It’s a must-have summer experience to see the spectacular sights of Yosemite National Park and Mono County (home to Mammoth Lakes), and each summer thousands of tourists flock to these areas for a fun, beautiful getaway. Outdoor activities are numerous, hiking trails are plentiful, and there’s no question that these destinations embody nature’s finest work. What if you could see both of these national wonders in one trip?

This summer, it’s possible and it’s easier than ever when you ride Amtrak California! From now through September, Amtrak California will partner with the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) to give Amtrak riders special access to Yosemite Park and Mono County in one majestic summer trip. Get ready to see Yosemite Falls, the Volcano Domes, Tioga Pass and dense alpine forests. When you travel on the luxurious YARTS coach – equipped with a restroom, air conditioning and wheelchair access – you’ll see Yosemite and the Mammoth Lakes area from a completely new perspective. What’s more, passengers coming from Amtrak California aboard the YARTS coach will not pay any entrance fees to Yosemite National Park.

This summer-only service will transport Amtrak California riders from any station on the San Joaquin route to the Merced Amtrak station, where there is a direct motor coach to Yosemite Park. There are trains located in different cities on Amtrak California’s Pacific Surfliner and Capitol Corridor routes that will connect you to the San Joaquin route such as Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco. The San Joaquin route also has stations located in various cities in the central valley such as Bakersfield Fresno and Stockton – so it is pretty simple to find a train.

From Merced the motor coach takes you through Yosemite’s beautiful high country and Tuolumne Meadows (where hikers can choose to get off the coach and begin hikes to Mammoth Lakes or back through the Yosemite Valley) before arriving at Yosemite National Park for a brief stopover.

After a few hours in Yosemite, the coach then continues to Mono County, stopping at Lee Vining and the June Lake Loop before arriving at Mammoth Lakes. YARTS schedules allow riders to spend several hours in Yosemite, and coaches leave each evening to continue the trip.

From now through June 28 and between September 5 and September 27, the service will only occur on Saturdays and Sundays. From July 1 through August 31, the service will run daily. Any baggage that passengers bring with them from their train ride will be transferred and stored beneath the YARTS coach. Amtrak California and YARTS sample schedules are as follows:

FROM MERCED TO MAMMOTH LAKES

• Depart from the Merced Amtrak Station at 9:00 a.m.
• Take a 2 hour and 40 minute coach ride to Yosemite; arrive at 11:40 a.m. • Leave Yosemite at 5:00 p.m.
• Take a 3 hour and 51 minute coach ride to Mammoth Lakes; arrive at 8:51 p.m. (stops will be made between Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes at Lee Vining and the June Lake Loop)


FROM MAMMOTH LAKES BACK TO MERCED AMTRAK STATION
• Leave Mammoth Lakes at 7:00 a.m. (stops will be made between Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes at Lee Vining and the June Lake Loop)
• Take a 3 hour and 55 minute coach ride to Yosemite; arrive at 10:55 a.m.
• Depart from Yosemite at 4:10 p.m.
• Take a 2 hour and 59 minute coach ride back to Merced; arrive at 7:09 p.m.

Tickets for this trip are available through Amtrak (including the portions of the trip aboard a YARTS shuttle). For fares and schedules from various Amtrak stations to the Merced station and through to Mammoth Lakes, visit www.Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL. To learn more about YARTS or Mono County and to read tips on planning your trip, visit Yarts.com and Visit Mammoth.com This is a great opportunity for summer travel, and what’s even better is that you won’t have to drive. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the rides!

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