Visit Yosemite Madera County

08/14/2024

📢 Like us, we bet you care about how Yosemite National Park manages access and visitation to the park both now and into the future. The park just released their draft Visitor Access Management Plan (VAMP) for public review and comment. You can access it and other related info here https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=113113

The public comment period is open now, through September 30th.

Note that a virtual public meeting will be held on Thursday, August 22 at 4 pm PDT and additional public meetings will be held in gateway communities the week of September 9.

08/14/2024

Are you ready for Oakhurst Art & Wine Hop tomorrow?

08/12/2024

Each year the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Association offers opportunities for people to learn more about the local mountain area by scheduling free tours...

08/09/2024

Happy Birthday, Smokey!

08/05/2024

And on the "Getting Into Yosemite without a Reservation" front -

08/05/2024

📰 Some good news to share, especially if you have had challenges with getting hold of a pass to get into Yosemite.

Late on Friday, the park announced that they will be releasing additional full and half-day peak-hours reservations for this week & next (August 5 - 7 and August 12 - 14). These are the last two weeks when a pass is needed everyday if you want to enter the park between 5am and 4pm (aka - Peak Hours). As of Aug 17th - you'll need a Peak-Hours pass only on weekends and on Sept 2nd and Oct 14.

These passes are in addition to the normal release of reservations that they have been releasing seven days in advance.

The new reservations will be available to book starting 8 am PDT the day before the reservation date and are IN ADDITION TO the normal release of reservations that they have been releasing seven days in advance.

Where can you get these? Only at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745.

https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteNPS/posts/pfbid02SCdikdtRKL77nsQScaQ5DoDeNjJpiQJfjb9ipUARk3oupxerKj4p1NhiqLHT1SM9l

We will be releasing additional full- and half-day peak-hours reservations for August 5 through 7 and August 12 through 14. This is in addition to the normal release of reservations seven days in advance.

These reservations will be available to book starting 8 am PDT the day before the reservation date at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745.

A reservation is required to drive into or through the park between 5 am and 4 pm every day through August 16. From August 17 through October 27, a reservation is only required on weekends and holidays. Each reservation is valid for three consecutive days.

07/29/2024

It is so good to see #10 back out riding the rails at Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1027438748776740

07/26/2024

Bridalveil Creek Campground, located off the Glacier Point Road will open at noon on Saturday, July 27. Reservations are required and will be available on recreation.gov starting at 7 am PDT on Friday, July 26, for arrivals from July 27 through August 9. The booking window opens daily for reservations up to 2 weeks in advance.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232453

07/19/2024

Who’s ready for a breathtaking moonrise from Sentinel Dome in Yosemite? 🌕✨ Join us for our next Full Moon Tour on Sunday, July 21.

Limited tickets are still available, so don't miss out! Secure yours now at 👉 https://discoveryosemite.com/tours/full-moon/

07/17/2024

Ready for Oakhurst Art & Wine Hop tomorrow night?

07/17/2024

Come join us Friday nights at the village 5-9 we will have music and karaoke in the park ☺️ there will be food and pop-up vendors…..a good time for the whole family!

07/16/2024

🎤✨ Calling all Swifties! ✨🎤

There's always something exciting happening in the Southern Yosemite region, and you won't want to miss this!

Enter our exclusive contest by July 23, 2024, at 11:59 PM for a chance to win four tickets to the "Twist on Taylor" event at The Pines Resort on July 28th! Get ready to sing along to your favorite Taylor Swift hits and enjoy snacks, drinks, themed decor, a photo booth, and more! 📸🎶

By entering, you'll stay updated with all the exciting events and offerings in the Southern Yosemite area. Don't miss out! Enter now and get ready to "shake it off" with us! 💃🕺

How to Enter:

🔗 Please fill out the entry form here: https://www.yosemitethisyear.com/twist-on-taylor-giveaway
🧓 Must be 21+ to participate.
📰 Agree to receive our newsletter for the latest updates and offers.
✅ Make sure to follow so you don't miss the winner announcement on July 24!!!!

Yosemite Madera is the best gateway to Yosemite "'cause we never go out of style!" We offer exciting entertainment and unforgettable experiences.

