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- About Yosemite National Park -
The following is only a brief synopsis of material on a variety of topics available about Yosemite. We highly recommend that you use additional sources for more complete information. For your convenience, we have included some recommended sources in this portion of our site.
What Is It?
Yosemite National Park is an area of 761,266 acres of land that was considered so beautiful and unique that it was put aside to be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. The 7-square mile centerpiece of the Park is Yosemite Valley with its magnificent waterfalls and glacially carved granite walls and formations. While it is the most photographed, and therefore most widely recognized, Yosemite Valley is only a small portion of Yosemite National Park. Although geographically located within California, Yosemite belongs to the Federal Government and is administered by the National Park Service (not to be confused with the Forest Service), an agency of the U. S. Department of the Interior.
Where Is It?
Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, about 200 miles east of the San Francisco Bay area.
The History in Brief...
Geologic:
	There is much to be said about the geologic history of Yosemite and we will let you research the details yourself as your interest dictates. However, suffice it to say that glaciers once covered much of Yosemite. The unique granite formations and glacial polish caused by the movement of these glaciers can be seen on rock surfaces in many areas of the Park today. When the glaciers melted, Yosemite Valley became "Lake Yosemite" (a fact residents and visitors who were here for the horrendous flood of January, 1997, can easily visualize) and the flat, lake-bottom appearance of the Valley floor is evident today as well.
Cultural:
	The first human residents of Yosemite were Ahwahneechee Indians. At the time of the first sighting (1833) and "visit" (1851) by non-Indian people to Yosemite Valley, the resident tribe was of Southern Miwok ancestry. By 1851, Indian Commissioners had been busy trying to negotiate with local tribes to quitclaim their land and relocate to reservations. The tribe occupying Yosemite failed to show up for these meetings, however, and the1851 ÒvisitsÓ to find these tribe members were made by the Mariposa Battalion, riding under the authority of the State of California. They came into Yosemite Valley while searching for the uncooperative, "contentious" local Indians. In the skirmishes, which followed, members of the tribe were killed or wounded.
	The subsequent disbandment of the tribe encouraged miners in search of gold. Letters written by those who had seen Yosemite during this time mentioned a thousand-foot waterfall. This caught the attention of a Mr. James Hutchings who, using two members of the original Yosemite Indian tribe as guides, organized the first tourist party in 1855. We artists can appreciate that Thomas Ayres, an artist, was a member of this group and his artistic renditions of the scenery served to further the interest of tourists. The National Park Service now preserves his drawings of Yosemite in the Yosemite Museum.
	It wasn't long before services had to be provided for the growing trickle of road-weary travelers. Soon lodging and food service (along with the residences, livestock and stables, orchards and gardens, freight hauling and mail delivery) was needed. Thus began the long, and sometimes controversial, history of the various concessionaires who have provided these services in Yosemite National Park to this day.
Legislative:
	Preservation of Yosemite's scenic beauty for the future has been at the core of legislative concern and action from the beginning.
	On June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill granting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant Sequoias to the State of California, as an inalienable public trust. This was the first time in history that Federal Government had set aside scenic lands to protect and preserve them for future generations. Based on this action, Yellowstone became the first official national park in 1872. As a result of increased efforts to protect Yosemite (led largely by the legendary John Muir), the State of California deeded the land grant back to the federal government and Yosemite was designated as the second national park on October 1, 1890.
	In 1980, in a further effort to protect Yosemite from the impact of tourism on the resource, and determine the needs for services, resource management, concessions services, and park operations in general, the Yosemite General Management Plan was completed. Implementation of this planning effort is ongoing.
	In September 1984, 93% of Yosemite was designated as wilderness under the Wilderness Act. This preserves and protects the natural environment of this portion of the park by preventing any development. Also in 1984, Yosemite National Park was designated a World Heritage Site and recognized as a unique resource on a global level.
How Do I Plan a Visit?
