ABC's of Yosemite National Park
Ahwahnee Hotel - A National Historic Landmark since 1987, the Ahwahnee has played host to presidents, royalty and celebrities. You can get a room here if you reserve a year in advance. The wood beamed ceiling, 34 ft. above the dining room, is a sight to behold.
Bears - There are hundreds of bears living the Park. You can help them by storing food in canisters or inside food lockers so they can't smell it. Keep your distance and do not feed any wildlife.
Campgrounds - If you plan to stay at one of 13 campgrounds (4 of which are in the Valley), call 1800-436-7275 to make reservations oronline at www. nps.gov/yose/trip/camping.htm.
Downhill skiing - Enjoy winter sports at Badger Pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
El Capitan - From base to summit, this granite monolith rises 3,953 ft. Bring binoculars to spot climbers scaling its walls even in soaring temperatures.
Fern Spring - Possibly the smallest of cascades in the Park, it is as inviting and refreshing as the big ones.
Glacier Point - The best view of the valley floor, Half Dome, Royal Arhes, and canyons is from Glacier Point.
Half Dome - The most recognizable icon of Yosemite National Park, Half Dome is 87 million years old. Bring enough film to capture this natural wonder.
Incense cedar trees - These "Christmas trees" grow easily in the wilderness along with California black oak and Ponderosa pine trees.
John Muir - He worked tirelessly to preserve and protect the natural state of the Park. He wrote of Yosemite, "Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees".
Kids - The Park has many activities geared for kids including a field sicence program, wildlife exhibits at the Nature Center, walks and storytime.
Lodging - Other than the Ahwahnee and campgrounds, there are Yosemite Lodge, Wawona Hotel, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, to name a few. Visit www.yosemitepark.com for information on lodging.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - These skyscrapers are believed to live up to 3,000 years. See the fallen monarch tree and a burned trunk of a still standing giant sequoia.
Nevada Falls - A trio of waterfalls carve their way down hillsides behind Half Dome. There are trails leading to Nevada and Vernal Falls. Illilouette Falls is the lesser known of the three.
Online help - Use these websites to plan your trip to Yosemite: www.nps.gov/yose which is the National Park service site, www. yosemitepark.com, www.yosemite.com for regional information, www.nps.gov/yose/wilderness to get permits for overnight trips in the wilderness.
Parking - Park your vehicles at day-visitor parking zones and transfer to other areas in the free hybrid shuttle buses to avoid congestion in the valley. Shuttles travel throughout the Valley.
Quench your soul. Commune with nature at its finest.
Repellent - Apply insect repellent before going out on a hike or walk around the park.
Sightseeing tours - This is the easiest way to see the Park as the driver/guide ferries visitors from one point of interest to another and gives a lecture on the history, flora and fauna and other interesting trivia about Yosemite. For more info check www.yosemitetours.com. There is also a Valley Floor Tour conducted by Park Rangers in an open tram. Alternatively, join a Ranger-guided walk.
Trails - With over 800 trails, there's one for every level of difficulty (or ease). For starters, take the short loop trail to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls for an exhilarating show of water thundering down granite walls and spraying visitors in its wake.
Unrivaled views - Gape at unrivaled vistas of the Valley from Glacier Point, Tunnel View and Valley View turnout.
Visitor Centers - There's a Visitor Center in the Valley, at Wawona, Big Oak Flat, Tuolumne Meadows and at Oakhurst, a few miles south of the Park. The Centers offer books, maps and magazines. Wilderness permits are available at some centers as are canister rentals. The staff is there to answer your questions.
Wawona - At the south entrance to the Park, the Wawona area is a good base for visitors. There are many visitor services including a hotel, a campground, stagecoach rides, golf, gas, groceries, horseback riding and the Pioneer Yosemite History Center is here.
X - Yosemite offers visitors an eXtraordinary peek at the grandeur of Mother Nature.
Yosemite Falls - one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, it plummets 2,425 ft. to the valley floor.
Zzzz's - At the end of the day, catching zzzz's under the stars in Yosemite National Park promises to be a unique adventure, especially if you forget to store away your food and a bear happens by.
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Getting there: Yosemite National Park is served by several airports, the closest of which is Fresno/Yosemite International Airport, a 2 1/2 hour drive to the south entrance from Highway 41. Amtrak trains stop at Merced where buses take visitors to Yosemite Valley. Check www.amtrak.com for schedules. If you are driving, get directions from http://www.nps.gov/yose/trip/travel.htm.
Entrance Fees: A vehicle pass of $20 is valid for 7 days. A 7-day individual pass of $10 is charged visitors who enter the park on foot, by bicycle or motorcycle, by bus or on horseback. The $40 Yosemite Pass is valid for one year and the National Park pass costing $50 is valid in all national park areas. The Park is open year-round.
Road and Weather conditions: Before you, log on to www.nps.gov/yose/now/conditions to check for weather, road, trail, campground, and river flow conditions.
