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Jun-Jul 2008 Yosemite Guide Where toGo and What toDoin Experience Your AmericaYosemite NationalPark Yosemite Guide June – July 2008 Yosemite 14 10 09 01

to Yosemite Welcome and Events Programs Trip Planning Your Yosemite Secrets Special Feature: Highcountry Meadow. June 11 –July22 Inside: Vol.33, IssueNo.1 Yosemite National Park America Yosemite Experience Your Photo byKen Watson

US Department of the Interior Third Class Mail Postage and Fee Paid PO Box 577 US Department of the Interior Yosemite, CA 95389 G 83 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Guide June – July 2008 Welcome to Yosemite

Keep this Guide with you to Get the Most Out of Your Trip to Yosemite National Park

park, then provide more detailed infor- mation on topics such as camping and hiking.

Keep this guide with you as you make your way through the park. Pass it along to friends and family when you get home. Save it as a memento of your trip. This guide represents the collaborative energy of the National Park Service, The Yosemite Fund, DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Yosemite Association, The Ansel Adams Gallery, and Yosemite Institute—organizations Illustration by Lawrence W. Duke dedicated to Yosemite and to making your visit enjoyable and inspiring (see The Yosemite page 23). Experience National parks were established to once wrote, “As long as I preserve what is truly special about live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and Giant Sequoias. NPS Photo America. They are places to be shared, winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn places where everyone is welcome, plac- the language of flood, storm and the An Internationally Recognized Park es where we can re-connect with our avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with spirit. Whether you are here for a few the glaciers and wild gardens, and get Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is hours or a few days, let Muir’s words— as near the heart of the world as I can.” internationally recognized for its spectacular cliffs, and this guide—bring you nearer to the Yosemite provides nearly 1,200 square waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, and heart of Yosemite. During your visit to miles of forests, meadows, granite cliffs, Yosemite, perhaps you too will make a biological diversity. lakes and ponds, , roads, and lasting connection with this place. pristine wilderness to do just that.

As Muir understood, there are as many ways to experience this amazing place as there are granite rocks in the landscape. To make the most of your time here, read through and enjoy this newly designed edition of

Yosemite Guide. The contents of this Illustration by Tom Whitworth publication will first give you options for what experiences you choose to have here, help you plan those experiences, What’s Inside: provide a listing of services and High Sierra. Photo by Bob Roney . NPS Photo programs available in each area of the 02 Exploring Yosemite 05 Wildlife 06 Protecting Your Park Entering a National Park educational, ecological, and historic values; Assistive Listening Devices are available upon Prepare yourself for a wild and provide opportunities for solitude and advance request. Inquire at a visitor center. 07 Protecting Yourself experience. Yosemite is a place primitive recreation. To learn more about how 08 Kids Corner where natural forces—such as to plan your trip and reduce your impact on Weather rockfall, fire, and flood—are the Wilderness during your visit, see pages 6 Sudden changes in weather are common in 09 Feature Story the Sierra Nevada. Check at a park visitor constantly at work. Here, wildlife freely roams. and 7. 10 Planning Your Trip This is a place where wilderness prevails. center for the most up-to-date weather fore- The National Park Service recognizes the Park Access & Parking cast. The National Weather Service broadcasts 12 The Yosemite Accessibility Guide is weather information for Yosemite National importance of Yosemite’s natural processes 16 Wawona and is bound by its mission to protect them available at park entrance stations, Park 24 hours a day on NOAA Weather Radio for the benefit and enjoyment of future visitor centers, and online at www.nps. station KAD-94, on a frequency of 162.450 18 gov/yose/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm. TTYs MHz. Please note that reception may not be generations. While you are enjoying your visit, 20 Camping be attentive to the special regulations in place are available inside Yosemite Lodge and The available in remote areas. to protect park resources (page 6) and those Ahwahnee, and outside the Valley Visitor 21 Hiking Road Information designed for your safety (page 7). Center and office. Construction may cause short delays 22 What’s Happening Accessible parking spaces are available just or detours on some park roads. Fire – Police – Medical Emergency: west of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. 23 Supporting Your Park Dial 911 Call 209/372-0200 for recorded road To reach these, enter the Valley on Southside information. 24 Shuttle Map Drive. Turn left on Sentinel Drive. Turn left Road, Weather, and General Park on Northside Drive, and follow the blue-and- Lost and Found Information: 209/372-0200 white accessibility signs. To inquire about items lost or found at one Programs & Events: of Yosemite’s restaurants, hotels, lounges, Yosemite Wilderness A sign language interpreter may be available for deaf and hard-of hearing visitors. shuttle buses, or tour services, call 209/372- Congress has designated nearly 95 percent 4357. For items lost or found in other areas 14 In Yosemite Valley of Yosemite National Park as Yosemite Call 209/372-4726 to request an interpreter. of the park, call 209/379-1001. In Wawona/ Wilderness. Wilderness is meant to protect Advance notice of 14 days is requested. 17 the land’s natural conditions, scientific, 19 In Tioga Road Corridor

Where to Go and What to Do in Yosemite National Park Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Exploring Yosemite

Spectacular Vistas and Quiet Corners of the Park

To experience the Valley on foot, see page 21 for a listing of popular day hikes and stop by a visitor center for a map.

To experience the Valley by bike, bring or rent a bike. Rentals are available daily, weather permitting. Baby-joggers, wheelchairs, and six-speed bikes with trailers can be rented as well. Rentals at Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village are both open 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. Call 209/372-8319 for information.

To experience the Valley on an open-air tram tour, take the Valley Floor Tour. This 26-mile, 2-hour tour departs several times daily from Yosem- ite Lodge. Moonlight Tram Tours also available the days just prior to and after the full moon.

Experience the Valley by raft along the . Raft rentals are avail- able daily, weather and river conditions permitting. Rentals at Curry Village are open 10 am to 4 pm. Call 209/372-8319 for information.

To experience the Valley on mule or horseback, 2-hour rides depart daily. Call 209/372-8348. The stables are located at shuttle stop #18 and are open 7 am to 5 pm. The Incomparable Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park embraces one of the world’s most outstanding concentrations of spectacular mountain-and-valley scenery. Its Sierran setting harbors a grand collection of high waterfalls and forests, including three groves of giant sequoias. During your visit, experience as much of this glorious place as you desire. These three pages will touch on some ways to experience Yosemite Valley as well as explore the park’s other areas and quiet corners.

Yosemite Valley From spring to fall, climbers come from this trailhead to reach foot- all over the globe to scale . bridge (¾ miles) and (3½ An unlimited array of possibilities await Note: Please park on the paved road miles). Visitors with mobility impair- you in Yosemite Valley. Most involve shoulder next to El Capitan Meadow. ments can obtain a placard at the Valley sightseeing and learning about the Delicate meadows are easily damaged by Visitor Center or an entrance station scenery before you. See pages 12-15 for trampling, so please stay on footpaths. that will authorize them to drive to the more information on program topics Nature Center at or Mirror and visitor services available. Half Dome, Yosemite’s most distinctive Lake. monument, dominates most views in The base of Lower Yosemite Fall is Yosemite Valley. Forces of uplift, erosion The walk to /Mirror an easy walk from shuttle stop #6. from rivers and glaciers, and rockfall all Meadow is a moderately easy, one-mile Impressive views of both the upper and shaped this famous feature into what walk from shuttle stop #17. During lower falls are seen on the path to the we see today. Cooks Meadow, Sentinel spring, you will see mirror reflections base. This hike features educational Bridge, , Glacier Point, and of Half Dome. The lake is naturally exhibits and a picnic area, and is Olmsted Point are just a few locations evolving into a meadow and dries up by accessible to the mobility impaired. with stunning views of Half Dome. summer’s end. Although will dry up by the end of the summer, Bridalveil Happy Isles is a place to see dramatic Tunnel View, along Wawona Road Fall is a year-round waterfall that you natural processes at work. It is easily (Hwy 41) provides a classic view of can visit by car on your way into or out reached by shuttle at stop #16. Cross Yosemite Valley, including El Capitan, of the Valley. Winds swirling about the the footbridges onto the Isles or wan- Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral cliff lift and blow the falling water in a der through outdoor exhibits detailing Rocks, and . It is particu- Yosemite’s geologic story. The Nature larly spectacular at sunset or after the delicate free-fall. Top Left: Biking through the Valley. Photo by P. Meierding Center at Happy Isles has interactive clearing of a storm. Top Right: Valley Visitor Center Desk. NPS Photo El Capitan, a massive granite monolith, exhibits and is a great place to take kids. stands 3,593 feet from base to summit. For a strenuous day hike, you can use Bottom Right: Lower Yosemite Fall. Photo by Ray Santos

 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008

Wawona Located six miles from the park’s South Entrance or a one-hour drive from the Valley, the Wawona area tells the story of Yosemite’s human history and pioneer past. The charming 19th- century and the Pioneer Yosemite History Center are a history buff’s delight. The center is a collection of historic buildings associated with the people and events that shaped the national park idea in Yosemite. Interpretive signs and a brochure provide a self-guiding tour. In summer, take a journey through time on a horse-drawn stage ride. Hill’s Studio, a painting studio from the 1880s, now operates as a visitor information station. To experience Wawona on mule or horseback, the Wawona Stable is open 7 am to 5 pm. Call 209/375-6502. Also in Wawona, you will find walks and hikes of varying difficulty to places like Wawona Meadow and , one of the tallest outside Yosemite Valley.

A short drive from Wawona is the of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite’s largest stand of giant sequoi- as (about 500 trees), and one of three groves of giant sequoias in the park (road closed to vehicles from sometime in November through May). Trail brochures are available in several languages. A one-hour tram tour of the upper and lower groves is available (normally operating between mid-May and mid-October, 9 am to 5 pm). This audio tour is available in five languages and for the visually impaired. Call 209/375-1621 for information. Note: To reduce traffic congestion and avoid parking delays, ride the free shuttle spring through fall from Wawona to the Grove. Trailers and vehicles 25 feet and longer are not allowed on the Mariposa Grove Road. Neither bikes nor dogs are allowed in the grove. Glacier Point The Glacier Point Road is open late May through sometime in November; Glacier Point is approximately a one- hour drive from either Yosemite Valley or Wawona. The Glacier Point Road takes you right to the brink of Yosemite Valley. Go to the railing’s edge and catch your breath at an exhilarating view, looking down 3,214 feet to the Valley floor. The paved trail to Glacier Point is wheelchair-accessible. For a 360-degree panoramic view of Yosemite’s unbeliev- able landscape, take the 1.1-mile hike from the Sentinel/Taft Trailhead to the top of . For a hike to deep fissures and an overhanging look- out point, choose the trail to .

Top Right: Sequoia with Dogwood. Photo by Christine White Loberg

Top Far Right: Glacier Point. Photo by Christine White Loberg

Middle Far Right: At Tunnel View. Photo by Bob Roney

Bottom Right: Valley Floor Tour. Photo by P. Meierding

 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park

A wonderful place to learn about nature, history, and yourself Tuolumne Meadows is a stunningly picturesque region at 8,600 feet up in the dramatic sky of Yosemite’s high country. Contained in a basin about 2.5 miles long, this meadow system is one of the largest in the Sierra Nevada at the subalpine level.

described by John Muir as “a grand landscape garden, one of Nature’s rarest and most precious mountain temples.” is located along the in the northern part of the park and now contains a reservoir created by the O’Shaughnessy Dam. This dam was built to provide water for the city of , and the dam was completed in 1923 and raised to its present height in 1938. Hetch Hetchy’s towering cliffs and plunging waterfalls make this a popular hiking area from spring to fall. Hetch Hetchy’s relatively low elevation gives the area one of the longest hiking seasons in Yosemite. Lake Eleanor is also nestled in the northwestern edge of Yosemite. Fishing, camping, swimming and motorless boating are permitted on this reservoir. The lake can be accessed from Highway 120.

Tuolumne Meadows and Before Storm. Photo by John Sun Tuolumne Meadows Tioga Road the park. Here, the sheer granite walls of Canyon and frame a Tuolumne Meadows is only 55 miles Originally a wagon road built by the magnificent view of Half Dome. Sight-Seeing By (1.5 hrs) by road from Yosemite Great Sierra Consolidated Silver Com- Motor Coach Valley, but it’s a world apart. The hiking pany in 1883, the Tioga Road splits Yo- A few minutes east of Olmsted Point is Several motor coach sightseeing around Tuolumne Meadows is first- semite National Park in two. Improved , named for the leader of tours are available to destina- rate. The trails are varied, the scenery to its present condition and realignment Yosemite Valley’s native people when tions within Yosemite. is exceptional, and the weather usually in 1961, the road opened up some of Euro-Americans arrived. Tenaya Lake cooperative (but plan for afternoon Yosemite’s most stunning country and is approximately eight miles west of The Glacier Point Tour is a four- thundershowers). A person could take a allowed easier access to previously Tuolumne Meadows, or 30 miles east of hour round trip from Yosemite different hike every day of the week and remote high-country destinations. This Crane Flat. This is one of the best places Valley to Glacier Point, which still not exhaust the possibilities. Some road is generally closed from November to have a picnic along the Tioga Road. departs daily at 8:30 and 10 popular hikes are those to Cathedral to late May or early June. There are The inviting sandy beach on the eastern am, and 1:30 pm from Yosemite Lodge. The Glacier Point Tour Lakes, Elizabeth Lake, Lembert Dome, several stops along the road that are shore is a wonderful spot, but if you also offers a one-way ticket for Dog Lake, or along the Tuolumne worth a visit. decide to swim, be prepared for some adventurers to hike back down River through Lyell Canyon. Stop at cold water. to Yosemite Valley. The Grand the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor At White Wolf, you could easily spend an entire afternoon exploring Tour is an eight-hour combina- Center for hiking information. For Hetch Hetchy tion of Big Trees and Glacier hiking adventures departing from the lush meadows and forests of this Hetch Hetchy Valley is accessible via Point tours and departs at 8:45 Tuolumne Meadows and arriving in Tioga Road retreat. Take a day hike to the Big Oak Flat Road and Evergreen am daily from Yosemite Lodge. Yosemite Valley, take advantage of the a peaceful lake, such as Harden Lake and Hetch Hetchy Roads; it is 40 Tuolumne Meadows Hikers’ Bus, which (a mostly flat six-mile round trip). You Call 209/372-1240 for reserva- miles from Yosemite Valley. The Hetch tions or inquire at tour/trans- departs from Yosemite Lodge at 8:20 will find the trailhead located near the Hetchy Road has restricted hours. Call portation desks at the following am daily. Call 209/372-1240 for infor- campground in the heart of White Wolf. 209/372-0200 for the most up-to-date locations: mation. To experience the Tuolumne Olmsted Point is located about midway information. Vehicles over 25 feet are Meadows area on mule or horseback, Yosemite Lodge Tour Desk between White Wolf and Tuolumne prohibited on the narrow Hetch Hetchy visit the Tuolumne Meadows Stable. 7:30 am to 7 pm Meadows. This overlook offers one of Road. Once considered a twin to Open 7 am to 5 pm. Call 209/372-8427. the most spectacular vistas anywhere in Yosemite Valley, this valley was Yosemite Valley Visitor Center 9 am to 7 pm

Village Store Tour Kiosk 7:30 am to 3 pm

Curry Village Tour Kiosk 7:30 am to 3 pm

Big Trees Tour Kiosk 9 am to 5 pm

Backpacking near Red Peak Pass. Photo by Victoria Mates Olmsted Point Erratic. NPS Photo

 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008 Bears and Wildlife

Enjoying wildlife safely and responsibly

Mountain Lions

Mountain lions are a normal and important part of the park ecosystem. They are attracted to areas with healthy deer and raccoon populations, which include many areas of the park. Although lion attacks on humans

