Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park | |
---|---|
Location | Tuolumne, Mariposa, Mono and Madera Counties, California, United States |
Nearest city | Mariposa, California |
Coordinates | 37°44′33″N 119°32′15″W / 37.74250°N 119.53750°W[2] |
Area | 759,620 acres (3,074.1 km2)[3] |
Established | October 1, 1890 |
Visitors | 3,897,070 (in 2023)[4] |
Governing body | National Park Service |
Website | nps |
Criteria | Natural: vii, viii |
Reference | 308 |
Inscription | 1984 (8th Session) |
Yosemite National Park (/joʊˈsɛmɪti/ yoh-SEM-ih-tee[5]) is a national park in California.[6][7] It is bordered on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The park is managed by the National Park Service and covers 759,620 acres (1,187 sq mi; 3,074 km2)[3] in four counties – centered in Tuolumne and Mariposa, extending north and east to Mono and south to Madera. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, meadows, glaciers, and biological diversity.[8] Almost 95 percent of the park is designated wilderness.[9] Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada.
Its geology is characterized by granite and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and tilted to form its unique slopes, which increased the steepness of stream and river beds, forming deep, narrow canyons. About one million years ago glaciers formed at higher elevations. They moved downslope, cutting and sculpting the U-shaped Yosemite Valley.[8]
European American settlers first entered the valley in 1851. Other travelers entered earlier, but James D. Savage is credited with discovering the area that became Yosemite National Park.[10] Native Americans had inhabited the region for nearly 4,000 years, although humans may have first visited as long as 8,000 to 10,000 years ago.[11][12]
Yosemite was critical to the development of the concept of national parks. Galen Clark and others lobbied to protect Yosemite Valley from development, ultimately leading to President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the Yosemite Grant of 1864 that declared Yosemite as federally preserved land.[13] In 1890, John Muir led a successful movement to motivate Congress to establish Yosemite Valley and its surrounding areas as a National Park. This helped pave the way for the National Park System.[13] Yosemite draws about four million visitors annually.[14] Most visitors spend the majority of their time in the valley's seven square miles (18 km2).[8] The park set a visitation record in 2016, surpassing five million visitors for the first time.[15] in 2023, the park saw nearly 4 million visitors.[16]
Toponym
The word Yosemite (derived from yohhe'meti, "they are killers" in
History
Ahwahneechee and the Mariposa Wars
The indigenous natives of Yosemite called themselves the
The 1848-1855
Yosemite tribes often stole from settlers and miners, sometimes killing them, in retribution for the extermination/domestication of their people, and loss of their lands and resources.
Accounts from this battalion were the first well-documented reports of European Americans entering Yosemite Valley. Attached to Savage's unit was Doctor Lafayette Bunnell, who later wrote about his awestruck impressions of the valley in The Discovery of the Yosemite. Bunnell is credited with naming Yosemite Valley, based on his interviews with Chief Tenaya. Bunnell wrote that Chief Tenaya was the founder of the Ahwahnee colony.[30] Bunnell falsely believed that the word "Yosemite" meant "full-grown grizzly bear."[31]
Indigenous peoples' continuing presence
After the
By the late 19th century, the population of all native inhabitants in Yosemite was difficult to determine, estimates ranged from thirty to several hundred. The Ahwahneechee people and their descendants were hard to identify.
