10 Key Things To Know About Visiting Yosemite National Park In October

We spent 3 full days in Yosemite National Park in October 2019, and all things considered we think it’s one of the very best months of the year to visit. Yes, we had one or two negative aspects to contend with, but the most important things like weather, roads, crowds, lodging and hikes worked in our favor. And there was another huge bonus – we got to enjoy the park with unique golden fall foliage colors.

In this guide we explain the 10 key things you should know about visiting Yosemite in October, based on our own experiences. Read more about us.

We explored non-stop from dawn to dusk during our unforgettable trip to Yosemite in the fall. And it instantly became one of our favorite US national parks. We loved the hikes and the variety of attractions but what really blew us away was Yosemite’s striking beauty. As travel photographers we really couldn’t get enough of the park’s endless scenic viewpoints and photo opportunities.

After leaving the fiery desert of Death Valley, we entered Yosemite via northeast entrance and visited Tioga Pass Road, Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point and Wawona before leaving via south entrance. Our Yosemite itinerary was action packed, but we covered all the top tourist spots and it was an amazing experience. We can’t wait to go back to Yosemite and we’d consider going in October again.

Don’t forget to take a look at our popular Yosemite National Park Guidebook if you’d like more help planning your trip. But for now, let’s dive into what Yosemite is like in October!

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1. Crowds

Yosemite usually clocks in as the 6th most visited US national park each year. According to Statista, the park received over 4 million annual visitors from 2015-2019, then visitor numbers plummeted in 2020 due to the covid pandemic. But since 2021 numbers have been rising gradually and 3.9 million people visited Yosemite in 2023.

Now, 3.9 million sounds like a lot of people right? But take a look at these NPS statistics showing the average amount of visitors to Yosemite by month between 2001-2016 and you’ll see that only 9% of total visitors go to Yosemite in October.

You’ll also notice that 58% of visitors travel to Yosemite between June and September. That’s an enormous amount of people each month vying for campgrounds, hotels, hiking trails, photography locations, space on the roads and the limited parking spots available. So straight off the bat, you’ve got one of the best reasons to visit Yosemite in October: far fewer crowds.

How Will Fewer Crowds Benefit You?

• You’ll avoid vehicles bottlenecking in Yosemite Valley and jamming up for hours.
• Getting parked at trailheads will be far less frustrating.
• You stand a better chance of booking into a hotel, cabin or campground inside or near the park.
• Hiking trails will be quieter, which means getting caught in fewer hiker traffic jams.
• Popular photography locations will be far easier to access.

It’s easy to read those benefits and let them breeze through your thought process. But they’re all things that will significantly improve your overall experience. If you need any more convincing that fall is a better time to visit Yosemite than summer, take a look at this visitor access management plan directly on the NPS. It basically says that Yosemite Valley is gridlocked in summer and they’re working on sustainable solutions for overcrowding.

We always avoid July and August when we visit national parks in America. Despite the obvious benefits, we just can’t bring ourselves to knowingly go to a place that’s inevitably going to be overrun with tourists. And with Yosemite you have to remember that the park isn’t as big as others like Yellowstone. Yosemite Valley is by far the most popular area and you’ll be surprised at how small it is when you arrive.

2. Weather

We were pleasantly surprised by the weather when we visited Yosemite near the end of October. During the day we had clear skies and sun, and we couldn’t have set a better temperature for hiking or exploring the park. But trust us when we say it was freezing cold in the mornings and evenings. We spent one night in a yurt close to Arch Rock entrance and one night in our tent in Upper Pines Campground, and both nights we had to sleep in lots of heavy layers inside our sleeping bags.

One major benefit to consider is that California’s Sierra Nevada mountains experience fewer extreme weather events in the fall compared to the rest of the year with blizzards, storms and wildfires. This means you’re less likely to have any issues with roads closing.

Let’s take a look at some NPS weather statistics so you can see what to expect:

• Average High – 71 F (22 C)
• Average Low – 41 F (5 C)
• Precipitation – 1.6 inches

Those numbers don’t sound too bad do they? But remember they’re averages, so the actual numbers when you arrive could be much higher or lower. Another thing to remember is that those numbers are for the whole month of October. If you visit Yosemite earlier in the month you’ll have warmer weather, but it’ll be colder if you visit later in the month like we did.

