Wawona, Yosemite
The Merced River & Meadow Loop at Wawona, Yosemite National Park
Wawona Hotel Yosemite National Park HD
Wawona Hotel, a National Historic Landmark lies 4 miles inside Yosemite's south entrance. The tranquility of this Victorian-style lodge in Yosemite makes it a favorite of those who prefer a relaxed environment and of a bygone era.
In 1855, Galen Clark, a miner whose health had suffered in the Gold Camps, passed through the Wawona Valley area with a party of tourists bound for Yosemite. Enchanted by the beauty of the place, Clark returned and built a crude 12-by-16 foot log cabin on the west end of the meadow. Today, Wawona Hotel is operated by DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite and remains one of the most respected mountain resorts. With its historic white wooden buildings, verandas overlooking sprawling green lawns and Victorian interiors, the hotel is the perfect setting for a relaxing vacation.
This Wawona Hotel video is a DVD Extra on Finley-Holiday Films Discovering Yosemite DVD. Available on location in Yosemite National Park and from finleyholiday.com. Visit yosemiteparks.com for lodging information.
Hodgdon Meadow Campground Review.... Yosemite National Park
Drive Inside Wawona Campground - Yosemite National Park
Wawona Campground - Yosemite National Park
Wawona Campground is located in breathtaking Yosemite National Park in Central California's rugged Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The site is situated at the southern end of the park, 27 miles and 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley, at an elevation of 4000 feet.
The area is forested with a diverse mix of ponderosa pine, incense-cedar, white fir and whiteleaf manzanita, which offers a pleasant combination of sun and shade. The gentle South Fork of the Merced River flows alongside the campground.
Wawona Campground offers family, group and horse campsites. Paved roads and parking spurs, flush toilets, vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Each campsite contains a picnic table, fire ring and a food storage locker. A general store and gas station are located near the Wawona Hotel.
Cook's Meadow in winter at Yosemite National Park
One of California's most formidable natural landscapes, Yosemite National Park features nearly 1,200 square miles of sheer awe: towering waterfalls, millennia-old Sequoia trees, striking, daunting cliff faces and some of the most unique rock formations in the United States. But despite its enormous size, most of the tourist activity takes place within the 8-square-mile area of Yosemite Valley. Here you'll find the park's most famous landmarks – Half Dome and El Capitan – as well as excellent hiking trails through the natural monuments. Even inexperienced hikers can enjoy Yosemite: Guided tours and climbing lessons are available from local adventure outfitters. Just don't expect to experience it by yourself. Like so many other American tourist destinations, crowds are the biggest obstacles to an enjoyable Yosemite vacation – approximately 4 million people visit each year. But if you go at the right time (and start your day a little earlier than usual), Mother Nature's wonders will reveal themselves to you in a miraculous and serene way. Click like and subscribe for more videos......
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California, United States, North America
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in the central eastern portion of California, United States. The park covers an area of 761,268 acres (3,080.74 km2) and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain. Over 3.7 million people visit Yosemite each year: most spend their time in the seven square miles (18 km2) of Yosemite Valley. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness. Although not the first designated national park, Yosemite was central to the development of the national park idea, largely owing to the work of people like Galen Clark and John Muir. Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals. 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/oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, and alpine. Of California's 7,000 plant species, about 50% occur in the Sierra Nevada and more than 20% within Yosemite. There is suitable habitat or documentation for more than 160 rare plants in the park, with rare local geologic formations and unique soils characterizing the restricted ranges many of these plants occupy. The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granitic rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and then tilted to form its relatively gentle western slopes and the more dramatic eastern slopes. The uplift increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in formation of deep, narrow canyons. About 1 million years ago, snow and ice accumulated, forming glaciers at the higher alpine meadows that moved down the river valleys. Ice thickness in Yosemite Valley may have reached 4,000 feet (1,200 m) during the early glacial episode. The downslope movement of the ice masses cut and sculpted the U-shaped valley that attracts so many visitors to its scenic vistas today. In 1855, entrepreneur James Mason