Visiting Yosemite In August

August is a classic month to explore Yosemite National Park—the peak of the Sierra Nevada summer experience. The park is usually at its most accessible, with the high-country snows shrunken to patches and roads and trails generally entirely clear and passable. Backcountry travelers find stream-crossings more manageable now than earlier in the summer, when freshets ran strong from snowmelt. When the lowland temperatures are sizzling, there’s no better place to escape than the Sierra Nevada high country. Visiting Yosemite in August is unforgettable, but don't just take our word for it: Come find out for yourself!

When Visiting Yosemite In August

Conditions

August, along with July, is usually when Yosemite experiences its hottest temperatures. The mercury usually maxes out around 89 degrees Fahrenheit in both months. August’s minimum average temperature is only about 56 degrees. August also takes the top honor as Yosemite’s driest month: a scanty tenth of an inch typically falls. The west-slope Sierra Nevada is well into its dry season, the polar opposite of January’s stormy deluges. You’re virtually guaranteed piercing blue skies and hot afternoons on the valley floor. Thunderstorms are a possibility in the high country, so be alert to changing conditions on backcountry trails. If wildfires are blazing in the region, views may be a bit hazy.

Things to Do

If you're visiting Yosemite in August, you’ve got the park fully at your disposal. Organized activities—such as ranger-led outings and nighttime astronomy programs—are at their height, so check the current issue of the Yosemite Guide for the schedule. Meantime you can hike the trails off magnificent Glacier Point Road, take a chilly dip in Tenaya Lake, blissfully wander one of the park’s sequoia groves, take a float down the Merced River, bicycle around Yosemite Valley—you get the picture! Waterfall-enthusiasts will find many cataracts scanty or entirely dry, but the low flow offers the chance to admire the framing rock faces usually obscured by mist in the wet season. An August stay with Scenic Wonders is the ultimate way to celebrate summer! Come join us!

Make Your Yosemite Reservations Today

If you’re planning on visiting Yosemite in August, consider making your reservations with Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders. We offer Yosemite reservations within the gates of the park. With one of our cozy cabins, condominiums, or homes, your Yosemite accommodations will be just minutes from all the wonderful summer activities in the park. Give us a call at 1-888-YOSEMITE (1-888-967-3648) to learn about our rentals and to make your Yosemite reservations today.

Yosemite National Park Blog

Scenic Wonders’ Yosemite blog provides the latest news related to Yosemite National Park. By reading our blog, you’ll stay up to date on activities, accommodations, and more.  Click for even more Yosemite National Park summer activities. Photo credit: kla4067