Sow and Cub. Photo by Christine White Loberg are extremely rare, they are possible, just as is injury If you see a bear anywhere else, Backpackers: Keeping Bears Wild from any wild animal. (while protecting yourself and consider yourself lucky—but keep your Save Your Food, Save A Bear your property) distance (at least 50 yards, or about the Bear resistant food canisters are 2.7- For your safety: distance made by four shuttle buses Do not leave pets or pet food Top Three Ways to Keep pound containers that can be used to Yosemite’s Black Bears Wild parked end to end). If you get too close, store five or more days of backpacker outside and unattended. Pets and Alive: you will be helping the bear become food when meals are carefully planned. can attract mountain lions. used to being around people. Bears Canisters have an inset lid that bears are 1. Store Your Food Properly. Avoid hiking alone. Watch that become comfortable around unable to open. When used correctly, children closely and never let (see table below for details) 4,000 to humans lose their natural fear of us bears quickly learn that—although they them run ahead or lag behind 20,000 calories worth of grasses, berries, and may become too aggressive. When smell like food—the canisters are not on the trail. Teach children what acorns, and grubs—that’s the typical that happens, they sometimes have worth investigating. to do if they see a lion. diet of most bears. It’s a lot easier for a to be killed. bear to eat the thousands of calories of Bear canisters are available for $5 per What should you do if you food in an ice chest than it is to spend 3. Drive the speed limit. trip at the Valley Wilderness Center, the meet a mountain lion? Never approach one, especially if all day nibbling at grasses. Their incred- The most common human-related Wawona Information Station at Hill’s it is with kittens. Most lions will ible sense of smell allows them to detect cause of death for a black bear in Studio, Big Oak Flat Information Sta- things we can’t, which helps them find tion, Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness avoid confrontation. Always give Yosemite is being hit by a car. Slow them a way to escape. food—a black bear can smell a dead down! Driving too fast is almost always Center, and the Hetch Hetchy Entrance deer three miles away. To top it off, the cause of these accidental deaths. Station. Canisters can be rented and Don’t run. Stay calm. Hold your bears have excellent vision and can see retuned at any of these locations. ground, or back away slowly. in color, so they recognize ice chests, Did you notice the red bear markers as Face the lion and stand upright. grocery bags, and other food containers you drove through the park? Each of Report All Bear Sightings! Do all you can to appear larger. as potential food sources. them marks an area where several bears To report bear sightings, improper Raise your arms. If you have have been hit by cars in recent years. food storage, trash problems, and small children with you, pick 2. If you see a bear, scare it away Every year, bears, hundreds of deer, and other bear-related problems, leave a them up. or keep your distance. countless other animals are killed while message for the Bear Management If the lion behaves aggressively, You may not see a bear during your visit trying to cross park roads. Many of Team at 209/372-0322. Your call can be wave your arms, shout, and because they naturally avoid people. these deaths could have been avoided if made anonymously. throw objects at it. The goal However, if you see one in a developed drivers observed posted speed limits. is to convince it that you may area (like a campground or parking lot), For more information regarding bears be dangerous. If attacked, act immediately to scare it away: Make Please remember that Yosemite and proper food storage, visit the park’s fight back! noise and yell as loud as possible. If National Park is a wildlife preserve: by website (www.nps.gov/yose/bears). Generally, mountain lions are there is more than one person, stand driving the speed limit, you are helping calm, quiet, and elusive. Sight- together to present a more intimidating to protect the park and its wildlife. ings are rare, so if you spot one, figure, but do not surround the bear. consider yourself privileged!

How to Store Food “Food” includes any item with a scent, regardless of packaging. This may include items that you do not consider food, such as canned goods, bottles, drinks, soap, cosmetics, toiletries, trash, ice chests (even when empty), and unwashed items used for preparing or eating meals.

location food storage why?

Your Vehicle You may store food in your car (with windows closed) only Bears can smell food, even if it’s sealed in the trunk or glove during daylight hours. Do not store food in your car after dark: compartment, and they recognize boxes and bags as potential use a food locker. Remember to clear your car of food food sources. They can easily and quickly break into all kinds wrappers, baby wipes, and crumbs in baby seats. of vehicles! Your Campsite You must store all your food in food lockers—not in your tent Bears may enter campsites when people are present, and some or Tent Cabin or tent cabin. A food locker is available at each campsite and will even check food lockers to see if they’re secured. Keep tent cabin. Food may be stored out of sight in hard-sided RVs food lockers closed and latched at all times, even when you are with windows closed. in your campsite or tent cabin. Picnic Areas & Do not leave food unattended. Always keep food within arm’s Bears may investigate picnic areas or backpacks for food even on the Trails reach. Don’t turn your back to your food. when people are present, so be alert.

Backpacking in the Bear resistant food containers are required throughout the In Yosemite and the southern Sierra, bear canisters are the only Wilderness Yosemite Wilderness. Hanging food is prohibited in Yosemite. effective and proven method of preventing bears from getting human food.

Note: Improper food storage may result in impoundment of your food or vehicle, a fine of up to $5,000, and/or revocation of camping permit. Following these regulations and precautions decreases the chance of personal injury or property damage. However, bear damage and confrontations are still possible, even when all the regulations and guidelines are followed.

 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Protecting Your Park

Special Protection for Special Places

Our Guardians... The Water Ways Visitors to Yosemite National Not long ago, many areas along the Merced River showed signs of human trampling. Park are the park’s most impor- Now, because of the careful actions of park staff and visitors, many of these areas have tant guardians. With nearly 3.5 been restored to more natural conditions. The plants, birds, insects, and animals that million people watching over its depend on living in or near the water have been able to return to these once barren areas. special plants, animals, historic, and archeological sites, imagine You can help continue this progress by entering and exiting the river at designated launch how well-protected these park and removal points. Packing out what you pack in will also help keep the river free from resources could be! trash and prevent animals from swallowing harmful plastic or aluminum. During your visit to Yosemite be aware that there are people who either unknowingly or in- tentionally harm park resources. Please observe the following safety slippery. Consider where you will land • Trout season opens on the last Please contact a park official if tips to protect Yosemite’s river and if you fall. Never cross above rapids or Saturday in April and continues you see any of the following lakeshore habitats and to safely enjoy falls. To prevent being pulled under by through November 15 (except Frog illegal acts: water activities throughout the park. the weight or your pack, unbuckle the Creek near Lake Eleanor, which • Feeding or approaching wildlife waist strap so you can shed it if you opens June 15). • Collecting plants Swimming fall in. Do not tie yourself into safety • Special fishing regulations apply on • Hunting animals Choose swimming areas carefully and ropes—they can drown you. the Merced River in Yosemite Valley swim only during low water conditions. • Collecting reptiles and Rafting from Happy Isles downstream to the butterflies Foresta Bridge in El Portal. Within • Always supervise children closely. Conditions permitting, rafting on • Picking up archeological items these reaches of the river, it is catch- the Merced River in Yosemite Valley such as arrowheads • Avoid areas of whitewater, where and-release only for rainbow trout. (Stoneman Bridge to Sentinel Beach) • Using metal detectors to locate streams flow over rocky obstructions. Brown trout limits are five fish per and the South Fork of the Merced River and collect historic objects • Never swim or wade upstream from day. Only artificial lures or flies with in Wawona is open from 10 am to 6 pm • Driving vehicles into meadows the brink of a waterfall, even if the barbless hooks may be used. daily to any type of non-motorized • Camping outside of water appears shallow and calm. Each vessel or other flotation device. • The use of live or dead minnows, bait designated campgrounds year, unsuspecting visitors are swept fish or amphibians, non-preserved • Possession of weapons over waterfalls to their deaths when • The entire length of the Merced River fish eggs or roe is prohibited. If you see activities that could swimming in these areas. in Yosemite Valley is closed to all harm people or park resources, flotation devices whenever the river Water Quality • Swimming is not permitted in the jot down any descriptions or a gauge at Sentinel Bridge reads 6.5 feet To protect yourself from disease, treat Hetch Hetchy reservoir, May Lake or vehicle license plate number and Emerald Pool. or higher. any surface water before drinking. call the park dispatch office at • You must wear or have a U.S. Coast 209/379-1992. River Crossings • Treatment methods include boiling Guard-approved personal flotation for five minutes, use of a Giardia-rated In summer, rivers and creeks swollen by device immediately available. water filter, or iodine-based purifier. runoff from snowmelt are dangerous. For more information • Fallen trees and other natural debris • To prevent the spread of Giardia and To find out more about Yosem- • Stay away from river and creek banks in the river create important habitat other water-borne disease organisms, ite National Park regulations during high water conditions and for fish and other wildlife. use restroom facilities where available, visit www.nps.gov/yose/plan avoid rock hopping. Stream-polished Be alert—they can also create hazards and always wash hands afterwards yourvisit/yoursafety.htm and find for rafters. rocks along the water’s edge are with soap and water. In natural areas a copy of the Superintendent’s slippery when wet or dry. Fishing where facilities are not available, Compendium. This document is • If you choose to cross a stream wash, camp, and bury human waste a compilation of designations, Fishing in Yosemite is regulated under without a bridge, avoid places where (6 inches deep) at least 100 feet away closures, permit requirements, state law. A valid sport-fishing the water is either swift or over your from any water source or trail. and other restrictions made by license is required for those persons age knees. Use a stick or pole for balance the superintendent, in addition 16 years and older. When fishing, the to what is contained in Title 36 and try to cross where there is a gravel license must be plainly visible by attach- of the Code of Federal Regula- bottom. Crossing on a natural bridge ing it to an outer layer of clothing above tions (Chapter 1, Parts 1 through of rocks or logs can be surprisingly the waistline. 7 and 34), and other applicable federal statutes and regulations.

Pets • For the courtesy of others, human compan- bicycles on paved roads and paved trails. They Some visitors choose to bring pets along ions are responsible for cleaning up and are not allowed to travel off-trail, on unpaved on their vacations. Kennels (open only in depositing pet feces in trash receptacles. This trails, or in wilderness areas. Mountain biking summer) are located at the Yosemite Valley protects pets and wildlife from disease. opportunities are available in designated areas outside of Yosemite. Stable, should you need a place to board your • Pets are not allowed in any accommodations dog (call (209/372-8348). Keep in mind, in within the park and are not allowed in some Yosemite, pet owners have a few rules to follow: Red Bear, Dead Bear campgrounds. Speeding cars hit dozens of black bears, • Pets are only allowed in developed areas and • Pets may not be tied to an object and left hundreds of deer, and countless other animals on roads and paved bike paths. They are not unattended. on park roads every year. The Red Bear, Dead allowed on other trails, in wilderness areas, or Bear signs along park roads mark a place where where signs are posted indicating as such. Bicycling a bear was recently hit. Driving the speed limit • Pets must be on a leash (6 feet or less) or Each season, plants are crushed from bicycle can help save wild animals. otherwise physically restrained. travel in meadows, campgrounds, and picnic areas. Please respect park resources and keep Upper Yosemite Fall. NPS Photo

 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008 Protecting Yourself

Experience Yosemite —Safely

Keep yourself safe while exploring your park. Fire Safety There are many ways to experience the wildness of Yosemite. While the forces of nature Each year campfires, cigarettes, can create unexpected hazardous conditions, with a little common sense and some and human carelessness cause pre-planning, you can minimize the risks associated with many activities. unwanted fires in Yosemite. You can help prevent these fires by following a few fire safety tips. Traffic Safety Tell someone where you are going and weapons, bicycles, strollers, and Campfires Roads leading to the park are two-lane, when you are due back. Carry a signal motor vehicles are never allowed on mirror and whistle. Solo activities Yosemite’s wilderness trails. • Build small campfires in narrow, and winding. When traveling established campfire rings. on park roads you can protect your- require increased precautions. Wilderness Permits • Never leave a campfire self, other visitors, and park wildlife by • Stay on designated trails or routes. Free wilderness permits are required unattended. observing the following simple rules: Carry and know how to use a map for all overnight trips into the Yosemite • Extinguish campfires by stirring Please obey posted speed limits. Yosem- and compass. Wilderness. A limited number of over- with water a half hour before ite’s roads are used by both visitors and leaving the site. Carefully feel • Avoid scrambling in steep terrain or night users are permitted to enter the park wildlife. Use turnouts to pull com- charred material to make off-trail. If new to climbing, take a wilderness for each day on each trail. certain the fire is cold and out. pletely out of the road, to take photos, class to learn important safety tech- Sixty percent of each daily trailhead consult the park map, or simply enjoy Cigarettes niques before venturing out alone. quota is available by reservation, and the park’s scenery and wildlife. • Never throw lighted cigarettes • Check weather forecasts prior to your 40% of trailhead quotas are available on on the ground or out of a car a first-come, first-served basis the day window. Pack Water trip. Sudden, extreme changes in weather can occur even in summer. of or one day in advance of departure. • Crush cigarettes butts dead and Avoid dehydration or heat exhaustion; Maximum group size is 15 people, 8 for out before discarding them in carry and drink plenty of water. • Avoid dehydration or heat exhaustion; an ashtray or trash can. cross-country travel. Trailhead quotas carry and drink plenty of water, and for popular trails often fill, but there is • Do not smoke while walking on Effects of Altitude bring high-energy food. trails. Stop, smoke, and properly always space available at trailheads else- Altitude sickness may develop in other- discard the cigarette butt before • Be prepared to set up emergency where in the park. No permit is required resuming your walk. wise healthy and fit people who are shelter even when out just for the day for day hiking. Permits are issued at exposed to rapid increases in altitude. It Charcoal Briquettes • Know how to use your gear and carry wilderness centers located in Yosemite • Never burn charcoal briquettes can develop at altitudes as low as 8,000 basic repair materials. Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, Big Oak in a tent or vehicle. The carbon feet (Yosemite Valley’s elevation is 4,000 Flat, Wawona, and the Hetch Hetchy monoxide produced by burning • Avoid the combination of wetness, feet). The risk of occurrence increases Entrance Station. For general hiking charcoal is deadly in a confined wind, and cold. Know symptoms and space. with age and with diseases of the heart information or for information on treatments for hypothermia. Carry and lungs. Symptoms include headache, making a wilderness permit reservation, • After use, dunk burning fire starting materials and food. briquettes in water until cold. nausea, insomnia, irritability, shortness visit any park wilderness center. of breath, general malaise and fatigue. Carefully check them to make Protect Yosemite’s Wilderness sure the fire is out. The best way to avoid it is to slowly Backpackers who plan to visit during • Pack out all trash and toilet paper/ • Never throw burning or warm acclimatize yourself to higher eleva- from May through September are sanitary products. briquettes into trashcans or tions, over the span of two to three days encouraged to make a permit reserva- dumpsters. by gradually gaining elevation until you • Use gas stoves rather than wood fires. tion. Reservations are taken from 24 Camping Stoves and reach 10,000 feet (). Avoid weeks to two days in advance of the • Camp in an existing campsite at Lanterns alcohol, sugar and high-fat meals. least 100 feet from water and trail. start of your trip. There is a $5 per • Refuel stoves or lanterns only Should altitude sickness develop, You must be four miles from any person reservation fee. To make a when they are cold and in a descend to a lower elevation. The populated area and one mile from permit reservation, check the park’s well-ventilated area. Yosemite Medical Clinic in Yosemite any road before camping. website for trailhead availability, plan an • Never use gas-fueled lanterns Valley is experienced in diagnosing itinerary, and then call 209/372-0740. and stoves in tents, vehicles, or • To minimize trampling of vegetation, and treating this sickness. other confined spaces. These devices produce carbon monox- bring a container to carry water to More Information your camp from lakes or streams. ide gas which can be deadly. Hiking, Backpacking, www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/ and Scrambling • Maximum group size is 15 people backpacking.htm • Be honest about your abilities and for trail travel and eight people for Leave No Trace www.lnt.org plan activities with the least experi- off-trail travel. Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue Top Left: Wilderness Exploration. Photo by Bob Roney enced member of your group in mind. • Yosemite is a wildlife preserve. Pets, www.friendofyosar.org Top Right: El Capitan. NPS Photo

 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park

Just for Kids

Yosemite offers a variety of walks, presentations, and storytimes in the park. Wee Kids Corner Wild Ones is a 45-minute program packed with stories, games, and fun surprises specifi- Featuring Children and Family Programming cally for pre-schoolers. LeConte Memorial Lodge offers family programs and walks geared for kids. Children’s Storytime includes a 30-minute tale for children 7 and under. Children’s Junior Rangers and Little Cubs Wanted! Theatre offers a fun way for Kids ages 3-13 are invited to become a Little Cub or Junior Ranger. If you are 7-13, kids to connect through live you can become a Yosemite Junior Ranger by purchasing a self-guided booklet performances. Here are just a few examples of the possibilities. published by the Yosemite Association. In order to earn a Junior Ranger patch and badge, the booklet must be completed, a bag of trash collected, and any guided program Join a National Park Ranger for a Junior Ranger Hike or attended. See pages 14-19 for a complete schedule activities, including ranger-led Junior Campfire program. These Ranger programs. hands-on programs explore Yosemite’s natural world. Between the ages of 3 and 6? Yosemite has a program for YOU! Little Cubs is a self-

Spend an evening lying in a guided booklet that encourages our young visitors and their families to discover Yosemite’s meadow looking up at a wonders and to earn a Little Cubs button. This booklet (published by the Yosemite brilliant sky at the Starry Skies Association) is sold at park visitor center bookstores. over Yosemite program. This program is offered for a fee in Wawona and Yosemite Valley.