Early tourists
In 1855, entrepreneur James Mason Hutchings, artist Thomas Ayres and two others were the first tourists to visit.[38] Hutchings and Ayres were responsible for much of Yosemite's earliest publicity, writing articles and special issues about the valley.[39] Ayres' style was detailed with exaggerated angularity. His works and written accounts were distributed nationally, and an exhibition of his drawings was held in New York City. Hutchings' publicity efforts between 1855 and 1860 increased tourism to Yosemite.[40] Natives supported the growing tourism industry by working as laborers or maids. Later, they performed dances for tourists, acted as guides, and sold handcrafted goods, notably woven baskets.[22] The Indian village and its peoples fascinated visitors, especially James Hutchings who advocated for Yosemite tourism. He and others considered the indigenous presence to be one of Yosemite's greatest attractions.[22]
The Wawona Tree, also known as the Tunnel Tree, was a giant sequoia that grew in the Mariposa Grove. It was 234 feet (71 m) tall, and was 90 ft (27 m) in circumference. When a carriage-wide tunnel was cut through the tree in 1881, it became even more popular as a tourist photo attraction. Carriages and automobiles, traversed the road that passed through the tree. The tree was permanently weakened by the tunnel, and it fell in 1969 under a heavy load of snow. It was estimated to have been 2,100 years old.[44]
Yosemite's first concession was established in 1884 when John Degnan and his wife established a bakery and store.[45] In 1916, the National Park Service granted a 20-year concession to the Desmond Park Service Company. It bought out or built hotels, stores, camps, a dairy, a garage, and other park facilities.[46] The Hotel Del Portal was completed in 1908 by a subsidiary of the Yosemite Valley Railroad. It was located at El Portal, California just outside of Yosemite.[47][48]
The Curry Company started in 1899, led by David and Jennie Curry to provide concessions. They founded Camp Curry, now
Park service administrators felt that limiting the number of concessionaires in the park would be more financially sound. The Curry Company and its rival, the Yosemite National Park Company, were forced to merge in 1925 to form the
Yosemite Grant
Concerned by the impact of commercial interests, citizens including Galen Clark and Senator John Conness advocated protection for the area.[52] The 38th United States Congress passed legislation that was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on June 30, 1864, creating the Yosemite Grant.[53][54] This is the first time land was set aside specifically for preservation and public use by the U.S. government, and set a precedent for the 1872 creation of Yellowstone national park, the nation's first.[13] Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove were ceded to California as a state park, and a board of commissioners was established two years later.[55]
Galen Clark was appointed by the commission as the Grant's first guardian, but neither Clark nor the commissioners had the authority to evict
Tourist access to the park improved, and conditions in the Valley became more hospitable. Tourism significantly increased after the first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, while the long horseback ride to reach the area was a deterrent.[53] Three stagecoach roads were built in the mid-1870s to provide better access for the growing number of visitors.[60]
John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist and explorer. Muir's leadership ensured that many National Parks were left untouched, including Yosemite.[61]
Muir wrote articles popularizing the area and increasing scientific interest in it. Muir was one of the first to theorize that the major landforms in Yosemite Valley were created by alpine glaciers, bucking established scientists such as Josiah Whitney.[59] Muir wrote scientific papers on the area's biology. Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted emphasized the importance of conservation of Yosemite Valley.[62]
Increased protection efforts
Overgrazing of meadows (especially by sheep), logging of giant sequoia, and other damage led Muir to become an advocate for further protection. Muir convinced prominent guests of the importance of putting the area under federal protection. One such guest was
The newly created national park came under the jurisdiction of the United States Army's Troop I of the 4th Cavalry on May 19, 1891, which set up camp in Wawona with Captain Abram Epperson Wood as acting superintendent.[63] By the late 1890s, sheep grazing was no longer a problem, and the Army made other improvements. However, the cavalry could not intervene to ease the worsening conditions. From 1899 to 1913, cavalry regiments of the Western Department, including the all Black 9th Cavalry (known as the "Buffalo Soldiers") and the 1st Cavalry, stationed two troops at Yosemite.
Muir and his Sierra Club continued to lobby the government and influential people for the creation of a unified Yosemite National Park. In May 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt camped with Muir near Glacier Point for three days. On that trip, Muir convinced Roosevelt to take control of Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove away from California and return it to the federal government. In 1906, Roosevelt signed a bill that shifted control.[65]
National Park Service
The
In 1903, a dam in
In 1918, Clare Marie Hodges was hired as the first female Park Ranger in Yosemite.[71] Following Hodges in 1921, Enid Michael was hired as a seasonal Park Ranger[71] and continued to serve in that position for 20 years.[71]
In 1937, conservationist Rosalie Edge, head of the Emergency Conservation Committee (ECC), successfully lobbied Congress to purchase about 8,000 acres (3,200 ha) of old-growth sugar pines on the perimeter of Yosemite National Park that were to be logged.[72]
By 1968, traffic congestion and parking in Yosemite Valley during the summer months has become a concern. NPS reduced artificial inducements to visit the park, such as the Firefall, in which red-hot embers were pushed off a cliff near Glacier Point at night.[73]
In 1984, preservationists persuaded Congress to designate 677,600 acres (274,200 ha), or about 89 percent of the park, as the Yosemite Wilderness. As a
In 2016,
Geography
Yosemite National Park is located in the central Sierra Nevada. Three wilderness areas are adjacent to Yosemite: the Ansel Adams Wilderness to the southeast, the Hoover Wilderness to the northeast, and the Emigrant Wilderness to the north.
