Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon - Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Publications Pty LtdYosemite, Sequoia& Kings CanyonNATIONAL PARKSYosemiteNational Parkp44Around YosemiteNational Parkp134Around Sequoia& Kings CanyonNational Parksp195Sequoia &Kings CanyonNational Parksp158THIS EDITION WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED BYBeth Kohn, Sara Benson
PLANYOUR TRIPWelcome to Yosemite,Sequoia & Kings Canyon. . 4Yosemite, Sequoia &Kings Canyon Map. . . . . . . 6Yosemite, Sequoia &Kings Canyon Top 16. . . . . 8Need to Know. . . . . . . . . . 16What’s New. . . . . . . . . . . . 18If You Like . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Month by Month. . . . . . . . 22Itineraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Travel with Children. . . . . 36Travel with Pets . . . . . . . . 41JOHN ALVES / GETTY IMAGES YOSEMITE FALLS P103SIERRALARA / GETTY IMAGES KINGS CANYON NATIONALPARK P158ON THE ROADYOSEMITE NATIONALPARK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Day Hikes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Yosemite Valley. . . . . . . . . . . 52Glacier Point &Badger Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Wawona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Big Oak Flat Road &Tioga Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Tuolumne Meadows. . . . . . 65Hetch Hetchy . . . . . . . . . . . . 70Overnight Hikes . . . . . . . . 72Yosemite Valley. . . . . . . . . . . 73Glacier Point &Badger Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Big Oak Flat Road &Tioga Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76Tuolumne Meadows. . . . . . . 79Hetch Hetchy . . . . . . . . . . . 85Driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86Cycling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Other Activities . . . . . . . . 90Rock Climbing &Bouldering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Horseback Riding. . . . . . . . . 91Rafting & Kayaking . . . . . . . 92Swimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Hang Gliding. . . . . . . . . . . . 94Boating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Golf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Campfire & PublicPrograms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Winter Activities. . . . . . . . 95Cross-Country Skiing . . . . 95Downhill Skiing &Snowboarding. . . . . . . . . . . 96Snowshoeing. . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Ice-Skating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Snow Camping. . . . . . . . . . . 97Sledding & Tubing . . . . . . . . 97Sights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Yosemite Valley. . . . . . . . . . . 97Glacier Point &Badger Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . 105Wawona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Big Oak Flat Road &Tioga Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Tuolumne Meadows. . . . . . 113Hetch Hetchy . . . . . . . . . . . 116Sleeping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117Eating & Drinking. . . . . . 126AROUND YOSEMITENATIONAL PARK . . . 134West of Yosemite. . . . . . 136Highway 140 . . . . . . . . . . . . 136Highway 120 (West). . . . . . 138South of Yosemite(Highway 41). . . . . . . . . . 140Oakhurst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140Fish Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140Eastern Sierra. . . . . . . . . 142Tioga Pass & Around. . . . . 142Bridgeport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143Bodie StateHistoric Park. . . . . . . . . . . . 144Virginia Lakes. . . . . . . . . . . 144Lundy Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145Lee Vining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145Mono Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146June Lake Loop . . . . . . . . . 147Mammoth Lakes. . . . . . . . 148Around MammothLakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Bishop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153Ancient BristleconePine Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154Independence. . . . . . . . . . . 155Manzanar NationalHistoric Site . . . . . . . . . . . . 155Lone Pine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156Mt Whitney . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