Visit the Nature Center at Happy Isles. See wildlife exhibits and a display of Yo- semite at night or play in the FIND THE ANIMALS OF YOSEMITE children’s corner. Open daily Find the underlined names of the animals of Yosemite in the word search. from late spring to September. Take the shuttle to stop #16.

Go into the Field! Join the Yosemite Institute on their grey fox fun and challenging residential california bat field science program, a five- day introduction to Yosemite’s outdoor classroom. Other custom programs for all ages are available. Contact the Yosemite ground squirrel Institute (for more information, great horned owl see page 23). mule deer pika Discover Yosemite Books. Learn about the park with Two Bear Cubs, an American Indian legend about El Capitan or The World of Small, which comes with a magnifying glass. bighorn To order these and other titles, sheeP call the Yosemite Association peregrine at 209/379-2648 or visit falcon www.YosemiteStore.com. For additional selections, shop Yosemite online at www.YosemiteGifts.com. porcupine

rattlesnake

black bear

Word search excerpted from Junior Ranger Handbook © Yosemite Association

 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008 Yosemite Secrets

Feature Article

surprised, if not more so, running away as quickly as physically possible. Black bears not accustomed to humans react this way. Yosemite may be known for bears that frequent campgrounds and parking lots in search of easily obtain- able food, yet most bears, like this one, would consider such close proximity to people their worst fear. Such is the nature of wildness—the non-reliance upon, and unfamiliarity with, humans. Nearly all of Yosemite is wild—and legally required to be kept that way by the Wilderness Act.

John Muir once wrote, “thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity...” You don’t need to travel far to find special places, to find wildness, or to forget the dis- tractions of everyday life. Every place I mentioned is within a few hours’—if not a few minutes’—walk and in or near Yosemite Valley, just one small part of the park. The other 90 percent of Yosemite is also waiting for your discovery. You don’t need to seek these experiences; you just need an open mind. And then, you will discover your own Yosemite secrets.

Illilouette Fall. Photo by Victoria Mates

Have you ever wondered about a ranger’s favorite Yosemite spot? Deep in the heart of Yosemite Valley lies an expansive meadow with perfect views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Cathedral Rocks—a place where one can see immense granite cliffs and delicate wildflowers. This place, called Cook’s Meadow, is one of my favorite spots.

Yosemite Secrets I could visit Yosemite and spend only a Another favorite: . At 370 by Ranger Jeffrey Trust few minutes at one place, I might spend feet tall, this striking waterfall stands it away from Yosemite’s most famous testament to the power of glaciers. An Visitors often ask where rangers’ favor- scenery. I might sit at Happy Isles. This example of a hanging valley, a small ite haunts are, believing they are pre- obscure spot on the map inspired glacier carved Illilouette Canyon while cious secrets. However, the truth is that W. E. Dennison, one of Yosemite’s first a larger, more effective, glacier flowed many “secret” spots are simply hidden guardians, to write: through the Merced River Canyon. in plain view. The larger glacier out-carved the “There are three islets just above the smaller one, leaving Illilouette Canyon Consider Cook’s Meadow. Many bridge which have never been given a at a higher elevation. This fortunate people make pilgrimages to Lower place in Yosemite geography, so far as inequality left its legacy in the form of Yosemite Fall—just across the street— I am able to learn, and, commemorative Illilouette Fall. It is visible from the trail yet surprisingly few take the quick of the emotions which I enjoyed when from Happy Isles to Vernal Fall; stroll around this beautiful meadow. exploring them, I have named them however, it is best seen from a few miles Meadows are home to so much life. In the Happy Isles, for no one can visit below Glacier Point from along fact, nowhere in Yosemite will you find them without for the while forgetting . greater diversity of plants and animals. the grinding strife of his world and Deer, bears, numerous birds, and an being happy.” Also not far from Glacier Point lies unbelievable number of smaller Dewey Point. Aside from the undeniably creatures all depend upon the amazing Perhaps it was at Happy Isles that I stunning view from the point, the hike variety of plants found there. learned about rest. There, I could hear there conveys the nature of Wilderness. nothing but the roar of water and the Once while hiking along the trail, Upriver you can find another, and chirping of birds. There, I could gaze up I heard branches crashing. Startled, perhaps my original, favorite place. It Far Above: Cook’s Meadow. Photo by Jeffrey Trust at a dark, yet brilliant, night sky. I could I saw a large bear who was equally has no waterfall, no grand vista. Yet, if spend hours there; indeed, I have. Above: Happy Isles. NPS Photo

 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park

Dorothy Lake Pass Emigrant il Lake a r T Dorothy Lake k Bond e e Pass r

C t S Maxwell s KE e LA Lake r C y Entrance Fees rr he Tower IN C Peak TW Mary Barney STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST c Lake Buckeye Pass Lake HUMBOLDT-TOIYABE fi Huckleberry i 9572 ft c 2917 m Lake Twin Lakes a H Reservations are NOT required EMIGRANT WILDERNESS P O NATIONAL FOREST O

k V

e N k E e e to enter Yosemite National Park. r O Peeler Crown R e C Y r Lake Lake ork Haystack N C W F A Rock S Peak AW I t Schofield Tilden C Island TO L PlanningEas Your TripOTH D Peak Lake Pass RID Styx GE Matterhorn E Vehicle $20 Pass Peak R s Otter l N l ia Slide Lake a r E F D e h Mountain Burro Green L c S Many Island E Pass Richardson Peak I n Lake Valid for 7 days a S Lake F 9877 ft (summer only) R E k 3010 m L e B Whorl e Wilma Lake r B Mountain C U Virginia Pass N T N O S O k Virginia What do you want your experience to be? Y e Y Peak Individual $10 N e Summit r N s k A e c C Lake k ri A C a Kibbie d C ON L n NY Lake e MAIN CA K KERRICK ia K r In a bus, on foot, bicycle, motor- AC in 167 J IN e g l r A k l i T e i V N re p U C S N cycle, or horse. Valid for 7 days. O O M Piute Y Mountain te N 395 L iu A L P k I 10541 ft C T Lundy e (summer only) L 3213 m k e I e Lake r T Smedberg re C k Lake C e re k Yosemite Pass $40 C Lake e Benson Benson e r r Lake Creek o Vernon C Pass n e Upper a cCab le Volunteer M McCabe E E Laurel k rn K Mount e A Peak N u Mc Lake L Valid for one year in Yosemite. Lake e t Ca k Gibson r R e be e C O R L O R IA a e N O Rodgers H k N r PLEASANT N e O A R I s M E C Lake EL Frog VALLEY E G T IR E N l AK Table Lake T V i L O Pettit Peak a A r North Peak Y 10788ft a M T Interagency Annual Pass $80 ls ri N 3288m Roosevelt Saddlebag al e A F h Mono Basin Scenic Area TILTIL c C t Lake Lake (summer only) ll L VALLEY s ti n HARVEY MONROE Tueeulala il a e Visitor Center Lake Eleanor Falls T R S r Mount Conness IN R C Valid for one year at all federal (summer only) E 12590 ft Gardisky TA HALL RESEARCH MIGUEL HET Rancheria Falls N G Virginia 3837 m Lake

CH CH U D c Highway 120 MEADOW T Y N Tioga Peak E O O Lake NATURAL AREA Lee Vining H R fi

E O closed in winter No swimming S M R i 11526ft

E Y O’Shaughnessy or boating R c 3513m V N recreation sites. A a O I

A

Dam R P Hetch Hetchy IR White E C H Y Backpackers Camp C NYON O Mountain E CA F T k 120 L N AND HE e L (wilderness permit required) A GR T re A R PATE UO D C V LU L VALLEY M O Young Lakes Ellery Lake N C T E Ragged U d Interagency Senior Pass $10 A oa Smith Peak Peak Gaylor N R Waterwheel R Tioga Lake PE 7751 ft IV Granite Peak O Falls E ss O y 2363 m e k Lakes P R n e Tioga Pass Entrance h T n e c u o r 9945ft (Lifetime) t 6 o C C e l 3031m r u Glen Aulin e H m Gaylor Lakes v Hetch YOSEMITE WILDERNESS ne Tioga Road closed November i M S R o to May west of this point Harden r 5 W ri Ten For U.S. citizens or permanent s O Lake o R ey Hetch Hetchy Entrance n Lakes iv n D la A (open limited hours) e E r De Dog Lake 13057ft e M Tuolumn 3979m residents 62 and over. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Pothole A N Mather Grant Lembert Dome A Fork Lakes Dome D iver Birch R TUO na Lake LUMNE Da e Tuolumne Peak Mount Gibbs mn 10845ft Fairview MEADOWS Facilities along Tioga Road 12764 ft lu White Wolf 3306m 3890 m uo Dome available summer only Interagency Access Pass Free E T v d Medlicott L e le Lukens a y r dd l e g Mi Lake o Dome i Cathedral ll r Bald Mountain R ra Tuolumne Meadows Mammoth Mono Pass e May T Peak F (Lifetime) e 7261ft d a 10940ft Visitor Center k o Peak 10604 ft n a Lake g e r 2213 m k 12117 ft 3232 m o Siesta o 3335m e R i r 3693 m R T o Lake Mount Hoffmann C a 10850ft May Lake Elizabeth Lake a g k Cathedral Lakes Budd L For permanently disabled U.S. d o e 3307m Y K i e Lake Unicorn Peak U T r Tresidder r E N Parker Pass C i L A ASPEN Peak u C VALLEY A L M Tenaya T y C citizens or permanent residents. H t R r E Lake E C S To n Johnson e T D f Manteca Porcupine h R Peak f A o A a N J R 120 Flat k L Yosemite e Nelson Y Information Station Sunrise e umne O Koip Peak l Riv Creek r Lake Potter K o C O 12962 ft Big Oak Flat Entrance u e N T r Olmsted Point I Facilities along Tioga Road Vogelsang P 3950 m e Evelyn N k t k Point S i o r available summer only e O Sunrise Lakes Lake ut Fo re R h m Y C C A

e N N P R s o E

A a G S o C h

E c T Y eek c Hodgdon r E i

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ek w Vogelsang e c Meadow Tioga Road closed A r Ireland Lake Amelia

o Y C Lake T A

information outside November to May n Earhart a N 4 E C

T

S m Mount r east of this point Emeric e Peak r e k Clouds Rest a Watkins Lake chVogelsang B e k s

r a 9926 ft et Donohue Peak a y e i e 1 l t g F k 12023 ft r a e Peak O TUOLUMNE c n 3025 m r e the park C C e a k e T 3665 m k GROVE T r rail an C Bernice d Flat Roa Tamarack Flat ise J d nr Lake o e u Babcock Lake h Waugh Yosemite Valley Visitor Center S Donohue Crane Flat d n Lake a Merced s Pass c i M s Lake ew a L u MERCED C erce West Highway 120 C M d ir GROVE re T B e Half ra i k il g Dome er R iv Mount Florence O Y Y LE Merced Lake 12561ft 13114 ft Yosemite Chamber of Commerce C a E L Bunnell r k El Capitan A 3829 m 3997m a L L V Tunnel Glacier IT ITE Point Merced Lake n F L TLE YOSEM e A (summer only) la V Point C t Valley View 800/449-9120 or 209/962-0429 M r R Tunnel E e Tunnel T o d Y O M I s e S E s k Washburn C SEE VALLEY MAP BELOW Lake Fork re Tunnel View e ll Tuolumne County k Inspiration Dewey Mount Starr King Lye Foresta Point Point 9092 ft 12936 ft STANISLAUS 2771 m 3943 m Old Inspiration Mount Ansel Adams Arch Rock Point Mount Clark 11760ft se C 11522 ft Visitors Bureau NATIONAL FOREST Entrance Grou ree 3584m k 3 3512 m Glacier Point Road Foerster Peak McGURK 12057ft 13142 ft Portal Ro closed November to 4006 m El ad MEADOW Illilo 3675m May east of this point uet 800/446-1333 te El Portal Glacier Point Gray Peak Rd MONO k 140 SUMMIT r MEADOW C d MEADOW o Long Mountain ce H r R r C L F e ive r 11502 ft www.thegreatunfenced.com Bridalveil O e A M e R k 3506 m Creek R k Badger Pass I Z K a Isberg Chinquapin Ski Area W O Red Peak e E B N P Peak To Merced (winter only) M S r 11699 ft Yosemite E T i YOSEMITE WILDERNESS R H E A FA d R 3566 m N West D L a I A e N E S O L l D l Isberg S v k R I D G W e N p ANSEL ADAMS E G i S e

il r Pass

E e Highway 41 G T North r Ottow E C ay Lakes WILDERNESS Cr 0 5 Kilometers e Ostrander Post Peak Pass ek Merced Peak Ski Hut 11726 ft Triple Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau ta Lower Merced Divide Post Peak 0 5 Miles Hart is 3574 m V Pass Lake Peak Lakes Upper W k HORSE a Merced Pass e n e R Merced Pass e Lake

559/683-4636 a r ID G u w C E

Visiting Yosemite Wilderness on Foot B o T Bishop n ES Free wilderness permits are required year-round for all a CR TA www.yosemitethisyear.com overnight trips into Yosemite Wilderness. A VIS

k BUEN R e Wilderness permit station; and/or o e Moraine a r ek get free wilderness permit Pacific Crest Trail d C re Buena Mountain r C Vista Peak here (summer only) lde Trail A 9709 ft Givens Fernandez 2959 m Royal Arch E Lake Pass Highway 132/49 G a Lake D ln I a Breeze Natural areas present hazards. You are responsible for your R u Lake ln R hi safety. Be prepared for rapidly-changing weather conditions. E C Ch Gale Peak N ain Coulterville Visitor Center Do not use this map for hiking. USGS topographic maps or R Johnson L 10693ft TU ake detailed trail maps are available at visitor centers. Chilnualna Fall Crescent Lake s 3259m Wawona Dome Lake Buck Camp (summer only) 209/878-3074 Sing Peak Visiting Yosemite National Park by Road 10552ft Some roads may be closed or have detours or delays. Visit Wawona Wawona Information Station 3216 m www.nps.gov/yose or phone 209-372-0200 for updated (summer only) Chiquito Pass information. Pioneer Yosemite So ced Highway 140/49 uth Mer River Paved road Unpaved road History Center Fork Yosemite Mariposa Tourism Ranger station Horseback riding Mariposa Grove Road closed in winter 2 SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST Gas station Campground South MARIPOSA Bureau (also info for Fish Camp, SIERRA Entrance GROVE Food service and High Sierra Camp Mariposa Grove lodging (by reservation only) N A T I O N A L Wawona, Yosemite West, and Fish Camp Picnic area Other public FOREST 41 Buck Meadows) campground To Fresno 866/425-3366 or 209/966-7081 www.homeofyosemite.com

Highway 120 East Yosemite Valley Glacier Point Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite Valley is world famous Glacier Point, an overlook with and Tioga Road Lee Vining Chamber of 1 3 Commerce and Mono Lake for its impressive waterfalls, cliffs, a commanding view of Yosemite The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile 5 Visitor Center and unusual rock formations. It is open Valley, Half Dome, and the Sierra Nevada, scenic drive past forests, meadows, 760/647-6629 year round and may be reached via is located 30 miles (a one-hour drive) lakes, and granite domes. It is generally www.leevining.com Highway 41 from Fresno, Highway 140 from Yosemite Valley. From Yosemite open from late May or early June through from Merced, Highway 120 west from Valley, take the Wawona Road (Highway California Welcome Center, sometime in November. The road’s Merced Manteca, and in late spring through late 41), then turn left onto Glacier Point elevation ranges from 6,200 to just under 800/446-5353 or 209/384-2791 fall via the Tioga Road (Highway 120 East) Road. Glacier Point Road is open from 10,000 feet. Along this corridor lies www.yosemite-gateway.org from Lee Vining. late May or early June through sometime Tuolumne Meadows. Here, the Tuolumne in November. Mid-December through Wild and Scenic River meanders peace- March, the road is plowed only as far as fully amidst wildflowers, domes, and Wawona and . views of high mountain peaks. Mariposa Grove The Mariposa Grove of Giant 2 Sequoias is located 36 miles Crane Flat Hetch Hetchy (1¼ hours) south of Yosemite Valley via Crane Flat is a pleasant forest Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a source 4 6 the Wawona Road (Highway 41), two and meadow area located 16 of drinking water and hydroelectric miles from the park’s South Entrance miles from Yosemite Valley at the power for the City of San Francisco, is also station. The road to the Mariposa Grove junction of Big Oak Flat and Tioga home to spectacular scenery and the is closed from sometime in December to Roads. To see giant sequoias, park at starting point for many wilderness trails. April. The nearby Pioneer Yosemite the Tuolumne Grove parking area Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is located 40 Yosemite is Open History Center in Wawona is a collection located on the Tioga Road, and walk miles from Yosemite Valley via Highway YEAR-ROUND of historic buildings associated with one steep mile down to the Tuolumne 120 and Evergreen and Hetch Hetchy Entrances are Open people and events that shaped the national Grove of Giant Sequoias. Or, park at Roads. The Hetch Hetchy Road is open 24 HOURS park idea in Yosemite. Merced Grove trailhead and walk 2 7 am to 9 pm. steep miles down to this small grove.