Hutchings, artist Thomas Ayres and two others were the first to tour the area. Hutchings and Ayres were responsible for much of the earliest publicity about Yosemite, writing articles and special magazine issues about the Valley. Ayres' style in art was highly detailed with exaggerated angularity. His works and written accounts were distributed nationally, and an art exhibition of his drawings was held in New York City. Hutchings' publicity efforts between 1855 and 1860 led to an increase in tourism to Yosemite. Wawona was an Indian encampment in what is now the southwestern part of the park. Settler Galen Clark discovered the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia in Wawona in 1857. He had simple lodgings built, and roads to the area. In 1879, the Wawona Hotel was built to serve tourists visiting Mariposa Grove. As tourism increased, so did the number of trails and hotels developed by people intending to build on the trade. The Wawona Tree, also known as the Tunnel Tree, was a famous giant sequoia that stood in the Mariposa Grove. It was 227 feet (69 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. Everything from horse-drawn carriages in the late 19th century, to automobiles in the first part of the 20th century, traveled the road which passed through that tree. The Wawona Tree fell in 1969 under a heavy load of snow. It was estimated to have been 2,300 years old. Yosemite's first concession was established in 1884 when John Degnan and his wife established a bakery and store. 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 services. Desmond changed its name to the Yosemite National Park Company in December 1917 and was reorganized in 1920. The Curry Company had been started in 1899 by David and Jennie Curry to provide concessions in the park. They also founded Camp Curry, now known as Curry Village.
Experience Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles of mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada of California. From high peaks and deep canyons to ancient forests and quiet meadows, the diversity of the world is on display here. At Yosemite you can see the tranquillity of the High Sierra, the power of glaciers, giant sequoia groves, thundering waterfalls, clear streams and much more. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is also home to hundreds of wildlife and plant species. Two Wild & Scenic Rivers, the Tuolumne and Merced rivers, begin in the park and flow west to the Central Valley. Visitors experience the park's 800 miles of hiking trails and 282 miles of road.
Visitors fall in love with the park's many waterfalls, specifically 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls that ranks as the tallest in North America, flowing down into the scenic Valley meadows. Hikers take notice of the enormous granite mountains from the 8,842-foot Half Dome to the 13,114-foot Mt. Lyell-Yosemite's tallest peak. Glaciers, which John Muir sought out in California as well as Alaska, add into the mix with the Maclure and Lyell still intact.
It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter. —John Muir
Animals: Yosemite supports more than 400 species of vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Overall, the park's widespread coniferous forests--with a relatively mild climate and a mixture of plant species--provide a lush habitat for animals to live. Wildlife species typically found include mule deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, mountain kingsnake, Gilbert's skink, white-headed woodpecker, brown creeper, spotted owl, and a wide variety of bat species. Black bears in Yosemite are active both day and night. Most bears that rely on natural food sources are active during the day. However, those that get food from people are often active at night, when they can quietly sneak around and grab unattended food.
Plants: Move up or down in elevation and feel as though you are in another park. Vegetation changes from oak woodlands to chaparral scrublands to lower montane to upper montane to subalpine to alpine. Those who step into the alpine zone can see krummholz whitebark pines and perhaps a western juniper or mountain hemlock. Scientists study many individual plants, including the black oak, to understand its future challenges.
TRAVEL & TOURISM
Yosemite is open all year, though some areas of the park are inaccessible by car from approximately November through May due to snow.
Distances and Driving Times From: San Francisco/Bay area (195 mi, 4-5 hours); Sacramento (176 mi, 4 hours); Reno & Lake Tahoe (June through October, conditions permitting, 218 mi, 5 hours/All year, 315 mi, 8 hours); Los Angeles area (313 mi, 6 hours); San Diego area (441 mi, 8 hours); Las Vegas (June through October, conditions permitting, 642 km, 8 hours / November through May, 797 km, 8-10 hours)
Drivers can enter Yosemite National Park by several routes:
From the West and Most Scenic: CA Hwy 140
This route is by far the most scenic drive into Yosemite National Park and the best way to go if you're visiting for the first time. It's open most of the time and passes through the towns of Mariposa and Fish Camp. It's also a popular route for people driving to Yosemite from the San Jose area.
