Coarsegold Creek Cottage

The park is expecting a very busy summer season. Below are some tips to enjoy the park during the busy summer season. Plan trips during the mid-week - Yosemite Valley is most popular on weekends and holidays, which can mean significant traffic congestion, especially on Saturdays. To avoid crowds, consider planning a trip to Yosemite Monday through Thursday. Arrive before 9:00 a.m. Most vehicle congestion occurs between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. If you can’t arrive early, consider... spending time in our local gateway communities and plan to arrive in Yosemite after 5 pm. Take YARTS - YARTS is the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (www.yarts.com). YARTS picks up passengers at multiple locations along Highway 140 (from Merced) and along Highway 120 (from Sonora and Mammoth Lakes), and along Highway 41 (beginning in Fresno). YARTS buses provide multiple drop-off locations throughout the park and in Yosemite Valley. Once visitors are in Yosemite Valley, they can navigate to many of Yosemite’s most famous sites and destinations using the free visitor shuttle, bike paths, or walking paths throughout the valley. Explore lesser known areas of Yosemite - Yosemite National Park is a big park with a lot to offer. Consider visiting lesser-known areas of the park outside of Yosemite Valley. Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne Meadows, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and Wawona provide many wonderful opportunities for recreation. Other general tips on visiting Yosemite include: Hiking is a great way to explore the wonders of Yosemite National Park. Day hikers and backpackers should be aware that spring weather can be unpredictable and change without warning. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and bring the necessary gear to have a safe and enjoyable trip. Backpacking is a great way to experience the Yosemite wilderness. Overnight use permits are available through the Yosemite National Park Wilderness Center. For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm. A high winter snow pack has contributed to cold and swift-moving water in all of the rivers, lakes, and streams inside Yosemite and in the surrounding areas. Visitors are reminded to take special precautions around water, especially around stream-crossings. Even the best swimmers can find themselves in a difficult situation under the current water conditions. It is always a good idea to stay at least one body length away from the water’s edge. When driving in the park, motorists are urged to follow the speed limits and slow down, as bears and other animals are active and may be present on the roadway. Motorists are reminded to pay close attention for wildlife crossing roadways around dawn and dusk. For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200, press 1 and press 1 again.

Spring is a busy time to visit Yosemite National Park. Visitors are encouraged to plan their trips in advance and arrive to the park before 9:00 am or after 4:00 pm. Parking areas throughout the park are expected to fill early in the day. Visitor parking will be available at the Yosemite Village Day Parking Area and at the Yosemite Falls Day Parking Area. Visitors are encouraged to park and utilize the free park shuttle to get to the Yosemite Valley Village and Visitor Center. Visitors coming to Yosemite from Friday through Sunday will experience periods of heavy visitation. Visitors should be prepared to wait in long lines at the park entrance stations. All park visitors are encouraged to pack your patience.

Glacier Point Road will open to vehicles at 9 am on Friday, May 10. Be aware that hikers may still encounter winter hiking conditions and should prepare themselves accordingly for conditions they might encounter.

Oakhurst Farmers Market at True Value on Hwy 49 starts this Thursday May 2nd!Oakhurst Farmers Market at True Value on Hwy 49 starts this Thursday May 2nd!

New season and our first guest book sign in for the season!

Love our guest book entries! Happy New Year's!

More happy guests!

Love our guest book entries!

Another happy guest at the Coarsegold Creek Cottage!

Jun 15 at 8:58 AM MARIPOSA GROVE OF GIANT SEQUOIAS OPENS TODAY AT 9 AM I have attached some FAQ’s re Mariposa Grove as well as a little hiking map I adapted from the one on the nps.gov/yose site. We were up there for a sneak preview on Wednesday, and the Grove is incredibly beautiful, but you and guests should be aware there can be some challenges. (And we’ll know more about what those challenges are after a week!)... Did you know? You can check traffic by using Google Maps. Here’s the link I use for checking the line at the South Entrance: https://www.google.com//@37.4954554,-119.635/data=!5m1!1e1 Use the pull-down menu at the left to activate traffic 1. Hiking trails have been rerouted, and I found the route up to the Grizzly Giant to be more difficult than I remembered. Some of us who are hikers were able to do it with no problems, but some of our volunteers turned back. 2. No water will be sold in Mariposa Grove. You can buy a refillable bottle at the Welcome Plaza and fill it yourself at either the Welcome Plaza or at the Arrivals Station. OR BETTER YET, COME BUY A REFILLABLE BOTTLE FROM VYMC! 3. Be sure to take plenty of water, take a hat, wear sunscreen. Hiking poles might be helpful if you’re doing one of the longer hikes. 4. You might consider suggesting that visitors enter Mariposa Grove after 5 pm less traffic, parking spaces at Welcome Plaza may be available; it may be cooler. 5. For those with accessibility issues, there is a lovely area just off the Arrivals Plaza that is flat and walkable. It is a short loop and absolutely beautiful, with Western Azaleas currently in bloom. 6. There are 7 parking spaces for those with handicap placards up near the Grizzly Giant and a short walking trail (wheelchair accessible) to the Griz and the California Tunnel Tree. www.yosemitethisyear.com Did you know that every 4th grader in the United States is eligible for a FREE National Park Pass? Go to www.EveryKidInAPark.gov for more information. MADdOG PHOTOGRAPHY on

The annual Bass Lake Fishing Derby is great for people of all ages! There is over $57,000 worth of prize fish!