10 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008

Get More Info... Your Visit to Yosemite National Park By Phone & web Your experience in Yosemite depends on the time you have available and your interests. Recorded General Park Many fine maps and books are sold in visitor centers and park stores to help plan your Information including: visit. Publications, such as the Guidebook to Yosemite, published by Yosemite Association, Road & Weather Conditions, Trip Planning Information, etc. are available at visitor center bookstores or by mail. 209/372-0200 (Yosemite Association Bookstore, P.O. Box 230, El Portal, CA 95318, 209/379-2648, fax 209/379-2486, or www.yosemitestore.com.) Western U.S. National Parks 415/556-0560

On the Web If you have... Yosemite National Park 2 Days 3 Days www.nps.gov/yose Consider the suggestions for one day, For a three-day trip, you could visit all The Ansel Adams Gallery 1 Day but perhaps choose two areas of the areas or spend your time becoming www.anseladams.com park to intimate with one. If your goal is to Park your car in Yosemite Village Camping Reservations explore. Take cover as much of and ride the free shuttle bus around www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/ Yosemite Valley to popular destinations. in the bird’s- the park as pos- camping.htm Be sure to stop at the Valley Visitor eye view of the sible, don’t miss Center and Yosemite Museum to learn Valley from Yosemite Valley, DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite more about Yosemite’s story and view Glacier Point Glacier Point, www.yosemitepark.com and perhaps the Tioga Road, the park’s award-winning, 23-minute Regional Information film Spirit take a hike to Tuolumne Mead- www.yosemite.com of Yosem- Sentinel Dome or Taft Point. Choose a ows, and a giant ite. Attend longer hike to venture more deeply into sequoia grove. Yosemite Area Regional a special the Yosemite Wilderness. You might You might take Transportation System (YARTS) www.yarts.com event, ranger enjoy the features of Yosemite while advantage of an program, or pedaling a bike, floating on a leisurely art class at Yosem- Yosemite Association guided tour raft trip, or riding on horseback. Travel ite Art and Education Center or partici- www.yosemite.org (see pages back in time on a horse-drawn stage pate in a Yosemite Association Outdoor 12-19). The ride or during a blacksmith demonstra- Adventures. To improve outdoor skills, Yosemite Fund www.yosemitefund.org popular Val- tion in Wawona. Hike or take a tram Yosemite Mountaineering School offers ley Floor Tour is a two-hour open-air tour through the Mariposa Grove of programs, guide services, and classes. Yosemite Institute tram tour that takes you past many of Giant Sequoias. www.yni.org/yi the Valley’s unique features. Travel the Tioga Road, where spectacu- or if you are... Reservations A great way to see any area of the lar scenery, vast meadows, and Campground Reservations park is to meander along a trail, bike mountain lakes await you. Choose (callers from U.S. and Canada) path, or meadow boardwalk. Pick up places to stop, picnic, hike, and spend Returning 800/444-6777 more time based on what appeals TTY (toll-free) 877/833-6777 self-guiding trail brochure, A Changing Visit a new area of the park—or focus most to you. Stop at Olmsted Point for Yosemite, in front of the Valley Visitor your visit in just one favorite location. Campground Reservations incredible views of Half Dome, Clouds Center and follow the trail posts around For unique scenery as well as access (International callers only) Rest, and . Climb a dome Cook’s Meadow. The short walk to to the northern Yosemite Wilderness, 518/885-3639 near Tuolumne Meadows. the base of Lower Yosemite Fall is well perhaps travel to Hetch Hetchy. No worth it, especially during the spring Lodging Reservations Nightly programs are available matter where you are exploring, attend season, when the waterfall thunders 801/559-5000 (see pages 12-19). Night sky programs, a program or event to learn something www.yosemitepark.com down the Valley wall. See page 21 for evening talks, campfires, and theater new. To increase your involvement, some other trail options, including performances are just a few options take part in a volunteer clean-up or Visitor Centers other self-guiding trails. Before leaving Excellent resources for that may be available on the nights you resource protection project. Attend the park, visit giant sequoias in the park information, wilderness are here. a park open house to learn about Mariposa, Tuolumne, or Merced future projects and how to help shape permits, and park-related publications and handouts. Groves. Yosemite’s future (see page 22). Explore the potential for becoming a Yosemite Yosemite Valley Association volunteer to spend a month Visitor Center living and volunteering in Yosemite. Open daily all year. Current hours: 9 am to 7 pm

Big Oak Flat Additional Information Information Station Religious Services CHURCH OF CHRIST (Nondenominational) Service Organizations Closed in winter; generally open El Portal Chapel/Worship Service YOSEMITE COMMUNITY CHURCH Alcoholics Anonymous spring through fall. Sunday 11 am (Nondenominational Christian) 7:30 pm Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday Current hours: 9 am to 7 pm Wedding information at Foresta Road, at top of Chapel Lane DNC General Office Building www.yosemitevalleychapel.org (Employee Training Center) Yosemite Village CROSSWAY TRIBE OF JESUS Wawona Worship Service/ (Christian Protestant) Lions Club Information Station Sunday 9:15 am, 11 am and 6:30 pm Worship Gathering Wednesday 7:30 pm Meets the first and third Thursdays of each at HIll’s Studio (next to Wawona Thursday 7 pm Yosemite Valley Chapel month at noon, The Ahwahnee. Hotel) Closed in winter; generally Tuesday Women’s Bible Study 6:30 pm THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF Call 209/372-4475. open spring through fall. Held at Pastor Brent’s home, call 209/372-4831 LATTER DAY SAINTS Tuesday Men’s Bible Study 7 pm Sacrament Meeting at Yosemite Valley Chapel Rotary International Current hours: 8:30 am to 5 pm Meets Thursdays for lunch at noon in (weekends until 6 pm) Campground Worship Services in Lower Pines Sunday 1 pm The Ahwahnee Mural Room. Visiting Rotarian (Yosemite Valley), Wawona, and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST families and guests welcome. For meeting Tuolumne Meadows Tuolumne Meadows at 9 am Sunday Yosemite Valley at Lower River Amphitheater, reservations or information, call 209/372-8459. Visitor Center across bridge from or left ROMAN CATHOLIC Closed in winter and spring; at gate, approx. ¹⁄³ mile north of Stoneman Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Theater generally open June through Saturday Mass 7:30 pm Bridge. Saturday Service (no services July 19) September. Sunday Mass 10 am Music 9:45 am/Sabbath School 10 am/Worship Service 11 am/Potluck Picnic 12:30 pm Current hours: 9 am to 6 pm Coordinators: Ray & Edie DeFehr 209/586-4325

11 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Valley

Where to Go & What to Do

Experience Yosemite Valley A great variety of programs, services, and events are available in Yosemite Valley. The following four pages describe these offerings and hours of operation to help you guide your adventure.

Museum Gallery Sally owens & penny otwell: Valley Visitor Center Valley Wilderness interplay: Yosemite Painting and Bookstore Open 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm. Center GRANITE FRONTIERS: A Century of Beginning July 16. Owens is best known Open 9 am to 7 pm and located in yosemite climbing Open 7:30 am to 5 pm and located in for her detailed portrayals of natural Yosemite Village just west of the main Through October 27 Yosemite Village next to The Ansel objects, such as leaves and feathers, post office (shuttle stops #5 and #9), The Yosemite Museum hosts an exhibit Adams Gallery, the center offers in watercolor. Otwell, working the visitor center offers information, on the park’s climbing history, featuring wilderness permits, bear canisters, primarily in acrylic, employs brush maps, and books. artifacts, movies, and stories covering maps, and guidebooks. Information on and palette knife to create vivid land- the development of rock climbing. pre-trip planning, minimum-impact scapes. Artist’s reception at the gallery Explore the new exhibit hall and learn The exhibit is sponsored by The camping, and Yosemite Wilderness is July 18, 4 to 6 pm. how Yosemite’s spectacular landscape Yosemite Fund and was produced by also available. was formed, how people have interacted the Yosemite Climbing Association. Day-Use Parking with it through the centuries, how Yosemite Theatre-LIVE Information Station wildlife adapts and survives, and how The Indian Village of your national park continues to evolve. Join us for Yosemite Theatre! Shows Located in the main visitor parking area, Ahwahnee presented live in the Valley Visitor and open 10 am to 4 pm, the station Film: Spirit of Yosemite Located behind the Yosemite Museum Center Theater. Hear tales of John offers information about Yosemite. This inspiring visitor-orientation and open daily, the village offers a self- Muir, Buffalo Soldier Elizy Boman, or film provides a stunning overview of guiding trail brochure and exhibits on see renowned climber Ron Kauk, Yosemite’s splendor. It is shown every LeConte Ahwahneechee life. as filmed by Sterling Johnson. Tickets 30 minutes, Monday through Saturday Memorial Lodge cost $8 adults and $4 children 12 and between 9:30 am and 6:30 pm, and under, and are sold in advance at any Open Wednesday through Sunday, Sunday noon to 6:30 pm in the Valley tour desk, or at the door (if available). 10 am to 4 pm, and located at shuttle Visitor Center Theater. See page 15 for dates and times. stop #12. LeConte Memorial Lodge, Yosemite’s first public visitor center, Yosemite Museum The Ansel Adams is operated by the and features a children’s corner, library, and Located in Yosemite Village next to the Gallery a variety of environmental education Valley Visitor Center. Located in Yosemite Village next to the and evening programs. For more Indian Cultural Exhibit Valley Visitor Center and open daily information, call 209/372-4542. Open 9 am to 5 pm. from 9 am to 6 pm, the gallery offers the The exhibit interprets the cultural Indian Village. NPS Photo work of Ansel Adams, contemporary Nature Center at history of Yosemite’s native Miwok photographers, and other fine artists. Happy Isles and Paiute people from 1850 to the Handcrafts, books, gifts, digital services, present. Demonstrations of traditional Yosemite Cemetery and photography supplies are available. Open 9:30 am to 5 pm. Designed for skills are presented. No food or drink Scheduled activities are listed on the nature-exploring families, this center This historic cemetery is located just permitted. front porch. For more information, call offers natural history exhibits, interac- west of the Yosemite Museum, across 209/372-4413, or visit www.anseladams.com. tive displays, field guides, and maps. Yosemite Museum Store the street. People buried here include Nearby are short trails through forest, Open 9 am to 5 pm, the store offers American Indians and others who GALLERY EXHIBIT river, and fen. The center is a short walk traditional American Indian arts and played an important role in the Michael Frye: Contrast from shuttle stop #16. crafts, and books on related subjects. development of what is now Yosemite Through July 15. This show includes National Park. Guide to the Yosemite straight landscapes, high-key images, Above Left: Ranger Stroll. Photo by Bob Roney Cemetery is available at the Valley and nighttime work. Artist’s reception Visitor Center. at the gallery June 11, 5 to 7 pm. Above Middle: Half Dome. NPS Photo Above Right: Upper Yosemite Fall. Photo by Victoria Mates

12 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008

Hours listed are core hours for facilities and may be extended during periods of peak Parking Visitor Center Theater visitation. Check local postings for changes Indian Accessible Park and Auditorium to hours of operation. Village ATM Yosemite Ansel Cemetery Adams Wilderness Medical & Food & beverage Visitor Information Gallery Center Dental Clinic PAD Program Yosemite Post Yosemite Village Museum Office (Public Access Defibrillation) Degnan’s Complex: Degnan’s Loft To Restrooms NPS Deli, Cafe & Loft The 5pm to 9pm Headquarters Habitat Yosemite Ahwahnee Degnan’s Delicatessen Hiking Trail 5 7am to 5pm Road 9 4 Degnan’s Cafe To Yosemite Lodge Visitor

I Center n 7am to 5pm d ia n Village Grill C an 2 y o

11am to 6pm n 10 C re The Ahwahnee Yosemite Village e Village Store k Dining Room Village Grill 30 minutes To Yosemite Lodge Breakfast: 7am to 10:30am Sport Shop Village Lunch: 11:30am to 3pm Garage Dinner: 5:30pm to 9pm Lower Yosemite Fall Yosemite Sunday Brunch: 7am to 3pm Art & Appropriate attire respectfully Education requested for dinner. Yosemite Village Center Yosemite Lodge DNC Offices Reservations recommended for Curry Village dinner and Sunday Brunch. 209/372-1489 The Ahwahnee Bar From Day 1 Curry 11am to 11pm Yosemite Village Yosemite Lodge Falls Parking Yosemite Lodge Vista Coffee Corner Columbia Rock 6:30am to 8:30pm 6 Food Court Gifts & To Breakfast: 6:30am to 11am Cliff Groceries Yosemite Room Village Post Office Lunch: 11:30am to 2pm Bar & Lounge Dinner: 5pm to 8:30pm Bike Rental Trail to Mountain Mountain Room Lounge Upper Room Registration Monday – Friday Yosemite Garden Amphitheater Fall Terrace 8 (in center) 4:30pm to 11pm Nature Saturday – Sunday 7 Shop Tour Hub Food Noon to 11pm Walk-in Court Mountain Room Restaurant Campground 5:30pm to 9:30pm To Yosemite Village & Lodge To Reservations taken for 8 or more. Park Curry Village 209/372-1281 Exits Cone Stand at the Pool Housekeeping 11am to 6pm, weather permitting Camp North Pines M Lower Pines Curry Village e r Te c naya Cr Paved Trail to e eek From Mirror Lake Guest Lounge Yosemite Village Stable 8am to 10pm & Lodge 21 Amphitheater 18 Coffee Corner groceries LeConte 12 Memorial 20 14 6am to 10pm Lodge 17 Yosemite Lodge Bike & Raft Rental 19 M erc Curry Village Bar ed Ri Gift/Grocery Tour Kiosk 13 15 ver Noon to 10pm 8am to 10pm Registration Upper Pavilion Buffet Yosemite Village Post Office Pines and Lounge Breakfast: 7am to 10am Village Store Dinner: 5:30pm to 8pm Trailhead 8am to 10pm Mountain Shop Amphitheater Parking Pizza Deck Gifts/Groceries Degnan’s Delicatessen Campground Noon to 10pm Pavilion Reservation Office 16 7am to 5pm Taqueria Taqueria Curry Village Pizza Patio & Bar Junior Ranger Snack Campfire Circle Stand 11am to 5pm Housekeeping Camp Grocery Nature Center at Happy Isles Snack Stand 8am to 6pm Happy Isles John Muir Trailhead to 11am to 7pm Gift/Grocery Vernal and Nevada Falls 8am to 10pm books, gifts, & apparel Yosemite Village post office The Ansel Adams Gallery Yosemite Village 9am to 6pm Main Office Internet Access Yosemite Art & Education Center Monday-Friday: 8:30am to 5pm GENERAL SERVICES Internet access is available to park 9am to 4:30pm closed for lunch Saturday: 10am to noon Yosemite Medical Clinic visitors at three locations: Yosemite Lodge, Yosemite Bookstore Yosemite Lodge Emergency care: 24 hours daily Degnan’s Café, and the Mariposa County Inside Yosemite Visitor Center Post Office Drop-in and urgent care: Library (Girls Club), south of the Yosemite 9am to 7pm Monday-Friday: 12:30pm to 2:45pm 8am to 7pm Cemetery. Access at the library is free, Yosemite Museum Store El Portal Appointments: requires a sign-up and is available during 9am to 5pm Post Office 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday limited hours Monday through Thursday Valley Wilderness Center Monday-Friday: 8:30am to 5pm Located on Ahwahnee Drive in Yosemite (check at library for details). At Yosemite 7:30am to 5pm closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 Valley, the clinic provides routine and Village Store Lodge, kiosks and wireless access are emergency medical care, 24-hour available 24 hours for a fee. At Degnan’s 8am to 10pm paramedic/ambulance services, limited Habitat Yosemite Gas Station & auto service Café, kiosks are available 7 am to 5 pm pharmacy, lab, x-ray, physical therapy, and for a fee. 9am to 5pm Gas outside Yosemite Valley Mountain Crisis Services for victims of Sport Shop El Portal domestic violence. 209/372-4637 8am to 6pm 9am to noon, 1pm to 5pm Yosemite Mountaineering Ahwahnee Diesel available. Pay at the pump 24 hours Dental Services School and Guide Service The Ahwahnee Gift Shop with credit or debit card Adjacent to Yosemite Medical Clinic. 8am to 10pm Yosemite Village Yosemite Mountaineering School and For hours, call 209/372-4200. Guide Service offers lessons and guided The Ahwahnee Sweet Shop Village Garage If no answer, call 209/372-4637 7am to 10pm NO GAS AVAILABLE IN YOSEMITE VALLEY climbing at all levels, overnight backpack- ing, and guided day hikes to spectacular Yosemite Lodge 8am to 5pm Babysitting Gift/Grocery Towing 24 hours. Propane available until areas of Yosemite. Limited babysitting is available for Curry Village 8am to 10pm 4pm. 209/372-8320 registered guests at Yosemite Lodge Nature Shop 209/372-8344 and The Ahwahnee. Call front desk or 8:30am to noon, 1pm to 5pm 10am to 8pm showers & laundry concierge in advance for more information. Curry Village Tuolumne Meadows Mountain Shop Curry Village 209/372-8435 Curry Village Kennel 9am to 5pm 8am to 8pm 8am to 4pm Curry Village Gift/Grocery Showers open 24 hours Housekeeping Camp Located at the stable in Yosemite Valley. 8am to 10pm Dogs must be gentle, over 10 pounds; Nature Center at Happy Isles Showers open 7am to 10pm Laundromat open 8am to 10pm proof of shots and license are required. Bookstore 209/372-8348 9:30am to 5pm