The 1,189 sq mi (3,080 km2) park contains thousands of lakes and ponds, 1,600 miles (2,600 km) of streams, 800 miles (1,300 km) of hiking trails, and 350 miles (560 km) of roads.
Rocks and erosion
Almost all of the landforms are cut from the granitic rock of the
Pillars and columns, such as
Popular features
Yosemite Valley represents only one percent of the park area. The Tunnel View gives a view of the valley. El Capitan is a prominent granite cliff that looms over the valley, and is a rock climbing favorite because of its sheer size, diverse climbing routes, and year-round accessibility. Granite domes such as Sentinel Dome and Half Dome rise 3,000 and 4,800 feet (910 and 1,460 m), respectively, above the valley floor. The park contains dozens of other granite domes.[83]
The high country of Yosemite contains other important features such as Tuolumne Meadows, Dana Meadows, the Clark Range, the Cathedral Range, and the Kuna Crest. The Sierra crest and the Pacific Crest Trail run through Yosemite. Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs are peaks of red metamorphic rock. Granite peaks include Mount Conness, Cathedral Peak, and Matterhorn Peak. Mount Lyell is the highest point in the park, standing at 13,120 feet (4,000 m). The Lyell Glacier is the largest glacier in the and one of the few remaining in the Sierra.[84]
The park has three groves of ancient giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) trees; the Mariposa Grove (200 trees), the Tuolumne Grove (25 trees), and the Merced Grove (20 trees).[85] This species grows larger in volume than any other and is one of the tallest and longest-lived.[86]
Water and ice
The Tuolumne and Merced River systems originate along the crest of the Sierra in the park and have carved river canyons 3,000 to 4,000 feet (910 to 1,220 m) deep. The Tuolumne River drains the entire northern portion of the park, an area of approximately 680 square miles (1,800 km2). The Merced River begins in the park's southern peaks, primarily the Cathedral and Clark Ranges, and drains an area of approximately 511 square miles (1,320 km2).[87]
Hydrologic processes, including
Yosemite is famous for its
Park
Climate
Yosemite has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa), meaning most precipitation falls during the mild winter, and the other seasons are nearly dry (less than three percent of precipitation falls during the long, hot summers). Because of orographic lift, precipitation increases with elevation up to 8,000 feet (2,400 m) where it slowly decreases to the crest. Precipitation amounts vary from 36 inches (910 mm) at 4,000 feet (1,200 m) elevation to 50 inches (1,300 mm) at 8,600 feet (2,600 m). Snow does not typically accumulate until November in the high country. It deepens into March or early April.[96]
Mean daily temperatures range from 25 °F (−4 °C) to 53 °F (12 °C) at Tuolumne Meadows at 8,600 feet (2,600 m). At the Wawona Entrance (elevation 5,130 feet or 1,560 metres), mean daily temperature ranges from 36 to 67 °F (2 to 19 °C). At the lower elevations below 5,000 feet (1,500 m), temperatures are hotter; the mean daily high temperature at Yosemite Valley (elevation 3,966 feet or 1,209 metres) varies from 46 to 90 °F (8 to 32 °C). At elevations above 8,000 feet (2,400 m), the hot, dry summer temperatures are moderated by frequent summer thunderstorms, along with snow that can persist into July. The combination of dry vegetation, low relative humidity, and thunderstorms results in frequent lightning-caused fires as well.[96]
At park headquarters (elevation 4,018 ft or 1,225 m), January averages 38.0 °F (3.3 °C), while July averages 73.3 °F (22.9 °C). In summer the nights are much cooler than the days. An average of 45.5 days have highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 105.6 nights with freezing temperatures. Freezing temperatures have been recorded in every month of the year. The record high temperature was 112 °F (44 °C) on July 22 and July 24, 1915, while the record low temperature was −7 °F (−22 °C) on January 1, 2009. Average annual precipitation is nearly 37 inches (940 mm), falling on 67 days. The wettest year was 1983 with 66.06 inches (1,678 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 14.84 inches (377 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 29.61 inches (752 mm) in December 1955 and the most in one day was 6.92 inches (176 mm) on December 23, 1955. Average annual snowfall is 39.4 inches (1.00 m). The snowiest winter was 1948–1949 with 176.5 inches (4.48 m). The most snow in one month was 175.0 inches (4.45 m) in January 1993.
