Yosemite in April: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack
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April is one of the best months of the year to visit Yosemite National Park: crowds run 48% of the August peak (256,083 average visits). Weather: highs average 63°F and lows 38°F, with 3.2″ of precipitation and 13.2 hours of daylight. Roads and services are only partly open this month — see the access note below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.
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Bring for Yosemite in April
- Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy)See it on AmazonWhy: mornings average 38°F.
- Packable rain jacketSee it on AmazonWhy: 3.2″ of precipitation is normal this month.
- Sturdy, broken-in hiking bootsSee it on AmazonWhy: every park, every month.
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Yosemite in April: what the park service says
April 15 is when the park begins plowing updates for Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road, which usually reopen in late May or early June. Mariposa Grove Road and its shuttle reopen no earlier than April 15, typically sometime in April; until then the two-mile Washburn Trail, with 500 feet of climbing, is the way in. Valley afternoons warm to about 63°F.
Source: NPS 1, NPS 2, checked 2026-11-05.
Crowds in April
Yosemite averages 256,083 recreation visits in April — 48% of what August, the peak month, draws. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly.
Weather & daylight
Days are mild (highs average 63°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 38°F). Average precipitation is 3.2″ for the month. Mid-month daylight runs 13.2 hours.
NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station YOSEMITE PARK HQ, CA US (3 mi from park coordinates, 4,018 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of April.
What to pack for Yosemite in April
Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.
- Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 38°F
- Packable rain jacket — 3.2″ of precipitation is normal this month
- Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month
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Also at their best in April
Other parks whose computed April verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:
- Theodore Roosevelt in April — 7% of peak crowds, highs 56°F, score 92/100
- Badlands in April — 16% of peak crowds, highs 60°F, score 90/100
- Lake Clark in April — under 1% of peak crowds, highs 46°F, score 89/100
- Voyageurs in April — under 1% of peak crowds, highs 49°F, score 88/100
Common questions
Is Yosemite crowded in April?
Moderately: April runs 48% of the August peak, averaging 256,083 visits (NPS, 2021–2025). See every month at Yosemite.
What is the weather like in Yosemite in April?
Average highs of 63°F, lows of 38°F, 3.2″ of precipitation (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, YOSEMITE PARK HQ, CA US station). Compare it with other national parks in April.
What should I pack for Yosemite in April?
Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy); Packable rain jacket; Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — the full weather-computed list is on this page. Going in May instead? Yosemite in May has its own list.
Is everything open at Yosemite in April?
Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road typically close November–late May; Yosemite Valley is open year-round. Always check the park's live NPS alerts for current conditions.
See also: the best national parks to visit in April · Last verified 2026-09-24