Yosemite & Gold Country
Best Western Sonora Oaks Hotel and Conference Center
19551 Hess Ave.
Sonora, CA 95370
Phone: 209-533-4400
Toll Free: 800 532-1944
Fax: 209 532-1964
Inns of California Sonora
350 S. Washington Blvd.
Sonora, CA 95370
Toll Free: 866-856-4556
Fax: 209-532-9000
Yosemite National Park includes 1,200 square miles of the central Sierra Nevada. Park elevation ranges between 2,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level.
Must-see attractions include:
- Alpine wilderness
- Three groves of giant sequoia trees
- Glacially-carved Yosemite Valley
- Waterfalls, cliffs and unique rock formations
Park visitation is year-round, but summer months see the most visitors, with the fewest in winter. Many visitors actually prefer the scenery and quiet of the off-season. The park is open 24 hours a day.
The entrance fee for Yosemite is $20 per vehicle and is good for seven days.
Facilities include 169 miles of paved roads and 840 miles of park trails. There are 9 miles of paved bike paths in Yosemite Valley. Many of the park's most beautiful sites can be viewed by automobile, and some trails and facilities are also wheelchair accessible.
Programs & activities include scheduled ranger-led walks, talks and evening programs. Concession-operated bus tours, guided horseback rides and bicycle rentals are also available.
Stream and river fishing begins on the last Saturday in April and continues through November 15. The only exception is Frog Creek near Lake Eleanor, where fishing season does not open until June 15 to protect spawning rainbow trout. All lakes and reservoirs are open to fishing year-round. The area is rich with many species of trout, as well as other fish. Fishing regulations for Yosemite generally follow those set by the State of California. Fishers 16 or older must have a valid California fishing license.
Advisements
- Please be aware that there are bears in the area. If you would like more information about them, visit the Yosemite website.
- Because of congestion and overcrowding, automobile access may occasionally be temporarily restricted into the park. Busy holiday weekends such as Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day are often times when restricted access may apply. If necessary, they are usually in effect for only an hour or two from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
Gold Country is a beautiful and historic part of California, offering great opportunities to enjoy gold panning, fishing, hiking, water sports and snow skiing, as well as exploring historic Gold Rush communities.
Nearby state parks include Bodie, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Columbia Historic State Park, and Mono Lake.
Whitewater rafting in the area is an adventure, with the Merced, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers all offering fantastic rafting opportunities from late spring through the summer. Because this is a fun, but challenging and potentially dangerous activity, we strongly recommend that you use a licensed rafting outfitter that can provide the equipment and expertise.
Yosemite National Park
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Phone: (209) 372-0200, (209) 372-0265