We (Graham and Sami) often say that the National Park System is one of America’s greatest achievements. The way our National Parks combine our country’s sweeping majesty with a sense of earnest public service captures America’s spirit at its best. The choice was clear for us when it came time to decide where we wanted to commit our lives to each other—what could be more romantic than getting married in front of one of the most breathtaking backdrops on earth, honoring our country’s natural beauty?

Yosemite is one of the most historic and iconic National Parks, and its history is woven into that of our nation—the good and the bad.

In the 1850s, miners and settlers associated with the California gold rush went to war with the native Ahwahneechee, severing them from their homeland. This legacy of persecution and devaluation of the site’s native heritage continued for many years.

In 1864, Abraham Lincoln declared Yosemite federally protected land. The fact that he found time to do this in the thick of the Civil War illustrates how important he considered this land to be. In 1890, “Father of the National Parks” John Muir led an effort to declare Yosemite a National Park before the nationwide system had even been created. Congress created the Yosemite National Park, but it was still controlled by the State of California.

In 1903, Yosemite hosted “a pivotal moment in the history of American environmentalism” when John Muir and President Teddy Roosevelt went camping for three days in the Park. Roosevelt was so inspired by what he saw that he declared “There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite.” The trip inspired him to put Yosemite fully under federal control and designate five more National Parks, plus dozens of other conservation sites, during his presidency.

In recent years, increased public awareness has pressured the National Park Service to create policies that protect sacred sites and allow Native People to return to their homelands and use National Park resources.

Yosemite has been an inspiration to countless people over the centuries—including photographers like Ansel Adams, painters like Albert Bierstadt, and athletes like Alex Honnold (the only person ever to free solo El Capitan). When you get there, you’ll see why.

In the words of the National Park Service, Yosemite is “a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra.” We hope you are just as excited as we are to experience its stunning beauty!

You won’t have to worry about getting into the Yosemite Valley on the day of the wedding—all you’ll need to do is show up on time to our meeting point at AutoCamp, and we’ll take care of the rest (transportation, entrance to the park, and so on). This means that if attending the wedding is all you plan to do, you can skip the information provided in the rest of this section and leave it up to our professional drivers. However, for those of you with a taste for adventure and a bit more time on your hands, we do highly recommend visiting the park on your own before/after our wedding day so you can experience everything Yosemite has to offer.

From AutoCamp, you can expect to drive about an hour to get to Yosemite’s nearest park entrance at El Portal. This drive sounds long, but it passes by much more quickly than you’d expect. You’ll lose track of time as you draw closer to the Yosemite valley, watching the scenery grow more and more beautiful.

You don’t need a reservation to enter the park in winter as you do in summer, however there is an entrance fee of about $35 that is charged per vehicle. This buys you a pass that is valid for three consecutive days, so make sure to hold onto your ticket/receipt after the park ranger hands it back to you!

Before we get to anything else though, let’s take a moment to talk winter driving. While it is safe to drive to/through Yosemite in the winter, and the National Park Service does a great job of evaluating conditions, maintaining roadways, and educating visitors to ensure their safety—it is still important to enter the park prepared.

First, make sure to check weather conditions and road closures before you set out for the day. Due to the park’s rugged landscape, conditions can be different inside the park vs. the drive leading up to the entrance. Conditions can also vary across different areas within the park. You can check current conditions and road closures on the National Park Service website here.

Second, it is very likely you will be required to carry tire chains inside your vehicle in order to enter the park (although you may or may not be asked to use them). Tire chains increase safety in snowy conditions, and can be purchased or rented from many of the auto parts stores and gas stations along the route to the park entrance. Please see the National Park Service website here for more details.

If you’d rather avoid the trouble of tire chains and winter driving inside the park in general, you can park your car at a YARTS bus stop and take this bus into the park instead. Some buses also stop directly at AutoCamp, although there are more options at other stops. Make sure to check the timetable in advance. Tickets can also be purchased in advance online, and they include entrance to the park (so you don’t need to pay a separate entrance fee). For more information, you can refer to the YARTS website here.

In the winter, Yosemite takes on a new contemplative identity, separate from its verdant exuberance of the spring and summer. However, that doesn’t mean there is little to do. 

A good place to start your experience is the Yosemite Village, which features a visitor center, museum, numerous gift shops, and other facilities. It also has the Ansel Adams Gallery, which honors the renowned photographer and sells prints from a diverse set of artists.

Located near the village is the historic ​​Ahwahnee Hotel, a rustic landmark that has hosted figures like Queen Elizabeth II, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Lucille Ball, Charlie Chaplin, and Gertrude Stein, among others. The ​​Ahwahnee’s famous dining room offers a dinner buffet, although reservations are required (and hard to get).

Also nearby is the Curry Village Skating Rink, where you can ice skate with magnificent views in the shadow of Glacier Point and below Half Dome (additional info here).

From the Yosemite village area, it’s easy to hop back in your car and make a circuit around the valley’s main loop (which should be well-plowed if there’s snow), stopping at various vista points along the way to view some of Yosemite’s most famous sites such as El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls. You’ll want to make time for a stop at the Tunnel View vista point, even if you’re not planning to continue further up Wawona road, as this is the most famous of all of Yosemite’s vistas and it is truly breathtaking.

Outside of the park, Mariposa is the closest town and often used as a gateway to Yosemite. There are a few quaint shops and restaurants to keep you supplied during your trip. The Mariposa Museum and History Center and California State Mining and Mineral Museum highlight the area’s Gold Rush history.

If you have more practical needs, Oakhurst is the nearest more populated town where you can find proper supermarkets and other services.

Whether you’re just here for the wedding or taking more time to explore, we encourage you to take a minute, look around, and appreciate all Yosemite has to offer!

As we already mentioned, the National Park Service website is a great place to go for information about the park. 

We also recommend downloading the National Parks Service app (click to download for: iPhone or Android), because cellular service is sparse inside the park and the app allows you to download a large amount of information for access offline. 

The Park’s official guide for first timers and winter-specific recommendations have a good overview, with plenty of links for you to follow if you want to dive deeper.