Each major area of Yosemite---Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows and Big Oak Flat---has a Visitor Center or Information Center where rangers offer visitors current information along with books, maps, videos and posters. The most complete of these is located in Yosemite Village in Yosemite Valley. We suggest that you stop at one of these facilities first before planning your day in the park. If you intend to go into the backcountry for overnight backpack trips, you must have a wilderness permit and those may be obtained at or near these centers.
We also suggest some of the following books:
General Guides and Maps:
	- Yosemite Road Guide, keyed to road markers throughout the Park.
	- Map & Road Guide to Yosemite Valley
	- Map & Road Guide to Wawona
	- Map & Road Guide to Tuolumne Meadows
Hiking:
	Easy Day Hikes in Yosemite---Twenty Enjoyable Trails, by Deborah Durkee
	Yosemite National Park, A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and It's Trails, by Jeffrey Schaffer (for serious hikers!)
Art:
	Direct From Nature---The Oil Sketches of Thomas Hill: Yosemite art history
	Obata's Yosemite: Chiura Obata's story of camping through the high country with photos of his remarkable paintings and wood block prints
	West of Eden and Yosemite As We Saw It: Art and literature of Yosemite, by David Robertson
Indians:
	Legends of the Yosemite Miwok: Compiled by Frank LaPena, Craig D. Bates, and Steven Medley; illustrated by Artist Harry Fonseca
	These materials and many more are available at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center or by mail from the Yosemite Association.
Travel Tips: Yosemite Valley
As with all tourist destinations, the summer months are the busiest. All facilities---hotels, cabins, tent cabins, and campgrounds are open, but are available only by reservation. If you want to stay in Yosemite Valley, it is best to plan well in advance:
- Parkwide campground reservations: (800) 436-7275
- Lodging reservations: (559) 252-4848
Lodging and camping are also available on the perimeter of the Park and in surrounding communities
Although reducing or eliminating private vehicles in Yosemite Valley through the use of public transportation is a goal of the future, at this time you may drive your own vehicle into Yosemite without restriction. The Park is open all year and vehicle restrictions only occur during emergencies, winter storm conditions, or other unusual circumstances.
Parking your vehicle in designated lots and using the free shuttle bus, walking, or biking is highly encouraged and better for the environment.
A variety of tours are offered:
	- National Park Service: Interpretive walks with park rangers
	- The Ansel Adams Gallery: Camera walks with professional photographers
	- Yosemite Concession Services': 2-hour open air trams (known locally as the Green Dragon!), camera walks, and other tours
	- Yosemite Guides: (877) 425-3366 offer specialized guided tours parkwide
	- Sierra Club: Presents talks and activities at LeConte Memorial Lodge
	Note: Always consult the Yosemite Guide, available at the entrance stations, visitor centers, and lodging facilities, for a current guide to seasonal events, activities, and services.
Scenic points of interest (and you don't want to forget your camera) include:
	- The waterfalls: Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Falls (upper and lower!), and if you can hike a bit, Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall.
	- The granite formations: Half Dome, El Capitan, Sentinel Rock, Royal Arches, The Three Brothers, and Washington's Column
	- The meadows: El Cap, Leidig, Cooks, Ahwahnee, and Stoneman Meadows
	- The wildlife: California Black Bear (if you're lucky), mule deer, coyote (sorry, no Wolves---that's in Yellowstone!), bobcat, raccoon, ringtail cat, Peregrine Falcon, Steller's Jay, woodpeckers, and a variety of other birds. Note: In order to protect wildlife, there are very strict rules about food storage; please follow the rules.
	- The flora: California Black Oak, Western Dogwood, Ponderosa Pine, Maple, Incense Cedar, wild azalea, cow parsnip, and Manzanita, to name a few.
	A variety of eating facilities and food sources to accommodate every budget, as well as grocery stores, are available.
