Updated December 9th, 2021 4:00pm
Visit our Travel Updates Page for the latest updates.
At this time we do not know if Day Use Entry Tickets will be needed for the Summer 2022 season.
If you like to prepare for all the possibilities, here’s what we learned from last year’s program on how you can access the park.
If no Day Use Entry Tickets are required this Summer, keep scrolling for our insider tips on how to enjoy Yosemite like a local…
Insider Tips on Yosemite Day Use Options
TOP 4 WAYS TO VISIT YOSEMITE WITHOUT A DAY USE ENTRY TICKET
(Spring – Fall)
1 – Participate in one of our professionally guided trips
Park admission is included in our trips. We offer over a dozen partial and full-day excursions. You can explore the options using our online trip planner at RushCreekLodge.com/Explore, email the Recreation Desk directly for personal assistance at [email protected] or call them at (209) 379-2373 extension 3.
2 – Explore the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite
Hetch Hetchy is one of Yosemite’s hidden gems, offers stunning hiking and sightseeing for all ability levels and does not require a Day Use Entry Ticket. If you prefer to explore this part of Yosemite on your own rather than with our professional guides, our friendly experts at our Recreation Desk will be more than happy to help you plan the ideal day for your party. The Hetch Hetchy entrance gate is just 1 mile from our nearby sister property, the Evergreen Lodge. Access is tied to parking availability, and adjusted hours are 8am – 5pm.
3 – Ride the YARTS bus in/out of the Park
An affordable and exceptionally comfortable way to enjoy the ride to/from Yosemite Valley, YARTS buses stop at Rush Creek Lodge, with 3 morning runs to Yosemite Village (8:52, 9:52, 10:52) and 3 return runs from Yosemite Village in the afternoon (4, 4:30, 5:35).
YARTS is a Great Deal! Adult round-trip fare of $14 includes Park admission for the Adult rider plus one Child 17 years or younger. Make reservations in advance at YARTS.com
(Note that YARTS service in our Highway 120 corridor operates Spring through early Fall, and ends for the season on September 30th)
EXPLORE LIKE A LOCAL – 3 GREAT DAY TRIPS
1 – Treat yourself to one of Travel + Leisure’s “16 Best Swimming Holes in the U.S.” Carlon Falls is a longstanding local favorite less than 5 minutes from the lodge and offers something splendid for all ability levels. You can do a short and easy 1-hour walk along the South Fork of the Tuolumne River, or make a day of it and hike all the way up past the series of waterfalls and swimming holes. Once on the trail you’ll actually be walking right into Yosemite National Park, making this a true hidden treasure that few Yosemite visitors ever see. Details…
2 – Lookout Point is another exceptional hike to a 360-degree panoramic vista that few Yosemite visitors ever experience. Starting from the Hetch Hetchy Ranger Station, it’s a fairly steep 1-2 hour hike with stunning views that will have you feeling on top of the world! Details…
3 – Go chase more swimming holes! In addition to Carlon Falls, nearby there’s Rainbow Pools, the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River, and a bigger adventure to Preston Falls, just to name a few. We’ve gathered up directions to these favorites in one easy flyer for you, but you can also talk with our Recreation team at the lodge for many more ideas for places you can wander freely in Yosemite’s scenic wilderness. Details…
FUN AT THE LODGE
The lodge is situated less than a mile from Yosemite’s northwest entrance, where we follow Tuolumne County guidelines that currently allow us to responsibly operate our Swimming Pool, Outdoor Amenities, Restaurant, Tavern, General Store and more, with modifications including social distancing and enhanced safety and cleaning protocols.
General Store
You can still get great coffee drinks and other specialty beverages from our General Store, now with an outdoor window to serve you on the deck where seating is arranged so you and your party can socialize together while keeping a safe distance from other guests. Guests can also shop for supplies and souvenirs inside while wearing face coverings when social distancing is not possible.
Dining
Our culinary team is still serving up delicious food daily in our Restaurant and Tavern, with expanded outdoor dining options, socially distanced indoor dining, and extensive new safety protocols.
Play
As luck would have it, Rush Creek’s outdoor spaces for play and relaxation were already conveniently spaced for safe distancing while happily socializing. With enhanced cleaning, sanitation and parental oversight protocols in place, giant outdoor checkers, four-square, kids zip lines, bocce ball, horseshoes, and more await. Most all of our indoor games are available, and our friendly Recreation team is providing daily activities including our nightly tradition of roasting s’mores by outdoor fires, with additional fire pits added for easy social distancing and s’mores fixins individually packaged.
Stargazing at Rush Creek is magical, far away from light pollution, bringing you closer to the infinite expanse of shimmering stars than you ever imagined. You can also join our guides for a Yosemite National Park tour of the sky using our 12″ aperture Dobsonian telescope to get even closer to constellations, planets, nebulas, galaxies and other celestial wonders.
Or learn the art of hot glass blowing from our resident expert. No experience is needed as she guides you through the process of creating your very own glass art piece.
Hiking & Nature Trails
In partnership with the National Forest Service and others we recently opened three new hiking and nature trails in the forest adjacent to Rush Creek Lodge, including one for mountain biking. You can see more information on the Nature Trail, Vista Trail and Adventure Trail along with a detailed trail map here…
As you can see in so many of our guest comments below and on public forums, there are endless opportunities to explore the Yosemite area and have a terrific time in and around the lodge, regardless of whether or not you have a Day Use Entry Ticket in hand.
If at First You Don’t Succeed…
It’s worth noting that you can also keep trying your luck at recreation.gov. Canceled Day Use Entry Tickets are added back into inventory regularly, and a batch of last-minute tickets are released at 7am Pacific Time, 48-hours prior to ticket date. Note that the 48-hour batch typically sells out by 7:30am, so make sure you’re online promptly at 7am for the best chance at success.
Although the way in which we access the park this year is different, Yosemite is as incredible as ever, and we can’t wait to share an amazing adventure with you!
Happy trails,
Your friends at Rush Creek
We are doing our best to provide the most current and accurate information as quickly as possible, so please check back often. Or stay tuned on our Facebook page as we'll be posting there as well.