From the West: CA Hwy 120
Open most any time, this route goes through Oakdale and Groveland and is often used by visitors from the San Francisco Bay area and northern California. It passes through fruit and almond orchards, small agricultural towns, fruit stands and ranches in the rolling foothills before ascending sharply up the Priest Grade to Big Oak Flat and the old gold mining town of Groveland.
From the South: CA Hwy 41
From US Hwy 99 at Fresno, Hwy 41 runs north and west toward Yosemite's South Entrance, which takes you through the towns of Oakhurst and Fish Camp and into the park near the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and Wawona.
From the East: CA Hwy 120 and Tioga Pass
To find out more about traveling this route, average opening and closing dates, check the guide to the Tioga Pass.
From the East: Other Mountain Passes
Other mountain passes that can get you across the Sierras near Yosemite include the Sonora Pass (CA Hwy 108), Monitor Pass (CA Hwy 89) and Ebbetts Pass (CA Hwy 4). Snow may also close these routes in winter, but they are sometimes open when Tioga Pass is still snow-clogged.
Yaroooh! for Kids | News - Magazine
Top 5 Hotels Near Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Top 5 Hotels Near Yosemite National Park, California, USA
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❖ Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite
3-star hotel
34001 CA-120, Groveland, California 95321, USA
Phone: +1 209-379-2373
~1.5 miles from Yosemite National Park
❖ Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite
4-star hotel
1122 Highway 41, Fish Camp, California 93623, USA
Phone: +1 888-514-2167
~3.1 miles from Yosemite National Park
❖ Yosemite Lodging at Big Creek Inn B&B
4-star hotel
1221 Highway 41, Fish Camp, California 93623, USA
Phone: +1 559-641-2828
~2.2 miles from Yosemite National Park
❖ Sierra Sky Ranch, an Ascend Hotel Collection Oakhurst
3-star hotel
50552 Road 632, Oakhurst, California 93644, USA
Phone: +1 559-683-8040
~12.0 miles from Yosemite National Park
❖ The Pines Resort & Conference Center
4-star hotel
54432 Road 432 P.O. Box 90, Bass Lake, California 93604, USA
Phone: +1 559-642-3121
~18.5 miles from Yosemite National Park
Yosemite on Horseback HD
Sierra Nevada outdoor adventure is part of the legacy of Yosemite national park. Mule and horse rides depart from the Valley Stables, Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows and include views of park icons such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Vernal Falls.
Yosemite horse and mule rides are available from DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite. Visit yosemitepark.com
For a more in-depth look, check out our full-featured Yosemite on Horseback DVD, with tours from all three stables and bonus features, wrangler interviews and Bishop's Mule Days.
Yosemite on Horseback DVD Bonus Feature is part of Finley-Holiday Films' Discovering Yosemite DVD. Available on location and from finleyholiday.com
Camping in Yosemite National Park - Everything You Need to Know
Planning a camping trip to Yosemite? This video will answer some of the most common questions when it comes to planning your trip like
1 What are the best campgrounds in Yosemite?
2. Do you need a reservation to camp in Yosemite?
3. Should you be worried about bears?
Q.) What are the best campgrounds in Yosemite?
There are 13 total camp campgrounds in Yosemite National Park, 4 of them are open all year while all others are open seasonally. The most popular campgrounds are the four that are in Yosemite Valley which are Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines and Camp 4. Out of the four campgrounds in Yosemite Valley, Upper Pines and Camp 4 are open year round while the other 2 are open seasonally.
Q.) Do you need a reservation to camp in Yosemite?
About half of the campgrounds in Yosemite National Park, about half require a reservation and the other half are on a first come first serve basis. The 3 Pines Campgrounds in Yosemite
Valley require reservations while Camp 4 is first come first serve. You can view more detailed information on all campgrounds here:
To Make a Campground Reservation
• Visit recreation.gov (recommended)
• 877/444-6777 (or 877/833-6777 for TDD)(or 518/885-3639 from outside the US & Canada)
Keep in mind that reservations open up in blocks of 1 month at a time and up to 5 months. Reservations open up on the 15 of every month at 7:00am PST. Spring and Summer are the most popular times to visit Yosemite. Set a reminder for yourself to make a reservation in January 15 and February 15 if you are planning on visiting June/July and be ready to book your site at 7am because spots go within minutes.
