Welcome to National Park Information! | Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park

NATURE AND WILDLIFE
Carnivores are perhaps the most widely recognized group of mammals in Yosemite. Carnivores include the American black bear, bobcat, mountain lion, raccoon, coyote, foxes, weasels, and skunks. Lesser known species like the American marten, fisher, and ringtail are also present. Although grizzly bears once roamed the area, they were extirpated from Yosemite National Park when the last individual was shot in the early 1920's.

PARK HISTORY
John Muir's struggle against the devastation of the subalpine meadows surrounding Yosemite Valley resulted in the creation of Yosemite National Park on October 1, 1890. Military units with headquarters in Wawona administered the Yosemite National Park while the State of California continued to govern the area covered by the original 1864 grant. Dual control of Yosemite National Park came to an end in 1906, when the State of California receded Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to the federal government. Civilian park rangers took over from the military in 1914. Two years later, on August 25, 1916, through the persistent efforts of Steven Mather and Horace Albright, Congress authorized the creation of the National Park Service to administer all national parks "in such manner and by such means as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

LODGING OPPORTUNITIES (Links to lodging for Yosemite National Park)

Wawona Hotel
The Wawona Hotel, a National Historic Landmark, rests upon verdant meadows and beside rushing streams. The tranquility of this Victorian-style lodge in Yosemite National Park makes it a favorite of those who prefer a relaxed environment and the gracious charm of a bygone era. The Wawona Hotel is located four miles from the Park's south entrance, cradled between the majestic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and the bustling activity of Yosemite Valley. Yosemite's Badger Pass Ski Area is a short 30-minute drive.

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge
The Tuolumne Meadows is a lodge in the High Sierra. For visitors seeking a High Country experience in the Sierra, the rustic lodge in Tuolumne Meadows is a great choice. It's located in the largest sub-alpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada at an elevation of 8,775 feet. This is an ideal base camp for day hikes throughout Yosemite National Park, the Tuolumne Meadows area or before backpacking in the High Sierra. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is open from approximately early July to mid-September conditions permitting and is located on the Tioga Road, near the Park's eastern entrance on Highway 120 East. It is 60 miles from Yosemite Valley.

View more Yosemite National Park links!