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National Park Site Visit Report: Yosemite

Will Naylor

Department of Recreation: Western Kentucky University

REC 434: Resource Interpretation

Dr. Eric Knackmuhs

April 9, 2020
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National Park Site Visit Report: Yosemite

Name:

 Yosemite National Park

Location:

 California

Size:

 Land Mass: 759,620 acres (or 1,187 square miles)

 Designated Wilderness: 677,600 acres (or 1,059 square miles; 94.45% of the park)
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Why was the park created?

 John Muir, an environmental trailblazer and his colleagues campaigned for the

congressional action, which was signed into law by President Harrison and paved the way

for generations of hikers, campers and nature lovers, along with countless “Don’t Feed

the Bears” signs.

 Abraham Lincoln's and John Muir's passion for preserving and protecting the Sierra

Nevada, Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove ecosystem lead to the creation of

Yosemite National Park. (Staff)

When was the park created?

 October 1, 1890 by an act of Congress created Yosemite National Park.

Why did you choose this park?

 I choose Yosemite National Park for my report because I have had the incredible

opportunity to visit Yosemite, since I grew up in California. I got to experience all the

breathtaking views, hikes, waterfalls, animals, and tours that the park had to offer. I also

got the chance to hike Half Dome. I have honestly fallen in love with Yosemite ever

since I got the chance to visit. This is a picture I took from the top of Half Dome.
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Describe the significance of this park in your own words. (e.g. unique natural resources,

wildlife, historical figures and/or events)

 Yosemite National Park is home to deep valleys, grand meadows, famous waterfalls,

ancient giant sequoias. The park has more than 400 species of vertebrates including fish,

amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The park is glaciated landscape, and the

scenery that resulted from glaciers and the underlying rocks was the basis for its

preservation. Yosemite is known for having some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth.

One of the most famous views is “Tunnel View,” which is one of the most popular

viewpoints in the whole park with views of Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, and Half Dome.

Many people call this view, “the postcard view.”

Make a list of some of the tangible resources at this park and the intangible meanings

associated with them.

Tangible Resources Intangible Meanings

Yosemite Museum Collections Cultural, evolutionary, history, geological
Landscape Ecological, environmental, biological,

community
People: living and past People of history (ie: John Muir), culture,

scientific.

Annual Visitation:

 Millions of people visit Yosemite each year to experience its beauty.

 In 2019, Yosemite National Park saw nearly four and a half million visitors during the

year.

What is the busiest season?

 The busiest season at Yosemite National Park is May through October.

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What are the most common activities people do there? (Reasons for visiting)

 The most common activities people do at Yosemite National Park include:

o Hiking: the park has over 750 miles of trails to explore

o Climbing: you can climb El Capitan.

 El Capitan is the most recognized chunk of rock in the world to rock

climbers. El Capitan can take up to 45 days to climb.

o Wilderness: 95% of Yosemite is Congressionally designated Wilderness

o Scenery: the views, waterfalls, and tons more.

o Tours/Programs:

 Bus Tours: Valley Floor Tour, Glacier Point Tour, Tuolumne Meadows

Tour

 Programs: Naturalist Programs, Yosemite Conservancy Adventures,

Yosemite Mountaineering School

Most Popular Activities:

 Hiking

 Climbing

 Backpacking

 Fishing

 Auto-touring

 Biking

Explain the interpretive programming at this park (e.g. ranger-led tours, campfire

programs, junior ranger programs…etc.)

 Ranger and Nature Programs

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o Junior Rangers

 Junior Ranger programs are for kids aged 7-13 and include a one-hour

Junior Ranger Walk, picking up a bag of litter to help keep the Park clean,

completing an activity book ($3.50 plus tax)—and being rewarded with

the official Junior Ranger badge. (Ranger)

o Naturalist Stroll

 Topics include getting to know Yosemite’s trees, the inspiration of John

Muir, and the dance between preservation and recreation (Ranger).

o Wee Wild Ones

 Covers Yosemite-related themes such as wildlife, plants, geology, or

cultural history (Ranger).

o Yosemite Ranger Walks & Talks

 Led by informative and entertaining Yosemite Rangers, the free 60 to 90-

minute walks typically include stories about the Park’s geology, first

native people, early settlers and wildlife (Ranger).

How is the park handling the coronavirus outbreak?

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 The Superintendent is designating the entirety of Yosemite National Park as closed to all

but residents and authorized employees of the National Park Service, park concessioners,

and partners.

 Yosemite National Park is closed to all individuals with the exception of:

o Residents of all communities within the legislative boundary of Yosemite

National Park. Residents of Yosemite West who are using NPS roads to access

their residences. Authorized NPS employees. Authorized contractor of the NPS.

Authorized employees or contractors of Yosemite Hospitality, The Ansel Adams

Gallery, NatureBridge, Yosemite Conservancy, the United States Postal Service,

or other authorized park partners.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/management/closures.htm

What did you find most interesting about your virtual visit to this park?
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 The most interesting thing I found out about my virtual visit to Yosemite National Park is

all the breathtaking pictures of the park. You can also view different Webcams of the

park such as Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan.

Include any other pertinent information about your park:

 Yosemite is revered as the birthplace of rock climbing for sport.

 Yosemite’s famous hotel was once used as wartime hospital.

 One of Yosemite’s most famous giant sequoias was the Wawona Tunnel Tree. It was

unfortunately knocked down in a snow storm in 1969.

 Sunlight plays amazing tricks at Yosemite. It illuminates El Capitan and Half Dome in

brilliant reds and oranges.

 Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, at 2,425 feet. It is actually

made up of three separate falls… Upper Yosemite Fall, the middle cascades and Lower

Yosemite Falls.

 Alex Honnold is the to reach the top of Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan wall without

ropes. There is a movie based off of his climb called “Free Solo.” It can be found on

YouTube, Disney+, and more platforms.

o https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2019/02/20/alex-honnold-free-solo-el-

capitan-documentary-oscars-yosemite-national-park-spt-intl.cnn

Photos of Yosemite
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Yosemite’s El Capitan glowing at sunset. Alex Honnald free climbing El Capitan.

The view at Glacier Point.

The Wawona Tunnel Tree.

The famous “postcard” view of

Yosemite.
References
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Ranger & Nature Programs: Yosemite National Park CA. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/ranger-nature-programs/

Staff. (2010, May 5). How Yosemite Became a National Park. Retrieved from

https://www.myyosemitepark.com/park/how-yosemite-became

Yosemite National Park Established. (2009, November 24). Retrieved from

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yosemite-national-park-established

COVID-19 Information for Yosemite National Park:

https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/management/closures.htm