13 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park

morning

Scheduled Events 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger ½ hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) in Yosemite Valley 9:30am Junior ranger walk – TRees (except June 15 & 22) 2 hrs. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) June 11 – July 22, 2008 Discovery Hike – Vernal Fall bridge 3 hrs. Curry Village Mountaineering School. Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $

Sunday 10:00am Ranger Stroll – Merced Meanders 1½ hr. Shuttle Stop #11 (NPS) Photography Walk (June 15, 22 & 29) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger ½ hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) Naturalist Walks: A Yosemite Birdwalk 2½ hrs. Yosemite Art and Education Center (YA) $ 9:00am Bike to Hike Tour 2½ hrs. Curry Village bike stand. Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ 9:30am Junior Ranger Walk – small wonders (except June 16 & 23) 2 hrs. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 10:00am Ranger Stroll – Yosemite’s First People 1½ hrs. Front of Yosemite Museum (NPS) Monday Art Class 4 hrs. Yosemite Art and Education Center. See details at left (YA) Photography Walk (June 16, 23 & 30) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) Wee Wild Ones 45 min. Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater (DNC)

8:00am Coffee with a Ranger A DNC Interpreter engages young park visitors during a Wee Wild Ones program. Photo courtesy of DNC Parks & ½ hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) Resorts at Yosemite. 9:00am Ranger Hike – Vernal Fall 3 hrs. One-way strenuous hike, 1½ mi. Shuttle Stop #16 (NPS) Photography Walk Outdoor Adventures 2 hrs. Limited space. Reservations required Sign up/meet at The Ansel Adams Gallery Conditions permitting (AAG) Join Yosemite Association for these experiences. Call 209/379-2321 or visit www.yosemite.org for 9:30am Junior Ranger Walk – water more program information and cost. (except June 17 & 24) 2 hrs. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS)

Tuesday Adventure Hike – Vernal/Nevada Falls June 14, Birding Yosemite Valley July 11–13, Yosemite Flyfishing 6 hrs. Curry Village Mountaineering School. Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ June 15, Foresta Birds July 11–13, Pastel Painting in Tuolumne 10:00am Ranger Stroll – Trees June 16-18, Moonrise July 12, Glacier Point Wildflowers 1½ hrs. Ahwahnee Shuttle Stop #3 (NPS) Art Class Photography Backpack July 18–20, Half Dome Overnight 4 hrs. Yosemite Art and Education Center. See details at left (YA) June 21, Get Lost with a Ranger July 19-22, Family Camping Jamboree June 28, Glacier Point Birding 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger July 10–13, Glen Aulin and ½ hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) Backpack 9:00am Bike to Hike Tour 2½ hrs. Curry Village bike stand. Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ Naturalist Walks: Waterfall Wednesday 2½ hrs. Yosemite Art and Education Center (YA) $ Adventure Hikes 9:30am Junior Ranger Walk – geology (except June 11, 18 & 25) 2 hrs. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) Join the Yosemite Mountaineering School for extended hikes to popular Valley destinations like 10:00am Ranger Stroll – Wild about Wildlife Vernal and Nevada Falls. See program dates and times to the right. Call 209/372-8344. 1½ hrs. Front of Valley Visitor Center (NPS) Wednesday Art Class 4 hrs. Yosemite Art and Education Center. See details at left (YA) Photography Walk Wednesday Night Art in the Village (June 11, 18 & 25) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) Explore Yosemite through the eyes of an artist at the Yosemite Art and Education Center and The Ansel Adams Gallery. Every Thursday evening from 5 pm to 6:30 pm, come join us for refreshments 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger and celebrate and enjoy art in Yosemite. ½ hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) 9:00am Photography Walk 2 hrs. Limited space. Reservations required Sign up/meet at The Ansel Adams Gallery Conditions permitting (AAG) Habitat Protectors of Yosemite 9:30am Junior Ranger Walk ahwahneechee Fridays, 9 am to 1 pm, Yosemite Valley Visitor Center (except June 12, 19 & 26) 2 hrs. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) Discovery Hike – Vernal Falls Bridge Join NPS restoration efforts. Get your hands dirty and help preserve one of America’s natural 3½ hrs. Curry Village Mountaineering School. Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ wonders. Volunteers will work on restoration projects and learn about efforts to help restore the 10:00am Ranger Stroll – Yosemite’s Legacy 1½ hrs. Front of Valley Visitor Center (NPS) Valley. Wear long pants and closed-toe boots. Long sleeves, water, snacks, and sunblock are Thursday Art Class recommended. Groups larger than ten are required to pre-register. To learn more, please contact 4 hrs. Yosemite Art and Education Center. See details at left (YA) Marielle Debree at 209/379-1304 or [email protected]. Wee Wild Ones 45 min. Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. Curry Village Amphitheater (DNC) 11:30am Photography Walk Free Art Classes (June 12, 19 & 26) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) The Yosemite Art & Education Center offers free classes Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 2 pm. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Be prepared for a short walk and bring ½ hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) something to sit on. Bring your own supplies, or buy them at the center, located near the Village 9:30am Junior Ranger Walk – wildlife Store. Please register in advance. (except June 13, 20 & 27) 2 hrs. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) Adventure Hike – Secrets of the Valley June 16 – 21, Tom Fong Watercolor – Bold & Free July 14 – 19, Roy Gould Easy Valley Landscapes 6 hrs. Ahwahnee Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ 10:00am Ranger Stroll – Geology June 23 – 28, Don Fay Watercolor for Landscape July 21 – 26, Thor Ericson Dramatic Watercolors 1½ hrs. Front of Valley Visitor Center (NPS) June 30 – July 5, Pat Hunter Watercolor July 23 – 28, Jan Schafir Watercolor Art Class 4 hrs. Yosemite Art and Education Center. See details at left (YA)

July 7 – 12, Patricia Devitt: Friday Photography Walk Painting Yosemite in Acrylic (June 13, 20 & 27) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) 10:30 am LeConte Memorial Lodge – Water is Fun!! (June 20 only) 1 hr. Shuttle Stop #12 (SC)

Programs printed in COLOR are especially for

Children and their Families 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger ½ hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) 9:00am Photography Walk 2 hrs. Limited space. Reservations required. Sign up/meet at The Ansel Adams Gallery Conditions permitting (AAG) NPS National Park Service Indicates facilities accessible to Bike to Hike Tour DNC DNC Parks & Resorts visitors in wheelchairs. Short, steep 2½ hrs. Curry Village bike stand. Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ at Yosemite, Inc. inclines may be encountered. 9:30am Junior Ranger Walk – bears (except June 14 & 21) 2 hrs. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) AAG The Ansel Adams Gallery A sign language interpreter may be 10:00am Ranger Stroll – Ahwahneechee Stories and Games AAC American Alpine Club available for deaf and hard-of- 1½ hrs. Front of Yosemite Museum (NPS) Art Class hearing visitors. Contact 209/372-

SC Sierra Club Saturday 4 hrs. Yosemite Art and Education Center. See details at left (YA) 4726 (TTY) or 209/ 372-0296 to Wee Wild Ones YA Yosemite Association request an interpreter. Advance 45 min. Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. Curry Village Amphitheater (DNC) YMS Yosemite Mountaineering notice of 2 days is requested. 10:30 am LeConte Memorial Lodge – How to Write My Nature Journal (June 21 only) School 1 hr. Shuttle Stop #12 (SC) Assistive Listening Devices are 11:30am Photography Walk YF Yosemite Fund available upon advanced request. (June 14, 21 & 28) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) $ Programs offered for a fee Inquire at a visitor center.

14 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008

afternoon and Early evening Evening

12:30pm Ranger Stroll – Bears 7:30pm Junior Ranger Campfire 1½ hrs. Lower Pines Camp Amphitheater (NPS) (except June 15 & 22) 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center. Sign up in advance at Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 1:00pm Photography Walk 8:00pm Yosemite Theatre – LIVE Return to Balance, High Definition Rock Climbing Film. (June 15, 22 & 29) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) 1½ hrs. Visitor Center Theater. Tickets at any Tour Desk or door $ (DNC) 1:30pm Cliffs and Climbers Hike LeConte Memorial Lodge 2½ hrs. Curry Village Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ June 15: Birds of Yosemite June 22: Hiking Half Dome 2:00pm Curry Village History Walk June 29: Mono Lake: Yosemite’s Eastern Neighbor 1½ hours, Curry Village Amphitheater (DNC) July 6: Edward Abbey: Keep It Like It Was kids crafts July 13: Shattered Air: Lightning Episode on Half Dome 1 hr. Crafts for kids age 9-12. Yosemite Art and Education Center. (YA) July 20: YNP: History, Architecture & Landscapes Sunday 2:30 pm Junior Ranger Walk 1 hr. Shuttle Stop #12 (SC) 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 8:30pm Ranger Program 6:00pm Twilight Stroll (except July 6) 1 hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) 1 hr. Meets on The Ahwahnee back lawn (DNC) Evening Program 6:45pm Wee Wild Ones 1 hr., Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC) 45 min. Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. Evening Program Curry Village Amphitheater (DNC) 1 hr., Curry Village Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC/APN/CANON) 9:00 pm Starry Skies Over Yosemite Valley 60-90 minutes. Tickets/info at any tour desk. $ (DNC) 12:30pm Ranger Stroll – Bears 7:30pm Junior Ranger Campfire 1½ hrs. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) (except June 16 & 23) 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center. Sign up in advance at Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 1:00pm Photography Walk 8:00pm Yosemite Theatre – LIVE Yosemite Through the Eyes of a Buffalo Soldier, 1904. (June 16, 23 & 30) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) (except June 23) 1½ hrs. Visitor Center Theater, Tickets at any Tour Desk or at door $ (DNC) 2:00pm Curry Village History Walk 8:30pm Ranger Program 1½ hours Curry Village Amphitheater (DNC) 1 hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) Discovery Hike – Sentinel Dome & Taft Point. Evening Program 1 hr., Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC)

Monday 4 hrs. Curry Village Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ 2:30 pm Junior Ranger Walk Evening Program 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 1 hr., Curry Village Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC/APN/CANON) 6:45pm Wee Wild Ones 45 min. Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater (DNC) 12:00pm Yosemite Forum – Formation of rock fractures and how they affect the Yosemite 7:30pm Junior Ranger Campfire landscape (July 8 only) 1. hr. Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium (NPS) (except June 17 & 24) 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center. Sign up in advance at Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 12:30pm Ranger Stroll – Bears 8:00pm Yosemite Theatre LIVE: John Muir is Back – and Boy, is he Ticked Off! 1½ hrs. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) 1½ hrs, Visitor Center Theater, Tickets/info at any tour desk or at door $ (DNC) 1:00pm children’s theatre live: ranger ned’s big adventure 8:30pm Ranger Program 1 hr. Near Curry Village. Check tour desk for tickets/info. (DNC) $ 1 hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) 2:30 pm Junior Ranger Walk Evening Program 1 hr., Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC) Tuesday 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 6:00pm Twilight Stroll Evening Program 1 hr. Meets on The Ahwahnee back lawn (DNC) 1 hr., Curry Village Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC) 6:45pm Wee Wild Ones 9:00 pm Starry Skies Over Yosemite Valley 45 min. Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. Curry Village Amphitheater (DNC) 60-90 minutes. Tickets/info at any tour desk. $ (DNC) 12:30pm Ranger Stroll – Bears 1½ hrs. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) 7:30pm Junior Ranger Campfire 1:00pm NPS Open House (except June 11, 18 & 25) 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center. (June 25 only) 4 hrs. Come and learn about park improvement efforts. Valley Visitor Sign up in advance at Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) Center Auditorium. (NPS) 8:00pm Yosemite Theatre LIVE: Conversations with a Tramp. Photography Walk 1½ hrs, Visitor Center Theater, Tickets/info at any tour desk or at door $ (DNC) (June 11, 18 & 25) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) 8:30pm Ranger Program 1 hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) 2:00pm Curry Village History Walk 1½ hours Curry Village Amphitheater (DNC) Evening Program Discovery Hike – Vernal Falls Bridge 1 hr., Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC) 3½ hrs. Curry Village Mountaineering School. Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ Evening Program 2:30 pm Junior Ranger Walk 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 1 hr., Curry Village Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC/APN/CANON)