Q.) Should you be worried about bears?
Nobody has ever been killed by a black bear in Yosemite. Bears are afraid of people and will usually run away if you see one. If you do see a bear please give it space and do not approach it. Rangers recommend that you make a loud noise to scare it off and they also ask that you report the sighting. Bears in Yosemite are marked and tracked. It is also very important that you follow the proper food storage guidelines. Please don’t leave any food or items like toothpaste in your car or tent.
How much is it to enter Yosemite National Park?
Non-commercial car, pickup truck, RV, or van with 15 or fewer passenger seats
$35 per vehicle (no per-person fee)
Group Camps $50/night
-Wawona Campground
-Hodgdon Meadow
-Bridalveil Creek
-Tuolumne Meadows
There is also a group site at the Hetch Hetchy backpackers' campground.
CRANE FLATS MEADOW,YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK,CALIFORNIA #1
CRANE FLATS CAMPGROUND,YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.In crane flats,their are beautiful,lush meadows at the edge of the campsites.you camp in the woods,with meadows full of wildflowers,birds,mule deer and other wildlife roaming about.I love crane flats.If you can get a site there,make sure you check a map and get a site along one of the many meadows,otherwise you may regret it.I've had a bad site there once,it was on a dusty,rocky hill with no flat land,stay close to the meadow and you pretty much can't get a bad site.My 6pound miniature pinscher loves the meadows! :)
California 101: Yosemite National Park
Known for its waterfalls, giant sequoia trees, and sheer granite cliffs, you can spend weeks exploring Yosemite National Park. Watch rock climbers scale the towering El Capitan. Give your adrenaline a break as you float down the Merced River or bliss out in Tuolumne Meadows. Drive through Wawona Tunnel to see the vista from Tunnel View. Take a stroll around the base of Yosemite Falls to work up an appetite for dinner at Majestic Yosemite Hotel’s dining room and then watch the sun set on Half Dome. For more things to do in Yosemite National Park, check out,
Yosemite National Park Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia
Yosemite – an American story unlike any other. Follow us through the national park from its high country to its waterfalls, its towering sequoia groves to its valley meadows.
When ready, browse vacation packages to Yosemite National Park:
#YosemiteNationalPark sits on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Most visitors spend their #vacation in Yosemite Valley, which despite being only 7 miles long and 1 mile wide, packs in more jaw-dropping scenery than just about any other place on Earth.
#Visit Tunnel View and stand before a panorama that’s reduced generations of visitors to silence. The Yosemite Valley ring road follows the banks of the Merced River, which shifts in character as it thunders from the valley walls, before gently winding across the valley floor. The ring road is dotted with trailheads that lead to 800 miles of hiking trails.
Drive along Tioga Road, one of the USA’s most scenic highways. Fill your lungs with alpine air at Olmsted Point, refresh yourself by the waters of Tenaya Lake, then spend the day at Tuolumne Meadow, the traditional summer hunting grounds of the Ahwaneechee.
For now, we hope you enjoy watching this #travel #guide as much as we enjoyed making it.
More travel information around Yosemite National Park:
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Beautiful But Deadly Waters | Yosemite National Park
Safety: Water in Yosemite is incredibly beautiful, but can be powerful and deadly. Sixteen people died in Yosemite's creeks and rivers between 2002 and 2011. Yosemite Search and Rescue rangers share their knowledge of common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles of mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada of California. From high peaks and deep canyons to ancient forests and quiet meadows, the diversity of the world is on display here. At Yosemite you can see the tranquillity of the High Sierra, the power of glaciers, giant sequoia groves, thundering waterfalls, clear streams and much more. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is also home to hundreds of wildlife and plant species. Two Wild & Scenic Rivers, the Tuolumne and Merced rivers, begin in the park and flow west to the Central Valley. Visitors experience the park's 800 miles of hiking trails and 282 miles of road.
