About Yosemite National Park:
Located Central California in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park is one of the most iconic U.S. national parks, renowned for its dramatic granite cliffs, towering waterfalls, ancient giant sequoias, meadows, and vast wilderness. It spans about 1,200 square miles (3,070 km²) across several counties, making it about half the size of the state of Delaware (approximately 2,490 square miles). It attracts millions of visitors annually for hiking, rock climbing, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives.
Among its most well-known features are Yosemite Valley (with El Capitan and Half Dome), waterfalls (especially in spring), Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, high country along Tioga Road, and Glacier Point vistas.
And, of course there is abundant wildlife….but not all of it is friendly: this is bear country, so stay on trails, store food properly and respect water safety near falls/rivers, and prepare for variable weather and limited cell service. There are options for camping inside the park (book ahead) or in gateway towns nearby.
About Our Lady of the Snow Catholic parish in Yosemite Valley:
The main Catholic parish in Yosemite Valley is Our Lady of the Snow, located outside of the park, offering multiple Mass times daily. It is easy to confuse this with Our Lady of the Snow Chapel inside Yosemite National Park, which is a non-denominational chapel.
Our Lady of the Snows is a Catholic parish and part of the Diocese of Fresno. For canonical purposes, the pastor of Our Lady of the Sierra in Oakhurst, is responsible for the valid celebration of the sacrament of Matrimony within the park and is to record all marriages in the sacramental record books of Our Lady of the Snows, Oakhurst.
Traveling to Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Chapel in Yosemite Valley, California:
Originally located near the Four Mile Trail trailhead, it was relocated around 1901 to its current site in the Old Village area of Yosemite Valley as other buildings were removed. It has undergone restorations (e.g., foundation raised in 1965 for flood protection) and sustained damage in the 1997 flood. It sits in a scenic spot with views of Yosemite Falls and meadows, surrounded by iconic granite cliffs.
Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Chapel is accessible via park roads/shuttles (e.g., Bus #5 or #9 on Northside Drive for some references). Check current park conditions for traffic and parking. Mass times can change seasonally or due to special events, so it’s best to call ahead or check the parish website for the latest schedule.
Physical address: 9006 Cedar Court, Yosemite, CA, 95389
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2499, Oakhurst, CA, 93644
Phone: +1 (559) 642-3452 Fax: +1 (559) 642-4655
There is no official website for Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Chapel in Yosemite Valley, California<. Website: http://www.olscatholic.org/churches/our-lady-of-the-snows