ContentsUNDERSTANDSEQUOIA & KINGSCANYON NATIONALPARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . 158Day Hikes. . . . . . . . . . . . . 162Sequoia National Park . . . 162Kings CanyonNational Park . . . . . . . . . . . 166Overnight Hikes . . . . . . . 169Sequoia National Park . . . 169Kings CanyonNational Park . . . . . . . . . . . 169Driving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173Other Activities . . . . . . . 175Caving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175Swimming, Canoeing,Kayaking & Boating. . . . . . 176Horseback Riding &Pack Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176Rock Climbing. . . . . . . . . . 176Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176Snow Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 176Sights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178Sequoia National Park . . . 178Kings CanyonNational Park . . . . . . . . . . . 182Sleeping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185Eating & Drinking. . . . . . 192AROUND SEQUOIA& KINGS CANYONNATIONAL PARKS. . . 195Visalia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Three Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . 197The ParksToday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202Geology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213Conservation. . . . . . . . . . 220SURVIVALGUIDEClothing &Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . 224Directory A–Z. . . . . . . . . 228MICHAEL LAWENKO DELA PAZ / GETTY IMAGES Transportation . . . . . . . . 236Health & Safety . . . . . . . 241Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247Map Legend. . . . . . . . . . . 255SPECIALFEATURESActivities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Travel with Children. . . . . 36Travel with Pets . . . . . . . . 41Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213Clothing &Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . 224BRIDALVEIL FALL P104
24 Lonely Planet Publications Pty LtdItineraries # # # Bodie StateHistoric ParkÉÉ # MonoTuolumneMeadowsÉLake #Yosemite #SaddlebagNationalLakePark #June LakeHotYosemite Loop ##SpringsValleyMammoth Lakes #AncientBristleconePine Forest # # #Devils PostpileNationalMonument # # #ÉÉ#Wawona ÉÉÉÉÉÉ # Sequoia#NationalParkÉKings CanyonNationalPark # Manzanar #LonePine1A4YS Grand Tour – Sequoia to Alabama HillsDHikes, hot springs and spectacular geology show off the best of the Eastern Sierra andthe national parks.Kick off the trip with three to four days in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon NationalParks, touring the ancient trees, ethereal caves and show-stopping river canyon. Heading north, camp at Wawona and budget a day for the southern reaches of YosemiteNational Park. Spend at least three days exploring the miraculous falls and granitemonoliths of Yosemite Valley, then hike the trails of Yosemite’s high country whilecamped at Tuolumne Meadows.East of the park, take a full day to explore the surreal countryside around SaddlebagLake, then journey over to Mono Lake. Detour north to the ghost-town ruins of BodieState Historic Park, and then south for the mountain vistas buffering the June LakeLoop. From Mammoth Lakes, hike to the bizarre formation of the Devils PostpileNational Monument before heading to hot springs at sunset. Next, wind up theroad to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to breathe the thin air and marvel at thegnarled time-capsule trees. On your final day tour the solemn remains of Manzanar,and catch a film-worthy sunset at the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine.
25 # # # # #RHalf Dome(8842ft)MercedRiverÉÉYosemite Lodgeat the Falls AhwahneeHotelEl Capitan(7569ft)RTenayaMirror Creek #LakeVillage ÉÉ #BridalveilFallTunnelView # #YosemiteNational Park #Nature Centerat Happy Isles #VernalFallÉ #1 DAY Yosemite Valley in a DayIf you really, really only have one day to see Yosemite, this whirlwind tour ticks off all themust-sees.On your way in, stop at Tunnel View to drink in views of the entire Valley, with theiconic Half Dome front and center and Bridalveil Fall plunging in the distance. Driveover to see heavenly Bridalveil Fall up close; put on some flip-flops or galoshes andpack rain gear if it’s spring, because the spray turns the sidewalk into a flowing creek.Aim your camera at its misty rainbows and yell over the thundering water. Afterward,pull over just east along Southside Dr and try to spot the microscopic-sized climbersworking their way up the sheer granite of El Capitan. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlifewandering about the meadows, and then park in one of the Valley’s day-use parking lots.Rent a bicycle from Yosemite Lodge or Curry Village and ride to the viewing area at thebase of Lower Yosemite Fall. Follow the bike path to Yosemite Village, and hitch upat Degnan’s Deli for a lunch of fresh sandwiches and soup.Saunter over to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, explore the center’s exhibits ofpark geology and wildlife, and peruse the Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore. Saddleup again and ride east on the dedicated bike path, crossing the Merced River andeluding four-wheeled traffic. Continue on to Mirror Lake and snap a photo of HalfDome’s dignified reflection in its shallow waters, and stroll along Tenaya Creek tofind quiet nooks to sit along its shore. Pedal south to Nature Center at Happy Islesto hear what sounds the park animals make, and consider a longer hike up the shortbut steep trail to Vernal Fall. If you don’t have time for the 2.4-mile round-trip, youcould stop at the footbridge below the fall. Zip over to the historic Ahwahnee Hotelfor a well-deserved cocktail or coffee, and then return the bike before indulging in theexcellent food and views at the Mountain Room Restaurant at Yosemite Lodge atthe Falls.PL A N YO U R TRI P I t i n e r a r i e sLowerYosemiteFall Yosemite
26Tueeulala &Wapama Falls# Hetch HetchyReservoirYosemite Falls #Yosemite LodgeGlacier#at the Falls Point R Half DomeTenayaLake #ÉÉ #Tunnel #View # # # #‚ # # Mist TrailTaft Point &the FissuresÉYosemite Merced River #ValleyVernal &Tunnel ViewRÉ # OlmstedPointÉ #Nevada FallsYosemiteNational ParkMist TrailÉGlacier PointÉ #ÉYosemiteNational ParkÉPL A N YO U R TRI P I t i n e r a r i e sTuolumneMeadows ##Wawona Hotel # South EntranceWawona Hotel # # Chilnualna Falls # Mariposa GroveSouth Entrance # # Mariposa Grove8SDAYYosemite Complete2SDAYA Weekend inYosemitePack in all of Yosemite’s major sights on agreatest hits tour of waterfalls, sequoiasand high-country vistas.Feast on a multi-course banquet of Valleyattractions, scenic overlooks and giantsequoias.Spend your first day strolling the crowdfree Yosemite Valley loop trails. Nextday, experience mind-altering views hikingthe drenched Mist Trail to Vernal andNevada Falls. Be a lazy toad the followingday, floating the Merced River – the bestrafting views you’ll ever have. Reserve dayfour to huff and puff the Four Mile Trailto Glacier Point, the park’s most famousviewpoint, or take a climbing class withthe Yosemite Mountaineering School.On Saturday, pack a lunch and head outpronto to conquer the long upward climb ofeither the Mist Trail or the Yosemite Fallstrail, giving yourself oodles of time andlots of scenic breather stops along the way.Quench your thirst post-hike with a celebratory drink at the festive Mountain Room Barin Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, and in theevening, hear the rangers spin tales aroundthe flames at a convivial Campfire Program.Drive out to Hetch Hetchy for a day tripand hike to Tueeulala and WapamaFalls. Next morning gobble down breakfast at the historic Wawona Hotel, parkat the South Entrance, and explore theancient Mariposa Grove. Pack a lunchand hike to thundering Chilnualna Falls,near Wawona. The following day marvel atOlmsted Point from the Tioga Rd viewpoint, and take in the dazzling views fromthe sandy shores of Tenaya Lake. Windup your trip with a wander around theSierra Nevada’s biggest alpine meadowwhile camped at Tuolumne Meadows.On your final day, pack up and proceedto Glacier Point, stopping en route fora leisurely stroll to vertigo-inducing TaftPoint and the Fissures. Save lunch forwhen you get to road’s end, in full view ofHalf Dome and Vernal and Nevada Falls.Continue past Wawona to the South Entrance, ditching the car for the shuttleto take a gander at the giant sequoias ofMariposa Grove. Return to the historicWawona Hotel for a dinner in its classydining room. On your way home, catchthe remains of the day at the magnificentTunnel View lookout, taking in one lastValley eyeful before leaving.