Visitors fall in love with the park's many waterfalls, specifically 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls that ranks as the tallest in North America, flowing down into the scenic Valley meadows. Hikers take notice of the enormous granite mountains from the 8,842-foot Half Dome to the 13,114-foot Mt. Lyell-Yosemite's tallest peak. Glaciers, which John Muir sought out in California as well as Alaska, add into the mix with the Maclure and Lyell still intact.
It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter. —John Muir
Animals: Yosemite supports more than 400 species of vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Overall, the park's widespread coniferous forests--with a relatively mild climate and a mixture of plant species--provide a lush habitat for animals to live. Wildlife species typically found include mule deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, mountain kingsnake, Gilbert's skink, white-headed woodpecker, brown creeper, spotted owl, and a wide variety of bat species. Black bears in Yosemite are active both day and night. Most bears that rely on natural food sources are active during the day. However, those that get food from people are often active at night, when they can quietly sneak around and grab unattended food.
Plants: Move up or down in elevation and feel as though you are in another park. Vegetation changes from oak woodlands to chaparral scrublands to lower montane to upper montane to subalpine to alpine. Those who step into the alpine zone can see krummholz whitebark pines and perhaps a western juniper or mountain hemlock. Scientists study many individual plants, including the black oak, to understand its future challenges.
TRAVEL & TOURISM
Yosemite is open all year, though some areas of the park are inaccessible by car from approximately November through May due to snow.
Distances and Driving Times From: San Francisco/Bay area (195 mi, 4-5 hours); Sacramento (176 mi, 4 hours); Reno & Lake Tahoe (June through October, conditions permitting, 218 mi, 5 hours/All year, 315 mi, 8 hours); Los Angeles area (313 mi, 6 hours); San Diego area (441 mi, 8 hours); Las Vegas (June through October, conditions permitting, 642 km, 8 hours / November through May, 797 km, 8-10 hours)
Drivers can enter Yosemite National Park by several routes:
From the West and Most Scenic: CA Hwy 140
This route is by far the most scenic drive into Yosemite National Park and the best way to go if you're visiting for the first time. It's open most of the time and passes through the towns of Mariposa and Fish Camp. It's also a popular route for people driving to Yosemite from the San Jose area.
From the West: CA Hwy 120
Open most any time, this route goes through Oakdale and Groveland and is often used by visitors from the San Francisco Bay area and northern California. It passes through fruit and almond orchards, small agricultural towns, fruit stands and ranches in the rolling foothills before ascending sharply up the Priest Grade to Big Oak Flat and the old gold mining town of Groveland.
From the South: CA Hwy 41
From US Hwy 99 at Fresno, Hwy 41 runs north and west toward Yosemite's South Entrance, which takes you through the towns of Oakhurst and Fish Camp and into the park near the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and Wawona.
From the East: CA Hwy 120 and Tioga Pass
To find out more about traveling this route, average opening and closing dates, check the guide to the Tioga Pass.
From the East: Other Mountain Passes
Other mountain passes that can get you across the Sierras near Yosemite include the Sonora Pass (CA Hwy 108), Monitor Pass (CA Hwy 89) and Ebbetts Pass (CA Hwy 4). Snow may also close these routes in winter, but they are sometimes open when Tioga Pass is still snow-clogged.
Yaroooh! for Kids | News - Magazine
Winter in Yosemite National Park
While most visitors come during the summer months, winter is a magical time to visit Yosemite National Park, with opportunities for hiking, playing in the snow, and quiet solitude. The silence and beauty of Yosemite in winter is an unforgettable experience.
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles of mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada of California. From high peaks and deep canyons to ancient forests and quiet meadows, the diversity of the world is on display here. At Yosemite you can see the tranquillity of the High Sierra, the power of glaciers, giant sequoia groves, thundering waterfalls, clear streams and much more. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is also home to hundreds of wildlife and plant species. Two Wild & Scenic Rivers, the Tuolumne and Merced rivers, begin in the park and flow west to the Central Valley. Visitors experience the park's 800 miles of hiking trails and 282 miles of road.
