Yosemite Guide Yosemite Guide September 5 - October 9, 2012 Yosemite September 5, 2012 - October 9, 2012 9, October - 2012 5, September Park National Yosemite in Do to What and Go to Where Photo Courtesy of the Ansel Adams Family Adams Ansel the of Courtesy Photo Volume 37, Issue 7 Issue 37, Volume Park National Yosemite America Your Experience Yosemite, CA 95389 Yosemite, 577 PO Box Service Park National US DepartmentInterior of the Year-round Route: Valley Yosemite Valley Shuttle Valley Visitor Center Upper Summer-only Routes: Yosemite Shuttle System El Capitan Fall Yosemite Shuttle Village Lower Mirror Lake Loop is Yosemite currently closed due The Ansel Fall Adams l Medical Church Bowl to rockfall Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System i Gallery ra Clinic Picnic Area l T al F e E1 5 Campground t i 4 m e 9 Parking os Mirror r Y 3 Uppe 6 10 2 Lake Picnic Area seasonal The Ahwahnee 11 1 Restroom North Camp 4 Yosemite E2 Housekeeping Pines 8 Lodge Lower Walk-In 7 Chapel Camp Pines Campground LeConte 18 Memorial 12 21 19 Lodge 17 13a 20 14 Swinging Campground Bridge Recreation 13b Reservations Rentals Curry 15 Village Upper Sentinel Visitor Parking Pines Beach E5 il Trailhead a r r T te Parking e n il i w M in r u d 16 o e Nature Center El Capitan F s lo c at Happy Isles Picnic Area Glacier Point E3 no shuttle service closed in winter Vernal 72I4 ft Fall 2I99 m l M Trai il ist Cathedral Tra E4 op h Beach Lo or M ey ses erce all only d R V iver The Valley Shuttle operates daily from 7am to 10pm, serving stops in numerical order. From 10 am to 7pm, service operates every 10 minutes. From 7-10am and 7-10pm, service operates every 20 minutes. US DepartmentInterior of the The El Capitan Shuttle operates from 9 am to 6 pm. Shuttles run daily every 30 minutes. Stop # Location Postage and Fee Paid Fee and Postage 1 Visitor Parking 8 Yosemite Lodge 16 Happy Isles Third Class Mail Class Third 2 10 Yosemite Village 11 Sentinel Bridge 17 MirrorIllilouette Lake Trailhead Fall 3 The Ahwahnee 12 LeConte / Housekeeping Camp 18 Stable 4 Degnan’s Deli 13a 21 Recreation Rentals 19 Pines Campgrounds 5 9 E1 Valley Visitor Center 13b Curry Village E3 El Capitan Picnic Area G 83 6 Lower Yosemite Fall 14 20 Curry Village Parking E4 El Capitan Bridge 7 E2 Camp 4 15 Upper Pines Campground E5 Four Mile Trailhead i Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Guide September 5 - October 9, 2012 Seasonal Updates Keep this Guide with you to Get the Most Out of Your Trip to Yosemite National Park hat do you want to do with Go to the Theater your special time in Yosemite Theatre LIVE offers WYosemite? For many, part entertainment and inspiration through a of the Yosemite experience is reliving variety of live theater performances that the memories while sharing photos bring Yosemite’s history to life. Discover of your trip with family and friends. the world of John Muir and other Yosemite has always attracted artists characters from the park’s rich history. and photographers. Learn more about (See page 7 for shows and starting Ansel Adams and his Yosemite legacy by times.) visiting The Ansel Adams Gallery, and read our feature story on page 18. Have Fun with the Family Learn about Yosemite, meet a park Take a Hike! ranger, and have a blast by becoming With approximately 800 miles of trails, a Yosemite Junior Ranger or Yosemite Yosemite is a great place to hike! Make Little Cub. Check in with any visitor sure your hike is a safe one. Visit a Visi- center to find out how. Stop by the tor Center and Bookstore for trail infor- Nature Center at Happy Isles for mation and maps, and be sure to check another great place to explore with the the weather before you leave. family. (See page 12 for the Jr. Ranger Page.) Walk to a Waterfall Yosemite Valley is famous for its awe- Visit the Yosemite Museum Learn about Yosemite Indians by inspiring waterfalls; each as distinct as exploring a museum collection that the granite cliffs they dive over. While includes remarkable woven baskets Yosemite Falls may be dry by August, and traditional dress. Tour the outdoor Bridalveil, Vernal, and Nevada Falls flow Valley View/ Photo Courtesy of the Ansel Adams Family Indian Village or talk with an Indian all year. (See page 17 for hiking informa- cultural demonstrator. The Yosemite tion.) Travel Back in Time Stroll with a Ranger Museum is located in Yosemite Village Visit the other valley, Hetch Hetchy Visit Wawona’s Pioneer Yosemite Learn about the wonders of the park at shuttle stops #5 and #9. (See page 5 “Almost an exact counterpart of the History Center and join “Buckshot” on a ranger-guided stroll. Programs are for museum hours and a list of gallery Yosemite…a