Wednesday 5:00 pm Wednesday Night Art in the Village 9:00 pm Starry Skies Over Yosemite Valley 1½ hrs. Yosemite Art & Education Center & The Ansel Adams Gallery. Details at left 60-90 minutes. Tickets/info at any tour desk. $ (DNC) (YA/AAG) 6:00pm Family Stroll (except June 11th) 1 hr. meet near Housekeeping Camp front desk (DNC) 6:45pm Wee Wild Ones 45 min. Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. Curry Village Amphitheater (DNC) 12:30pm Ranger Stroll – Bears 7:30pm Junior Ranger Campfire 1½ hrs. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) (except June 12, 19 & 26) 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center. 1:00pm children’s theatre live: ranger ned’s big adventure Sign up in advance at Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 1 hr. Near Curry Village. Check tour desk for tickets/info. (DNC) $ 8:00pm Yosemite Theatre LIVE: John Muir is Back – and Boy, is he Ticked Off! 1:30pm Cliffs and Climbers Hike 1½ hrs, Visitor Center Theater, Tickets/info at any tour desk or at door $ (DNC) 2½ hrs. Curry Village Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ LeConte Memorial Lodge 2:00pm Curry Village History Walk June 19: Convenient Solutions to Global Warming 1½ hrs. Meet at Curry Village Amphitheater 1 hr. Shuttle Stop #12 (SC) 2:30 pm Junior Ranger Walk 8:30pm Ranger Program 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 1 hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) Evening Program Thursday Photography Walk 1 hr., Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC) (June 12, 19 & 26) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) Evening Program 4:30pm LeConte Memorial Lodge – An Inconvenient Truth 1 hr., Curry Village Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC) (June 12, June 19, and July 17 only) 1 hr. Shuttle Stop #12 (SC) 9:00 pm Starry Skies Over Yosemite Valley (except July 3) 6:00pm Family Stroll (except July 3) 1 hr. Meet near Housekeeping Camp front desk (DNC) 60-90 minutes. Tickets/info at any tour desk. $ (DNC) 6:45pm Wee Wild Ones 45 min. Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater (DNC) 12:30pm Ranger Stroll – Bears 7:30pm Junior Ranger Campfire 1½ hrs. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) (except June 13, 20 & 27) 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center. Sign up in advance at Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 1:00pm Photography Walk Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration! (July 4th only) 1½ hours, Curry Village Amphitheater & (June 13, 20 & 27) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) 8:00pm Yosemite Theatre – LIVE Return to Balance 2:30 pm Junior Ranger Walk High Definition Rock Climbing Film. (Except June 13th) 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 1½ hrs. Visitor Center Theater. Tickets at any Tour Desk or door $ (DNC) 6:00pm Twilight Stroll (except July 4) LeConte Memorial Lodge 1 hr. Meets on The Ahwahnee back lawn (DNC) June 13: Along the John Muir Trail 6:45pm Wee Wild Ones June 20: Getting it Right by Writing It! Helping Kids to Write A Nature Journal 45 min. (Except June 13 and July 4) June 27 and July 18: Climbing Yosemite Walls: Demonstration & Slides Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater (DNC) July 4: Henry David Thoreau: In Wildness is the Preservation of the World

Friday July 11: Yosemite in the 1960s 1 hr. Shuttle Stop #12 (SC) 8:30pm Ranger Program 1 hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) Film – Ansel Adams 1 hr. Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater. Evening Program (Except July 4th) 1 hr. Curry Village Amphitheater, check local postings for topic. (DNC/APN/CANON) 9:00 pm Starry Skies Over Yosemite Valley (except June 13 and July 4) 60-90 minutes. Tickets/info at any tour desk. $ (DNC)\ 12:30pm Ranger Stroll – Bears 8:00pm LeConte Memorial Lodge 1½ hrs. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) June 14: Across the Range: Hike from Sequoia to Mt. Whitney 1:00pm Discovery Hike – to Union Point June 21: Global Warming: What we can tell children 3½ hrs. Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater. Tickets/info at any tour desk (YMS) $ June 28: Water & The California Dream 2:00pm Curry Village History Walk 1½ hours, Mt at Curry Village Amphitheater (DNC) July 5: Mary Austin: The Land of Little Rain July 12: Along the John Muir Trail 2:30pm Junior Ranger Walk July 19: Sierra Nevada Glaciation 1 hr. Happy Isles Nature Center (NPS) 1 hr. Shuttle Stop #12 (SC) Photography Walk 8:30pm Ranger Evening Program (June 14, 21 & 28) 2 hrs. Limited space. Front of Valley Visitor Center (Canon/APN) 1 hr. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater (NPS) 3:00pm Fine Print Viewing Rock Climbing Program 1 hr. Yosemite Lodge Amphitheater (AAC) Saturday 1 hr. Very limited space Sign up in advance inside The Ansel Adams Gallery (AAG) Evening Program 1 hr. Curry Village Amph Check local postings for topic (DNC/APN/CANON) 4:00pm Children’s Storytime 9:00 pm Starry Skies Over Yosemite Valley ½ hr. For children 7 and under (must be accompanied by an adult). 1-1½ hrs. Tickets/info at any tour desk (DNC) $ Front of The Ansel Adams Gallery (AAG) 6:00pm Twilight Stroll 1 hr. Meets on The Ahwahnee back lawn (DNC) children’s theatre live: ranger ned’s big adventure 1 hr. Near Curry Village. Check tour desk for tickets/info. (DNC) $

15 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Wawona, Mariposa Grove and

Glacier Point Trail to Alder Creek Alder Creek Trailhead Where to Go & What to Do Campground Reservation Stable Office

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Sequoias. Photo by Christine White Loberg

W Golf Shop Parking awo na Road (Hwy. 41) Explore History Accessible Park To South Entrance ATM & Mariposa Grove Discover Giant Trees Visitor Information Find Amazing Vistas PAD Program Wawona Meadow Loop Trail These park areas offer end- (Public Access Defibrillation) Restrooms less opportunities for amaz- Hiking Trail ing experiences. Road

Wawona & Pioneer Yosemite Getting to Mariposa Grove Walking through Mariposa Grove History Center Allow 1½ hours driving time to reach the the Grove grove from the Valley. Cars are prohib- Evening Programs Go back to a time of horse-drawn ited beyond the grove parking lot. The Trails into the grove extend uphill from wagons, a covered bridge, and log the trailhead at the far end of the park- Join pianist/singer Tom Bopp in the access road to the grove may close inter- cabins. A visit to the Pioneer Yosemite ing area. Interpretive signs between the Wawona Hotel lobby from 5:30 pm to mittently due to limited parking. History Center explores Yosemite’s trailhead and the California Tree pro- 9:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, Trailers are prohibited on the Mariposa Grove history and explains how Yosemite was vide a self-guiding tour. Written trans- as he performs songs and stories from Road. Private vehicles longer than 25 feet are not the inspiration for national parks across permitted on this road. lations are available at the trailhead in Yosemite’s past. Once or twice a week, America and around the world. The Spanish, German, French, and Japanese. he will present an hour-long interpre- Free Mariposa Grove & center is always open, and interpretive Dogs or bikes are not permitted anywhere tive program on the vintage songs of Wawona Shuttle signs and brochures are available. in the Grove Yosemite or the history of Wawona A shuttle stops at the Wawona Store, South Entrance, and Mariposa Grove. with slide or music accompaniment. Live Demonstrations Distance & Elevation Check with Tom at the piano for See Page 17 for dates and times. Visitors may park at the Wawona Store dates and times. to board the bus. Shuttles operate Experience Horse-Drawn Travel Grizzly Giant beginning at 9 am, and the last shuttle Distance from trailhead: Travel into history by taking a 10-minute Ranger Evening Programs leaves the grove at 6 pm, or after 0.8 mile / 1.3km horse-drawn stage ride. Tickets may be Join in a park tradition by joining a the last tour. Please use this free bus Elevation Gain: 400ft / 122m purchased at the Stage Office in the ranger for an hour of stories, legends, service to help reduce congestion and Pioneer Yosemite History Center. $3/ and fun. Topics vary each night. See parking delays. Grove Museum adults and $2/child (ages 3-12). Distance from trailhead: page 17 for dates, times, and locations. Free shuttle service between 2.1 miles / 3.5km Blacksmith Shop Smell the burning wawona and yosemite valley Elevation Gain: 800ft / 292m Wawona Information Station coal, hear the ring of the hammer on the Bus departs daily from the Wawona at Hill’s Studio anvil, and watch a demonstration of the Hotel at 8:30 am and from the Wawona Fallen Tunnel Tree Open 8:30 am to 5 pm (Fridays and ancient art of blacksmithing. Store at 8:35 am. Return trip departs Distance from trailhead: Saturdays to 6 pm), the station offers from Yosemite Lodge at 3:30pm. 2.5 miles / 4.0km information about park activities, Mariposa Grove Elevation Gain: 1,000ft / 305m Wilderness permits, trail information, Located near Yosemite’s South En- Mariposa Grove Wawona Point books, bear canister rentals, and maps. Museum Located on the grounds of the Wawona trance, the Mariposa Grove is the park’s Distance from trailhead: Hotel, Hill’s Studio was the gallery and largest stand of giant sequoias, with Open 10 am to 4 pm. Located in the 3.0 miles / 4.8km art studio of famous 19th-century about 500 trees. A few of these giants Upper Mariposa Grove, the museum Elevation Gain: 1,200ft / 438m landscape painter, Thomas Hill. Walk are visible in the parking area. Informa- offers information, displays on giant from the hotel or park at the Wawona tion about access for disabled people is sequoias, and a small bookstore. Programs printed in Store parking area and follow the path available at the tram boarding area. COLOR up the hill. For more information call are especially for 209/375-9531. Children & their Families

16 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008

Wawona & Mariposa Grove Glacier Point

8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 11:00am Hike to the ¾ hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) Hidden Illilouette Fall 9:00am junior rangers 3½ hrs. Moderately difficult 2½ hrs. Meet at Wawona Campground B Loop Amphitheater (NPS) Meet at Glacier Point Gift Shop (NPS) 10:00am Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) 2:00pm Ranger Walk – Cliffs and 10:00am – 1:00pm / 2:00pm – 5:00pm Domes Blacksmith Demonstration Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) (July 6, 13, & 20 only) 2 hrs. Taft Point/Sentinel Dome 10:00am – Noon / 2:00pm – 4:00pm parking area on Glacier Point Road Horse-Drawn Stage Rides (NPS)

Sunday 10 min. Purchase tickets from Stage Office in the Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) $ 8:00pm Campfire 1:00pm A Glimpse of the Wawona Miwok Indians (July 6, 13, & 20 only) (7/20 only) 1 hr. George Anderson’s cabin, Pioneer Yosemite Hist. Ctr. (NPS) 1 hr. Bridalveil Creek Campground, 2:00pm Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) loop C (NPS) 6:00pm Evening Stroll with a Ranger 1 hr. Wawona Hotel fountain (NPS) 8:00pm Campfire Talk with a Ranger (beginning June 29) 1 hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater (NPS) Geology Hut. Photo courtesy Yosemite Research Library 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 10:00am Ranger Wildflower Walk to ¾ hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) McGurk Meadow Glacier Point 9:00am junior rangers 2 hrs. Meet at phone booth at 2½ hrs. Join a ranger for fun discoveries in nature. Meet at the Wawona Hotel fountain (NPS) Bridalveil Campground (NPS) Ranger Walks 10:00am Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 7:45pm Sunset Ranger Talk (except July 14) 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) (July 7, 14, & 21 only) 8:00pm Campfire Talk with a Ranger ½ hr. Glacier Point railing, Join a ranger for a walk to discover overlooking the Valley (NPS) Monday (beginning June 23) 1 hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater (NPS) Yosemite’s unique, tucked-away places. 9:00 pm Starry Skies Over Wawona (except June 16th) 8:00pm Sunset Ranger Talk 60-90 minutes. Tickets/info at any tour desk. $ (DNC) (June 16, 23, & 30 only) See a pioneer cabin near a beautiful ½ hr. Glacier Point railing, meadow, explore the red fir forest, or overlooking the Valley (NPS) hike to a seldom-seen waterfall. 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 2:00pm Ranger Walk – Cliffs and ¾ hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) Domes 9:00am junior rangers (July 1, 8, 15, & 22 only) Evening Programs 2½ hrs. Join a ranger for fun discoveries in nature. Meet at the Wawona Hotel fountain (NPS) 2 hrs. Taft Point/Sentinel Dome 10:00am Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) parking area on Meet a ranger to enjoy the lengthen- Glacier Point Road (NPS) 2:00pm Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) 7:45pm Sunset Ranger Talk ing shadows in Yosemite Valley and the 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite

uesday (July 1, 8, 15, & 22 only)

T 4 hrs. Live music with pianist/singer Tom Bopp. Wawona Hotel lounge (DNC) alpenglow on the Sierra high country, ½ hr. Glacier Point railing, 7:30pm Evening Ranger Program overlooking the Valley (NPS) 1 hr. The Redwoods In Yosemite meeting room on Chilnualna Falls Rd. (NPS) or come for the sunset and stay for the 8:00pm Campfire (July 1, 8, 15, & 22 only) moonrise. Stargazing programs are 8:00pm Campfire Talk with a Ranger 1 hr. Bridalveil Creek Campground, (beginning June 24) 1 hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater (NPS) loop C (NPS) offered, as well. 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 2:00pm Ranger Walk – Cliffs and ¾ hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) Domes Ranger Hike to Chilnualna Falls (July 2, 9, & 16 only) Hours listed are core hours for facilities and 6 hrs. 8 mi. round trip, moderate to strenuous. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, lunch, 2 hrs. Taft Point/Sentinel Dome may be extended during periods of peak and sunscreen. Meet at trailhead parking (NPS) parking area on Glacier Point Road visitation. Check local postings for changes 9:00am junior rangers (NPS) to hours of operation. 2½ hrs. Join a ranger for fun discoveries in nature. Meet at the Wawona Hotel fountain (NPS) 7:45pm Sunset Ranger Talk 10:00am Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) (July 2, 9, & 16 only) Food & beverage 2:00pm – 4:00pm ½ hr. Glacier Point railing, overlooking the Valley (NPS) Wawona Horse-Drawn Stage Rides 10 min. Purchase tickets from Stage Office in the Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) $ Wawona Hotel Dining Room Wednesday 2:00pm – 5:00pm Breakfast: 7:30am to 10am Blacksmith Demonstration Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) Lunch: 11:30am to 1:30pm 2:00pm Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) Dinner: 5:30pm to 9pm 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite Saturday BBQ: 5pm to 7pm 4 hrs. Live music with pianist/singer Tom Bopp. Wawona Hotel lounge (DNC) also on Friday, July 4 8:00pm Campfire Talk with a Ranger Sunday Brunch: 10:30am to 1:30pm (beginning June 25) 1 hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater (NPS) on June 15 and Sundays in July 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 2:00pm Ranger Walk – Cliffs and Reservations taken for 6 or more. ¾ hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) Domes 9:00am junior rangers (July 3, 10, & 17 only) 209/375-1425 2½ hrs. Join a ranger for fun discoveries in nature. Meet at the Wawona Hotel fountain (NPS) 2 hrs. Taft Point/Sentinel Dome Glacier Point 10:00am Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) parking area on Glacier Point Road (NPS) Snack Stand 10:00am – Noon / 2:00pm – 4:00pm 9am to 4pm Horse-Drawn Stage Rides 8:00pm Campfire 10 min. Purchase tickets from Stage Office in the Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) $ (July 3, 10, & 17 only) 1 hr. Bridalveil Creek Campground, 10:00am – 1:00pm / 2:00pm – 5:00pm loop C (NPS) groceries Blacksmith Demonstration Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) T hursday 8:15pm Full Moon Rising 2:00pm Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) Wawona Store & Pioneer Gift Shop (July 17 only) 8am to 8pm 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite ½ hr. Meet at Glacier Point Railing 4 hrs. Live music with pianist/singer Tom Bopp (NPS) Wawona Hotel lounge (DNC) gifts & apparel 8:00pm Campfire Talk with a Ranger (beginning June 26) 1 hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater (NPS) Wawona Golf Shop & Snack Stand 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 2:00pm Ranger Walk – Cliffs and ¾ hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) Domes 8:30am to 6pm 9:00am junior rangers (July 4, 11, & 18 only) Wawona Store & Pioneer Shop 2½ hrs. Meet at Wawona Campground B Loop Amphitheater (NPS) 2 hrs. Taft Point/Sentinel Dome 8am to 8pm 9:30am Wawona History Walk 1½ hrs. Wawona Hotel fountain (NPS) parking area on Glacier Point Road (NPS) Wawona Information Station at 10:00am Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) 7:45pm Sunset Ranger Talk 10:00am – Noon Hill’s Studio (July 4, 11, & 18 only) Visit Yosemite’s Past (July 4 only) 8:30am to 5pm (Fridays and ½ hr. Glacier Point railing, Yosemite’s history comes to life at the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. (NPS) Saturdays to 6pm) overlooking the Valley (NPS) 10:00am – Noon / 2:00pm – 4:00pm 8:00pm Sunset Ranger Talk Glacier Point Horse-Drawn Stage Rides (except the afternoon of July 4) (June 13, 20, & 27 only) Gift Shop 10 min. Purchase tickets from Stage Office in the Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) $

