Is Yosemite safe?
Safe from crime; nature is the risk. Cold rivers, wet granite, rockfall and heat injure and kill visitors every year.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- Homicide rate in United States: 5.8 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in United States: 12.7 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Yosemite at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Car break-ins at trailhead lots are the main crime. Black bears raid unattended food, so use the bear-proof lockers. |
| At night | Quiet and safe in the valley; paths are dark, so carry a headlamp. Never leave food in tents or cars. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women on busy valley trails; tell someone before long or remote hikes. |
| Other risks | Bears and food storage rules; Cold fast rivers in snowmelt season; Wildfire smoke and road closures in summer |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake lodging and permit listings on social media; use recreation.gov or park concessioner sites
Take care
- Swimming or wading above waterfalls: the Merced and Yosemite Falls run fast and cold
- Wet granite and steep drops on Half Dome cables and Mist Trail
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking age is 21 everywhere; bars and shops check ID, so carry your passport.
- Open alcohol containers in public and in cars are illegal in most places.
- Cannabis is legal in some states but federally illegal; never carry it across borders or onto federal land.
How Yosemite compares in United States
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Sedona | 5/5 · Very safe |
| New York City | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Orlando | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Honolulu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Boston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Diego | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maui | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nashville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Austin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Key West | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Denver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Portland | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Antonio | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Charleston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Savannah | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kauai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Big Island | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yosemite | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Los Angeles | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Miami | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Francisco | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Washington, D.C. | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Chicago | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| New Orleans | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Seattle | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Philadelphia | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Atlanta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Yosemite safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women on busy valley trails; tell someone before long or remote hikes.
Is Yosemite safe at night?
Quiet and safe in the valley; paths are dark, so carry a headlamp. Never leave food in tents or cars.
What is the crime rate in Yosemite?
Car break-ins at trailhead lots are the main crime. Black bears raid unattended food, so use the bear-proof lockers. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Yosemite?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Yosemite
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Sources
- Yosemite National Park, NPS
- Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS)
- Yosemite Medical Clinic, NPS
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.