Are you a Taylor Swift fan? Get ready to immerse yourself in a night of Taylor Swift's greatest hits! Enter our exclusive contest for a chance to win four tickets

07/16/2024

Bass Lake - come find out for yourself why it is of the West's Best Lakes.

https://www.yosemitethisyear.com/bass-lake

Summer is almost here so spark the wanderlust and get ready to take a dip in one of the most beautiful lakes in California High Sierra

07/03/2024

What's the most common question we're getting these days? You'll probably not be surprised, it's "Do I need a reservation to get into Yosemite?" The answer since Mid April was yes... for weekends and a few holidays, But starting with July 1st, Yosemite requires a Peak-Hours Plus Reservation daily through August 16th to enter the park. We're now 3 days into this 6 week window and the good news is that there are still many passes available, both Full Day and Half Day.

The next question: "How do I get a Peak-Hours Plus reservation?" has a simple answer - there's only one place and that's on-line at Recreation.gov. Search for either Peak-Hours Plus Reservation or Yosemite National Park Ticketed Entry https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745

Important to know: the park is open 24hrs a day and if you enter other than during Peak Hours, that is before 5am or after 4pm, no reservation is needed.

Have more questions: check out info at the link below or call us at the Visitor Center (559) 683-4636 https://www.yosemitethisyear.com/articles/yosemite-national-park-peak-hours-plus-2024-vehicle-reservation-pilot-system

07/03/2024

07/03/2024

We truly wish everyone a fun and safe July 4th tomorrow!

Please note that anywhere east of the Madera Canal, no fireworks are safe outside of the official managed event at Bass Lake put on by the Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce

https://fb.watch/t5k8MhRsbJ/

06/26/2024

Sharing an update from Yosemite - Porcupine Flat Campground will open at noon on Friday, June 28.

Porcupine Flat Campground is situated on Tioga Road, with Tuolumne Meadows and Crane Flat conveniently located within 25 miles in either direction. It serves as a peaceful and secluded starting point for adventures into the High Sierra, the Tuolumne Grove of Sequoias, and day and overnight trips.

Porcupine Flat Campground will open at noon on Friday, June 28. Reservations must be made in advance and are available on Recreation.gov, starting from 7 am PDT on June 27, for arrivals from June 28 to July 11.

The booking window opens daily for reservations up to 2 weeks in advance. Set up your Recreation.gov account now and log in before 7 am PDT to book your stay here.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10083831

06/24/2024

There's a lot of very cool things happening at Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park and the Silver K**b Cabin is just one of them!

Have you seen what we've been up to lately? Come check it out next Thursday! Join us all for the Silver K**b Cabin Ribbon Cutting ceremony and Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce Mixer to immediately follow! It's going to be a great summer.

06/21/2024

It may be the first day of Summer... but it's never too early to grab a good deal for winter fun!

EARLY BIRD PASSES ON SALE NOW! Book now for $175 adult season passes and $150 child season passes.

Book now until July 20 for the best rates of the entire year! https://www.travelyosemite.com/winter/badger-pass-ski-area/

06/21/2024

Blake says “Happy National Bald Eagle Day”

06/20/2024

06/20/2024

The driving Tioga Road is one of the prettiest routes we've experienced. But, if you're looking for a way to get to (and back) from Yosemite's High County from Yosemite Valley and fully enjoy the views, the Tuolumne Meadows Hikers Bus is a good alternative.

https://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/guided-bus-tours/

We are thrilled to announce that our Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows Hikers Bus is now open for the summer! Make sure to buy your tickets at the Yosemite Valley Lodge front desk fifteen minutes prior before departing or online as you are planning your adventure. Find out more info here: https://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/guided-bus-tours/

06/19/2024

Juneteenth National Independence Day commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when United States troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. This arrival, almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, marked the liberation of nearly 250,000 enslaved Africans in the state.

"Colored" soldiers at that time were also combatants in the fight to achieve full civil rights for all African Americans. This is clear in the letters that these soldiers wrote during the wars in both Cuba and the Philippines around 1900, and their heroic actions in battle countered the perception within the military that "Negros" were inherently "cowardly."

