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Yosemite
National Park
The
following is from information
provided by the U.S. National Park Service
Yosemite
National Park embraces a great tract of scenic wildlands set
aside in 1890 to preserve a portion of the Sierra Nevada
that stretches along California's eastern flank.
Ranging from 2,000 feet above sea level to more than 13,000
feet, the park encompasses alpine wilderness, groves of
giant sequoia trees and Yosemite Valley. The
constant changing of the landscape by weather, water, fire
and other natural forces makes Yosemite unlike any place in
the world. Along with its towering trees, flowering
meadows, and massive granite formations, it is this unique
wildness that is protected here.
Tuolumne
Meadows and the Highcountry
Tuolumne Meadows and the
highcountry offer some of the Sierra Nevada's most rugged,
sublime scenery. In summer, meadows, lakes and exposed
granite slopes teem with life. Because the growing
season is short, plants and animals maximize the warm days
to grow, reproduce and store food for the coming winter.
The scenic Tioga Road (Hwy 120)
crosses Yosemite's highcountry. Built as a mining road
in 1882-83, the road was realigned and modernized in
1961. It passes sparkling lakes, fragile mountains,
polished domes, and lofty peaks. At Tioga Pass, the
road crosses the Sierra Nevada's crest at 9.945 feet,
California's highest automobile pass. It is closed
from late fall to mid-spring or longer.
Tuolumne Meadows, at 8,600 feet, is
the Sierra Nevada's largest subalpine meadow. It is 55
miles (1 1.2 hours by car) from Yosemite Valley via the
Tioga Road. A Visitor center, camping, lodging, food
service and gas are available in summer. A favorite
starting point for backpacking trips and day hikes, this
area is popular for winter mountaineering. Spectacular
also in summer, the meadows abound with wildflowers and
wildlife.
Glacier
Point
Glacier Point can overwhelm you
with the vast scenery, especially at sunset or when
full-moon nights transform the pastel granite landscape into
a magical vista. There is a bird's eye view of
Yosemite Valley from atop the 3,200-foor sheer cliff.
Across the Valley, Yosemite Falls makes its 2,425-foot
drop. The High Sierra's panoramic expanse to the north
and east evokes awe.
Giant
Sequoia Groves
Giant sequoia trees are found in
three groves in Yosemite. The Mariposa Grove, 35 miles
(1 1/2 hours) south of Yosemite Valley, is the
largest. Tuolumne Grove and Merced Grove are near
Crane Flat (1/2 hour drive from Yosemite Valley).
Largest of all living things, these towering trees have
endured for thousands of years.
Historically, frequent natural
fires opened the forest, thinned out competing plant species
and left rich mineral soil behind. But years of fire
suppression have allowed debris, such as fallen branches, to
accumulate, stifling reproduction and allowing
shade-tolerant trees to encroach. Prescribed fires,
mean to simulate natural fires and improve forest health,
are now set by the National Park Service.
Mariposa Grove's Grizzly Giant,
1,800 years old, is thought to be Yosemite's oldest living
sequoia. It is along the Mariposa Grove's main trail,
less than one mile hike from the parking area.
Wawona
Wawona, home to American Indian
people for thousands of years, was where Galen Clark built a
wayside hotel in 1857. Clark's station was stop for
travelers between Yosemite Valley and the town of
Mariposa. When Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove
were set aside for protection in 1864, Clark became the
area's first guardian. In 1875, the original Wawona
Road opened, and the Washburn brothers bought the area and
built the Wawona Hotel, still in operation today.
Wawona focuses on Yosemite's human history.
Wilderness
Wilderness designation protects
some 94 percent of Yosemite's nearly 750,000 acres under the
1964 Wilderness Act. The park's varied wilderness
provides hiking and backpacking for both seasoned and novice
hikers. Some 800 miles of trails offer wide choices of
climate, elevation and spectacular scenery. Near the
crest of the Sierra Nevada you can take long and short trips
at elevations above 9.000 feet. The higher regions
offer a cool climate, lower elevations are warmer and
drier.
Maps and guide books at
visitor centers can help you plan your trip.
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