What should I be careful of in Yosemite?

Stay away from river and creek banks during high water conditions and avoid rock hopping. Stream polished rocks along the water's edge may be slippery when wet or dry. If you choose to cross a stream without a bridge, avoid deep and/or swift water.



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16 Big mistakes to avoid in Yosemite National Park
  • 1 - Arriving without a plan! ...
  • 2 - Giving yourself just a day. ...
  • 3 - Thinking the waterfalls are flowing all year round. ...
  • 4 - Heading to Glacier Point for Sunset. ...
  • 5 - Visiting Tunnel View in the middle of the day. ...
  • 6 - Avoiding the epic hikes. ...
  • 7 - Arriving at midday.


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Here are some quick tips to help you be safe while hiking in Yosemite:
  1. Carry a headlamp on every hike, even short day hikes.
  2. Carry and drink plenty of water (a minimum of 1 quart every 2 hours)
  3. Sturdy footwear with good traction might save an ankle.


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Make sure you know before you go. In national parks where grizzlies live, such as Glacier or Grand Teton, rangers encourage you to carry bear spray. In others, such as Yosemite, where only black bears live, bear spray is not even permitted.

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Yosemite National Park, in central California, is frequently affected by landslides, of which rock slides and rock falls are the most common types.

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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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Yosemite Valley sits at 4,000 feet above sea level and is not an area of concern for altitude sickness. When hiking in Yosemite's higher elevations, such as Tuolumne and areas around the rim of the Valley, you will generally be above 8,000 feet and should be conscious of your body's condition.

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Within Yosemite National Park, you may not sleep in your car or RV except in a campsite that you're registered to stay in (except at Camp 4, where sleeping in cars is not allowed because it's a walk-in campground). Sleeping in your car along the side of the road is not allowed.

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Mountain lions—also called cougars, pumas or panthers—roam Yosemite's mountains and valleys. These important predators, native to the Americas, are a natural part of the Yosemite landscape.

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The temperature in Yosemite can change quite quickly, especially in the mornings, evenings and at higher elevations. Bring clothing that you can layer up or down such as t-shirts, shorts, long-sleeved shirts, leggings and a sweater.

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For dinner, we require gentlemen to wear long pants and a shirt with a collar, and ask women to wear a dress, skirt, or long pants with a blouse. Please refrain from wearing shorts, T-shirts, tank tops, flip-flops, and baseball caps. Children over the age of four are asked to dress for the occasion as well.

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Picnicking and Hiking Always keep your food within arm's reach and don't turn your back to your food; never leave food unattended. Bears may investigate picnic areas or backpacks for food even in your presence, so be alert.

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Once in hibernation, bears in Yosemite typically don't become active again until late March or April.

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