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Is Yosemite water cold?

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 Lake Yosemite Lake's current water temperature is 69°F Todays forecast is, MostlyCloudy With a high around 92°F and the low around 52°F.

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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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Viruses aren't common in Yosemite's waters, but we recommend that you treat water to kill them.

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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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Even if you don't plan on hiking across any streams or rivers, waterproof hiking shoes are a great comfort in Yosemite. As we have mentioned, springtime signals the melting of snow and this causes many trails in Yosemite to have patches of water and ice.

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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 risk for mosquito activity is extremely high. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when spending time outdoors to prevent bites.

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Are there alcohol or marijuana restrictions? Alcoholic beverages are not provided, however some adults bring beer or wine to share with the group in the evenings. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted for those under 21 years of age.

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Here are some quick tips to help you be safe while hiking in Yosemite: Carry a headlamp on every hike, even short day hikes. Carry and drink plenty of water (a minimum of 1 quart every 2 hours)

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Elevation plays a major role in temperature and precipitation variability. Since Yosemite varies in elevation from 2,000 feet to over 13,000 feet, the lower foothills of the park can be experiencing the rebirth of spring while the higher elevations remain in the grip of winter.

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Daytime temperatures in Yosemite Valley sometimes reach 100°F during summer, while nights are cool. Temperatures in Tuolumne Meadows (8,600 feet) in mid-summer are usually in the 70s in the daytime and in the 30s at night.

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The average high temperatures in Yosemite Valley are around 50°F (10°C); the average lows are around 30°F (-1°C).

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Cellular Phone Service Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows have good signals. The best signal is in the Yosemite Village area near the Visitor Center. Signals also tend to be dependable in Crane Flat and right outside the park in El Portal.

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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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Camping Outside of Campgrounds and Sleeping in Vehicles Sleeping in vehicles is not permitted anywhere else in Yosemite.

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American black bears found in Yosemite National Park have long been of intense interest to park visitors and managers. Seeing one of the approximately 300 to 500 black bears in Yosemite can evoke excitement, awe, and fear. If visitors spot a bear while in the park, it is a black bear-not a brown or grizzly bear.

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The restroom at the Yosemite Valley Stables is accessible, the Wawona Stable has an accessible portable toilet, but the restroom at the Tuolumne Meadows Stable is not accessible.

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Cars, Trucks, and RVs You may store food inside your car or truck (out of sight, with windows completely closed) only during daylight hours. You may not leave food in a pickup truck bed or strapped to the outside of a vehicle at any time.

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