G 83 Third Class Mail Class Third Postage and Fee Paid Fee and Postage US Department Interior of the posted signage. posted to rockfall. Please observe observe Please rockfall. to Mirror Lake is closed due due closed is Lake Mirror A portion of the trail past past trail the of portion A October 14 - December 15, 2009 15, December - 14 October Guide Yosemite Park National Yosemite America Your Experience US Department Interior of the Service Park National 577 PO Box CA 95389 Yosemite, Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Vol.34, Issue No.8 Inside: 01 Things to Do 05 Programs and Events 06 Services and Facilities 10 Special Feature: Women & Yosemite Oct - Dec 2009 Yosemite Valley autumn color. Photo by Christine White Loberg Where to Go and What to Do in Yosemite National Park October 14 - December 15 Yosemite Guide Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Guide October 14 - December 15, 2009 Things to Do Keep this Guide with you to get the most out of your visit Drive to Tunnel View One of the most famous views of Yosemite Valley, Tunnel View has captivated visitors for over 75 years. Newly rehabilitated, it offers expansive views of El Capitan, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall. (See map, page 2.) Stroll with a Ranger Learn about park wonders on a ranger- guided walk. Programs are offered daily in Yosemite Valley focusing on bears, geology, trees, and other topics. (See Illustration by Lawrence W. Duke page 5 for times and places.) hat do you want to do with See Half Dome at Sunset your special time in Towering more than 4,000 feet above WYosemite? The choice is the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, Half yours. But to give you some ideas, park Dome compels eyes to gaze on it. Sunset rangers made a list of possibilities Painters record the scene at Tunnel View. Photo by Erik Skindrud lights up the cliff face, creating a for the autumn season. dramatic and colorful scene. Witness the effect from Sentinel Bridge or one In no particular order, here are 10 How to Use Your Yosemite Guide of the meadows near Yosemite Village popular activities for a day in Yosemite The list on this page offers 10 popular things to do. The or Curry Village. (See the Valley map on National Park. table of contents (“What’s Inside...”) at lower right shows the back of this Guide.) Explore a Sequoia Grove where you can turn for more information. A detailed listing Go Bike Riding or Ice Skating Meet the most massive living trees on of program information can be found on page 5. Rentals at Yosemite Lodge and Curry earth as you explore a sequoia grove. Village are both open 9 am to 6 pm. Yosemite is home to three groves—each Several classes are offered each week. Visit the Other Valley: Hetch Hetchy Curry Village bike rentals close on Oct. within walking distance of a road. Skis 25. Yosemite Lodge bike rentals close or snowshoes are recommended if the Some have fees, some are free. Learn Hetch Hetchy Valley and its reservoir more and sign up at the Ansel Adams are located about 40 miles north of on Nov. 15. Given safe conditions, trail is snow covered. (See map on you can always ride your own bike on page 2 and info on page 7.) Gallery in Yosemite Village. Shuttle Yosemite Valley. The contours of Hetch stops #5 and #9. (See pages 5 and 6.) Hetchy are much like its southern neigh- paved paths in the Valley, however. Call Visit the Yosemite Museum bor—with precipitous cliffs and water- 209/372-8319 for more information on Learn about Yosemite Indians by Hike to Mirror Meadow falls. Hiking opportunities abound. (See bike rentals. Ice skating at the Curry Vil- exploring a museum collection that Situated at the base of Half Dome, page 3 for specifics on visiting Hetch lage Ice Rink opens on Nov. 20, weather includes remarkable woven baskets and the site of Mirror Lake frames reflec- Hetchy.) conditions permitting. traditional dress. Tour the outdoor tions of Yosemite’s most iconic cliff. Indian Village or talk with an Indian (The lake itself is dry until the first Tour The Ahwahnee cultural demonstrator. The Yosemite significant precipitation of the season, Step back to an earlier era of history as Museum is located in Yosemite Village however.) The quiet trail is gentle and you explore the National Historic at shuttle stops #5 and #9. (See page 6.) follows Teneya Creek as it winds its way Landmark that opened in 1927. Notable through the eastern Valley. The trail for its architecture and artful décor, the Take a Photography Class starts at shuttle stop #17. (See Valley hotel provides a cozy atmosphere to Learn how