Can you drink stream water in Yosemite?

To protect yourself from disease, treat any river or lake water before drinking. The most reliable way to disinfect water is to boil it for three minutes. Other options include: Use a filter rated to remove bacteria and protozoa (1 micron or smaller filter).



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Location Information: Fern Springs is a small spring near the beginning of the Yosemite valley. The water is naturally filtered underground before the water comes up at the spring. While a few people drink water at this spring, it is not recommended.

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Yosemite National Park offers a range of swimming opportunities—from rivers and lakes to our family-friendly pools, which are the only swimming places in Yosemite with lifeguards. River and lake swimming is at-your-own-risk. Life jackets are strongly recommended—especially for children.

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Of course, we got down and hands and knees and drank, and the water tasted just like carbonated water. We recommend taking a cup if you plan to drink. After you cross the bridge, the trail branches to make a loop where you can see the buildings and the springs.

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BASE jumping is prohibited. Hang gliding is allowed with a permit. Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park is prohibited.

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Water quality throughout Yosemite National Park is considered to be good and is generally above state and federal standards.

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In Yosemite's case, most precipitation falls as snow that accumulates above 6,000 feet (1,830 meters) during the winter, creating a natural water reservoir. The snowpack slowly releases meltwater through the spring and early summer, nourishing downstream regions well into the dry season.

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If you're using a reusable water bottle, you can find free water refill stations throughout Yosemite Valley. Yosemite is generally sunny year-round. Daytime temperatures can reach 100°F with a UV Index up to 11 during the summer.

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The water in Yellowstone looks pristine and clear, but don't be fooled to think that it is clean and safe to drink on it's own. Because of the park's immense wildlife populations, there are animals constantly drinking, defecating and dying in and around these waters.

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The name Yosemite is simply a corruption of the term which the southern Miwoks applied to any species of bear and particularly to the grizzly,2 and was given to the valley, as we shall see, because the white people who first came in contact with its native inhabitants called them Yosemites.

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Be aware that mountain water is extremely cold, despite hot air temperatures. Strong swimmers may quickly become too weak from hypothermia to swim. Even professional swiftwater rescuers wearing layers of insulation sometimes struggle to stay warm!

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Yosemite National Park is famous for its spectacular glacially carved landscape. Although glaciers have come and gone many times in the past, there are still two active glaciers near Yosemite's highest peaks.

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Showers are available at the Curry Village pool showerhouse for a fee. Showers are not available elsewhere in the park. Dump stations are available at Upper Pines Campground (all year), near Wawona Campground (summer only), and near Tuolumne Meadows Campground (summer only).

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The water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is disinfected with chloramine (chlorine and ammonia) and UV light. San Francisco also gets water from other reservoirs and sometimes moves water from Hetch Hetchy to other reservoirs. This water is filtered - on average about 30% of the total supply.

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No matter which season you are planning to visit Yosemite, layers will be important. During the spring, summer, or fall, we recommend wearing a base of shorts and a tank top or t-shirt then layering from there. Cargo pants that have removable sections are great.

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The Yosemite Museum has a small geological collection that represents the overarching geology of the park. Ranger-naturalists from the Yosemite Field School collected many of the park's specimens during the first half of the 20th century. (Collecting rocks within national parks is illegal without a research permit.)

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