Friday ½ hr. Glacier Point railing, 9am to 6pm 10:00am – 1:00pm / 2:00pm – 5:00pm overlooking the Valley (NPS) Blacksmith Demonstration (except the afternoon of July 4) Mariposa Grove 8:30pm Stars Over Yosemite Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) (Begins June 27) Mariposa Grove Museum 2:00pm Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) 10am to 4pm Glacier Point Amphitheater Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration Cancel if overcast (NPS) Big Trees Gift Shop Speeches, games, races, & prizes! (July 4 only) 2 hrs. Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) 9am to 5pm 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite 4 hrs. Live music with pianist/singer Tom Bopp. Wawona Hotel lounge (DNC) 8:00pm Campfire Talk with a Ranger post office (beginning June 27) 1 hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater (NPS) Wawona Post Office 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 10:00am Ranger Wildflower Walk to Monday-Friday: 9am to 5pm ¾ hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater. Bring a mug (NPS) McGurk Meadow Saturday: 9am to noon 8:30am Wawona Nature Walk (July 5, 12, & 19 only) 2 hrs. The Redwoods In Yosemite meeting room on Chilnualna Falls Rd. (NPS) 2 hrs. Meet at phone booth at 9:00am junior rangers Bridalveil Campground (NPS) Gas Station 2½ hrs. Meet at Wawona Campground B Loop Amphitheater (NPS) 7:45pm Sunset Ranger Talk 10:00am Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) (July 5, 12, & 19 only) Wawona Gas Station ½ hr. Glacier Point railing, 10:00am – Noon / 2:00pm – 4:00pm overlooking the Valley (NPS) 9am to 6pm Diesel & propane Horse-Drawn Stage Rides available. Pay at the pump 24 hours 10 min. Purchase tickets from Stage Office in the Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) $ 8:00pm Sunset Ranger Talk (June 14, 21, & 28 only) 10:00am – 1:00pm / 2:00pm – 5:00pm with credit or debit card. ½ hr. Glacier Point railing, Saturday Blacksmith Demonstration Pioneer Yosemite History Center (NPS) overlooking the Valley (NPS) 1:00pm A Glimpse of the Wawona Miwok Indians 8:30pm Stars Over Yosemite GOLF (7/19 only) 1 hr. George Anderson’s cabin, Pioneer Yosemite Hist. Ctr. (NPS) (Begins June 28) Wawona Hotel Golf Course 2:00pm Nature Walk in the Mariposa Grove 1½ hrs. Lower Grove trailhead (NPS) Glacier Point Amphitheater 8 am to 6 pm weather and 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite Cancel if overcast (NPS) 4 hrs. Live music with pianist/singer Tom Bopp. Wawona Hotel lounge (DNC) conditions permitting. Nine-hole, 8:00pm Camp fire Talk with a Ranger par 35 course (beginning June 28) 1 hr. Wawona Campground Amphitheater (NPS)

17 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Tuolumne Meadows, White Wolf, Crane Flat, and Hetch Hetchy

Where to Go & What to Do

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Tuolumne Meadows n U Trail Hetch Hetchy John Mu ir White Wolf Trail to Elizabeth Lake Trail to Lyell Canyon & Vogelsang High Sierra Peaks and Quiet Corners of the Park These areas of the park offer amazing vistas and opportunities for solitude. Hiking, backpacking, and Tuolumne Meadows ranger-led programs are popular activities here.

parking area or the Tuolumne Meadows Tuolumne Meadows Big Oak Flat Visitor Center. Admission is free. Wilderness Center Open 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. Located just Big Oak Flat Information Station Saturday, July 19 south of Tioga Road, along the road to Open 8 am to 4:30 pm. The station Lightning: What Strikes Our Fancy Tuolumne Meadow Lodge, at shuttle offers general park information, books, Slide presentation by Dr. Jan van stop #3. The center offers trail and maps. It also provides wilderness Wagtendonk, Research Scientist, USGS information, Wilderness permits, bear permits, bear canister rentals, and Field Station canister rental, maps, and guidebooks. backpacking information. Sunday, July 20 Bats, Birds, and Butterflies: Illumi- Just for Kids Merced Grove Cathedral Peak. Photo by Christine White Loberg nating the High Sierra through Stories Programs for children include Junior Yosemite’s quietest stand of sequoias Performance by Ane Carla Rovetta, Rangers, a two-hour, ranger-led is the Merced Grove, a group of about Tuolumne Meadows naturalist, illustrator, and storyteller program for children (ages 7–12), and Campfire for Kids. 20 trees accessible only on foot. It’s a Tuolumne Meadows Free Olmsted Point/Tuolumne four-mile round-trip hike (about three Visitor Center Meadows/Tioga Pass Shuttle Ranger Walks hours) into the grove from Big Oak Flat Open 9 am to 5 pm (6 pm beginning Road (Highway 120 West). Located 3½ Free shuttle service is available Join a ranger to explore new areas and June 21). Park orientation, trail miles north of Crane Flat and 4½ miles during the summer along the Tioga learn about geology, birds, flowers, information, books, maps, and displays. south of the Big Oak Flat Entrance, the Road from Olmsted Point to Tioga Pass. history, the Tuolumne River, and more. Phone 209/372-0263. trailhead is marked by a road sign and Due to limited trailhead parking, use of These walks range from one to eight the free shuttle is strongly advised. post labeled B-10. , hours and, except for the long walks, McCauley Cabin and Soda Springs Shuttles travel between Tuolumne are fairly easy. On Fridays end your day Meadows Lodge and Olmsted Point with a Music Walk. This easy stroll will Tuolumne Grove Two trails, both flat and ¾-mile long, with stops along the Tioga Road, includ- inspire and delight. lead to this historic area accessible only This cluster of about 25 sequoias is near ing Tuolumne Meadows Campground by walking. Parsons Memorial Lodge is Crane Flat at the intersection of Big Oak and the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Evening Activities open beginning late June from 10 am to Flat and Tioga Roads. The former route Center. The shuttle also makes morning 4 pm. Soda Springs are small naturally Join a ranger for campfire, songs, sto- of the Big Oak Flat Road leads downhill and afternoon runs to Tioga Pass. carbonated springs that attract birds and rytelling, and answers to some of your from Crane Flat into the grove. Now questions about Yosemite. Program deer, especially at sunrise and sunset. Service begins at Tuolumne Meadows closed to cars, this path drops 500 feet topics vary, and are posted at the camp- Lodge at 7 am. Shuttles arrive at (150 meters) in one mile. The trip is ground, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, Parsons Memorial Lodge approximately 30-minute intervals moderately strenuous on the uphill Summer Series and Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center. between 7 am and 7 pm. The last return. Within the Tuolumne Grove End your day with a Star Program or These inspiring programs begin at 2 pm shuttle leaves Olmsted Point at 6 pm. there is an easy, half-mile, self-guiding Night Prowl. Bring a pad to sit on for and last approximately one hour, unless Schedules are subject to change. nature trail. the Star Program and dress warmly. Sign noted otherwise. Allow 30 minutes Please check route maps at the up in advance for the Night Prowl at the walking time to Parsons Memorial Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center. Lodge from either Lembert Dome or shuttle stops for details.

18 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008

Hours listed are core hours for facilities and tuolumne Meadows White Wolf Crane Flat / Hodgdon may be extended during periods of peak Meadow / Hetch Hetchy visitation. Check local postings for changes to hours of operation. 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 9:00am Ranger Hike – North 9:00am Ranger Talk – Giant (Beginning June 22 if campground open) Dome Sequoias Food & beverage 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground. (except June 15 & 22) (except June 15 & 22) Bring questions and a cup (NPS) 7 hrs. Strenuous 11-mile 3 hrs. Informal talks in the Tuolumne Meadows 10:00am Ranger Hike – Lembert Dome (Beginning June 22) hike. Porcupine Creek trail- Tuolumne Grove (NPS) Tuolumne Meadows Grill 3 hrs. Moderately strenuous. 3 miles head on Tioga Road, 1.2 3:00pm Junior Rangers Sunday – Thursday: Dog Lake Parking shuttle stop #2 miles east of Porcupine Flat 1½ hrs. Hodgdon Meadow Campground. Bring water, 8am to 5pm Bring snacks & water (NPS) Campground kiosk (NPS) 11:00am Tenaya Lake Walk and Clean-up lunch, & raingear (NPS) 8:30pm Ranger Campfire Friday – Saturday: with Climber Ron Kauk 8:30pm Ranger Campfire Program 8am to 6pm (Beginning June 22; except July 20) Program (July 13 & 20 only) Sunday Tuolumne Meadows Lodge 2 hrs. East end of Tenaya Lake shuttle stop #9 (NPS) (July 6, 13 & 20 only) 1 hr. Crane Flat campfire 2:00pm Parsons Summer Series Program 1 hr. White Wolf Camp- circle (NPS) Dining Room ground Amphitheater (NPS) Breakfast: 7am to 9am (July 20 only) 1 hr. Details at left (NPS) 9:45pm Starry, Starry Night Dinner: 5:50pm to 8pm 8:00pm Campfire* (Beginning June 22*) (July 6, 13 & 20 only) Meals are served family style, 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground (NPS) 1 hr. White Wolf and reservations are required. Campground entrance (NPS) Call 209/372-8413 White Wolf 7:00am Photographing Tuolumne (Beginning June 23) 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 9:30am Ranger Hike – Hetch 2 hrs. Sign up at Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center (July 7, 14 & 21 only) Hetchy White Wolf Lodge 209/372-0263 (NPS) 1 hr. White Wolf (except June 16) Opens June 13 10:00am Ranger Walk – Domes and Meadows Campground Amphitheater. 2½ hrs. O’Shaughnessy Breakfast: 7:30am to 9:30am (Beginning June 23) Bring a mug (NPS) Dam. Bring water (NPS) Take-out Lunch: noon to 2pm 2 hrs. shuttle stop #8, Road marker T-29 (NPS) 10:00am Ranger Walk – Bears 7:00pm Campfire for kids Dinner: 6pm to 8pm 2:00pm Ranger Walk – Indians in the High Country (except June 16 & 23) (July 7, 14 & 21 only) (Beginning June 30) 2 hrs. Lembert Dome Picnic Area (NPS) 1½ hrs. White Wolf 45 min. Crane Flat campfire Reservations recommended. 7:00pm Campfire for Kids* (Beginning June 30*) Campground entrance circle (NPS) Monday Call 209/372-8416. 1 hr. Conness Circle, Loop C in Tuolumne Meadows Camp- (NPS) ground (NPS) 7:30pm Twilight Stroll groceries 8:00pm Campfire* (Beginning June 23*) (except June 16 & 23) 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground (NPS) 1½ hrs. White Wolf Tuolumne Meadows Campground entrance (NPS) Store 9am to 6pm 9:00am Ranger Hike – Tuolumne Fall (Beginning June 24) 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 6-8 hrs. Moderately strenuous. 8 miles (except June 17 & 24) (except June 17 & 24) Crane Flat Meet at Lembert Dome Picnic Area. 1 hr. White Wolf 1 hr. Crane Flat campfire Store Bring lunch, water & raingear (NPS) Campground Amphitheater. circle. Bring a mug (NPS) 8am to 8pm 10:00am Botanical Walk with Cathy Rose 2 hrs. Bring a mug (NPS) 9:00am Ranger Talk – White Wolf July 1: Parsons Lodge Meet at Tuolumne Visitor Center 10:00am family adventure Giant Sequoias walk (except June 17 & 24) Camp Store shuttle stop #6 July 8: Pothole Dome shuttle stop #8, Road marker T-29 (July 8, 15 & 22 only) 3 hrs. Informal talks in the 8am to 8pm July 15: Ellery Lake Meet at dam on east end of Ellery 2 hrs. White Wolf Tuolumne Grove (NPS) Campground Amphitheater

uesday Lake outside Tioga Pass T July 22: Bennettville (NPS) gifts & apparel Meet at junction of Saddlebag Lake Road and Tioga Pass Road (NPS) Tuolumne Meadows 2:00pm Junior Rangers (Beginning June 24) Mountaineering School 2 hrs. Ages 7-12. Lembert Dome Picnic Area (NPS) and Sport Shop 8:00pm Campfire*(Beginning June 24*) 9am to 5pm 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground (NPS) Tuolumne Meadows Bookstore 7:30am Ranger Walk – Birds (Beginning June 25) 2½ hrs. Lembert 7:30am Birding with a Ranger 10:00am Junior Rangers 9am to 5pm (6pm beginning June 21) Dome Picnic Area. Binoculars available (NPS) (June 25 & July 2 only) (July 2, 9 & 16 only) Inside the Tuolumne Meadow 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 2 hrs. White Wolf 1½ hrs. Crane Flat (Beginning June 25 if campground open) Campground entrance. Campfire Circle (NPS) Visitor Center 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground. Binoculars available (NPS) 7:30pm Twilight Stroll Tuolumne Meadows Store Bring questions and a cup (NPS) 7:00pm Campfire for Kids (July 9 & 16 only) 9am to 6pm 10:00am Ranger Walk – Geology (Beginning June 25) (July 2, 9 & 16 only) 1½ hrs. Hodgdon Meadow Tuolumne Meadows 2 hrs. Pothole Dome shuttle stop #8, Road marker T-29 (NPS) 45 min. White Wolf Group Campground (NPS) Campground Amphitheater Wilderness Center 1:30pm Ranger Walk – Along the River (Beginning June 25) 2 hrs. Lembert Dome Picnic Area (NPS) (NPS) 7:30am to 5pm 7:00pm Campfire for Kids* (Beginning June 25*)

Wednesday 1 hr. Conness Circle, Loop C in Tuolumne Meadows Camp- post office ground (NPS) 8:00pm Campfire*(Beginning June 25) Tuolumne Meadows 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground (NPS) Post Office 9:30pm Ranger Talk – Stars Monday – Friday: 9am to 5pm (Beginning June 25) 1 hr. Lembert Dome Picnic Area. Bring Saturday: 9am to 1pm pad to sit on & dress warmly (NPS) 10:00am Ranger Walk – History (Beginning June 26) 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 9:30am History & the Big Trees 2 hrs. Tuolumne Visitor Center shuttle stop #6 (NPS) (July 3, 10 & 17 only) (except June 12 & 19) Gas Station & atm junior rangers (Beginning June 26) 1 hr. White Wolf 3 hrs. Informal ranger talks Tuolumne Meadows 2 hrs. Ages 7-12. Lembert Dome Picnic Area (NPS) Campground Amphitheater. in the Merced Grove Bring a mug (NPS) (NPS) Diesel & propane available. 2:00pm Ranger Walk – Lake Exploration (Beginning June 26) 8:30pm Ranger Campfire 8:30pm Ranger Campfire Pay at the pump 24 hours with 2 hrs. Pothole Dome shuttle stop #8, Road marker T-29 (NPS) Program Program credit or debit card. 8:00pm Campfire* (Beginning June 26*) (July 10 & 17 only) (July 10 & 17 only) T hursday Crane Flat 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground (NPS) 1 hr. White Wolf 1 hr. Crane Flat campfire Campground Amphitheater circle (NPS) 9:15pm Ranger Walk – Night Prowl (Beginning June 26) 9am to 6pm (NPS) Diesel & propane available. 1¼ hrs. Sign up at Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center 209/372-0263 (NPS) Pay at the pump 24 hours with credit or debit card. 8:00am Coffee with a Ranger 3:00pm junior rangers 8:30pm Ranger Campfire (Beginning June 27 if campground open) (July 4, 11 & 18 only) Program 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground. 2 hrs. White Wolf (July 4, 11 & 18 only) Bring questions and a cup (NPS) Campground Amphitheater 1 hr. Crane Flat campfire 10:00am Ranger Walk – Bears and Other Wildlife (NPS) circle (NPS) (Beginning June 27) 1½ hrs. Tuolumne Meadows Camp- 8:30pm Ranger Campfire 9:45pm Starry, Starry Night ground Reservation Office (NPS) Program (except June 20 & 27) 2:00pm Ranger Walk – Wildflowers (Beginning June 27) (July 4, 11 & 18 only) 1¼ hrs. Crane Flat area. Friday 2 hrs. Lembert Dome Picnic Area (NPS) 1 hr. White Wolf Limited to 30 people. 6:30pm Ranger Walk – Music and Mountains Campground Amphitheater Sign-up required; (Beginning June 27) (NPS) Call 209/379-1899 (NPS) 1¼ hrs. Lembert Dome Picnic Area (NPS) 8:00pm Campfire* (Beginning June 27) 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground (NPS) 9:15am Ranger Hike – Mono Pass (Beginning June 28) 10:00am Ranger Stroll – 9:30am Ranger Hike – Hetch 6-8 hrs. Moderately strenuous. 8 miles Wildflowers Hetchy Meet at Mono Pass trailhead. (except June 14 & 21) (except July 5) Bring lunch, water & raingear (NPS) 2 hrs. White Wolf 2½ hrs. O’Shaughnessy 10:00am Ranger Walk – Bennettville Exploration Campground entrance Dam. Bring water (NPS) (Beginning June 28) (NPS) 1:00pm Ranger Hike – 2 hrs. Moderate. Junction Campground bridge, via 1:00pm Ranger Walk – Bears Saddlebag Road, east of Tioga Pass Entrance Station (NPS) Lukens Lake (except June 14 & 21) Junior Rangers (Beginning June 21) (July 5, 12 & 19 only) 1½ hrs. Crane Flat Camp- 2 hrs. Ages 7-12. Lembert Dome Picnic Area (NPS) 3 hrs. White Wolf ground kiosk (NPS) 2:00pm Parsons Summer Series Program (July 19 only) Campground entrance. 8:30pm Ranger Campfire Hetch Hetchy. Photo by Clarisa Flores 1 hr. Details at left (NPS) Bring water (NPS) Program Saturday 5:30pm Ranger Walk – Yosemite’s Wilderness 8:30pm Ranger Campfire (July 5, 12 & 19 only) (Beginning June 21) Program 1 hr. Crane Flat campfire 1½ hrs. Dog Lake Parking shuttle stop #2 (NPS) (July 5, 12 & 19 only) circle (NPS) Programs printed in 8:00pm Campfire*(Beginning June 21*) 1 hr. White Wolf 1 hr. Dana Circle in Tuolumne Meadows Campground (NPS) Campground Amphitheater COLOR (NPS) 9:30pm Ranger Talk – Stars (Beginning June 28) are especially for 1 hr. Lembert Dome Picnic Area. Children & their Families Bring pad to sit on and dress warmly (NPS) * Campfire programs will be presented, beginning June 21, only if Tuolumne Meadows Campground is open. Programs tentatively begin June 21 as scheduled. Check local postings.