Climate data for Yosemite Park Headquarters, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–present | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
82 (28) |
90 (32) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
103 (39) |
112 (44) |
110 (43) |
108 (42) |
98 (37) |
86 (30) |
73 (23) |
112 (44) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 58.7 (14.8) |
64.2 (17.9) |
70.4 (21.3) |
77.0 (25.0) |
83.3 (28.5) |
91.3 (32.9) |
97.4 (36.3) |
97.5 (36.4) |
93.7 (34.3) |
85.1 (29.5) |
70.9 (21.6) |
59.3 (15.2) |
99.1 (37.3) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 47.5 (8.6) |
51.2 (10.7) |
56.7 (13.7) |
63.1 (17.3) |
70.5 (21.4) |
80.5 (26.9) |
89.2 (31.8) |
89.0 (31.7) |
83.0 (28.3) |
70.9 (21.6) |
56.0 (13.3) |
45.9 (7.7) |
67.0 (19.4) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 38.0 (3.3) |
40.7 (4.8) |
45.1 (7.3) |
50.4 (10.2) |
57.5 (14.2) |
65.8 (18.8) |
73.3 (22.9) |
72.9 (22.7) |
67.2 (19.6) |
56.1 (13.4) |
44.3 (6.8) |
36.8 (2.7) |
54.0 (12.2) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 28.5 (−1.9) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
33.5 (0.8) |
37.6 (3.1) |
44.5 (6.9) |
51.0 (10.6) |
57.4 (14.1) |
56.8 (13.8) |
51.4 (10.8) |
41.3 (5.2) |
32.5 (0.3) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
41.0 (5.0) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 19.2 (−7.1) |
22.0 (−5.6) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
28.4 (−2.0) |
35.2 (1.8) |
40.8 (4.9) |
49.8 (9.9) |
48.9 (9.4) |
42.0 (5.6) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
25.4 (−3.7) |
20.7 (−6.3) |
15.7 (−9.1) |
Record low °F (°C) | −7 (−22) |
1 (−17) |
9 (−13) |
12 (−11) |
15 (−9) |
22 (−6) |
32 (0) |
32 (0) |
24 (−4) |
19 (−7) |
10 (−12) |
−1 (−18) |
−7 (−22) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 6.98 (177) |
6.49 (165) |
5.47 (139) |
3.17 (81) |
1.92 (49) |
0.46 (12) |
0.29 (7.4) |
0.16 (4.1) |
0.40 (10) |
1.56 (40) |
4.05 (103) |
5.60 (142) |
36.55 (928) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 16.8 (43) |
4.2 (11) |
5.2 (13) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.4 (8.6) |
5.1 (13) |
35.5 (90.6) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.9 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 7.2 | 6.4 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 5.9 | 8.5 | 66.6 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 7.8 |
Mean daily daylight hours | 10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 15.0 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 12.0 |
Average ultraviolet index | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
Source 1: NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010)[97][98][99] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather Atlas[100] |
Geology
Tectonic and volcanic activity
The location of the park was a
Heat generated from the Farallon Plate subducting below the North American Plate led to the creation of an island arc of volcanoes on the west coast of proto-North America between the late Devonian and Permian periods.[101] Material accreted onto the western edge of North America, and mountains were raised to the east in Nevada.[104]
The first phase of regional
The second major pluton emplacement phase lasted from about 120 million to 80 million years ago during the Cretaceous.[77] This was part of the Sevier orogeny.[106]
Starting 20 million years ago (in the Cenozoic) and lasting until 5 million years ago, a now-extinct extension of Cascade Range volcanoes erupted, bringing large amounts of igneous material in the area. These igneous deposits blanketed the region north of the Yosemite region. Volcanic activity persisted past 5 million years BP east of the current park borders in the Mono Lake and Long Valley areas.[107]
Uplift and erosion
Starting 10 million years ago, vertical movement along the Sierra fault started to uplift the Sierra Nevada. Subsequent tilting of the Sierra block and the resulting accelerated uplift of the Sierra Nevada increased the gradient of western-flowing streams.[108] The streams consequently ran faster and thus cut their valleys more quickly. Additional uplift occurred when major faults developed to the east, forming Owens Valley from Basin and Range-associated extensional forces. Sierra uplift accelerated again about two million years ago during the Pleistocene.[109]
