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Yosemite National Park Travel Guide: 1,492 reviews and 3,398 photos
When Yosemite Valley was "discovered" by white settlers in the mid-1800s, the Ahwahnechee Indian tribe had been living and working with the land for many years under the leadership of Chief Teneiya. In 1851, John Savage led the Mariposa Battalion into the valley to round up the Indians and move them to a reservation near Fresno. After much hardship, the Ahwahnechees were allowed to return to the valley; however, when 8 miners were killed in the valley in 1852 by Chief Teneiya's men, he realized that he would have to flee to safer territory. He led his tribe out of the Valley to stay with his family tribe, the Mono Indians. Eventually in 1853, the Ahwahnechees returned to Yosemite Valley. Soon after, several braves from Teneiya's tribe stole some horses from the Mono Indians. Feeling betrayed for their hospitality, the Monos ended up killing most all of the Ahwahnechees, including Chief Teneiya. This assult left the Valley clear and safe for tourists.
The Mariposa Battalion were the first white settlers to see and enter Yosemite Valley, which until then was just a rumor, a rumor of enormous trees stretching hundreds of feet in the air, waterfalls falling as if from the sky, and cliffs reaching a mile high. The Valley was named Yosemity, which is what Dr. Brunnell believed the Indians had called it. The Indians in actuallity called it Ahwahnee, but the name Yosemity stuck, however it's spelling was changed to Yosemite. The first tourists into the Valley arrived in 1855. That first year saw 42 tourists in all. I'm 1856, a toll path was built into the Valley and cost $2 per person to use, a huge sum of money in 1856. Fredrick Law Olmsted was lured to Yosemite in 1863 and he realized the Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees were being ruined by the tourism. He convinced California senator John Conness to introduce a bill to the Senate that would protect these two areas. Having sprung up during the Civil War, the bill easily passed and Lincoln signed it on June 30, 1864. It gave Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to the state of California for public use, resort and recreation, creating the world's first area of land set aside by a federal government for protection. It was soon learned that commercialization would doom Yosemite Valley and farming and logging upset the water that created the waterfalls in the Valley and the forests in the surrounding country. It was clear more land needed to be protected. Thus on October 1, 1890, Yosemite because the world's second National Park. The bill included the entire drainage system for Yosemite Valley. Today Yosemite receives over 4 million visitors a year and covers over 748,000 acres.
One of Yosemite's beloved icons is gone. The Jeffery Pine pictured above rested on top of Sentinel Dome in Yosemite for years. The tree was made famous by Ansel Adams in a stunning photo he took. Since then it has been used on countless pictures and postcards. The tree died during the drought of 1976-1977, but it was loved so much hundreds of volunteers brought it water to try to save it. Even after it's death, the sight of the twisted tree inspired photographers. Sometime during the week of August 10-17, 2003, the tree fell. The cause of this is unknown but rangers believe severe storms in the Sierras over that week finally brought the tree to the ground. Most people don't even think twice when a tree falls, but this tree was special and will be missed by many, myself included.
- Pros:Breathtaking scenery, beautiful waterfalls, over 600 miles of hiking trails
- Cons:Thousands of tourists every day in the summer, roads closed by snow in winter
- In a nutshell:My heart and soul belong to Yosemite.
Reviews (41)
Yosemite Chapel
Things to Do
(14)
This chapel is the only building remaining of the original Yosemite Village. Before flooding forced the park service to... more travel advice
Ribbon Falls
Things to Do
(14)
Ribbon Falls is approriately named. It's narrow and hard to spot, tucked in a little nook next to El Capitan. It's one... more travel advice
Autumn
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(6)
Autumn is a beautiful time in Yosemite. The crowds of summer are gone, the weather is still pleasant and warm, the... more travel advice
Summer
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(6)
Summer in Yosemite brings hoardes of people. Many reports and books tend to exaggerate the traffic problem saying things... more travel advice
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Downhill Skiing
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Yosemite National Park Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "The Incomparable Valley (and Park)"
- "Yosemite in a day"
- "On Becoming Part of the Food Chain: Yosemite"
- "Yosemite National Park"
- "The Glacial Beauty of Yosemite National Park"
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Theme Park Trips
Zoo
National/State ParkLatest Yosemite National Park hotel reviews
- Yosemite Lodge At The Falls
- 1133 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 16, 2013 - Wawona Hotel
- 565 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 14, 2013 - Housekeeping Camp
- 144 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 16, 2013 - The Ahwahnee
- 784 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 17, 2013 - Curry Village
- 792 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 16, 2013 - The Redwoods In Yosemite
- 109 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 13, 2013 - Yosemite West Condominiums
- 126 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 3, 2013 - Yosemite Creek Campground
- 3 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Sep 6, 2011 - E. C. Yosemite Motel
- 49 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 5, 2013 - Upper Pines Campground
- 34 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2013 - Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort
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Latest: Jun 6, 2013 - Hodgdon Meadow Campground
- 25 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 6, 2013 - Crane Flat Campground
- 25 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 16, 2013 - Tuolumne Meadows Campground
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Latest: Apr 22, 2013 - Yosemite Foresta Hilltop Cabins
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Latest: Apr 12, 2013
Comments (17)
Very good tips, thanks for sharing.
Your page is packed with amazing photos and information on Yosemite. Great photos, now I know where to go when I visit Yosemite again (not planned yet, but this place is amazing...)
Great infos!!!! Thanks for all these tips, i'm planning for this summer to visit the west coast and for sure i wanna see Yosemite! Cheers Vanessa
Your nature pics are so cool ....I hope to visit this paradise soon ....bravo and keep it up my friend !
Very informative page filled with great information on this park. Your pictures also capture the beauty of this special place.
Wow, your knowledge about Yosemite is awesome!
A wealth of information. Brilliant! Your love for Yosemite is obvious, and your passion for nature also surfaces. Excellent narrative.
Thank you so much for the information that you offered regarding travel to Yosemite in March. I visited your pages and am even more enthusiastic about going now. I will be sure to catch a moonbow while I am there!
Great photography, and travelogues. Thanks for the reminder that going to Yosemite in winter is an option.
Great insight! Lots of Yosemite history and helpful hiking information. Will be useful next time I visit. Thanks for sharing.