Over 75% of rain falls between November and March so you can plan for mostly dry days in October, especially earlier in the month. This helps with knowing what to pack (which we’ll cover later).

What about snow? Well, average snowfall is very low in Yosemite for the month of October with just 0.2 inches. Typically, snowfall doesn’t begin to increase until November.

3. Entrances + Roads

Despite the winter season approaching, all roads into, around and out of Yosemite remain open throughout October. The only road that has a small chance of closing before the end of October is the Tioga Pass Road, which serves as Yosemite’s east entrance and leads to both Death Valley and Lake Tahoe. But even this road almost always closes in November.

Having access to all of Yosemite’s entrances and roads means you won’t miss out on any attractions, hikes or photography locations. Combine this with fewer crowds and you’ll be hitting the park at exactly the right time to benefit the most. We were able to easily get around the park with no traffic jams or problems with parking. And this was something we didn’t take for granted.

Here’s an example of when risking an October visit to a national park work out so well: When we visited Yellowstone in October, the park shut down completely the night before we were supposed to enter due to a huge and unexpected snowfall. No cars in or out. We eventually made it a few days later but we had to adapt our itinerary and lodging. The good news is you shouldn’t have to deal with this in Yosemite.

Logistics Tips

• Keep a close eye on live park road conditions in the days leading up to your visit.
• Have a backup plan in case roads in or out close unexpectedly due to snowfall.
• Try to avoid Yosemite Valley during the weekend to avoid traffic jams.
• Read our detailed guide on how to plan a road trip.

4. Entry Permits

Following on nicely from logistics, let’s talk about reservations for entering Yosemite. In 2020, a handful of the busiest US national parks including Yosemite began trialing a new reservation permit system to limit the amount of vehicles and people from visiting a single attraction or park at any given time.

In years gone by reservations weren’t required at all for visiting Yosemite in the month of October and none were required at all in 2023. But in 2024 you will need to buy a reservation in advance if you plan to visit Yosemite between 5:00am-4:00pm on any Saturday or Sunday in October, in addition to October 14th which is a holiday.

Important Information

• Here’s the recreation.gov site you need to buy your reservation for the park.
• You will not be able to enter the park if you don’t have a reservation on a weekend or October 14th.
• Additional reservations become available 7 days before the arrival date.
• You do not need to buy a pass if you’ll be visiting Yosemite on weekdays only.

Travel Tip: Each year the entry reservation criteria changes so it’s crucial you always check the NPS to see current reservation information.

5. Accommodation

When you visit Yosemite you can either stay at official park lodges, in campgrounds or at hotels in nearby towns and villages. But it’s notoriously difficult to find availability in all lodging options around the park. So if you’ve been having trouble finding an affordable place to stay in a good location close to the park entrances, you’re not alone!

The good news is that October is one of the best months of the year for finding availability at official Yosemite park lodges, campgrounds and at hotels in nearby towns. Even last minute bookings can be made if you visit this late in the year because the major park hotels are still open until the end of November.

We were able to book one night at a yurt in El Portal and one night in Upper Pines Campground by booking last minute near the end of October. After leaving Yosemite on our third evening we drove to Mariposa in the dark and spent a night there before driving to San Francisco the next morning.

We strongly recommend you book lodging for Yosemite as soon as you know your dates of travel. Here’s our detailed guide on where to stay in Yosemite to help. If you can’t find any hotel rooms near the park, you could end up with long drives in and out each day, which means less time hiking and enjoying the scenery.

Best Places To Stay Near Yosemite

Start by searching for lodging inside the park through Yosemite Hospitality. If national park hotels are too expensive or fully booked during the dates you plan to visit Yosemite in the fall, you’ll either have to camp or stay at a hotel in a nearby town. Groveland, Mariposa and Oakhurst are three good options outside the park. Anything closer to the park like El Portal is a bonus.