Recommended:
	- The "moonbow" at Lower Yosemite Falls during spring and early summer
	- Full moon nights all year
	- Outdoor ice skating at Curry Village during the winter
Travel Tips: Wawona
The Wawona area, which includes the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (redwoods), is a beautiful and quiet area of Yosemite. Located in the southern part of the Park, Wawona is a small community centered around the historic Wawona Hotel and the Pioneer History Center. There is a 9-hole golf course in the large meadow fronting the hotel, and a pleasant 3-mile hike around the golf course. A favorite hike is the Chilnualna Falls trail, a reasonably gentle 4 miles (uphill) to a spectacular waterfall. The lower cascade at the start of the trail is very beautiful and requires almost no effort!
The Mariposa Grove is located just 2 miles inside the South Entrance to the Park. The road into the Grove is closed in winter, but provides a good hike, snowshoe or cross country ski experience. Although there is parking at the grove, a free shuttle bus (spring through fall) from Wawona helps avoid congestion and parking delays. Activities in the grove include hiking, ranger-led walks and tram tours.
Accommodations in the Wawona area are at the Wawona Hotel (559-252-4848) and the Redwoods Cottages (209-372-6666). Lodging is also available in Fish Camp (just outside the Highway 41/South Entrance and in Yosemite West, which is midway between Yosemite Valley and Wawona (yosemitewest.com and yosemitebandb.com).
There is a small market located in Wawona for basic food needs.
Badger Pass, one of the original downhill ski areas of California, opens for the season as soon as snow conditions permit (usually November-December). This is a small, family-oriented ski facility---a great place to bring the family to learn both downhill and cross country skiing amid beautiful scenery.
Another favorite area (really a must-see!) is Glacier Point. You will stand 3,000 feet above Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome so close you feel you could reach out and touch the most famous ÒrockÓ in the world. You look down on Yosemite Falls and Vernal and Nevada Falls. You can also see the beautiful Illilouette Falls and see into Yosemite's High Country. The views are unsurpassed at any time of day, but it is very special to watch the moon rise (especially after viewing the sunset!). Be advised that the road to Glacier Point is closed in winter beyond the Badger Pass Ski Area.
Travel Tips: Tuolumne Meadows
At Tuolumne Meadows, in the sub-alpine environment, you are about as close to Heaven as one can get on this earth! For most of us, this is a summer-only destination. Craggy peaks rise well above the meadows, located at 8.900 feet elevation. The Tuolumne River's clear waters roll over white granite and sand. Cascades and waterfalls delight the eye and summer wildflowers fill the meadows. Summer hiking is at its best here, as is the fishing. A number of hiking destinations are reached by starting at Tuolumne Meadows. If you have not visited this area before, a stop at the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center is highly recommended.
Recommended:
	- Stop at Tenaya Lake for lunch or the whole day on the beach or in the water.
	- Fishing along the Tuolumne River.
	- Hike to the top of Lembert Dome.
Lodging, camping, and services:
	- The Tuolumne Lodge is a tent cabin-only facility that is open during summer months. A dining room (tent) provides breakfasts and dinners.
	- The Tuolumne Campground is only open during summer months and sites must be reserved.
	- The Tuolumne Meadows Grocery Store and Grill open for the summer months. A Post Office is also located within the store.
	- The very unique High Sierra Camps, of which the Tuolumne Lodge is a "base Camp," are located a day's hike apart throughout the Tuolumne area. These accommodations are rustic tent-cabin facilities, with dining and limited showers available. You can also travel the High Camp loop by horseback. Reservations are by lottery; call 559-253-5674 for more information.
	Road access to this area of the Park is via Highway 120 East through the Tioga Pass Entrance at the eastern side, or from Crane Flat at the western junction. This section of the road closes for the winter after the first major snowstorm of the season and reopens in late May or early June. The Tioga Road is considered wilderness from the time of the winter closure until April 15 of each year (when snow plowing begins for the summer opening) and serves as a major trans-Sierra cross-country ski route.
