Yosemite

https://www.nps.gov/yose https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park Yosemite National Park is in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s famed for its giant, ancient sequoia trees, and for Tunnel View, the iconic vista of towering Bridalveil Fall and the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. In Yosemite Village are shops, restaurants, lodging, the Yosemite Museum and the Ansel Adams Gallery, with prints of the photographer’s renowned black-and-white landscapes of the area. Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. You can drive to Yosemite year-round and enter via Highways 41, 140, and 120 from the west. Tioga Pass Entrance (via Highway 120 from the east) is closed from approximately November through late May or June. Hetch Hetchy is open all year but may close intermittently due to snow. Please note that GPS units do not always provide accurate directions to or within Yosemite. Big Oak Flat Information Station The Big Oak Flat Information Station has an information desk, wilderness permit desk, and Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore. In the winter, self-registration wilderness permits for the Crane Flat area and Tioga Road trailheads only, are available on the front porch. You must bring your own bear canister when the information station is closed. Wilderness permits are required for overnight stays in Yosemite's Wilderness. Designated accessible parking spaces are available in front of the facility. The Big Oak Flat Information Station is located inside the park near the Big Oak Flat Entrance, on Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 from the west). Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center The Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center has an information desk, Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore, and an exhibit area detailing the area's geology, plant and animal life, and history. A designated accessible parking space and entrance are available. From the main parking lot, drive up the service road to the visitor center. Park in the designated accessible parking space, and follow the paved path in front of the visitor center to the rear entrance. Accessible restrooms are adjacent to the main parking lot. Located along Tioga Road, approximately 50 miles from Yosemite Valley. Wawona Visitor Center at Hill's Studio The Wawona Visitor Center has an information desk, Wilderness permit desk, and Yosemite Conservancy bookstore. In winter, self-registration wilderness permits for the Wawona trailheads are available on the porch. You must bring your own bear canister when the information station is closed. Wilderness permits are required for overnight stays in Yosemite's Wilderness. Accessible parking is available, and a lift for wheelchair access is available at the rear of the building (use intercom for assistance). Walk from the lodge or park at the Wawona Store and Pioneer Gift Shop parking area, located on the Wawona Road (Highway 41), and follow the marked path up the hill. Yosemite Valley Visitor Center NOTE: Rangers are providing limited services outside the visitor center. The bookstore is open, but exhibits and theater are closed. The Yosemite Valley Visitor Center staff are ready to help answer your questions, provide directions, and hand out maps and brochures. There is also an information desk, bookstore, a theater, and an exhibit hall. Pay them a visit before heading out to your wild adventure. Wilderness permits for Yosemite Valley trailheads and bear canister rentals are available in winter. Located in Yosemite Village at shuttle stop 5 and 9, or by a 10-minute walk from Yosemite Village Parking. The visitor center is between Yosemite Museum and The Ansel Adams Gallery. Bridalveil Creek Campground The Bridalveil Creek Campground is located along the Glacier Point Road near Bridalveil Creek and is surrounded by a beautiful forest of red fir and lodgepole pine. At an elevation of 7,200 feet (2,200m) the campground is located 7 miles west of Glacier Point, 9 miles east of the Wawona Road turnoff, and is approximately 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley. The spectacular views from Glacier Point are nearby, and numerous hiking trails are located along the Glacier Point Road. There are no services nearby. Bridalveil Creek Campground Reservation Fee - Non-Group Site 36.00 Bridalveil Creek Campground Reservation Fee - Non-Group Site/night Bridalveil Creek Campground Group Site Fee - Group Site 75.00 Bridalveil Creek Campground Group Site Fee - Group Site/night Bridalveil Creek Campground Stock Site Fee - Stock Site 50.00 Bridalveil Creek Campground Stock Site Fee - Stock