When you visit Yosemite determines which park you experience. The Valley runs year-round and peaks in May when the snowmelt drives Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall at their highest volume — but May also marks the start of the summer crowd buildup. July and August are the busiest months: Valley parking fills before 9am and temperatures hit the 90s on the Valley floor. A peak-season timed-entry reservation can be in effect in these months — none is required for 2026, but it has returned in past years, so confirm the current status on the NPS Yosemite page. The shoulder windows — late April through June and September through October — deliver the waterfall peaks (spring) or the clearest skies and fall color (October) without the July crush. Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road open in late May or June depending on snowpack and close by November, so the high-country window is roughly June through October. Winter (December–March) is quiet, cold, and snow-dependent — Tioga and Glacier Point close, but the Valley roads stay open, and Half Dome cables come down in November.
Season by season
Mar–Jun
Come in spring for the waterfalls at full force — Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil run hardest as the snowpack melts through May and June. The Valley is green, but the high country won't be, so plan a Valley-floor trip and reserve a campsite or lodge early.
What's open: Yosemite Valley is open year-round; Tioga Road and the high country stay snowbound until late May or June.
Reserve a Valley campsite →Jul–Sep
Summer is the only season the whole park opens up — once the snow clears, usually by July, the high country and its trails are finally reachable. It is also peak crowds and Valley heat, so base yourself up high or start at dawn, and book months out.
What's open: Tioga Road, Glacier Point, and Tuolumne Meadows are open; Valley lots and the shuttle run at capacity.
Book high-country lodging →Oct–Nov
Crowds drop sharply after Labor Day and the Valley's oaks and dogwoods turn gold through October — the quietest good-weather window of the year. The high country is on borrowed time, though, so drive Tioga Road first, before the snow closes it.
What's open: The Valley is open year-round; Tioga Road and Glacier Point close with the first heavy snow, usually by mid-November.
Check the Tioga Road status →Jan–Feb · Dec
The Valley turns quiet and snow-dusted, and for about two weeks in mid-to-late February the setting sun lights Horsetail Fall like molten lava — the Firefall. It draws crowds on February weekends, so plan that part carefully and check the current-year rules before you drive up.
What's open: The Valley is open (tire chains often required); Tioga Road and Glacier Point are closed for the season.
Check Firefall conditions and reservations →Time it for
These peak in a short window each year — time your visit to catch one.
mid-February–late February
Horsetail Fall, on the east face of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley — viewed from the El Capitan Picnic Area and the marked roadside viewing areas along Northside Drive.
When to see the Firefall →Map
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