August in Yosemite National Park is a good month: highs around 90°F, lows around 56°F. Crowds: peak crowds — #1 busiest of the park's 12 months. Falls fade to a trickle; wildfire smoke possible. The editorial best window here is May–June. You get about 13h 37m of daylight. To finish Half Dome (7h 45m) before dark, leave the trailhead by about 12:06 PM.
Month data reviewed · how we check this
| Verdict | Good A solid visit with a caveat — usually crowds or heat. |
|---|---|
| Temps °F | 90° high / 56° low |
| Crowds | peak crowds · #1 busiest of the park's 12 months |
| What August is like | Falls fade to a trickle; wildfire smoke possible |
| Best window (whole year) | May–June |
| Peak crowds (whole year) | Jun–Aug |
CROWDS: RELATIVE SEASONALITY FROM NPS VISITATION STATISTICS · TEMPS: APPROXIMATE NOAA NORMALS AT MAIN VISITOR ELEVATION — HIGH COUNTRY RUNS 10–20°F COLDER
DAYLIGHT ON AUGUST 15 · LOCAL PARK TIME (PDT)COMPUTED FROM THE PARK'S OWN COORDINATES FOR THE 15TH — THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH STANDS FOR IT, AS IT DOES FOR CLIMATE NORMALS. WITHIN A MONTH THESE TIMES SHIFT BY UP TO AN HOUR
LEAVE THE TRAILHEAD BY — TO FINISH BEFORE DARK ON AUGUST 15WALKING TIMES ESTIMATED FROM EACH TRAIL'S MEASURED DISTANCE AND ELEVATION GAIN — A PLANNING FIGURE, NOT A PACE. ADD YOUR OWN MARGIN FOR PHOTOS, REST AND CROWDS. WATER AT THE HOT-WEATHER RATE, BECAUSE THIS MONTH AVERAGES 90°F. TRAILS WE HAVE NOT MEASURED ARE LEFT OUT RATHER THAN GUESSED
WHAT AUGUST ASKS OF YOU HEREYosemite National Park in September — Good, highs around 84°F, crowds: busy (warm, calmer valley — climbers' season on el cap).
Our verdict for August is "Good". A solid visit with a caveat — usually crowds or heat. Expect highs around 90°F and lows around 56°F, with crowds at the "peak crowds" level. Temperatures are approximate NOAA normals at the main visitor elevation; crowd levels follow published NPS visitation statistics.
Across the full 12-month review, the best window is May–June, and the peak-crowd months are Jun–Aug. August itself we rate "Good".
About 13h 37m on August 15: the sun rises around 6:14 AM and sets around 7:50 PM local park time (PDT). Computed from the park's own coordinates, so it is the light you actually get at the trailhead, not the nearest city's.
Half Dome takes about 7h 45m of walking, so on August 15 you would need to leave the trailhead by about 12:06 PM to finish before dark — the sun sets around 7:50 PM local park time (PDT). Walking times are estimated from each trail's measured distance and elevation gain, so treat them as a planning figure and add your own margin for photos, rest and crowds.
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