In 1866, one year after this significant date, Congress established six segregated regiments, which were later merged into four Black regiments that during the period of the Indian Wars became known as the Buffalo Soldiers: the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry. These troops played a crucial role in patrolling parts of the frontier West, which eventually led to 500 "Colored" soldiers stationed in Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park during the summers of 1899, 1903, and 1904. They served as wilderness rangers over a decade before the National Park Service was created in 1916.

Despite facing extreme prejudice, African American troops diligently worked to curb poaching of park wildlife, extinguished forest fires, stopped illegal grazing of livestock on federal lands, and prevented the theft of timber and other natural resources. They constructed the first usable wagon road into Sequoia's Giant Forest, the first trail to the top of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the United States at that time, in Sequoia, and built an arboretum on the South Fork Merced River in Yosemite's Wawona area that is considered today to be the first national park museum.

Juneteenth offers an opportunity to explore the individual and collective histories that span the gulf between freedom and slavery. May the extraordinary courage, tenacity, and resilience demonstrated by those 9th US Cavalry and 24th US Infantry troops inspire us to continue the fight for equality for all.

06/18/2024

A reminder that while tomorrow's national holiday, Juneteenth, is a Fee Free Day for entering Yosemite, a Peak-Hours Plus reservation is needed to enter the park. According the Recreation.gov (the only place to purchase these reservations_) there aren't any reservations (full or half day) currently available for tomorrow.

06/13/2024

Planning a visit to Yosemite soon?

This month (June), a reservation is required to drive into or through the park between 5 am and 4 pm on weekends and holidays, which includes next Wednesday, June 19, the national Juneteenth celebration.

Reservations, both Half Day and Full Day, are still available for this Father's Day weekend (Saturday & Sunday). The remaining ones do appear to be going relatively quickly, so head on over to https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745 to secure yours now.

Don't have, or can't get a reservation? Note that they are needed only during Peak Hours (5am - 4pm). The park is open 24hrs a day so entry anytime before 5am and after 4pm DOES NOT REQUIRE a reservation. And if you are looking for something fun to do outside of the park during Peak Hours - from historic train rides and off-road adventures, to arts, live music and activities at one of the West's Best Lakes, we've go you covered here in Yosemite's southern gateway! r

https://www.yosemitethisyear.com/articles/what-to-do-while-waiting-to-get-into-yosemite-national-park

06/12/2024

If you’re a Logger veteran, you know there are many special train rides/series that offers. It’s hard to pick a favorite but…. the Yosemite Jazz Train would be right up there!


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Our first Jazz Train of the season is coming up at the end of this month! Peter White: Smooth Jazz Sunday will be on June 23rd!

Over the years, Peter White has maintained a reputation as one of the most versatile and prolific acoustic guitarists on the contemporary jazz landscape. Armed with an unparalleled combination of lyricism and energy, he combines elements of jazz, pop and classical guitar to create a sound that is singular and at the same time accessible to a broad audience.

Your tickets will include a boxed chef-prepared seasonal appetizer selection, an intimate post show conversation with the artist, followed by an informal meet-and-greet at the train station upon return. There are also a variety of drinks for purchase.

For more details and to reserve tickets visit our website!

06/11/2024

Did you know that you can see where the Oakhurst Trolley is when it's running around town?

We get asked often... "Where's the Trolley?" Well we have an easy way for you to know just where it is! We once again have a Trolley Tracker on board the OT!

Right now there are two ways to access it - first is by using this link in your web browser https://oakhursttrolley.rider.peaktransit.com/

The other way is via an app; Currently only the Google app available (we're still waiting for Apple to approve the one for iPhone users and will share an update once that happens. You can download the Android app here https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bishoppeaktech.android.Oakhurst&pli=1

A few notes when using the tracker:

You need to select the route your are interested in. There are currently two: the normal Weekend Route with covers service during the weekends (Fri through Sunday) and the Art Hop Route (3rd Thursday of each month, May through October).

The OT's location is only shown when the trolley is running... so if you're trying to check on it's location other than during normal operations... it will be in stealth mode!

It takes the OT roughly about 45 minutes to make a complete loop of the routes.