27 #ÉÉGiantÉ Forest #Crescent # Meadow #Moro Rock #Hospital RockÉJunctionConverseViewBasin Boyden#GroveÉCavernKnapp's Muir # #ÉHumeCabin Rock # Lake # # #Cedar Grove # Kings Canyon# # VillageScenic Byway #Roaring # Grant GroveZumwaltRiverVillageMeadowFallsGeneral GrantGrove Kings Canyon#National ParkÉ # #Crystal #Cave # # FoothillsVisitor Center #SequoiaNational ParkSequoia National1 DAY ParkKings Canyon1 DAY National ParkBig trees, deep caves and high granitedomes are all on the agenda for this daylong tour of Sequoia National Park’s biggest highlights.From giant sequoia crowns to the depthsof the Kings River canyon, this twistingscenic drive is an eye-popping revelation.Start your day at the Foothills VisitorCenter to get oriented and grab lateafternoon tour tickets for Crystal Cave. Headnorth on the Generals Hwy, stopping atTunnel Rock – visualize squeezing throughin a Tin Lizzie – and to see Native Americanpictographs and grinding holes at HospitalRock, near riverside swimming holes.Arriving in Giant Forest, let yourselfbe dwarfed by the majestic General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest. Learn moreabout giant sequoias at the kid-friendly Giant Forest Museum. Snap a photo of yourcar driving through the Tunnel Log, or hopon the park shuttle for a wildflower walkaround Crescent Meadow and to climbthe puff-and-pant stairway up Moro Rockfor bird’s-eye canyon and peak views.Picnic by the river at Lodgepole Village, then visit the chilly undergroundwonderland of Crystal Cave, where youcan marvel at delicate marble formationswhile easing through eerie passageways.Start in Grant Grove Village at thenorthern end of the Generals Hwy. Takea walk in General Grant Grove, encompassing the world’s third-largest living treeand the gigantic Fallen Monarch. Drivedown the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway(Hwy 180). It passes through the GiantSequoia National Monument, where youcan bump over a dirt road to ConverseBasin Grove and hike to the lonely BooleTree. Cool down with a dip at HumeLake. Back on the scenic byway, whichstarts descending precipitously, pull overto survey the canyon depths and distantpeaks from lofty Junction View and takea tour of Boyden Cavern.Cruise past Cedar Grove Village. Feelwaves of spray from roadside RoaringRiver Falls and admire striking canyonviews in verdant Zumwalt Meadow, abird-watching spot with a boardwalk naturetrail. At truthfully named Roads End, cooloff at the beach by Muir Rock before turning around and driving back to catch a canyon sunset from historic Knapp’s Cabin.PL A N YO U R TRI P I t i n e r a r i e sLodgepoleVillageSequoiaNational ParkTunnel RockKings CanyonNational Park
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Lonely Planet Publications Pty LtdOUR STORYA beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense ofadventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler neededfor the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland toAustralia. It took several months, and at the end – broke butinspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and staplingtogether their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap.Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies. Lonely Planet was born.Today, Lonely Planet has offices in Franklin, London,Melbourne, Oakland, Beijing and Delhi, with more than 600 staff and writers. We share Tony’s beliefthat ‘a great guidebook should do three things: inform, educate and amuse’.OUR WRITERSBeth KohnYosemite National Park, Around Yosemite National Park A lucky long-timeresident of San Francisco, Beth lives to play outside or splash in big puddlesof water. For this guide, she navigated late season snow on Yosemite’s NorthRim, tipped her hat to a trailside yearling near North Dome and saw the biggestshooting star of her life while camping in Tuolumne Meadows. When not busyat her laptop, she crosses off sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and explores thenever-ending playground of the Eastern Sierra. An author of Lonely Planet’s California and Mexicoguides, you can see more of her work at www.bethkohn.com. Beth also wrote the Welcome toYosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks; Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon’s