Visitors fall in love with the park's many waterfalls, specifically 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls that ranks as the tallest in North America, flowing down into the scenic Valley meadows. Hikers take notice of the enormous granite mountains from the 8,842-foot Half Dome to the 13,114-foot Mt. Lyell-Yosemite's tallest peak. Glaciers, which John Muir sought out in California as well as Alaska, add into the mix with the Maclure and Lyell still intact.
It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter. —John Muir
Animals: Yosemite supports more than 400 species of vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Overall, the park's widespread coniferous forests--with a relatively mild climate and a mixture of plant species--provide a lush habitat for animals to live. Wildlife species typically found include mule deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, mountain kingsnake, Gilbert's skink, white-headed woodpecker, brown creeper, spotted owl, and a wide variety of bat species. Black bears in Yosemite are active both day and night. Most bears that rely on natural food sources are active during the day. However, those that get food from people are often active at night, when they can quietly sneak around and grab unattended food.
Plants: Move up or down in elevation and feel as though you are in another park. Vegetation changes from oak woodlands to chaparral scrublands to lower montane to upper montane to subalpine to alpine. Those who step into the alpine zone can see krummholz whitebark pines and perhaps a western juniper or mountain hemlock. Scientists study many individual plants, including the black oak, to understand its future challenges.
TRAVEL & TOURISM
Yosemite is open all year, though some areas of the park are inaccessible by car from approximately November through May due to snow.
Distances and Driving Times From: San Francisco/Bay area (195 mi, 4-5 hours); Sacramento (176 mi, 4 hours); Reno & Lake Tahoe (June through October, conditions permitting, 218 mi, 5 hours/All year, 315 mi, 8 hours); Los Angeles area (313 mi, 6 hours); San Diego area (441 mi, 8 hours); Las Vegas (June through October, conditions permitting, 642 km, 8 hours / November through May, 797 km, 8-10 hours)
Drivers can enter Yosemite National Park by several routes:
From the West and Most Scenic: CA Hwy 140
This route is by far the most scenic drive into Yosemite National Park and the best way to go if you're visiting for the first time. It's open most of the time and passes through the towns of Mariposa and Fish Camp. It's also a popular route for people driving to Yosemite from the San Jose area.
From the West: CA Hwy 120
Open most any time, this route goes through Oakdale and Groveland and is often used by visitors from the San Francisco Bay area and northern California. It passes through fruit and almond orchards, small agricultural towns, fruit stands and ranches in the rolling foothills before ascending sharply up the Priest Grade to Big Oak Flat and the old gold mining town of Groveland.
From the South: CA Hwy 41
From US Hwy 99 at Fresno, Hwy 41 runs north and west toward Yosemite's South Entrance, which takes you through the towns of Oakhurst and Fish Camp and into the park near the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and Wawona.
From the East: CA Hwy 120 and Tioga Pass
To find out more about traveling this route, average opening and closing dates, check the guide to the Tioga Pass.
From the East: Other Mountain Passes
Other mountain passes that can get you across the Sierras near Yosemite include the Sonora Pass (CA Hwy 108), Monitor Pass (CA Hwy 89) and Ebbetts Pass (CA Hwy 4). Snow may also close these routes in winter, but they are sometimes open when Tioga Pass is still snow-clogged.
Yaroooh! for Kids | News - Magazine
Chilnualna Falls Trail - Day Hike in Yosemite National Park
A summer 2014 day hike up the Chilnualna Falls Trail in the Wawona area of Yosemite National Park.
Song: I Feel So Close (instrumental)
Stargazing in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite's vast acreage and remote location protect some of the darkest night skies in the country. Astronomers, photographers, and stargazers flock to the park to take advantage of this unique opportunity to view planets, stars, and galaxies.