Here are the lodging options you should consider booking near Yosemite:

Fish Camp

• Tenaya Lodge
• White Chief Mountain Lodge

El Portal

• Yosemite View Lodge
• Cedar Lodge

Mariposa

• Best Western Plus
• Miners Inn
• Mariposa Lodge

Oakhurst

• Yosemite Southgate Hotel
• Best Western Gateway
• Comfort Inn Yosemite

Buck Meadows

• Rush Creek Lodge

Camping

If you thought finding a hotel room was tough near Yosemite, try booking a campsite. The campgrounds in Yosemite are called Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines and Camp 4. But thanks to small and mid-sized travel companies block booking out campsites as soon as they open, visitors like you and us are left with very little chance of getting a spot.

We did manage to get one night at Upper Pines campground through a last minute cancellation, so if you’re struggling for a place to stay near the park, be aware that you can grab a spot at the last minute if you’re lucky. Research camping on the NPS website and book as far in advance as possible. Remember, you’ll need to exit the national park boundaries if you end up sleeping in your car.

Exclusive: If you can’t find a campsite in Yosemite, take advantage of our exclusive 30 day free trial of The Dyrt PRO to get notified of any cancellations at campgrounds inside the park.

6. Fall Foliage

Autumn is our favorite time of year to travel, hike and photograph landscapes around the US. We like cooler temperatures, fewer crowds and better value, but it’s those fresh smells and vibrant fall foliage colors that really bring places to life. And Yosemite is no exception.

Now, Yosemite’s colors aren’t even close to matching what you’d see on a New England fall road trip or along the Blue Ridge Parkway. But the leaves do change and the park does become even more picturesque. Throw in soft light at dawn and dusk, and you’ve got a place that’s really hard to tear yourself away from if you enjoy photography like we do.

Where To See Fall Colors

Merced River – You’ll find dogwood, cottonwood and black oak tree leaves turning darker shades of red, orange and yellow among a sea of evergreens hugging the Merced River, and reflecting perfectly in the glass-like shallow waters.

Yosemite Valley – Our favorite fall colors in Yosemite are found in Yosemite Valley among the meadows, where long grass turns a golden yellow hue. The valley looks especially stunning when sunlight illuminates its vast meadows around sunrise and sunset.

You can also find fall colors on hiking trails and around giant sequoia groves. But our advice is to explore far and wide so you can find more unique spots filled with autumnal leaves.

7. Hiking

Yosemite is overflowing with truly awesome hiking trails, but they’re renowned for being overcrowded in summer months. Enter, October and traffic free trails. Colder mornings mean you should layer appropriately if you like to get out early, but usually by mid-morning you’ll be fine in lighter layers. We hiked mostly in light layers with a few heavier layers in our daypacks.

We’re not sure how you feel, but personally we’d rather hike in 65 degrees than 80 or 90 degrees in summer months. We hit a ton of Yosemite trails in October and we enjoyed the comfortable temperatures. But. Yes, there’s a but. A lot of trails had ice on the ground, so we had to be very careful hiking through certain areas that didn’t get any sunlight. Wear robust shoes with good grips if you plan to hike at this time of year.

Half Dome

Okay, you might be thinking it’s a bit late in the year so the Half Dome cables are probably down for the season. We did too, but they’re not. The cables and permits for Half Dome are open until Columbus Day, the second Monday in October. Therefore, you do still stand a small chance of hiking one of the most iconic hiking trails in the US. See more information on how to win a Half Dome permit.

We tried to win a Half Dome permit 5 years in a row and never got one. But all hope is not lost if you’re also unable to win a permit. There are still plenty of amazing hikes you can do, including the most heavily trafficked trail in Yosemite called Mist Trail. You can also hike Four Mile Trail, Upper Yosemite Falls Trail or for a gentler walk you can hike Yosemite Valley Trail.

8. Waterfalls

It’s safe to say that waterfalls are not at their most impressive during the fall season anywhere in the US. Yosemite National Park is famed for its mighty waterfalls, but in October you’ll see little more than a trickle cascading across giant granite cliffs. Bridalveil Falls, which looks spectacular from Tunnel View Overlook during the spring and early summer, is reduced to nothing more than a gentle splash.

Yosemite Falls was also completely dry when we visited at the end of October. There wasn’t a single drop of water to be seen. We would have hiked to Upper Falls if the water levels were higher, but it wasn’t worth it. But perhaps the most disappointing was Vernal Falls on the Mist Trail hike because you can get close to the waterfall from below and almost touch the water from the top. You can see Vernal Falls in our photo above, it looks awesome when it’s roaring in spring and summer, but it really isn’t much fun in fall.

