Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [433]
If you're staying in the valley, the National Park Service and DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite present evening programs on the park's history and culture. Inquire about current programs upon check-in at your hotel or at the information booth outside the visitor
center. Although most programs are held in Yosemite Valley, a few campgrounds in other areas of the park offer campfire programs in the summer.
Spring through fall, the Yosemite Theater offers inexpensive theatrical and musical programs designed to supplement Park Service programs. They tend to repeat from year to year; favorites include a conversation with John Muir, a film on Yosemite's future, and sing-alongs.
A variety of guided bus tours are also available. You can buy tickets at tour desks at Yosemite Lodge, at the Ahwahnee, at Curry Village, or beside the Village Store in Yosemite Village. Advance reservations are suggested for all tours; make them in person or call ☎ 209/ 372-1240. Always double-check at tour desks for updated departure schedules and prices. Most tours depart from Yosemite Lodge, the Ahwahnee, or Curry Village. Prices range from about $22 for adults for a 2-hour tour to about $60 for adults for full-day trips. Children's rates are usually half that, and senior discounts are available.
The 2-hour Valley Floor Tour is a great way to get acclimated to the park. It provides a good selection of photo ops, such as El Capitan, Tunnel View, and Half Dome. This ride is also available on nights when the moon is full or near full. It's an eerie but beautiful scene when moonlight illuminates the valley's granite walls and gives visitors a rare picture of Yosemite. Blankets and hot cocoa are provided. Dress warmly, though, because it can get mighty chilly after the sun goes down.
The Glacier Point Tour is a 4-hour scenic bus ride through the valley to Glacier Point. Tours also depart from Yosemite Valley to Mariposa Grove. The trip takes 6 hours and includes the Big Trees tram tour that winds through the grove and stops for lunch at Wawona (lunch not provided). You can combine the trip to Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove in an 8-hour bus ride.
Day Hikes
A nature-lover's paradise, Yosemite has some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere, and the best way to experience the park is to get out onto the trails. Park rangers lead walks and hikes (see "Organized Tours & Ranger Programs," above), and guided day treks are available from Yosemite Guides (☎ 877/ 425-3366 or 209/379-2231; www.yosemite guides.com), with rates from $60 to $70 per person.
IN & NEAR THE VALLEY
Base of Bridalveil Fall
.5 mile RT. Easy. Access: Bridalveil Fall parking area, about 3 miles west of Yosemite Village (accessible by car or on foot). Follow trail markers.
Bridalveil Fall measures 620 feet from top to bottom. In the spring, expect to get wet. This walk is wheelchair accessible with strong assistance.
Columbia Rock
2 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Trailhead for Upper Yosemite Fall.
This hike mirrors the initial ascent of the waterfall trail but stops at Columbia Rock, 1,000 feet above the valley. You won't have a valley view, but the sights here are still impressive. The trail is also less likely to get an accumulation of snow because it's on the sunny side of the valley.
Four-Mile Trail to Glacier Point
9.6 miles RT. Strenuous. Access: Trailhead 1¼ miles from Yosemite Village, at Four Mile parking area, post V-18. Or shuttle bus to Yosemite Lodge stop (no. 8); walk behind lodge over Swinging Bridge to Southeast Dr., and trailhead is .25 mile west.
This trail climbs 3,200 feet, but your efforts will be rewarded with terrific views of Yosemite Valley's north rim. Check on current trail conditions before setting out; it's usually closed in winter. The trail ends at Glacier Point. If you'd like to extend the hike, you can connect there to the Panorama Trail