FAQ

General

How long does the park stay open?

The park is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

Why are bears breaking into cars in Yosemite Valley?

Black bears are opportunistic feeders. Bears will break into cars to obtain food if it is more readily available than natural food sources. The only way to solve the problem is to keep ALL sources of unnatural food away from bears! All food and odorous items must be stored in metal food storage boxes provided at all campgrounds, trailheads, and parking areas. DO NOT LEAVE FOOD IN CARS, CAR TRUNKS, OR TENT CABINS. To report trash problems, improper food storage, bear sightings and other bear-related problems, call the SAVE-A-BEAR HOTLINE at: (209) 372-0200 (press 7, then 3).

Are pets allowed in the park?

Pets are NOT permitted in any Yosemite lodging facility.

Pets must be kept on leash at all times.
Pets may not be left unattended at any time.
Pets are not allowed on trails or in the back country of Yosemite, including ski trails in winter.
Pets are permitted anywhere on the Valley Floor, Happy Isles Nature Center and Mirror Lake Parking Lot. Pets are also permitted on the Pohono Bridge and on paved paths not designated as a foot or horse trail.
Pets are NOT permitted on any slope above the valley floor.
Pets are NOT permitted in public eating places, stores or other public buildings.

Exceptions are made for seeing-eye dogs and "hearing" dogs. Inquire at the Park Visitor Centers or Ranger Stations for more information. (Service animals are allowed in lodging facilities).

A dog kennel is available through the Valley Stable near Curry Village from approximately Memorial Day through Labor Day. The nine kennels are available first come, first serve, reservations can be made by calling (209) 372-8438.

Where can I drive my car?

There are many scenic areas that can be reached by car. A number of these areas will have turn-outs and/or informational signs. Popular destinations such as Yosemite Valley, the Mariposa Grove and Tuolumne Meadows suffer from traffic congestion. Visitors are encouraged to use free shuttle bus transportation provided at these locations.

Areas restricted from vehicle traffic are:

Happy Isles Loop *
Mirror Lake Road *

Various sections of the shuttle bus route in

Yosemite Village *
Merced Grove
Tuolumne Grove
Mariposa Grove (People with permanent disabilities who possess a handicapped placard may follow a scheduled tram in their personal vehicle.)

* Excluding persons with permanent disabilities. Free parking areas exist in proximity to these areas.

In the winter, the Tioga Road (Hwy 120 East), the Glacier Point Road from Badger Pass Ski Area to Glacier Point and the Mariposa Grove Road are closed. Other park roads may close temporarily due to heavy snow, rockslides, etc. 24-hour road and weather conditions may be obtained by calling (209) 372-0200.

Why does it cost $20 per car to enter Yosemite?

Congress created the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program to allow parks to generate additional revenue to offset increasing park operating costs. In January 1997, Yosemite's per-vehicle fee was raised from $5 to $20. This is a five-year test program, which allows individual parks to retain 80% of the increase for backlogged maintenance projects, infrastructure and resource management projects.

Lodging

Are there kennel facilities in Yosemite?

Yosemite National Park has 9 kennels for our guests' use. As the accommodations are so few, and quite spartan, you are strongly urged to make alternative arrangements for your pets while you are enjoying Yosemite National Park. Please keep in mind that pets are allowed on paved paths only and must be kept on a leash at all times. Visit the National Park Service website for more info and rules about pets. As the kennels are at the stables, pets that are nervous around large and/or unknown animals may become extremely uncomfortable. Here are a few details regarding the kennels:

Kennels operate from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weather permitting.
Kennels are located near the Valley Stable, just beyond Curry Village.
Occupancy is first come, first serve, reservations can be made by calling (209) 372-8438.
"Visiting Hours" are from 8am to 5pm, daily.
Owners are responsible for exercising their pets, staff will not attend to these needs.
DNC P&R at Yosemite, Inc. reserves the right to refuse service to overly aggressive animals.
DNC P&R at Yosemite, Inc. reserves the right to refuse service to animals that disrupt guests or stock animals.
Kennels are open-air with no protection from the elements.
Pets are fed & watered once daily at approximately 4pm.
Pet food supplied is generic dog food, any other requirements must be provided by owners.
Pets will be fed & watered by DNC P&R at Yosemite, Inc.'s staff, any other special needs must be attended to by owners.
Blankets, dog beds, etc. must be supplied by owners.
Proof of current registration and written proof of immunizations (rabies, distemper, parvo, and Bordetella) must be provided by owners.
Dogs must be at least ten pounds and at least six months old.
Kennel costs for dogs is $8 per day.

Activities

I only have a few hours... how do I see the park?

Activities abound at Yosemite National Park.

Please visit the following sections of the Yosemite National Park site for a list of available activites and their durations:

Sports
Tours
Park Programs
Mountaineering School
Badger Pass

Can I parachute or parasail in Yosemite?

No. 'BASE jumping' was permitted from El Capitan on a trial basis in the 1980s. However, due to the excessive number of injuries and abuses of safety restrictions, the activity is now prohibited. Parasailing is not permitted.

Booking

A list of frequently asked questions are gathered below to assist with your stay with us. For more information, please feel free to contact us at 888-514-2167. International guests may contact us at 559-253-2005.

How can I cancel or change a hotel reservation?

Requests for cancellations may be made by calling our Central Reservation office at 888-514-2167. We must receive requests for cancellations of your reservations at least 7 days prior to your scheduled arrival date for a refund of your deposit. Guest reducing their length of stay must contact our Central Reservation office a minimum of 48 hours prior to your arrival date. Any reductions made inside the 48 hours from your arrival date will be charged for the full length of stay originally booked.

How can I make sure I get an adjacent room?

You can include this request in then ‘Reserve Notes’ section when booking on-line or you can call our Central Reservation office at 888-514-2167 and an agent will facilitate this request.

How do I make a dinner reservation?

Please call us at 888-514-2167 and select option 2.

What time can I check in?

Accommodations are available for check in at 3:00PM. Check out is at 11:00AM.

Website Use & Accessibility Statement

At Tenaya Lodge, you’ll discover a beauty that’s meant to be shared with those around you. To help our guests experience this beauty firsthand, we’re committed to remaining accessible to all of our visitors so that everyone can witness the majesty of our surroundings. And this commitment extends from our location outside of Yosemite to our web site.

To ensure that all visitors to our web site share the same user experience, we voluntarily comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 and Level 1.0 Accessibility Guidelines proposed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These requirements ensure that individuals with visual, physical or developmental disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on us.

Our commitment to social responsibility stems from the dedication of our parent company, Delaware North Companies. For more information on these efforts, please visit the global citizenship section of the Delaware North web site.

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