The uplifting and increased erosion exposed granitic rocks to surface pressures, resulting in exfoliation (responsible for the rounded shape of the many domes in the park) and mass wasting following the numerous fracture joint planes (cracks; especially vertical ones) in the now solidified plutons.[82] Pleistocene glaciers further accelerated this process, while glacial meltwater transported the resulting talus and till from valley floors.[110]
Numerous vertical joint planes controlled where and how fast erosion took place. Most of these long, linear and very deep cracks trend northeast or northwest and form parallel, often regularly spaced sets.[110]
Glacial sculpting
A series of glaciations further modified the region starting about 2 to 3 million years ago and ending sometime around 10,000 BP. At least four major glaciations occurred in the Sierra, locally called the Sherwin (also called the pre-Tahoe), Tahoe, Tenaya, and Tioga.[108] The Sherwin glaciers were the largest, filling Yosemite and other valleys, while later stages produced much smaller glaciers. A Sherwin-age glacier was almost surely responsible for the major excavation and shaping of Yosemite Valley and other canyons in the area.[111]
Glacial systems reached depths of up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) and left their marks. The longest glacier ran down the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River for 60 miles (97 km), passing well beyond Hetch Hetchy Valley. Merced Glacier flowed out of Yosemite Valley and into the Merced River Gorge. Lee Vining Glacier carved Lee Vining Canyon and emptied into Lake Russel (the much-enlarged ice age version of Mono Lake). Only the highest peaks, such as Mount Dana and Mount Conness, were not covered by glaciers. Retreating glaciers often left recessional moraines that impounded lakes such as the 5.5 miles (9 km) long Lake Yosemite (a shallow lake that periodically covered much of the floor of Yosemite Valley).[112]
Ecology
Habitats
The park has an elevation range from 2,127 to 13,114 feet (648 to 3,997 m) and contains five major vegetation zones: chaparral and oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, and alpine. Of California's 7,000 plant species, approximately 50 percent occur in the Sierra Nevada and more than 20 percent within the park. The park contains suitable habitat for more than 160 rare plants, with rare local geologic formations and unique soils characterizing the restricted ranges many of these plants occupy.[8]
With its scrubby sun-baked
Yosemite's western boundary has habitats dominated by
At higher elevation, the coniferous forests become purer stands of
As the landscape rises, trees become smaller and more sparse, with stands broken by areas of exposed granite. These include lodgepole pine,
At a variety of elevations, meadows provide important habitat. Animals come to feed on the green grasses and use the flowing and standing water found in many meadows. Predators follow these animals. The interface between meadow and forest is favored by many animal species because of the proximity of open areas for foraging and cover for protection. Species that are highly dependent upon meadow habitat include great grey owl, willow flycatcher, Yosemite toad, and mountain beaver.[115]
Management issues
The black bears of Yosemite were once famous for breaking into parked cars to steal food. They were an encouraged tourist sight for many years at the park's garbage dumps, where they congregated to eat garbage and tourists gathered to photograph them. Increasing bear/human encounters and increasing property damage led to an aggressive campaign to discourage bears from interacting with people and their stuff. The open-air dumps were closed; trash receptacles were replaced with bear-proof receptacles; campgrounds were equipped with bear-proof food lockers so that people would not leave food in their vehicles. Because bears who show aggression towards people usually are destroyed, park personnel have come up with innovative ways to lead bears to associate humans and their property with experiences such as getting hit with a rubber bullet. As of 2001[update], about 30 bears a year were captured and ear-tagged and their DNA sampled so that, when bear damage occurs, rangers can ascertain which bear was causing the problem.[116][needs update]
