Cycling Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Valley - El Capitan center left; Half Dome center, Bridalveil Falls right-center..

BREATHTAKING!  Enough said.  Actually, we’ll say some more.  Yosemite National Park may be THE jewel of the US National Park system, and in our opinion, is best and most efficiently seen by bike.  The criticism with cycling Yosemite is the danger that can occur with distracted tourists driving fifth Wheels/RVs.  However, we experience these dangers daily on our roadways and we feel that the freedom available to the cyclist navigating the park (stopping almost anywhere we choose, crossing to the opposite side of the road, going as slow as we like, etc.) outweigh the potential cycling hazards inherent at all tourist destinations.  

Photo - from upper left clockwise:

El Capitan; Western Entrance; Tioga Pass; Hetch Hetchy Dam; Glacier Point (middle)

Center upper photo is from Tunnel view  of El Capitan (left) and Half Dome (right).

Photo Upper left:  From Panorama Trail

Center and bottom photos are from Washburn and Glacier Points

Yosemite was the third National Park to be established (Yellowstone in 1872; Sequoia Sept. 25, 1890; Yosemite Oct. 1, 1890), but it served as the catalyst for the formation of the US National Park system.  Galen Clark (“Guardian of Yosemite”), and other explorers and naturalists lobbied President Lincoln to protect Yosemite Valley, leading to Lincoln sign the Yosemite Grant in 1864.  Later, naturalist and environmental philosopher John Muir successfully encouraged congress to establish Yosemite a national park in 1890.

Tuolumne Meadows.

Yosemite National Park is made of 748,436 acres and spans four California Sierra Nevada counties (Toulumne, Mariposa, Mono, and Madera).  On average, over 4,000,000 people visit Yosemite annually (a record 5,000,000 visited the park in 2016). The park was designated UNESCO World AHeritage Site #308 in 1984 with the following description:  

Yosemite National Park lies in the heart of California. With its 'hanging' valleys, many waterfalls, cirque lakes, polished domes, moraines and U-shaped valleys, it provides an excellent overview of all kinds of granite relief fashioned by glaciation. At 600–4,000 m, a great variety of flora and fauna can also be found here.  More

There are four entrances to Yosemite National Park:  (a) Northgate - Groveland - Highway 120 [Old Priest Grade], (b) Southgate Highway 41 - Oakhurst [seasonally closed; nearby Top 100 Beasore Road], (c) Eastgate - Lee Vining - Highway 120/395 [Tioga Pass - seasonally closed], and (d) Westgate - Highway 140 - Mariposa [Glacier Point].

CYCLING YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: TOP BIKE CLIMBS IN YOSEMITE

The distance of the 5 bike climbs in and around Yosemite NP from Yosemite Valley.

GLACIER POINT

Cycling Glacier Point

Ride 25 miles gaining 4,585’ at 2.4% average grade.

The high point of the climb is a couple miles before Washburn and Glacier Points, but we strongly recommend continuing the journey to the end, which includes riding your bike the short distance (100 yards or so) from the Glacier Point Gift Shop and Store to Glacier Point. There is no water from the Valley floor for 24 miles to the Glacier Point Store, so come prepared with plenty of water and provisions for the several hour, 24 mile journey.  There is a gift shop and store at Glacier Point.  A word of caution: At mile 1.5 we enter the 0.8 mile long Yosemite Tunnel, a serious hazard to consider if you are traveling this route by bike from Yosemite Valley.  The tunnel is 0.8 miles at about 5% grade, so you will be in a cycling danger zone for five to ten minutes.

TIOGA PASS

Cycling Tioga Pass

Ride 12 miles gaining 3,172’ at 5% average grade.

Tioga Pass is the beginning of the 75 mile journey from Highway 395 westbound into Yosemite Valley.  The eastern Park (Eastern Gateway) entrance is right at Tioga Pass at almost precisely the 12 mile mark of the climb.  The crux of the climb begins at mile four and the next five miles average 7.4%, compared to the 4.6% average for the full climb.

HETCH HETCHY DAM

Cycling Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite National Park

Ride 6 miles gaining 1,332’ to elevation 5,126’ at 4.1% average grade.

Cycling Hetch Hetchy 

Ride six miles gaining 1,330’ at 4.1% average grade.

