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Step 1
The first step in planning a trip is deciding what time of year you would like to visit Yosemite. Each season has its own advantages. Crowds are the lowest in the winter, but the temperatures are also lower and many trails and some roads are closed. During the winter, it is easy to reserve the accommodations you want. In contrast, summer visitors must reserve their Yosemite accommodations one year in advance in most cases. All trails, roads and activities are open in the summer.
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Step 2
During the spring, the waterfalls are at their peak, temperatures are moderate and the lower trails and roads are open. Although the waterfalls are usually barely a trickle by the fall, the temperatures are usually moderate and you can enjoy the changing colors of the foliage. There may occasionally be snowfall toward the end of the fall season.
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Step 3
Decide how many days you’ll have to spend in the park. If you’ll only be staying for a day or two, you may want to limit your activities to exploring the sights in Yosemite Valley. If your stay is longer, you may want to visit one of the park’s sequoia groves, such as Mariposa Grove, or travel to the higher elevations of Tuolumne Meadows.
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Step 4
Many visitors to Yosemite National Park prefer to stay in the park itself. You can make reservations on the park’s website one year in advance. If you are planning to camp, reservations may be made five months in advance. Accommodations in the park range from the beautiful, historical and expensive Ahwahnee Hotel to basic tent cabins at Curry Village. Staying in the park puts you in the center of the action and makes it easy to get around to the Yosemite Valley sights using the free shuttle buses the park provides.
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Step 5
If you can’t get a reservation in the park, you can still enjoy everything that Yosemite has to offer. You’ll just be spending more time in your car driving to and from the park each day. Look for lodging in El Portal, Groveland, Fish Camp, Oakhurst, Foresta, Wawona, Ahwahnee and Mariposa. The closer the lodging is to the Park, the more you’ll pay.