to best capture the landscape map on the back of this Guide.) relax and enjoy a warm drink in. (“Food of Yosemite by joining a photography & Beverage,” page 7.) expert from the Ansel Adams Gallery. Welcome, and Be Prepared visitors. Call 209/372-0645 (Voice) or 209/372- 4726 (TTY) to request an interpreter. Emergency: Dial 911 Please call at least two weeks before Mountain lion by Tom Whitworth the visit. Assisted listening devices are Website: www.nps.gov/yose/ available at the Visitor Center. Twitter: twitter.com/YosemiteNPS Road, Weather, and General Park Lost and Found What’s Inside: Information: 209/372-0200 To inquire about items lost or found at one of Yosemite’s restaurants, hotels, lounges, shuttle 02 Discover Yosemite 09 Protecting Your Access for People With Disabilities buses, or tour services, call 209/372-4357. For 04 Yosemite Valley Park and Bear Info The Yosemite Accessibility Guide is avail- items lost or found in other areas of the park, able at park entrance stations, visitor centers, and call 209/379-1001. 05 Program Schedule 10 Feature Article: online at www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/accessi- Women in 06 Valley Information bility.htm. Accessible parking spaces are available Weather Yosemite History Sudden changes in weather are common in the just west of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. To 07 Wawona & Big Oak Sierra Nevada. Check at a park visitor center for reach these, enter the Valley on Southside Drive. 11 Supporting Your the most up-to-date weather forecast. Flat Information Turn left on Sentinel Drive. Turn left on Northside Park 08 Protecting Yourself Drive, and follow the blue-and-white signs. Road Information 12 Shuttle Map and Wilderness An American Sign Language interpreter Construction may cause short delays or detours is available for Deaf and hard of hearing on some park roads. Road info: 209/372-0200. Permit Info Where to Go and What to Do in Yosemite National Park 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 Discover Yosemite View Parking To 140 Bridalveil Tunnel Fall View To To To Yosemite Valley Merced 41 Fresno Let your curiosity guide you to new places (Elevation 4,000 feet/1,220 meters) Entrance Fees Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road close after the first To 395 Reservations are NOT required Lake & Eleanor significant snowfall. Over- Lee to enter Yosemite. The park is Hetch Hetchy Vining O’Shaughnessy night parking ends Oct. 15. open year-round, 24 hours a day. Dam 6 120 iver Hetch e R n d Hetchy um oa ol Vehicle $20 R Tu y Backpackers' h c t Campground Valid for 7 days Hetch e H (Wilderness t h Hetchy He c Permit Required) Entrance Tuolumne Tioga Meadows Pass Individual $10 5 Entrance In a bus, on foot, bicycle, motor- E v e White Wolf r g cycle, or horse. Valid for 7 days. r e e d Tuolumne Meadows n a R o o Campground a R d ad a o g R io Yosemite Pass $40 a T og Ti Valid for one year in Yosemite. Porcupine Tenaya Hodgdon Yosemite Creek Flat Lake Meadow Interagency Annual Pass $80 120 Big To Oak Valid for one year at all federal Manteca Flat recreation sites. Entrance Tuolumne Grove Valley 4 Tamarack Flat Visitor Interagency Senior Pass $10 Center Crane B ig Merced Flat r (Lifetime) Oa F ive k l R a Yosemite 1 Grove t d R 2 ce Trailhead o Mer For U.S. citizens or permanent a Valley d Glacier residents 62 and over. Point Arch Tunnel Rock View Interagency Access Pass (Free) El Portal Entrance (Lifetime) To r Glac Rd e ier nt iv Poi For permanently disabled U.S. Merced M R Inyo erced Bridalveil Creek National citizens or permanent residents. 140 Badger Forest Yosemite Pass West Ski Be prepared for Area 30-min. weekday W a construction Reservations w o delays to Glacier Pt. n a R Campground Reservations o a d 877/444-6777 www.recreation.gov 3 Ranger Station Lodging Reservations Wawona Food Service & Lodging 801/559-5000 Wawona Campground Campground www.yosemitepark.com Gas Station Pioneer South Sierra Yosemite Entrance National History Mariposa Regional Info Center Grove Sierra Forest National 0 5 km 5 miles Yosemite Area Regional Forest 41 To Transportation System Fresno (YARTS) www.yarts.com Highway 120 West Yosemite Chamber of Commerce Yosemite Valley 800/449-9120 or 209/962-0429 Yosemite Valley is world-famous for its impressive waterfalls, cliffs, and unusual rock formations. It is open year round 1 Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau and may be reached via Highway 41 from Fresno, Highway 140 from Merced, Highway 120 west from Manteca, and via 800/446-1333 the Tioga Road (Highway 120 East) from Lee Vining.