- 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 Yosemite Hiking Adventure (WAITLIST ONLY)
Land Based Trip Yosemite Hiking Adventure (WAITLIST ONLY) Join us for an extraordinary week of hiking and exploration in Yosemite National Park! Our daily hikes will cover the gamut from popular, classic hikes to lesser-known gems. We’ll spend time in Yosemite Valley and venture up into the high country of Tuolumne Meadows to visit waterfalls, high peaks, stunning viewpoints and giant Sequoia trees. Your guides will provide insight into Yosemite’s geological features and rich glacial history as well as Yosemite’s wildlife, Indigenous history, and the significant contributions of Chinese American settlers to the park’s development.
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Read more about Great American Outdoors Act Success Stories
Fact Sheet Great American Outdoors Act Success Stories The Great American Outdoors Act is providing crucial funding – up to $6.65 billion over five years – to fix our national parks’ crumbling roads, decaying buildings, outdated water systems and many more repair needs. This bill, along with other funding sources, is ensuring our parks can continue to welcome millions of visitors each year and protect the natural and cultural resources that tell our nation’s history.
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Read more about Federal court sends flawed San Joaquin Valley air pollution plan back to EPA
Press Release Federal court sends flawed San Joaquin Valley air pollution plan back to EPA Appeals court found California state's plan, approved by EPA, did not contain a realistic strategy to reduce pollution
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It is a privilege to take care of them, and because they are places that deserve to be taken care of. They are OUR national parks! — Cecilia
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Read more about Call in the Wild
Magazine Article Call in the Wild Search and rescue, CPR, a hair-raising ambulance ride. All in a day’s work for a paramedic in Yosemite.
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Read more about Park Talks
Regional Events Park Talks Join our NPCA community for virtual "Park Talks" to learn about our work and ways you can get involved.
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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 Conservation and Public Health Organizations Demand Clean Air, Environmental Justice for San Joaquin Valley
Press Release Conservation and Public Health Organizations Demand Clean Air, Environmental Justice for San Joaquin Valley The state of California is failing in its duty to clean up San Joaquin Valley air, when climate action is more necessary than ever.
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Read more about Subaru of America, National Parks Conservation Association, and National Park Foundation Team Up -- Eliminate 16 Million Pounds of Waste From National Parks
Press Release Subaru of America, National Parks Conservation Association, and National Park Foundation Team Up -- Eliminate 16 Million Pounds of Waste From National Parks Last year alone, Denali, Grand Teton and Yosemite cut the amount of waste going to landfills by nearly half as part of the Don't Feed the Landfills Initiative.
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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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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 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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