This is a fairly mild climb in Northwestern Yosemite National Park.  The climb begins at the O'Shaughnessy Dam and ends a few miles north of the park’s only entrance that does not access Yosemite Valley -- the road dead ends at the dam.   The steepest mile is just under 5% average grade so this road bike climb is more for the beauty of the Hetch Hetchy area than it’s difficulty.

View of John on the dam with Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in the background.

OLD PRIEST GRADE 

Cycling Old Priest Grade -- one of the steepest bike climbs in Northern California.

Ride 2.5 miles to 2,480’ gaining 1,630’ at 12.4% average grade.

While technically not in Yosemite NP, Old Priest Grade is an epic bike climb only eight miles west of the Northgate entrance to the park, and is well worth doing on your way to Yosemite if you are entering from the west.

WARDS FERRY

6.2 miles gaining 1,834’ at 5.5% average grade.

The turn off to the Wards Ferry Bridge climb (Deer Flat Road) is 25 miles from the western entrance to Yosemite NP.  Wards Ferry is an isolated, tough and very unique bike climb near the Old Priest Grade climb. The centerpiece of this climb is Graffiti Bridge - I cannot tell you how surprised I was to happen upon this bridge in what seemed like the middle of nowhere - shocking, actually.  Although I do not generally respect or condone graffiti, this actually seemed more like a unique and interesting major art project (other than some vulgar paintings) and I enjoyed it so much I visited it a second time a year after my initial discovery.

If you have the time, you will not regret riding this epic bike climb.

CYCLING YOSEMITE VALLEY

The best way to experience Yosemite Valley is by bike. There are more sightseeing and visually spectacular views in the valley than anywhere else in Yosemite National Park so do give consideration to spending at least a day cycling in that location.

The sights of Yosemite Valley:

Yosemite Valley View Point

This is one of the greatest viewpoints in Yosemite and is located 3.2 miles up the Valley from the fork at the western edge of Yosemite Valley - right to Hwy 120/Manteca (take that road) or left to Hwy 140/Merced.

Merced River

We ride along the Merced River frequently while cycling the valley floor.

El Capitan

This 3,000’ monolith guards the entrance to Yosemite Valley and is an extraordinary natural wonder - a centerpiece of Yosemite NP along with Half Dome.

Bridalveil Fall

This magnificent waterfall is on your right as you ride into the valley, just past El Capitan.  Be sure to cycle Yosemite Valley in the spring because the falls flow much stronger during that time frame and much less, if at all later in the year.

Tunnel View - one of the best viewpoints in Yosemite.

The trifecta - El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall.

This great viewpoint is 1.5 miles up the valley floor on Wawona Road, on the way to Glacier Point Road.

Yosemite Falls

These falls are seen from both the north and south side of the valley as you ride east towards the eastern corner of the valley.  Yosemite Falls is listed in nearly all US Top Waterfall lists and is at its best in the spring.

Sentinel Rock

We pass under Sentinel Rock as we ride on the southern side of the valley floor towards lodging and recreation areas at the eastern edge of the Yosemite Valley.

Half Dome

Half Dome is best viewed by bike from viewpoints at the western edge of the valley (Yosemite Valley View Point on Big Oak Flat Road or Tunnel View on Wawona Road) or from Mirror Lake at the eastern edge of the valley.  Of course, Half Dome is best viewed via hiking - either from Panorama Trail accessed from Glacier Point or the eastern edge of the valley via Mist or John Muir Trails.

Mirror Lake

This is the easternmost point one can cycle to in Yosemite Valley - here you have a wonderful direct and also reflected view of the backside of Half Dome.

ROAD AND TRAFFIC

Roadway Surface and Traffic Report for Yosemite NP:  Roadways are all awesome, but traffic is terrible in the valley and a bit dicey on Highways 120 and 140 surrounding the park.  The roadways are as pristine and well maintained as you will find.  Traffic in the Yosemite Valley, particularly during peak times such as summer, is intolerable (if you are in a motor vehicle!).  There are a great deal of RVs, campers, and fifth wheels (many of them rented -- an additional hazard) and there is no question this is cause for bicycle safety concerns.   Because of these factors, it is advisable to use tail lights and bright clothing on your cycling journeys throughout the park.  

