female and male student walking under an archway of balloons across scholars bridge

Yosemite National Park Outing

As you plan your trip to Merced this July, consider extending your stay by joining our UC Tech-organized, optional post-conference outing to Yosemite National Park on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Tickets will be available for purchase until July 10, or when tickets sell out.

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Purchase Yosemite National Park Tickets

 

About the Park

Located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, this park is famous for its ancient sequoia trees, rushing waterfalls, and granite cliffs! Some fun facts about the park:

  • After California’s 1849 Gold Rush, word of Yosemite’s beauty spread, inspiring the first hotels and stagecoach routes that brought tourists to the valley.
  • Yosemite’s smooth domes, country peaks, and dramatic walls were shaped by glaciers over thousands of years.
  • More than 400 vertebrate species, including bighorn sheep, rainbow trout, and great grey owls, call the park home.
  • Yosemite’s 800 miles of trails span elevations from 1,800 to over 13,000 feet, providing access to diverse vegetation zones.
Giant sequoia trees stretching high into the forest canopy at Yosemite.
Giant sequoia trees stretching high into the forest canopy at Yosemite.
Yosemite's waterfalls cascading from breathtaking heights.
Granite cliffs rising above Yosemite Valley under a clear blue sky.
Granite cliffs rising above Yosemite Valley under a clear blue sky.
Yosemite's waterfalls cascading from breathtaking heights.

About the Tickets

  • What’s included in the cost: Each ticket is $50, which includes round-trip transportation via charter bus and park entrance fee. On July 11th, pick-up from campus is at 7:00 a.m. and drop-off to campus is at 5:00 p.m. Please plan your own sightseeing and activities for the day. At the park, one UC Merced alumni will talk about their experiences with the Yosemite Leadership Program as an undergraduate.
  • How travel extension works at UC: This trip is a personally-paid expense for UC participants. If you extend your stay beyond the conference dates, the University will reimburse up to the cost of a standard round-trip itinerary aligned with conference travel. Any additional costs associated with a personal extension are the responsibility of the traveler. Read more about the UC Travel Extension Policy.
  • Who can purchase tickets: In addition to our attendees, tickets can be purchased for/by non-conference participants, such as friends and family.

 

How to Purchase Tickets

Tickets will be available for purchase until July 10, or when tickets sell out. Space on the charter buses is limited, so those who plan to participate are encouraged to register early.

  1. On the UCOP Events landing page, select “UC Tech Conference Registration.” You will be redirected to the Yosemite National Park Registration page.
  2. Check the Available Quantity under the Quantity field to see how many tickets remain.
  3. Fill out your information and click Add to Cart. Then click Checkout or the cart icon to complete your payment.
  4. That’s it – After payment, check your email for your receipt.

Ready? Purchase tickets for UC Tech-organized Yosemite National Park outing.

 

Charter Bus & Trip Logistics

Action Required: Complete Liability Waiver

Each participant is required to fill out a Liability Waiver for the YNP outing. You may either submit your waiver to the YNP Waiver Box Drop-off Folder in advance of July 11 or complete a printed copy on the day of the outing. 

Charter Bus Departure from UC Merced

The charter buses will depart at 7 a.m. from the UC Merced University Transit Center, located next to the Student Health and Athletics Center (see campus map).

Please plan to arrive between 6:30-6:45 a.m. so that we can board and depart on time. Every minute saved leaving campus will minimize traffic and entrance delays at the park!

The trip to Yosemite is expected to take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic. Each bus is equipped with one restroom.

Park Arrival and Departure

Charter buses will drop off and pick up passengers at the Laurel Cottage Bus Stop, which is the designated location for charter buses within the park. Participants are free to explore the park at their own pace throughout the day.

For the return trip, please plan to arrive between 2:30-2:45 p.m. to the Laurel Cottage Bus Stop so that everyone can be accounted for before the buses depart at 3 p.m.

The buses are expected to return to the University Transit Center around 5 p.m., depending on traffic.

Optional Yosemite Leadership Program Talk

Attendees are welcome to attend an optional Yosemite Leadership Program Alumni and National Park Staff Talk at 1 p.m. in front of the Museum at Yosemite Village. This location has nearby dining options, making it a convenient place to grab lunch before the talk.

Parking at UC Merced

If you plan to leave your vehicle on campus for the day, you may park in the Bellevue Parking Lot. Parking is free on weekends.

Trip Timeline

6:30-6:45 a.m. | Participants arrive at UC Merced University Transit Center

7 a.m. | Depart UC Merced for YNP

9:30-10 a.m. | Arrive at YNP; bus drop-off at Laurel Cottage Bus Stop

1 p.m. (Optional)| Yosemite Leadership Program Alumni and NP Staff Talk in front of Museum at Yosemite Village

2:30-2:45 p.m. | Participants return to Laurel Cottage Bus Stop

3 p.m. | Depart YNP for UC Merced

5 p.m. | Arrive back at UC Merced University Transit Center

 

Trip-Planning Resources