19 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Camping in Yosemite Park Planning your camping experience

A primitive overnight experience Yosemite National Park contains 13 popular campgrounds. Up to seven are on a reservation system, the rest are first-come, first-served. From April through September, reservations are essential and the first-come, first-served sites often fill by noon during these months.

Camping Reservations For campground reservations, visit on a per-person basis, and six people Reservations are required year-round www.recreation.gov (recommended) will be placed in each campsite, regard- Camping in Yosemite. Photo by Ray Santos for campsites in Yosemite Valley’s car or call 877/444-6777 or TDD 877/833- less of number of people in your party. campgrounds and summer through fall 6777 or 518/885-3639 from outside the Camp 4 often fills before 9 am each day, for Hodgdon Meadow, Crane Flat, US and Canada. May through September. Wawona, and half of Tuolumne General Info... Hours: Camping in Areas Meadows. All other campgrounds 7 am to 7 pm Pacific time Surrounding Yosemite Services (except group and stock campgrounds) • All sites include picnic tables, (November through February) are first-come, first-served. Camp- The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) operates firepits or grills, tent space, 7 am to 9 pm Pacific time a variety of campgrounds on a seasonal parking, and a food locker ground reservations are available up to (March through October) basis near Yosemite. For additional (33"d x 45"w x 18"h). See page five months in advance, on the 15th of 5 for food storage regulations. information, contact Groveland Ranger each month at 7 am Pacific time. Log Reservation centers in the park are Station at 209/962-7825; Mariposa • Toilet facilities are available in onto the website or call as soon as pos- located in the visitor parking area at campgrounds; however, Ranger Station at 209/966-3638; sible as some campgrounds fill within Curry Village (shuttle bus stop #14), Tamarack Flat, , Mono Lake Ranger Station at several minutes of the opening period. the Tuolumne Meadows Campground and Porcupine Flat contain 760/647-3044; or Oakhurst Ranger non-flushing vault toilets only entrance, in Wawona off Chilnualna Arrival date First day to Station at 559/683-4636. For private and no potable water. make reservations Falls Road, and at Big Oak Flat (7 am PT) campgrounds outside Yosemite, call the • Shower and laundry facilities Information Station. respective chamber of commerce are available year-round in Dec. 15 – Jan. 14 Aug. 15 or visitor bureau listed on page 10. Yosemite Valley. Jan. 15 – Feb. 14 Sept. 15 Yosemite Valley • RVs over 24 feet are not Feb. 15 – Mar. 14 Oct. 15 There is a 30-day camping limit within recommended for Tamarack Group Campgrounds Mar. 15 – Apr. 14 Nov. 15 Yosemite National Park in a calendar Flat, Yosemite Creek, and There are group campsites at Tuolumne Apr. 15 – May 14 Dec. 15 year; however, May 1 to September 15, Porcupine Flat campgrounds, Meadows, Hodgdon Meadow, Wawona, and RVs are not permitted in May 15 – Jun. 14 Jan. 15 the camping limit is 14 days and only and Bridalveil Creek Campgrounds. walk-in and group campsites. Jun. 15 – Jul. 14 Feb. 15 seven of those days can be in Yosemite There are no hookups in Reservations can be made the same way Jul. 15 – Aug. 14 Mar. 15 Valley or Wawona. Yosemite campgrounds, but as individual site reservations; 13 to there are sanitary dump stations Aug. 15 – Sep. 14 Apr. 15 Camp 4 is a walk-in campground and 30 people are allowed in each group in Yosemite Valley (all year), and Sep. 15 – Oct. 14 May 15 campsite. Tent camping only. Pets, RVs, summer only in Wawona and is open all year on a first-come, first- Oct. 15 – Nov. 14 Jun. 15 Tuolumne Meadows. served basis; these campsites are not and generators are not permitted in Nov. 15 – Dec. 14 Jul. 15 wheelchair accessible. Sites are available group sites. Regulations • Proper food storage is required 24 hours a day. • A maximum of six people Campgrounds in Yosemite National Park (including children) and two vehicles are allowed per campsite. campground Open 2008 max rv max trailer reservations daily fee # of sites pets water (approx) length length required? • Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am. Yosemite Valley • Where permitted, pets must be on a leash and may not be left Upper Pines All year 35 ft 24 ft Yes $20 238 Yes Tap unattended. Lower Pines April 11 – Nov 3 40 ft 35 ft Yes $20 60 Yes Tap

Campfires North Pines Mar 21 – Oct 13 40 ft 35 ft Yes $20 81 Yes Tap • In Yosemite Valley between No Camp 4 All year n/a First-come, first-served $5/pers. 35 No Tap May 1 and October 1, campfires RVs/trailers are permitted between 5 pm south of Yosemite Valley and 10 pm. At other times of the year and in out-of-Valley Wawona All year 35 ft 35 ft Apr 20 – Sep 27 $20 93 Yes Tap campgrounds, fires are permit- ted at any time, as long as they Bridalveil Creek July – Sep 1 35 ft 24 ft First-come,first-served $14 110 Yes Tap

are attended. north of Yosemite Valley • Firewood collection (including Hodgdon Meadow All year 35 ft 27 ft Apr 20 – Oct 9 $20 105 Yes Tap pine cones and pine needles) is not permitted in Yosemite Crane Flat Jun 20 – Oct 13 35 ft 27 ft Yes $20 166 Yes Tap Valley; you may purchase Tamarack Flat late June – Oct 15 No RVs/trailers First-come, first-served $10 52 No Creek (boil) firewood at stores near the campgrounds. White Wolf July – Sep 15 27 ft 24 ft First-come, first-served $14 74 Yes Tap

Yosemite Creek July – Sep 1 No RVs/trailers First-come, first-served $10 40 Yes Creek (boil)

Porcupine Flat July – Oct 15 24 ft (limited) 20 ft First-come, first-served $10 52 No Creek (boil)

Tuolumne Meadows July 15 – Sep 28 35 ft 35 ft 50% $20 304 Yes Tap

20 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park What’s Happening Improvement Efforts in Yosemite

Illustration by Tom Whitworth

During your visit This year, visitors to Yosemite may notice a flurry of activity throughout the park. Many projects may be less apparent than others, while some may cause temporary inconveniences.

However, each one plays a valuable part in the bigger picture of Yosemite’s future— to improve the visitor experience while preserving the park’s treasured natural and cultural resources, both today and for future generations.

Stay Connected

National parks help connect us with places that tell the stories of what is truly special about America. A visit to a national park can bring about memories that will last a lifetime. After you arrive home, these are some ways you can stay connected with your Yosemite experience:

• Learn more about the state of the park. A series of monthly open houses is conducted to inform visitors about the latest This year, the park will complete improvements at Tunnel View, one of the park’s most popular scenic overlooks. Traffic patterns, pedestrian areas, trail access, and educa- improvement projects occurring tional exhibits will all be updated and improved. Sketch courtesy of The Yosemite Fund, created by RHAA. in the park. • Sign up to be on the Yosemite Preparing for the next one On-going Projects • Renovation of the Valley Visitor Cen- mailing list. A quarterly hundred years: The Centennial Yosemite National Park is a complex ter Theater, Lobby, and Exhibit Hall. Planning Update and a monthly Challenge e-mail newsletter are each place to manage. The National Park • Refurbishing roads, trails, and utilities available. To sign up for either As the national park service nears its Service strives to protect park resources throughout the park. or both of these publications, 100th anniversary in 2016, the parks while providing an excellent experience sign up at any visitor center are preparing for another century of 40th Anniversary of the Wild & or send your email address to for park visitors. In order to fulfill this environmental leadership, stewardship, Scenic Rivers Act [email protected]. important mission, a number of park recreational experience, education, and This year, the nation celebrates 40 years • Support one of Yosemite’s park improvement projects are currently professional excellence. As a result, you of free-flowing rivers thanks to the Wild partner organizations (see page underway, including: 23). The Yosemite Association will notice some positive changes. More • Management plans for the Merced and Scenic Rivers Act. Yosemite is world and The Yosemite Fund are park rangers will be available this sum- and Tuolumne Rivers and their renowned for its domes and water- both nonprofit organizations mer to interact with you during your environs. falls. But equally iconic and central to that support the National Park visit. More underserved students will the park’s identity are its two federally Service’s mission of protecting • Development of a Comprehensive be able to attend Yosemite Institute’s designated wild and scenic rivers—the this special place for future Interpretive Plan to guide education generations. field science program. The Happy Isles Merced and the Tuolumne. To learn and interpretation programming. • Volunteer your time or exper- Nature Center will become the hub of more about wild and scenic rivers, visit tise. Individuals or groups can Junior Ranger Programs in the park, • Accessibility improvements for people www.rivers.gov. participate in service projects including extended hours and a greater with disabilities. in Yosemite. variety of program options for youth • Ecological restoration efforts that will • Take part in a planning process. visiting the park. improve meadow and river areas. Yosemite’s planning efforts can only truly succeed with the help Part of the Centennial Challenge is a Entrance Fees of public involvement. As the landmark public-private partnership park moves forward with plans To help the National Park Service, program. As part of this, The Yosemite for various improvements, let Congress authorized the Recreation Fund and Yosemite National Park have your voice be heard. Sign up on Fee Program. In addition to providing the park’s mailing list or visit the joined efforts to make improvements admission into Yosemite, your fees sup- planning web page at www.nps. to the Tunnel View scenic overlook. To gov/yose/planning. port projects in the park as well as other enhance visitor experience, protection sites in the National Park System. When • Come back and spend some of resources, and safety, members of more time in this amazing park! you visit a Fee site, you help the Nation- The Yosemite Fund are contributing al Park Service preserve and protect our $2 million, while $1 million is coming nation’s heritage for future generations. To Learn more about Park from a special match from the National Improvements Efforts Park Service. Projects Completed Include: visit online at • Increasing ranger presence and www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/ interpretive programming in park planning campgrounds. Above Left: Tuolumne River. Photo by Victoria Mates

22 Yosemite Guide June – July 2008 Supporting Your Park Providing for Yosemite’s Future

Illustration by Tom Whitworth

Enhance the Visitor’s Experience It takes a legion of people working together to protect this special park for you and future generations of visitors. You, too, can extend your connection to Yosemite well after you return home by getting involved with the organizations that partner to preserve Yosemite.

This publication was made possible by the Yosemite Park Partners listed on this page. Read more below or visit www.yosemitepartners.org to learn more about helping these organizations provide for the future of Yosemite National Park.

The Ansel Adams Gallery Yosemite Association The Yosemite Fund The Ansel Adams Gallery, owned by the The Yosemite Association (Association) The Fund provides broad-based Contact Us... family of photographer Ansel Adams is a nonprofit membership organization private funding from 27,000 members since 1902, is a center that celebrates that provides opportunities for people for projects that preserve, protect, or The Ansel Adams Gallery the arts and the natural grandeur of our to learn about, enjoy, and experience enhance Yosemite Park. Fund opera- PO Box 455 environment. It cultivates an aesthetic Yosemite National Park and the Sierra tions result in material improvement Yosemite, CA 95389 appreciation and concern for our world Nevada. We celebrate the majesty and in the stewardship and quality of 209/372-4413 209/372-4714 fax by offering visitors a unique variety of grandeur of this region through our Yosemite’s natural, cultural or histori- www.anseladams.com literature and art, as well as programs visitor services, publications, outdoor cal resources or the visitor experience. that inspire creativity. Visit online at classroom, and membership activities, Fund grants repair trails, restore habitat, DNC Parks & Resorts www.anseladamsgallery.com which give people of all ages the chance conduct scientific research, enhance at Yosemite to forge an enduring and inspirational visitor education, preserve park history, PO Box 578 DNC Parks & Resorts connection to Yosemite. This, in turn, and protect wildlife. Since 1988 the Yosemite, CA 95389 at Yosemite builds a commitment to the long-term Fund has provided over $50 million to 801/559-5000 DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite preservation and vitality of Yosemite complete more than 200 projects. Visit www.yosemitepark.com (DNC) operates hotels, restaurants, and our National Parks. Since 1923, online at www.yosemitefund.org. Yosemite Association sightseeing tours, recreational activities, the Association has provided important PO Box 230 interpretive programs, stores, shuttles services and financial support to the Yosemite Institute El Portal, CA 95318 and service stations in the park under National Park Service. Anyone who Since 1971, thousands of school-age 209/379-2646 contract with the U.S. Department loves Yosemite and wishes to be become children have benefited from learn- 209/379-2486 fax of the Interior. DNC encourages its more closely involved and affiliated with ing in “nature’s classroom” through www.yosemite.org employees to develop a strong relation- the park will enjoy membership in the the residential field-science programs The Yosemite Fund ship with the park during their tenure. Association. For more information, visit offered by Yosemite Institute (YI). A YI 155 Montgomery St. #1104 For more information and employment park bookstores or www.yosemite.org. experience strives to foster a life-long San Francisco, CA 94104 opportunities with DNC at Yosemite, connection to the natural world— 800/469-7275 or 415/434-1782 visit online at www.YosemitePark.com whether it is in Yosemite, on a city street www.yosemitefund.org or in our own backyards. YI also offers professional development for teachers, Yosemite Institute summer youth programs, backpacking PO Box 487 Yosemite, CA 95389 adventures, community outreach pro- 209/379-9511 grams and service learning projects. For 209/379-9510 fax more information, visit www.yni.org/yi. www.yni.org

Above right: El Capitan. NPS Photo

23 Jun-Jul 2008 Yosemite Guide Where toGoand WhattoDoinYosemite National Park Experience Your America Yosemite National Park June – July 2008 June Guide Yosemite

14 10 09 01

to Yosemite Welcome and Events Programs Trip Planning Your Yosemite Secrets Special Feature: Highcountry Meadow. June 11–July22 Inside: Vol.33, Issue No.1 Yosemite National Park National Yosemite America Your Experience

Photo byKenWatson

US Department of the Interior Third Class Mail National Park Service Postage and Fee Paid PO Box 577 US Department of the Interior Yosemite, CA 95389 G 83