariposa Grove and Hetch Hetchy told straight, the gateway towns — and the honest list of what nobody could confirm — on paper that works where the bars don't.

2026 entry & parking, decoded Tioga & Glacier Point, timed Half Dome cables lottery Campgrounds by corridor, 2026 The hike roster Wilderness permits & bear canisters Sequoias & Hetch Hetchy, straight The departure check
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Trail Journal No. 047

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Every Trekkr Trail Journal is built like this one: custom logistics, honest trail beta, the camping and access detail, and the local knowledge that turns a good trip into the one your crew talks about for years — including, always, a plain list of what we could not confirm. New destinations drop all season long, from the BC corridors to the Oregon Cascades to the California Sierra.

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