Best time to visit Yosemite

• “We feel the best time of year to visit Yosemite is either late May or early September” yosemitehotels.com
• “the best months to visit Yosemite National Park are May and September” yosemite.outdoorsy.com
• “late May through early June offers the strongest mix of waterfalls, open trails, and moderate weather” yosemiteinsurance.com

5 of the 10 travel guides we read name these months.

1. January48°F / 29°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Wettest and coldest month; most of the park beyond the Valley and Wawona is closed to cars.Good for solitude and snow sports at Badger Pass; tire chains may be required.
2. February51°F / 30°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…The Horsetail Fall firefall is best seen in the last two weeks of February.February brings slightly more sunshine than January.Yosemite Firefall
3. March57°F / 34°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road are still closed for winter in March and April.Valley highs average 57F with about 5.5 inches of precipitation.
4. April63°F / 38°F · 7 rainy daysChecking fares…Rainfall drops and temperatures begin to rise.Spring suits wildflowers and growing waterfall flow, with unpredictable weather.
5. Best timeMay71°F / 45°F · 6 rainy daysChecking fares…Waterfalls usually peak mid to late May, the best month to see them.Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are usually closed until late May or early June.Warm days and cold nights; Valley highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s.Yosemite waterfalls at peak snowmelt
6. Best timeJune81°F / 51°F · 2 rainy daysChecking fares…Waterfalls still roaring and rivers high; some high roads and trails may be closed by snow.Early June gives a similar experience to May.
7. July89°F / 57°F · 1 rainy daysChecking fares…Hot Valley days, 90s, and the park is at capacity; higher ground like Tuolumne Meadows is cooler.Most trails, including high country, are fully open by mid summer.
8. August89°F / 57°F · 1 rainy daysChecking fares…Often called a worst time to visit because of crowds and heat.Waterfalls have mostly run dry by mid summer.
9. Best timeSeptember83°F / 51°F · 2 rainy daysChecking fares…Summer crowds dissipate and weather is comfortable, with less intense sun.One of the best months for hiking and rock climbing.
10. October71°F / 41°F · 4 rainy daysChecking fares…Many sunny days and colder temperatures; most roads stay open.Fall waterfalls hold little or no water.Foliage is best in late September or mid-October.
11. November56°F / 33°F · 6 rainy daysChecking fares…The first snowfall usually arrives in November.Crisp weather and wide-open spaces.
12. December46°F / 28°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Badger Pass Ski Area usually opens mid-December if conditions allow.December through February is best for snow sports and frozen waterfalls.

Weather: Yosemite averages from NOAA (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

• Yosemite FirefallYosemite National Park, CaliforniaEvery February
• Yosemite waterfalls at peak snowmeltYosemite Valley, CaliforniaEvery May to June

What is the weather like in Yosemite in May?

Warm days with Valley highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s. Rain and snow are possible but not common; snow remains in much of the park.

Is it still snowing in Yosemite in March?

Yes, snow is common. Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May.

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