October is one of my favorite months in Yosemite. The summer crowd begin to thin out, the days stay warm and clear, the nights turn crisp, and by the second half of the month the black oaks and bigleaf maples begin to glow gold against the granite. The trade-offs are small: most waterfalls are at their lowest, and higher roads can close for a day or two after an early storm.
For me, the best part of October is simply watching the leaves change color.
A note for October 2026: As I write this, the Dome Fire is burning north of Wawona Dome. Yosemite is open, but Glacier Point Road and the Chilnualna Falls Trail are closed, and smoke comes and goes, especially in the mornings. Please check the Park Service's current conditions and closures before you go. Our hearts are with the crews working this fire and with the families of the two firefighters who lost their lives.
Is October a good time to visit Yosemite?
Yes, especially if you love a slower pace. The Park Service describes fall as a season with fewer visitors than the rest of the year, which means easier parking, quieter trails and more room to simply stand in a meadow and listen. There is also no entry reservation in 2026: the park announced it will not use a timed reservation system this year and instead suggests visiting on weekdays and exploring beyond Yosemite Valley for the easiest experience.
Yosemite weather in October
Wawona sits at about 4,000 feet, a little higher than the Valley floor, and October here is a month of two halves. Based on 30 years of historical weather data for Wawona (Open-Meteo, 1996 to 2025):
- Early October: average high about 73°F, low about 51°F
- Late October: average high about 62°F, low about 40°F
Rain falls on only around 15% of October days, and snow is uncommon but possible by the end of the month. The Park Service notes fall weather can swing from hot to cold and dry to snowy, so layers are everything: a T-shirt for the afternoon trail, a warm jacket for the evening.
When is fall color in Yosemite?
Most of Yosemite is evergreen, so fall color here comes in bright pockets rather than whole hillsides. According to the Park Service, bigleaf maples and black oaks are usually showy around mid-October, and color often lingers until the first heavy storm or hard frost, sometimes into early December.
Where to look:
- Wawona: black oaks turn orange, brown and gold, and dogwoods add reds, pinks and yellows.
- Yosemite Valley: bigleaf maples splash yellow along the southern wall, and a sugar maple near the Yosemite Chapel turns a brilliant red.
- Along the South Fork of the Merced River: the riverbanks near the Wawona Swinging Bridge were glowing gold at the end of last October (that's the photo at the top of this post).
You don't need a specific destination for color in the Valley. There are pockets of it all around, so slow down, roll the windows down and look.
What's open in Yosemite in October?
- Yosemite Valley and Wawona are open year-round. Tire chains may be required after a storm.
- Tioga Road usually stays open into fall, but services end after September and overnight parking is not permitted after October 14. It can close temporarily with snow.
- Glacier Point Road normally stays open until snow, but is closed right now for the Dome Fire. Check current conditions before you plan around it.
- The Mariposa Grove shuttle runs from the Welcome Plaza 8 am to 5 pm through October 31, then 8 am to 3:30 pm in November. There is no shuttle from December 1.
- Waterfalls are at their lowest. Vernal, Nevada and Bridalveil keep running year-round, just softer.
- The Wawona Hotel remains closed, so plan your meals: stop in Oakhurst for groceries on the way in, and the Pine Tree Market and Wawona General Store are close to the cabin for snacks and essentials.
Easy October outings from Wawona
These are all close to our cabin and lovely in fall light.
Wawona Swinging Bridge (about 6 minutes from the cabin). A short, mostly flat walk, 0.6 miles round trip, to a footbridge over the South Fork of the Merced. In October the river runs low and clear between smooth granite slabs, perfect for sitting with your feet near the water.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (about 10 minutes to the Welcome Plaza). Take the shuttle up, then walk the 0.3-mile Big Trees Loop or the 2-mile Grizzly Giant Loop. We wrote about our family visit in A visit to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Wawona Meadow Loop. A flat 3.5-mile loop around the meadow, framed by oaks and pines. It is the only hiking trail in Yosemite where leashed pets and bicycles are allowed.
A day in Yosemite Valley (about 40 to 45 minutes). Stop at Tunnel View, walk to Bridalveil Fall, then wander El Capitan Meadow for maples and golden grass.
Bridalveil Fall in October. This is one of my favorite October stops. With less water, the spray is gentler, so it's not as wet if you want to climb all the way up toward the base, and there are fewer people. Our kids loved scrambling over the boulders on our October visit.
Chilnualna Falls is usually the classic Wawona hike, but the trail is closed right now because of the fire. Save it for spring, when the falls are at their strongest.
A slow October day from the cabin
Morning: Coffee on the deck while the sun warms the pines. (The kitchen has five ways to brew it.) Visit the Swinging Bridge while the light is low.
Midday: Shuttle up to the Mariposa Grove and walk among the giants.
Afternoon: Back to the cabin for a long lunch, a nap or a board game.
Evening: Dinner around the table, then the hot tub under the trees as the air turns cold.
Tips for visiting Yosemite this October
Dress for both heat and cold, and check the weather. My one tip for an October visit: it can really go either way. Afternoons can feel like summer, evenings like winter.
Check fire and air quality the morning you head out. Smoke tends to be heaviest early in the day.
Arrive before dark. Days are shorter in October, and the forest roads near Wawona are much easier in daylight.
Download directions in advance. Cell service fades well before you reach the park.
Bring groceries. Dining inside the park is limited, so stock up in Oakhurst.
Carry chains late in the month. An early storm can bring chain controls, and all-wheel drive helps.
Stay inside the park this fall
There's something about October in Wawona: the quiet after the day visitors head home, the cool air on the deck, the stars coming out over the pines. If you'd like to experience it for yourself, The Wildernest Yosemite is a three-bedroom cabin in Wawona, inside the national park, with room for eight, a forest hot tub and a kitchen made for long dinners. Booking direct on our site is the simplest way to stay, and we'd love to host you.