Top 16;Need to Know; What’s New; If You Like; Month by Month; The Parks Today; Transportation andDirectory A-Z chapters.Read more about Beth ara BensonSequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Around Sequoia & Kings CanyonNational Parks After graduating from college, Sara jumped on a plane to California with just one suitcase and 100 in her pocket. She has worked seasonallyfor the National Park Service as a wilderness trailhead ranger in Kings CanyonNational Park. For this book, she hiked across tricky talus slopes nearly 10,000ftin elevation during a rainstorm, and sidestepped black bears and wildfires. Theauthor of more than 65 travel and nonfiction books, Sara is the lead writer for Lonely Planet’sCalifornia guide. Follow her latest adventures online at www.indietraveler.blogspot.com, www.indietraveler.net, @indie traveler on Twitter and indietraveler on Instagram. Sara also wrote theYosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon’s Top 16; Activities; Travel with Children; Travel with Pets; History; Geology; Wildlife; Conservation; Clothing & Equipment; and Health & Safety chapters.Read more about Sara at:http://auth.lonelyplanet.com/profiles/Sara BensonPublished by Lonely Planet Publications Pty LtdABN 36 005 607 983Although the authors and Lonely Planet have taken all reasonable care in preparing this book, we make no warranty about the4th edition – April 2016accuracy or completeness of its content and, to the maximumISBN 978 1 74220 744 5extent permitted, disclaim all liability arising from its use. Lonely Planet 2016 Photographs as indicated 201610 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Printed in ChinaAll rights reserved. No part
Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon NATIONAL PARKS Yosemite National Park p44 Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks p158 Around Yosemite National Park p134 Around Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks p195 Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
1 Kings 2:19-4:19 1 Kings 4:20-7:39 1 Kings 7:40-9:9 1 Kings 9:10-11:25 1 Kings 11:26-13:34 1 Kings 14-17 1 Kings 18:1-20:25 1 Kings 20:26-22:36 1 Kings 22:37-53; 2 Kings 1:1-4:28 2 Kings 4:29-8:15 2 Kings 8:16-10:24 2 Kings 10:25-14:10 2 Kings 14:11-17:18 2 Kings 17:19-
Yosemite Guide July 21, 2021 - August 24, 2021 i Experience Your America . Yosemite National Park Yosemite Guide July 21, 2021 - August 24, 2021. Yosemite Guide @YosemiteNPS. e Asel Adms Glley. uy illge ig. Merc e d Ri v er. Lower Yosemite Fall . Upper
Yosemite Nature Notes THE PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE NATURALIST DEPARTMENT AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION Published Monthly OL. XVII April, 1938 No. 4 John Muir in Yosemite By C. A. Harwell, Park Naturalist Seventy years ago this month That fall he felt done with sheep. hn Muir made his first visit to Yo- Rich in money, health .
Maggie Mountain 68 Sequoia National Forest Mariposa 333 Yosemite National Park McIntyre 180 Sequoia National Forest . yon National Parks used tree data and went into detail on the number of trees in each area (with the smallest number being one). The Sequoia National Forest, conversely, used their
Yosemite Valley and the uncoopera- words the Yosemites were to tive Yosemite Indians. This expedi- grouped with their nearest and m, tion has been described in the first intimate neighbors — Po-ho-nee-ch installment (Yosemite Nature Notes, and Nook-choo, both Miwok, a :. March 1951, pp. 26-28), and the sub- Chook-chan-ce and Chow-chil-I
Lodge Tours & Activity Desks. Tours. The Valley Floor Tour . is a two-hour, guided . tour of Yosemite Valley. It departs several times daily from Yosemite Valley Lodge, weather permitting. Call (209) 372-1240 or visit the Tours & Activity Desk at Yosemite Valley Lodge between 7:30am a
Dear Friends of Yosemite National Park, As we embark on our 87th year serving Yosemite National Park, the Yosemite Association continues to be a vital link connecting people to th
2 CHAPTER1. INTRODUCTION 1.1.3 Differences between financial ac-countancy and management ac-counting Management accounting information differs from