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles of mountainous terrain in the Sierra Nevada of California. From high peaks and deep canyons to ancient forests and quiet meadows, the diversity of the world is on display here. At Yosemite you can see the tranquillity of the High Sierra, the power of glaciers, giant sequoia groves, thundering waterfalls, clear streams and much more. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is also home to hundreds of wildlife and plant species. Two Wild & Scenic Rivers, the Tuolumne and Merced rivers, begin in the park and flow west to the Central Valley. Visitors experience the park's 800 miles of hiking trails and 282 miles of road.
Visitors fall in love with the park's many waterfalls, specifically 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls that ranks as the tallest in North America, flowing down into the scenic Valley meadows. Hikers take notice of the enormous granite mountains from the 8,842-foot Half Dome to the 13,114-foot Mt. Lyell-Yosemite's tallest peak. Glaciers, which John Muir sought out in California as well as Alaska, add into the mix with the Maclure and Lyell still intact.
It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter. —John Muir
Animals: Yosemite supports more than 400 species of vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Overall, the park's widespread coniferous forests--with a relatively mild climate and a mixture of plant species--provide a lush habitat for animals to live. Wildlife species typically found include mule deer, black bear, bobcat, gray fox, mountain kingsnake, Gilbert's skink, white-headed woodpecker, brown creeper, spotted owl, and a wide variety of bat species. Black bears in Yosemite are active both day and night. Most bears that rely on natural food sources are active during the day. However, those that get food from people are often active at night, when they can quietly sneak around and grab unattended food.
Plants: Move up or down in elevation and feel as though you are in another park. Vegetation changes from oak woodlands to chaparral scrublands to lower montane to upper montane to subalpine to alpine. Those who step into the alpine zone can see krummholz whitebark pines and perhaps a western juniper or mountain hemlock. Scientists study many individual plants, including the black oak, to understand its future challenges.
TRAVEL & TOURISM
Yosemite is open all year, though some areas of the park are inaccessible by car from approximately November through May due to snow.
Distances and Driving Times From: San Francisco/Bay area (195 mi, 4-5 hours); Sacramento (176 mi, 4 hours); Reno & Lake Tahoe (June through October, conditions permitting, 218 mi, 5 hours/All year, 315 mi, 8 hours); Los Angeles area (313 mi, 6 hours); San Diego area (441 mi, 8 hours); Las Vegas (June through October, conditions permitting, 642 km, 8 hours / November through May, 797 km, 8-10 hours)
Drivers can enter Yosemite National Park by several routes:
From the West and Most Scenic: CA Hwy 140
This route is by far the most scenic drive into Yosemite National Park and the best way to go if you're visiting for the first time. It's open most of the time and passes through the towns of Mariposa and Fish Camp. It's also a popular route for people driving to Yosemite from the San Jose area.
From the West: CA Hwy 120
Open most any time, this route goes through Oakdale and Groveland and is often used by visitors from the San Francisco Bay area and northern California. It passes through fruit and almond orchards, small agricultural towns, fruit stands and ranches in the rolling foothills before ascending sharply up the Priest Grade to Big Oak Flat and the old gold mining town of Groveland.
From the South: CA Hwy 41
From US Hwy 99 at Fresno, Hwy 41 runs north and west toward Yosemite's South Entrance, which takes you through the towns of Oakhurst and Fish Camp and into the park near the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and Wawona.
From the East: CA Hwy 120 and Tioga Pass
To find out more about traveling this route, average opening and closing dates, check the guide to the Tioga Pass.
From the East: Other Mountain Passes
Other mountain passes that can get you across the Sierras near Yosemite include the Sonora Pass (CA Hwy 108), Monitor Pass (CA Hwy 89) and Ebbetts Pass (CA Hwy 4). Snow may also close these routes in winter, but they are sometimes open when Tioga Pass is still snow-clogged.
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Bedrock Mortars near Wawona, Yosemite National Park
My wife and I followed an old map to locate a bedrock mortar site near Wawona at the southern part of Yosemite National park. This site was originally identified in 1904 when the first acting superintendent of Yosemite created an arboretum across the Merced River from the 9th Cavalry’s Camp A.E. Wood.
Swimming Wawona Yosemite National Park
Swimming near swinging bridge Wawona Yosemite national park