SOME GREAT YOSEMITE VALLEY HIKES

Hiking Yosemite Falls -- Strenuous hike

7.2 miles round trip gaining 2,700’

Yosemite Falls is North America’s tallest waterfall.

Not our photo, sent to us by one of our crazy friends!

Top of the Yosemite Falls.

Hike to the base of Bridalveil Falls

Easy hike -- ½ mile gaining 80’.

Hike to the top of Vernal Falls 

2.4 miles round trip via Mist Trail -- gain 1,000’.

Hike to the top of Nevada Falls

5.4 miles round trip via Mist Trail -- gain 2,000’.

Hike to the top of Half Dome from Yosemite Valley  -- very strenuous hike

Permits required, Application period is March 1 to March 31

From Happy Isles Bridge:  17 miles round trip gaining 5,460’.

Washburn Point -- Panorama Trail

Hike to Half Dome via Panorama Trail from Glacier Point 

Very strenuous hike -- 8.5 miles one way, gain 3,200’.

Best view point in Yosemite:  Glacier and Washburn Points.

Half Dome at sunrise -

Center photo - Tunnel View

All other photos:  Washburn and Glacier Points

LODGING IN YOSEMITE VALLEY

Housekeeping Camp -  least expensive structured lodging.

3 sided concrete structures with canvas roofs and privacy curtains.

Camp Curry

Standard hotel rooms, wood cabins and canvas tent cabin accommodations.

Yosemite Lodge

Hotel with 245 rooms.

Ahwahnee Lodge

Yosemite Valley’s luxury 4 star hotel

PJAMM’S 2017 YOSEMITE ADVENTURE

Ride Valley Floor to Glacier Point

Hike Panorama Trail from Glacier Point to top of Half Dome

Leave early!

Yosemite Valley Floor to Glacier Point:  25 miles gaining 4,815’

Glacier Point to Half Dome to Happy Isles:  20.4 miles gaining 4,844’

Before sunrise on PJAMM’s June 28, 2018 bike/hike

Bike Yosemite Valley Floor to Glacier Point + hike to Half Dome.

Roadway Surface and Traffic Report:  There is no bike lane along this route, although the lane is standard highway width, affording fairly safe travel.  The roadway is excellent throughout this ride.  Traffic is moderate and includes many RVs and trucks pulling trailers, but fewer of these big vehicles after we turn onto Glacier Point Road at mile 9.2.

Washburn Point just before sunrise.

Panorama Trail to Half Dome.

That’s just rubbing it in!  Tayler ran the entire route.

He started about three hours after the old guys and finished . . .

well, let’s just say . . . ahead of the old guys!

Eee Gads -- the infamous “Cables”.

Those are not ants . . .

Hayley -- On Top of the World!

Team PJAMM after descending Half Dome.

Yosemite NP Entrance Fees:  As of 2022, the fee to enter the park on a bicycle was $20.  We purchased the $80 All-Parks Pass which gives us access for the year into all National Parks.  

The map below features: (a) all of the major climbs in and around Yosemite, (b) a few "rides with elevation" that are options for those intending to cycle Yosemite, and (c) lodging options.  The spreadsheet below the map provides detail regarding climbs, points of interest and lodging in and around Yosemite.

Transportation:  Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS) provides bus service into the park from the surrounding area. Take your bike onboard at no additional cost. Bus fares include a ticket into the park. For more information go to YARTS.com.

Other Lodging options (as of June 2015): Options range from the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly the Ahwahnee Lodge) with 123 rooms starting in the mid-$300's, to Yosemite Lodge starting at $89, Curry Village (tent cabins) starting at $129, to camping in the park (13 campgrounds, seven reservation, six first-come-first served).  For more information see National Park Service - Eating & Sleeping in Yosemite.  There are also several lodges in the park (but out of the valley floor) and just outside the park (e.g., Tuolumne Meadows Lodge on the way to and from the eastern entrance, Tioga Pass Resort just outside the east gate, and Evergreen Lodge At Yosemite, on the way to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, just outside the western edge of the park.

Gas stations in the park:  At the western side of the park is Crane Flat Gas Station, and at the eastern side of the park is Tuolumne Meadows Store and Gas Station. Yosemite Groceries and Supplies.

For further information, see also www.Yosemitepark.com   

Getting around in Yosemite Valley:  Free shuttle runs from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Yosemite Valley.