visit to its counterpart may for a horse-drawn stage ride! These offered daily throughout the park on a events and features.) be recommended, if it be only to see how 10-minute rides introduce you to an variety of topics including waterfalls, curiously nature has repeated herself.” early chapter in Yosemite’s history. Fun trees, bears, geology, Yosemite Indians 9th Annual Yosemite Facelift -Josiah D. Whitney. for the whole family. (See pages 8 and and more. (See area program grids on September 26-30 9 for history center and other program pages 6, 7, 9, and 11.) Volunteer to help clean up Yosemite! Hetch Hetchy provides spectacular information.) Join the National Park Service and the vistas, waterfalls, and early season Take a Photography Class Yosemite Climbing Association for hiking. (See page 2 for a park map and Discover the Night Sky Learn how to best capture the landscape this official National Public Lands Day area information.) Attend the “Starry Skies Over Yosemite of Yosemite by joining a photography event, picking up litter and performing Valley” for a wild ride through expert from the Ansel Adams Gallery. special projects to clean up Yosemite Explore a Sequoia Grove the universe to learn about stars, Several classes are offered each week. after a busy summer. All volunteers Meet the most massive trees on constellations, planets, meteors, and Learn more and sign up at the Ansel must register on site to participate (no earth as you explore a giant sequoia other night sky features, all from the Adams Gallery located in Yosemite advance registration), and should wear grove. Yosemite is home to three comfort of Yosemite Valley. Sign up at Village at shuttle stops #5 and #9. (See long pants, closed-toed shoes, and be groves—the Mariposa Grove, which any tour desk. (See page 4 for tour desk pages 6 and 7 for times and meeting prepared for the weather. For more contains hundreds of sequoias, and the locations.) places.) information contact 209/379-1850 or Tuolumne and Merced Groves, which [email protected], or visit the each hold dozens. (See page 2 for a map Yosemite Facelift 2012 Facebook page. of the park.) Access for People with Disabilities Emergency Information What’s Inside: Accessible parking, lodging, tours, and activities are EMERGENCY DIAL 911 available throughout the park. For up-to-date road, weather, and park information: 01 Seasonal Highlights For a complete list of accessible services, recreational opportunities, 209/372-0200 04 Yosemite Valley and exhibits, pick up an updated Yosemite Accessibility Guide which Sudden changes in weather are common in the Sierra Nevada. Call is available at park entrance stations, visitor centers, and online at the number above or check at a visitor center for the most recent 08 Wawona www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm, or call a park weather conditions. Accessibility Coordinator at 209/379-1035 for more information. 09 Tuolumne Meadows Medical Clinic (in Yosemite Valley) Open 7 days per week from 9:00 Accessible parking spaces are available just west of the Yosemite AM to 7:00 PM for primary and urgent care needs. Phone: 209/372- 12 Become a Junior Valley Visitor Center. To reach these, enter the Valley on Southside 4637 Ranger Drive. Turn left on Sentinel Drive. Turn left on Northside Drive, and Dental Clinic (In Yosemite Valley) 209/372-4200 follow the blue and white signs. 13 Wildlife Yosemite Valley Garage (24-hr. emergency towing available) Sign Language interpreting is available upon request. Contact 209/372-8320 16 Camping Deaf Services at 209/379-5250 (v/txt) Two weeks advance notice Lost and Found is requested. Assistive Listening Devices are available upon advance 17 Hiking request. Inquire at a visitor center. To inquire about items lost or found at one of Yosemite’s restaurants, 18 Feature Story hotels, lounges, shuttle buses or tour services, call 209/372-4357. For Audio tours are available for the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and items lost or found in other areas of the park, call 209/379-1001. the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Refer to the Accessibility 19 Supporting Your Park Guide, or contact an Accessibility Coordinator for more information. 1 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Village/ Yosemite Falls Visitor Center Stanislaus Yosemite Lodge The National Ahwahnee Forest To To El Curry Manteca 120 Capitan Village Valley Day View Parking To Discover Yosemite140 Bridalveil Tunnel Fall View To To To Yosemite Valley Merced 41 Fresno Let your curiosity guide you to new places in the park! (Elevation 4,000 feet/1,220 meters) Entrance Fees Reservations are NOT required to enter.