Little to no water at the waterfalls was one of only a very small number of negative aspects we can think of from our visit to Yosemite in October. Well, waterfalls and cold nights.

9. Photography

Yosemite is one of the most photogenic national parks in America no matter when you visit, but October with its fall foliage colors and soft light gives the landscape a uniqueness only found at this exact time of year. Our favorite Yosemite photo spots include Tunnel View, Valley View, Glacier Point and basically anywhere inside the valley.

Now, you might not get the famous Firefall of a February visit to Yosemite, the snow of a winter visit or the roaring waterfalls of a spring visit, but you do get these perks:

• Gorgeous golden yellows covering Yosemite Valley.
• Radiant foliage colors in trees along the Merced River.
• Later sunrises and earlier sunsets mean you can wake up later and be out for dinner at a reasonable hour.
• Most of the famous photography locations will be relatively crowd free.
• You won’t have to share tripod real estate at places like Tunnel View or Valley View.
• The Milky Way bursts out of the horizon not long after sunset in autumn, so if you’re into astrophotography there’s no need to be walking around the park at 2:00am hoping for a clear night.

Photography Equipment

It’s been a few years since we visited Yosemite with our basic camera and lens setup. When we revisit, we’ll be going with an entirely updated arsenal of equipment and a much more advanced skillset!

Here’s what you should consider carrying:

• Camera – Yosemite is a perfect arena for learning or perfecting skills, so you don’t need a top of the line camera but it helps.
• Lenses – Most important are a wide-angle lens like a 16-35mm and a walk around lens such as a 24-70mm or 24-105mm. There’s not much need for a super telephoto because wildlife is rare and Yosemite is a landscape paradise.
• ND Filter – In October, waterfalls are either dry or wispy at best, so again, don’t sweat it too much if you don’t have an ND Filter. You can still smooth out the water of the Merced River if you do use an ND Filter but it’s not essential.
• Tripod – It goes without saying but you should always carry a tripod or something that you can improvise as a tripod. Sunrises, sunsets and astro are low light and require a tripod for stability.

10. Packing

We always say plan for the worst but hope for the best. When it comes to visiting Yosemite in October, you should pack for poor weather but hope for good weather.

Here are some clothes you should pack for your trip:

• Breathable long base layers for cold mornings.
• Lighter layers for hiking when it’s warmed up.
• Light jackets and mid-layers for in between.
• Fleece layers, down jackets and thick coats for evenings.
• Waterproofs in case you get rain.
• Robust hiking shoes or boots, waterproof and windproof would be ideal.
• Good quality hiking socks like Darn Tough.
• Gloves, hats, scarves and buffs for keeping extremities warm.

And here are some extras to consider:

• Keep plenty of food and snacks on hand.
• Buy lots of water bottles and electrolyte drinks to keep in your car.
• A stove and camping gear if you’ll be staying in a tent.
• You won’t need bug spray in October so you can leave that at home.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen if it’s a hot day in early October (you’ll be at 4,000 ft elevation with strong UV exposure).

We visited Yosemite as part of a wider 3 month road trip around the west so we had loads of gear for all eventualities. If you’ll be flying in with a suitcase or large backpack, our advice is to prioritize things you can wear for hiking, casually and maybe even push it in case you need to look smart. Multi-purpose clothes are the first things we pack for any trip.

The Morgan Conclusion

What we like: The lack of crowds was by far our favorite thing about being in Yosemite at the end of October. All the roads were open but there weren’t too many cars, parking was easy, the colors were lovely and we were able to find last minute availability with lodging. And all these positives should not be underestimated when planning your first time visit to Yosemite.

What we don’t like: There was no water in the famous waterfalls which was disappointing. It was also very cold in the mornings and evenings, which made hiking and photography a little more challenging to organize.

Is it worth visiting Yosemite in October? Yes! You can experience the park when it’s much quieter, hotels are more affordable and have more availability, the park is filled with vibrant autumnal color and the weather is great for hiking during the day. As long as you don’t mind putting up with cold sunrises and sunsets, you’ll enjoy visiting Yosemite in October.

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We hope our guide to visiting Yosemite in October helps with planning your trip to California!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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