Site/night Bridalveil Campground A wood sign at the entrance to a campground reads, Bridalveil Campground. The entrance to Bridalveil Campground Camp 4 Campground Camp 4 is located in Yosemite Valley near the base of granite cliffs close to Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic features. This campground is located at 4,000 feet (1,200 m) elevation and can be accessed from all park roads. Camp 4 is within biking and walking distance of many services in Yosemite Valley and is located near the free shuttle route. There are food and grocery services nearby at Yosemite Valley Lodge and Yosemite Village. Camping Fee 10.00 Fee is per person, per night. Lottery Fee 10.00 When reservations are required by lottery (May 20-September 6, 2022), there is a non-refundable lottery fee of $10 per application (up to 6 people). The camping fee (only charged with a successful lottery application) is $10 per person per night. Camp 4 Kiosk Area Camp 4 kiosk building and bulletin board Camp 4 Kiosk Building and Bulletin Board Camp 4 Bear/Vehicle Sign An exhibit of a bear reaching into a car window and holding food, is set up near a parking lot. A 'Keep Bears Wild' message on the outskirts of Camp 4 Camp 4 Campground with Tents Tents in sites within Camp 4. Camp 4 with tents Crane Flat Campground The Crane Flat Campground is located along the Big Oak Flat Road, just west of Crane Flat, about 30 minutes northwest of Yosemite Valley, at 6,200 ft (1,900 m) elevation. There is a gas station and minimal convenience items located nearby at Crane Flat. Trailheads for both the Merced Grove and Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias are located within a short drive of the campground. Crane Flat Campground Reservation Fee – All Sites 36.00 Crane Flat Campground Reservation Fee – All Sites/night Crane Flat Campground A wood sign at the entrance to a campground reads, Crane Flat Campground The entrance to Crane Flat Campground Hodgdon Meadow Campground Hodgdon Meadow Campground is conveniently located along the Big Oak Flat Road at the Big Oak Flat Entrance. At an elevation of 4,900 feet (1,219 m), the campground is located along the western edge of the park, 25 miles and approximately 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley. There is a gas station and minimal convenience items located nearby at Crane Flat. Trailheads for both the Merced Grove and Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias are located within a short drive of the campground. Hodgdon Meadow Campground Reservation Fee - Non-Group Site (approx. mid-April through mid-October) 36.00 From mid-April through mid-October, campsites are available by reservation only. Hodgdon Meadow Campground First-Come, First-Served Fee - Non-Group Site (approx. mid-October through mid-April) 28.00 From approximately mid-October through mid-April, campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Hodgdon Meadow Campground Group Site Fee - Group Site (open approx. mid-April through mid-October) 75.00 The group campsites are open approximately mid-April through mid-October. Hodgdon Meadow Campground A wooden sign reads Hodgdon Meadow Campground. A kiosk is located at the entrance to the campground. The entrance to Hodgdon Meadow Campground Hodgdon Meadow Campground Kiosk Small wooden building at entry to campground Hodgdon Meadow Campground Kiosk Hodgdon Meadow Entrance Sign and Bulletin Board Campground entrance sign and nearby bulletin board Hodgdon Meadow Entrance Sign and Bulletin Board Lower Pines Campground Lower Pines is located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic features. This campground is located at 4,000 feet (1,219 m) elevation and can be accessed from all park roads. Lower Pines is within biking and walking distance of many services and trailheads in Yosemite Valley and is located on the free shuttle route. There are food and grocery services nearby at Curry Village and Yosemite Village. Lower Pines Campground Reservation Fee – Non-Double Sites 36.00 Lower Pines Campground Reservation Fee – Non-Double Sites Lower Pines Campground Reservation Fee – Double Sites 60.00 Lower Pines Campground Reservation Fee – Double Sites Lower Pines Campground A cleared campsite shows a picnic table and fire pit. A view of Half Dome can be seen through trees. A great view of Half Dome from a campsite in Lower Pines Campground. Lower Pines Campground Amphitheater Empty amphitheater in campground with benches and a screen and stage Lower Pines amphitheater where summer evening ranger programs may take place. Lower Pines Campsites Campsites with tents and cars in Lower Pines A variety of campsites in Lower Pines Campground North Pines Campground North Pines is located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic features. This campground is located at 4,000 feet (1,219 m) elevation and can be accessed from all park roads. North Pines is within biking and walking distance of many services and trailheads in Yosemite Valley and is located on the free shuttle route. There are food and grocery services nearby at Curry Village and Yosemite Village. North Pines Campground Reservation Fee - All Sites 36.00 North Pines Campground Reservation Fee - All Sites/night North Pines Campground A wood sign at the entrance of a campground reads, North Pines Campground. The entrance to North Pines Campground Porcupine Flat Campground Porcupine Flat Campground is located off the Tioga Road about 30 minutes west of Tuolumne Meadows and over an hour from Yosemite Valley. RVs and Trailers are not recommended for the narrow roads in this more primitive campground. At an elevation of 8,100 feet (2,500 m) elevation, the campground is near Porcupine Creek, which is the only water source (must be filtered, treated, or boiled). The Porcupine Creek Trailhead is nearby. There are no visitor services close to the campground. Porcupine Flat Campground Fee - All Sites 20.00 Porcupine Flat Campground Fee - All Sites Porcupine Creek Campground Entrance sign A wood message board reads Porcupine Creek Campground and has several pieces of papers stapled to it A message board in Porcupine Creek Campground Empty Campsite in Porcupine Flat Campground Empty campsite in Porcupine Flat Campground with picnic table, fire ring and sun shining Empty Campsite in Porcupine Flat Campground Tamarack Flat Campground Tamarack Flat Campground is located off the Tioga Road just east of Crane Flat. The campground is approximately 20 miles (45 minutes) from Yosemite Valley and is tucked away in the forest 3 miles off Tioga Road. RVs and Trailers are not recommended for this harder to access, and more primitive campground. At an elevation of 6,300 feet (1,900 m) elevation, the campground is near Tamarack Creek, which is the only water source (must be filtered, treated, or boiled). There is a gas station nearby at Crane Flat. Tamarack Flat Campground Fee - All Sites 24.00 Tamarack Flat Campground Fee - All Sites Tamarack Flat Campground Sign A wood sign at the entrance of a campground reads, Tamarack Flat Campground. The entrance to Tamarack Flat Campground Tamarack Flat Campground Entry Sign and Garbage/Recycling Receptacles wooden sign with rules for campground and garbage and recycle bins Tamarack Flat Campground Entry Sign and Garbage/Recycling Receptacles Tamarack Flat Campground Fee Area signs near the entrance of the campground about self-registration Tamarack Flat Campground Fee Area Tamarack Flat Campground Campsite car and tent in campsite Tamarack Flat Campground Campsite Tamarack Flat Campground Restroom Facility restroom facility with two doors Tamarack Flat Campground Restroom Facility Tamarack Flat Campsites multiple small tents in the campground with a picnic table and some trees Tamarack Flat Campsites Tuolumne Meadows Campground Tuolumne Meadows Campground is Yosemite’s largest, and is located along the Tioga Road, with some areas located close to the Tuolumne River. At 8,000 feet (2,600 m) this campground is open seasonally and has wonderful summer access to many hikes, lakes, and prominent viewpoints. The campground is located approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from Yosemite Valley but a small store, grill, and post office are located nearby in Tuolumne Meadows. Tuolumne Meadows Campground Fee - Non Group Site 36.00 Tuolumne Meadows Campground Reservation Fee - Standard Sites (RV or Tent) and Tent Only Sites (non-group site)/night Tuolumne Meadows Campground Group Site Fee - Group Site 75.00 Tuolumne Meadows Campground Group Site Fee - Group Site/night Tuolumne Meadows Campground Stock Site Fee - Stock Site 50.00 Tuolumne Meadows Campground Stock Site Fee - Stock Site/night Tuolumne Meadows Campground A female park ranger leans out of a kiosk window to help a visitor who is in their car. The entrance to Tuolumne Meadows Campground Tuolumne Meadows Campground Bulletin Board Bulletin Board in Tuolumne Meadows Campground Tuolumne Meadows Campground bulletin board Tuolumne Meadows Campground Kiosk Tuolumne Meadows Campground Kiosk with ranger Tuolumne Meadows Campground Kiosk Tuolumne Meadows Horse Camp sign Tuolumne Meadows Horse Camp sign Tuolumne Meadows Horse Camp sign at entrance to camp Tuolumne Meadows Campground sign Tuolumne Meadows Campground sign indicating where people show go Tuolumne Meadows Campground sign indicating where people show go depending on reservation status. Upper Pines Campground Upper Pines is located near the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic features. This large campground is located at 4,000 feet (1,219 m) elevation and can be accessed from all park roads. Upper Pines is within biking and walking distance of many services and trailheads in Yosemite Valley and is located on the free shuttle route. There are food and grocery services nearby at Curry Village and Yosemite Village. Upper Pines Campground Reservation Fee - All Sites 36.00 Upper Pines Campground Reservation Fee - All Sites/night Upper Pines Campground A campsite nestled in the trees includes a picnic table, firepit, and metal bear storage locker. A campsite in Upper Pines Campground. Upper Pines Campground Road Sign road and sign indicating Upper Pines Campground Sign for Upper Pines as you approach the campground. Upper Pines Campground with Tent Tent in campsite in Upper Pines Upper Pines campsite with tent and others in background. Wawona Campground The Wawona Campground is located along the South Fork Merced River close to historic Wawona. At an elevation of 4,000 feet (1,219 m), the campground is located in the southern end of the park, 27 miles and approximately 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley. The majestic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is just a short drive away and the Pioneer History Center is in nearby Wawona where you can see some of the park’s oldest structures. Wawona offers a visitor center and a market. Wawona Campground Reservation Fee - Non-Group Site (approx. mid-April through mid-October) 36.00 This fee is for reserved sites (RV or Tent) (approx. mid-April through mid-October). Wawona Campground First-Come, First-Served Fee - Non-Group Site (approx. mid-October through mid-April) 28.00 This fee is for first-come, first-served sites (available mid-October through mid-April in Loop A). Wawona Campground Group Site Fee - Group Site 75.00 This fee is for the group site located in Loop A; reservations required. Wawona Horse Camp Fee - Stock Site 50.00 This fee is for a site in the Wawona Horse Camp; reservations required (open approx. mid-April through mid-October). Wawona Campground Sign Wooden Wawona Campground sign located along the Wawona Road Wawona Campground sign located along the Wawona Road. Wawona Campground A car is stopped at a small kiosk at the entrance to a campground. The entrance to Wawona Campground White Wolf Campground White Wolf Campground is located off the Tioga Road between Tuolumne Meadows and Crane Flat, approximately an hour from Yosemite Valley at 8,000 feet (2,400 m). The campground is tucked into the forest about a mile from Tioga Road near White Wolf Lodge. Trailheads nearby lead to Lukens and Harden Lakes and the area is popular for those accessing other wilderness destinations. Minimal services may be available at White Wolf Lodge (if open). There are no other visitor services close to the campground. White Wolf Campground Fee - All Sites 30.00 White Wolf Campground Fee - Standard Sites (RV or Tent) and Tent Only Sites White Wolf Campground Entrance Sign A wood sign on the side of a road reads White Wolf Campground. The entrance to White Wolf Campground White Wolf Campsite White Wolf Campsite with tent and vehicle White Wolf Campsite White Wolf Campground Amphitheater Rows of benches that make up the White Wolf Amphitheater White Wolf Campground Amphitheater Empty White Wolf Campsite Empty White Wolf Campsite with metal food storage locker Empty White Wolf Campsite White Wolf Campground Registration Area Registration area with signs and instructions White Wolf Campground Registration Area White Wolf Camp Host Site camp host site with sign White Wolf Camp Host Site White Wolf Campground Bulletin Board Wooden campground bulletin board with flyers posted White Wolf Campground Bulletin Board Yosemite Creek Campground Yosemite Creek Campground is located nearly 5 miles off the Tioga Road (via a rough road) 26 miles west of Tuolumne Meadows, and a little over an hour from Yosemite Valley. Located in the forest at 7,700 feet (2,300 m) many campsites are close to Yosemite Creek, which is the only water source (must be filtered, treated, or boiled). RVs and Trailers are not recommended for this harder to access, and more primitive campground. There are no visitor services close to the campground. Yosemite Creek Campground Fee - All Sites 24.00 Yosemite Creek Campground Fee - All Sites Yosemite Creek Campground A wood sign at the entrance of a campground reads, Yosemite Creek Campground. The entrance to Yosemite Creek Campground Yosemite Creek Campground Site 1 Empty campsite, site 1 Yosemite Creek Campground Site 1 Upper Yosemite Fall and Merced River in spring Upper Yosemite Fall and Merced River in spring Upper Yosemite Fall and Merced River in spring Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View Glaciated valley with vertical cliffs. Tunnel View is perhaps one of the most photographed views in the park. Rainbow over Half Dome A rainbow over a mountain in the distance. A hike up to Sentinel Dome rewards people with great views of the landscape around them. Cathedral Peak and Lake in Autumn A mountain reflecting in a lake. Cathedral Peak is one of the most recognizable peaks in the Yosemite Wilderness. Lower Yosemite Fall A waterfall flowing down a granite cliff. The walk to Lower Yosemite Fall is a popular and easy hike. Yosemite Falls on a Winter Morning Two tall waterfalls flowing down snow covered granite walls. Yosemite Falls will sometimes only trickle at the end of summer, but wet winters can rejuvenate the flow. Glen Aulin Mountains reflecting in water Glen Auilin is one of five High Sierra Camps, located in the Yosemite high country. Giant Sequoia Trees in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Cluster of tall trees with cloudy sky. Yosemite National Park's massive giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) live in three groves in the park. The most famous of these is the Mariposa Grove, which contains about 500 mature giant sequoias. Tenaya Lake at Sunset Mountains surrounding a lake. Tenaya Lake is a favorite place to stop along the Tioga Road in summer. Half Dome Granite dome with trace amounts of snow. Half Dome is one of the most recognizable granitic formations in the world. El Capitan El Capitan and reflection in Merced River with some low clouds El Capitan rises over 3,000 feet above the floor of Yosemite Valley. View of Yosemite Valley in Winter El Capitan on left, Cathedral Rocks on the right, all covered in snow, low clouds and sun A rewarding view of Yosemite Valley in winter as seen from Tunnel View. California Tortoiseshell Clouds of California Tortoiseshells sometimes appear in the park during populations burst or mass migrations. An orange and black Buffalo Soldiers Before the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916, the U.S. Army was responsible for protecting our first national parks. Soldiers from the Presidio of San Francisco spent the summer months in Yosemite and Sequoia. Their tasks included blazing trails, constructing roads, creating maps, evicting grazing livestock, extinguishing fires, monitoring tourists, and keeping poachers and loggers at bay. Buffalo Soldiers in Yosemite Clear Waters Story Map Sierra Nevada lakes provide habitat for wild plants and animals and supply fresh water to downstream farms and communities. Their rugged settings and clear blue water make them popular hiking destinations. But the condition of these lakes is affected by deposition of air pollutants, warming temperatures, and non-native species. In this story map, readers join Sierra Nevada Network field scientists as they travel to remote areas and study lake ecosystems. Two women scientists wearing backpacks and smiling, standing in front of a mountain lake. Explorers for Bats Most scientists are not rock climbers, and vice-versa, but the two groups work together to study a unique type of animal: bats! As white-nose syndrome spreads across the United States and impacts bat populations, rock climbers who visit national parks are becoming key members of the research teams tasked with protecting threatened and endangered bat species. View a 13-minute video which highlights these efforts. person climbs sheer rock face River Hydrology Monitoring The Sierra Nevada national parks contain the headwaters of seven major watersheds, and the gradual spring melt of the winter snowpack provides water to park ecosystems as well as rural and urban areas throughout California. Learn more about the Sierra Nevada Network river hydrology project, monitoring the quantity and timing of streamflow in a subset of major rivers. Two women wearing raincoats and waders in the middle of a river taking measurements of flow levels. 2010 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2010 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards 2009 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2009 Environmental Achievement Awards 2011 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2011 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards 2008 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2008 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Science for Bats National parks serve as excellent laboratories for scientific research. Find out what scientists are learning about bats in Yosemite National Park. The Civilian Conservation Corps As part of the New Deal Program, to help lift the United States out of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. The CCC or C’s as it was sometimes known, allowed single men between the ages of 18 and 25 to enlist in work programs to improve America’s public lands, forests, and parks. CCC men lined up in front of a building and looking at a flag pole with an american flag. Chinese Immigrant Past in Yosemite Yosemite Park Ranger uncovers Chinese immigrant history at the park. Her research and history discovery events have excited and involved new audiences. A group of people smiling The Ahwahnee, A Collaborative Model for the Future Challenges were many in updating the historic Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite to correct hazards to guests’ safety and facility protection from fire. Questions included how to continue work while accommodating guests, and how to minimize closure time. Everyone had the same goal--to preserve and maintain the hotel. This successful project exemplifies the challenges of fire protection in our iconic places and what can be achieved through collaboration. NPS Structural Fire Program Highlights 2014 Intern Accomplishments Monitoring Wetlands Ecological Integrity Wetlands occupy less than 10 percent of the Sierra Nevada, but they are habitat for a large diversity of plants and animals. They provide nesting and foraging habitat for birds, play an important role in the life cycle of many invertebrate and amphibian species, and are a rich source of food for small mammals and bears. They store nutrients and sediment and control flooding. Learn more about monitoring of plant communities, groundwater dynamics, and macroinvertebrates. Biologists examine a soil profile in a meadow to evaluate the type of wetland. Monitoring Birds in Sierra Nevada Network Parks More than 60 percent of the vertebrate species in Sierra Nevada Network parks are birds. These parks provide critical breeding, stopover, and wintering habitats for birds, but there are numerous stressors such as climate change and habitat loss that cause declines in some bird populations. Learn more about why birds are good indicators of ecosystem change and how they are being monitored. Western Tanager perched on a tree branch Monitoring Lakes in Sierra Nevada Network Parks Sequoia & Kings Canyon and Yosemite national parks protect over 1,200 lakes that have some of the highest water quality in the Sierra Nevada. High-elevation lakes are critical components of the parks’ ecosystems, popular visitor destinations, and habitat for aquatic and terrestrial organisms. However, these lakes are affected by air pollution, climate change, and non-native species. Learn more about these lakes and how the Sierra Nevada Network monitors their water quality. Lake monitoring crew member paddles out for a mid-lake sample 2019 Connecting with our Homelands Awardees Hopa Mountain, in partnership with the National Park Service, is pleased to announce the 2019 awardees of the Connecting with our Homelands travel grants. Twenty-one Indigenous organizations, schools, and nonprofits have been awarded travel funds for trips to national park units across 12 states/territories within the United States. An elder and young student talk while sitting on a rock. National Parks Pitch In to Help Save Monarch Butterflies As scientists and citizen scientists have noted, insect populations are plummeting across the globe. Monarch butterfly populations are no exception. Recent counts show that the western population has experienced a precipitous drop. As of 2018, the population of monarchs overwintering along the California coast stands at just 0.6% of what it was in the 1980s. Monarch butterflies among eucalyptus leaves, viewed through a scope America's Best Idea: Featured National Historic Landmarks Over 200 National Historic Landmarks are located in national parks units. Some historical and cultural resources within the park system were designated as NHLs before being established as park units. Yet other park units have NHLs within their boundaries that are nationally significant for reasons other than those for which the park was established. Twenty of those NHLs are located in parks featured in Ken Burn's documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. watchtower against blue sky Cascade Fire: Right Fire, Right Place, Right Time The Cascade fire, started by lightning in a wilderness area of Yosemite in June 2012, was not actively suppressed. It would lightly burn for five months and become the right fire, in the right place, at right time. The only action that firefighters took was to construct a half-mile check line. Park staff took advantage of educational opportunities as smoke was visible from several locations. The fire burned 1,705 acres, and cost approximately $200/acre to manage. firefighter working with a hoe to dig a fireline on a slope with lots of vegetation. Historic Ashes: Glacier Point Hotel 1969 There may have never been a better balcony view than that from the historic Glacier Point Hotel (YOSE). In winter 1968–1969 the hotel was damaged by heavy snow pack and was closed for business that summer. On July 10, 1969 an electrical fire completely destroyed the hotel and nearby Mountain House. Structure fire response was 28 miles away by mountain road. Use this look back at the losses of our NPS heritage to inspire and direct our efforts to protect what still remains. historic image of Glacier Point Hotel PARKS...IN...SPAAAACE!!! NASA astronauts have quite literally an out-of-this-world view of national parks and take some pretty stellar pictures to share. Travel along with the space station on its journey west to east getting the extreme bird’s eye view of national parks across the country. And one more down-to-earth. View of Denali National Park & Preserve from space Fire Communication and Education Grants Enhance Fire Interpretation and Outreach in the National Parks in 2015 and Beyond The 2015 National Park Service Fire Communication and Education Grant Program provided funding for projects, programs, or tasks in twelve parks around the country. A woman studies a small coniferous tree while a younger woman looks on. Tent Cabins and Grand Lodges – Memories of Family Vacations in Yosemite What is our obligation for providing fire and life safety in concessions operations? Generally, it is no different from our obligations in any building. We are as responsible for the buildings that are under contract to concessions operators as we are for buildings used solely for NPS operations. But how we accomplish the goal of making a building safe differs. We use contracts, operations plans, annual assurance inspections, and action when requirements are not followed. National Park Service Staff Explore Strategies for Success at Leadership Conference With a goal of creating better leaders and promoting gender balance, the 2016 Women and Leadership Conference introduced influential policy and business leaders who shared their insights and offered tools to help participants become leaders in their respective fields. A group of men and women stand in front of a blue curtain and an Andrus Center banner. Historic Visibility Studies in National Parks Haze can negatively impact how well people can see and appreciate our national parks across the country. This article summarizes the visibility studies from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s aimed at identifying the sources of haze causing pollution at specific parks and improving visibility monitoring methods. Big bend national park river Using Lake Superior parks to explain the Midcontinent Rift Explaining the spectacular scenery around Lake Superior resulting from the 1.1 billion–year–old Midcontinent Rift System gives park interpreters an opportunity to discuss some of the most important processes that shape our planet and influenced the region’s settlement and growth. Kayakers paddle past sandstone rocks at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Seth Stein) 2012 Freeman Tilden Award Recipients In 2012, seven rangers were awarded the national and region Freeman Tilden Awards for innovative and exciting interpretive programs. Learn their stories and more about their award-winning programs. Renee Albertoli World War II Plane Crashes in National Parks During WWII, more than 7,100 air crashes involved US Army Air Force (USAAF) aircraft occurred on American soil. Collectively these crashes resulted in the loss of more than 15,599 lives (Mireles 2006). Many of these military aircraft accidents occurred in remote, often mountainous, areas managed by the National Park Service. plane crash at base of grassy hill The Sounds of Spring When the weather warms, national parks across the country rouse from winter’s sleep. The sounds you hear in parks reflect this seasonal change. They contribute to the unique soundscape of these special places, and are among the resources that the National Park Service protects. Sandhill cranes dance in a courtship ritual in flooded grasslands at Great Sand Dunes NP. Wildland Fire in Douglas Fir: Western United States Douglas fir is widely distributed throughout the western United States, as well as southern British Columbia and northern Mexico. Douglas fir is able to survive without fire, its abundantly-produced seeds are lightweight and winged, allowing the wind to carry them to new locations where seedlings can be established. