Getting Around Yosemite National Park

Bicycles can be rented from either Curry Village or Yosemite Lodge. They cost about $25 for a full days usage. There are more than 12 miles of paved bike roads, however in order to see sites such as Mirror Lake or Yosemite Falls you must park your bike and walk a short distance. Parking is no problem and locks are not necessary. We simply left our bikes and when we returned they were always there.

Rental Locations:
Yosemite Lodge (next to pool)
(209) 372- 1208
Use Shuttle Stop # 8

Curry Village Recreation Center
(209) 372- 8319
Use Shuttle Stop # 13 or 14

If you're unable to get to Yosemite by car then there are a couple of options available to you.

1) The YARTS bus service runs buses to Yosemite from Merced ($20.00), Mariposa and Midpines ($10.00). These towns, in turn, are connected to certain Greyhound services, enabling you to travel elsewhere in the States. The fares quoted above included the Park entrance fee.
YARTS contact info: 209/388-9589, www.yarts.com

2) There are a selection of San Francisco based companies offering tours varying from day trips to 3-day camping trips, prices range from $90.00-$200.00. Contact details are as follows:
"Green Tortoise": 415/956-7500 or 1-800/867-8647, www.greentortoise.com
"Incredible Adventures": 415/642-7378 or 1-800/777-8464, www.incadventures.com

If you are flying to Yosemite, the nearest airport served by the major airlines is in Fresno, about two hours south of Yosemite. The drive from Fresno to Yosemite is easy. You enter the park from the south, near the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees, which makes for a nice first stop in the park.

If you're travelling to Yosemite by car, and can take your bikes along, I highly recommend it!
Its a nice way to get oriented around the valley, and in a car you can't see to the tops of the granite cliffs! I know there's bike rentals around the park in the summer, but I didn't see any open in late March. When many of the hikes are snowy, but the roads have been cleared, this is a nice way to spend a few hours. You get a map when you enter the park showing the valley bike trails. It's very flat, and meant to be taken slowly - not as a workout or anything...

At the beginning we had in mind using the shuttle buses to visit the park, but as one of the luggage was visible in the car, we decided not to leave the car unattended, so we did all the visits by car.

Again next time I will leave more time for this parks and stay inside so it is easier to visit it.

YARTS operates services from Merced to the valley, stopping at many places on the way.

The Greyhound service stops at Merced, so the best way into the park without a car is via Merced, and then onto the YARTS, doing the park a favour by cutting down on traffic at the same time.

The drivers are very informative if it is your first time, and are always up on the latest weather reports, park news etc.

YARTS operates services from Merced to the valley, stopping at many places on the way.

The Greyhound service stops at Merced, so the best way into the park without a car is via Merced, and then onto the YARTS, doing the park a favour by cutting down on traffic at the same time.

The drivers are very informative if it is your first time, and are always up on the latest weather reports, park news etc.

Inside the Yosemite Valley not all places are open for privat cars. From the visitors centre a tourist train is driving through the park in the valley. It has several stops at wonderful sights as the meadows and the waterfalls and during the drive one can hear information and some entertainment. One needs a car to reach the further points like beautiful places along the Tioga-pass, the long drive towards Sequoia-groove and for the spectacular views from Yosemite Overlook.