Where To See Art In Yosemite:
Fine art depicting Yosemite has a long tradition. Since the mid-1800's, painters and photographers have attempted to capture the beauty of the park and to convey some sense of its scope and majesty. Artists such as Thomas Ayres, Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Hill, and photographers Carleton Watkins, Edweard Muybridge and Ansel Adams, created images that brought the Park to the notice of the general public. Through the work of these artists and others, many people were introduced to Yosemite who might never have the opportunity to actually see the grand spectacle of the park for themselves.
Should you make the journey, here are some places to see art in Yosemite:
	The Yosemite Museum is run by the National Park Service and is located just west of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. This facility hosts art exhibits throughout the year. Recent exhibits have included historic photographs by Carleton Watkins, paintings by various artists from the Museum collection, and the annual juried Yosemite Renaissance show of contemporary art. Viewing hours are limited.
	The Ansel Adams Gallery is run by the Ansel Adams family and is located just east of the Valley Visitor Center. This facility emphasizes contemporary fine art photography, particularly of the landscape, and a wide selection of handcrafts and books. The Ansel Adams Gallery also exhibits the work of painters and printmakers whose subject matter focuses on Yosemite and the Sierra.
	The Mountain Room Restaurant, located at Yosemite Lodge, serves as an adjunct display space showing the works of contemporary photographers represented by The Ansel Adams Gallery.
	The Art Activity Center in Yosemite Village offers art instruction and displays the work of visiting art instructors. This facility is closed in winter.
	The Ahwahnee Hotel, approximately one half mile east of Yosemite Village, displays historic original paintings by Gunnar Widfors (a Swedish painter who traded paintings for lodging) and Chris Jorgensen, historic Native American baskets, and photographs in the downstairs public lounges. A modest corporate collection of artwork on Yosemite themes is located in the upstairs conference rooms.
Finally, if you want to create art in Yosemite:
If you're feeling inspired (or want to be inspired), there are various organizations offering workshops in Yosemite for students of all levels. These can vary from a one-day 4-hour class to a more involved multi-day experience. Here are a few:
	The Art Activity Center: Located in Yosemite Village, this facility hosts a different instructor every week. Watercolor is the primary medium, but the schedule may include acrylics, drawing, and even poetry! Daily, 4-hour classes are offered from late spring through early fall. The instruction is free, but students must provide their own supplies. Art supplies are available for purchase on the premises. Call during the season: 209-372-1442.
	The Yosemite Association: This organization offers single to multi-day workshops in art, photography, writing, etc. in and around Yosemite. There is a fee charged for these classes, and lodging and/or camping are at the expense of the student. A catalog is available by calling 209-379-2321 or on their website.
	Yosemite Guides: This facility is headquartered in El Portal, west of Yosemite Valley. They offer custom tours and workshops in and around Yosemite. They will tailor an outing to fit the customer's request and/or needs. A fee is charged for their service. Call 209-379-2231 or see their website.
	The Ansel Adams Gallery: The Gallery offers free photography walks led by professional photographers, as well as in-depth workshops for there is a fee. Contact the Gallery for schedules at 209-372-4413.
	Yosemite Concession Services: Photography walks are offered, usually from The Ahwahnee Hotel or Yosemite Lodge. A photographer representing the Kodak Corporation also conducts photo walks during the summer months. There is no charge.
	The Vision Academy of the Arts: This organization is headquartered in Oakhurst (south of the Park) and offers a painting workshop called "Interpreting Yosemite in Watercolor." Artist instructors are Jane Gyer and Mary Campbell-Mann, and the workshop is offered twice during the month of July. There is a fee and a limit to the number of students accommodated. Call 559-683-6576 or write to the Vision Academy of the Arts, P. O. Box 456, Oakhurst, CA, 93644.
	The Mariposa County Arts Council: This organization is located in nearby Mariposa, but they occasionally offer workshops in Yosemite. Call 209-966-3155.
And A Few Last Words of Advice:
The National Park Service website is a good source of additional information about the Park, weather, road access, public transportation, entrance and camping fees, permits, and (very important!) how to get here: www.nps.gov/yose .
Up to date road and weather conditions may be obtained by calling 209-372-0200 yearround.