Despite the richness of high-quality habitats in Yosemite, the
Yosemite National Park has documented the presence of more than 130 non-native plant species within park boundaries. They were introduced into Yosemite following the migration of early
Bull thistle (
Increasing
Wildfires
Indigenous residents intentionally set small fires in the early 1860s and before to clear the ground of brush as part as their farming practices.[22] These fires are comparable to contemporary practices such as controlled burns that are done by the U.S. Forest Service and others. Although it was not their primary reason, Yosemite Natives helped preserve biodiversity and resilience by lighting these small fires. Native Americans used fire as an early wildlife management tool to keep certain lands clear, resulting in more food for large animals and decreasing the chance of large forest fires which that now devastate forest ecosystems.[122] Some early uncontrolled forest fires were set accidentally by the militia group led by Major John Savage when the group burned down the Ahwahneechee camp in an attempt to expel them. The house fires eventually spread to a large section of the forest and the militia group ended up having to abandon their raid to save their own camp from the conflagration.[122]
Forest fires clear the park of dead vegetation, making way for new growth.[123] Small fires damage the income generated by tourism. During late July and early August, 2018, the Valley and other sections of the park, temporarily closed due to the Ferguson Fire at its western boundary.[124] The closing was the largest in almost thirty years.[125]
Activities
Public access
Yosemite National Park is open year-round, though certain roads close during snowy months, usually from November through May or June.[126] Certain trails also close during winter, including The 4-Mile Trail and part of The Mist Trail.[127]
Traffic congestion in the valley is heavy during peak summer season (June to August) and a free shuttle bus system operates in the valley. Parking in the valley during the summer is often full.[128] Transit options are available from Fresno and Merced.[129]
The natural and cultural history of Yosemite Valley is presented at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, the adjoining Yosemite Museum, and the Nature Center at Happy Isles. The parks' two National Historic Landmarks are the Sierra Club's LeConte Memorial Lodge (Yosemite's first public visitor center), and the Ahwahnee Hotel. Camp 4 is on the National Register of Historic Places.[130]
Hiking
Over 800 miles (1,300 km) of trails are available to hikers
The park can be divided into five sections—Yosemite Valley, Wawona/Mariposa Grove/Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows, Hetch Hetchy, and
Between late spring and early fall, much of the park can be accessed for backpacking trips. All overnight trips into the back country require a wilderness permit[134] and most require approved bear-resistant food storage.[135]
Driving
While some locations in Yosemite are accessible only on foot, other locations can be reached via road. The most famous road is Tioga Road.[136]
Bicycles are allowed on the roads, but only 12 miles (19 km) of paved off-road trails are available in Yosemite Valley itself; mountain biking is not allowed.[137]
Climbing
Rock climbing is an important part of Yosemite.[138] In particular the valley is surrounded by summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan. Camp 4 is a walk-in campground in the Valley that was instrumental in the development of rock climbing as a sport, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[139] Climbers can generally be spotted in the snow-free months on anything from ten-foot-high (3 m) boulders to the 3,300-foot (1.0 km) face of El Capitan. Classes on rock climbing are offered there.
Tuolumne Meadows is well known for rock and mountain climbing.
Winter activities
Away from the Valley, the park is snowed in during the winter months, with many roads closed.
