The Yosemite toad is restricted to the vicinities of wet meadows in the central high Sierra. This toad primarily frequents montane wet meadows, but also occurs in seasonal ponds associated with lodgepole pine and subalpine conifer forests. Tadpoles feed on bottom detritus, or by filtering suspended plant material and planktonic animals.
Individuals occasionally hide under rocks in streambeds.
Eggs are deposited in shallow, quiet pools in wet meadows, or in shallow tarns surrounded by forest. This species normally frequents moist microhabitats. Water for reproductive activities is provided by spring snowmelt. Quiet pools in alpine meadows provide optimal habitat. Terrestrial individuals are primarily diurnal, but have much crepuscular and nocturnal activity during warmer periods.