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Points of Interest

Big Oak Flat Entrance

Yosemite's western entrance station, where the park's iconic sign greets you

(52)
Groveland, CA

About

Big Oak Flat Entrance is the western entrance station into Yosemite National Park, reached via Big Oak Flat Road out of Groveland. Visitors rate it highly (4.9 out of 5 across 52 reviews), consistently citing friendly rangers, clean restrooms, and a warm welcome to the park.

What to Expect

Rangers hand out park maps and the Yosemite Guide newspaper as you pass through, and reviewers describe the staff as consistently friendly and efficient. Restrooms are available on site. One reviewer notes this is the only entrance where you'll find the official Yosemite National Park sign — a popular photo stop before you continue into the park.

A Tip From Visitors

Several reviewers who visit multiple national parks in a year recommend picking up an America the Beautiful annual pass ahead of time, or at the gate where available, to speed up entry and save money over paying single-park fees repeatedly. Since fee structures and pass availability can change, confirm current pricing directly with the National Park Service before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Big Oak Flat Entrance located?

It's Yosemite's western entrance station, reached via Big Oak Flat Road from the town of Groveland.

Are restrooms available at this entrance?

Yes, visitors report restrooms are available at the station.

Is this the entrance with the Yosemite National Park sign?

Visitor reports say yes — one reviewer notes it's the only entrance with the official park sign, making it a popular photo stop.

Should I buy an annual pass here?

Multiple reviewers recommend the America the Beautiful annual pass if you're visiting several national parks in a year, though you should confirm current pricing with the NPS before your trip.

Reviews (52)

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4.9

52 reviews

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Tammy Lane
Tammy Lane

2 weeks ago

so we pulled up to this place around midday and there was a line already forming outside the gate, not great but it moved faster than i expected it would which was a relief becuase the kids were getting restless in the backseat. the person at the booth was polite enough but didnt have much info about the trails or anything, just took our payment and waved us through so that was kinda useless. the parking situation was a total mess honestly, we drove around for ten minutes trying to find a spot that wasn't halfway up a hill, finally just squeezed in somewhere tight. we hiked the main trail for about an hour and the views were fine i guess, nothing special but not terrible either nothing to write home about you know? the bathrooms near the entrance were probably the grossest ones i have ever seen in my life, definately didnt want to touch anything in there so we just held it. i wouldnt say i regret going, it was a way to kill an afternoon and get some fresh air, but i also wouldnt go out of my way to come back here. overall it was just okay.

Easy to get in/out of Yosemite. Rarely had to wait for more than a few cars to get though the entrance when you went 1st thing in the morning.

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