The Bracebridge dinner is an annual holiday event, held since 1927 at the Ahwahnee Hotel, inspired by Washington Irving's descriptions of Squire Bracebridge and English Christmas traditions of the 18th century in his Sketch Book. Between 1929 and 1973, the show was organized by Ansel Adams.[143]
Other
Yosemite has 13 official campgrounds.[144]
Bicycle rentals are available from spring through fall. Over 12 miles (19 km) of paved bike paths are available in Yosemite Valley. In addition, bicyclists can ride on roads. Helmets are required for children under 18 years of age. Off-trail riding and mountain biking are not permitted in the park.[145]
Water activities are plentiful during warmer months. Rafting can be done through the valley on the Merced River from late May to July.[146] Swimming pools are available at Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village.
Horsetail Fall
Horsetail Fall flows over the eastern edge of El Capitan. This small waterfall usually flows only during winter and is easy to miss. On rare occasions during mid- to late February, it can glow orange when backlit by sunset. This unique lighting effect happens only on evenings with a clear sky. Minor haze or cloudiness can spoil the effect. Although entirely natural, the phenomenon is reminiscent of the human-caused Firefall that historically occurred from Glacier Point.
In popular culture
The opening scenes of
See also
- 1996 Yosemite Valley landslide
- Bibliography of the Sierra Nevada
- Buffalo Soldiers (park rangers)
- Cathedral Peak Granodiorite
- Chinquapin, California
- List of birds of Yosemite National Park
- List of national parks of the United States
- List of plants of the Sierra Nevada
- National parks in California
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Yosemite National Park
- Protected areas of the Sierra Nevada
- Yosemite Sam – Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character
- Yosemite West, California, a community inside the gates of the park
Citations
- ^ "Yosemite National Park". protectedplanet.net. Protected Planet. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
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General references
- Berkowitz, Paul D. (2017). Legacy of the Yosemite Mafia: Noble Cause Corruption in the National Park Service. Walterville Oregon: Trine Day Publishing. ISBN 978-1-63424-126-7.
- Greene, Linda Wedel (1987). Yosemite: the Park and its Resources (PDF). U.S. Department of the Interior / National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2011.
- Harris, Ann G. (1998). Geology of National Parks (Fifth ed.). Kendall, Iowa: Hunt Publishing. ISBN 0787253537.
- Kiver, Eugene P.; Harris, David V. (1999). Geology of U.S. Parklands (Fifth ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0471332186.
- Muir, John. "Features of the Proposed Yosemite National Park Archived September 17, 2017, at the Wayback Machine" The Century; a popular quarterly (Sept. 1890) 40#5
- Schaffer, Jeffrey P. (1999). Yosemite National Park: A Natural History Guide to Yosemite and Its Trails. Berkeley: Wilderness Press. ISBN 0899972446.
- Wuerthner, George (1994). Yosemite: A Visitor's Companion. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811725987.
- Yosemite: Official National Park Service Handbook. Vol. 138. Division of Publications, National Park Service. 1989.
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Park Service.
- "Climate". National Park Service. December 22, 2004. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
- "Exotic Vegetation". National Park Service. December 22, 2004. Archived from the original on January 2, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
- "Nature & History". National Park Service. October 13, 2006. Archived from the original on January 25, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
- "Water Overview". National Park Service. December 22, 2004. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
- "Wildlife Overview". National Park Service. December 22, 2004. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
External links
- Official website of the National Park Service
- "Providing for Yosemite's Future — Yosemite Conservancy". yosemite.org. March 18, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- "The Role of the Railroads in Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks". xroads.virginia.edu. Retrieved June 28, 2023. from American Studies at the University of Virginia
- Project Yosemite | Yosemite HD | Motion Timelapse Video
- "Historic Yosemite Indian Chiefs – with photos". Archived from the original on May 21, 2006. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- "Edith Irvine's Historic Photographs of Yosemite National Park". contentdm.lib.byu.edu. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- Project Yosemite timelapse photography
- Muir, John (1911). My first summer in the Sierra. Boston, Mass: Houghton Mifflin. . LibriVox.org. June 3, 2009.