- State: CA
- NPCA Region: Pacific
- Est. Date: 1890
Air Quality Conditions
View the Polluted Parks ReportVisibility
Unsatisfactory
Health
Significant Concern
Nature
Significant Concern
Climate Change Threats
With its sculpted granite rock formations, towering ancient sequoia trees and spectacular waterfalls, it's no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world.
Seeing the park’s world-famous sights is a transformative experience, from the jaw-dropping El Capitan and Half Dome rising from the valley floor to the plummeting Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls to the enormous trees of Mariposa Grove.
The park also features meadows and streams, forests with diverse tree species, historic buildings, and vast wilderness. Visitors can explore Yosemite Valley by shuttle to see many of the major attractions and hike the park’s famed landscape.
Beyond the valley, visitors can also hike the Hetch Hetchy area to see the High Sierra with its mountain lakes, granite cliff faces and waterfalls.
A First for Public Land
When Abraham Lincoln signed legislation in 1864 establishing a public trust to preserve parts of Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove, it was the first time the U.S. government had ever set aside land for the benefit of the public, although it was not the country's first national park. The land was originally managed by the state of California and did not become a national park until 1890, 18 years after Yellowstone was established.
Greetings from Yosemite National Park
This was my parents' first visit to a National Park in USA! We went to Yosemite National Park in the month of April 2017 from Santa Clara, CA. We rented a cabin to stay for a night! Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks I have…
More about Yosemite
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Read more about California's National Parks: Struggling for Clean Air
NPCA at Work California's National Parks: Struggling for Clean Air It might come as a surprise that California’s crown jewel national parks — Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree and Yosemite — struggle with some of the dirtiest air of any parks in the nation.
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Read more about Working to Significantly Reduce Waste at National Parks
Resource Working to Significantly Reduce Waste at National Parks We're working to keep our parks cleaner for all of us and you can help!
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Read more about Don't Feed the Landfills
Infographic Don't Feed the Landfills Waste in national parks is an ongoing challenge where on average, nearly 70 million pounds is collected annually. Working with our many partners, we set out to address this mounting issue starting at Denali, Grand Teton and Yosemite National Parks.
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Read more about Subaru of America, NPCA Take Home Silver Halo Award for Best Sustainability Initiative
Press Release Subaru of America, NPCA Take Home Silver Halo Award for Best Sustainability Initiative Partnership recognized for ongoing commitment to reduce landfill waste from America’s National Parks
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They are part of our heritage and must be protected. — John
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Read more about Say Bees!
Magazine Article Say Bees! Sam Droege’s stunning photos of national park insects are the bee’s knees. (And all the other parts, too.)
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Read more about Love Is in the Parks
Blog Post Love Is in the Parks 5 NPCA staff members share their national park love stories.
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Read more about Lawsuit Challenges Trump Plan to Frack, Drill 1 Million Acres of California Public Lands, Minerals
Press Release Lawsuit Challenges Trump Plan to Frack, Drill 1 Million Acres of California Public Lands, Minerals NPCA is fighting a fracking plan that could allow drilling near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which already suffer from some of the worst air quality in the country.
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Read more about 8 Easy Adventures for Hikers of All Fitness Levels
Blog Post 8 Easy Adventures for Hikers of All Fitness Levels New independent film features a series of low-effort, high-reward hikes for finding joy in the outdoors.
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Read more about Fracking Yosemite: Administration Unveils Plan for More than 1.6 Million Acres, Including Near National Parks
Press Release Fracking Yosemite: Administration Unveils Plan for More than 1.6 Million Acres, Including Near National Parks Proposal considers new oil and gas development on lands including those near Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks and Cesar E. Chavez National Monument.
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Read more about Where to See Waterfalls This Season
Blog Post Where to See Waterfalls This Season Early spring is one of the best times of the year to see waterfalls, and these 10 picture-perfect parks are great bets for a natural rush.
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Read more about Clean Air Victory for San Joaquin Valley, Yosemite and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks
Press Release Clean Air Victory for San Joaquin Valley, Yosemite and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks Court order represents a major victory for clean air in the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding national parks including Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
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Read more about The Man Who Tackled El Capitan with His Bare Hands
Blog Post The Man Who Tackled El Capitan with His Bare Hands World-renowned athlete Alex Honnold, star of the new National Geographic film "Free Solo," talks with NPCA about his historic rope-free climb, his passion for Yosemite, his leave-no-trace ethic and his connection with the natural world.
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Read more about Telling Our Stories: Assemblymember Bigelow Presents Resolution Recognizing the Contributions of Chinese Americans to Yosemite National Park
Press Release Telling Our Stories: Assemblymember Bigelow Presents Resolution Recognizing the Contributions of Chinese Americans to Yosemite National Park California Assemblymember Frank Bigelow presented today the State Resolution ACR 262, recognizing the contributions of Chinese Americans to Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada.
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Read more about What Moves Us
Video What Moves Us Why are we drawn to our national parks? What inspires us to explore them—and to return to our favorites again and again? This video reminds us all why we yearn for the paths through our most cherished places... and can't help but to put one foot in front of the other.
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Read more about Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks
Report Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks “Polluted Parks” graded the pollution-related damage in the 48 national parks required by the Clean Air Act to have the highest possible air quality.
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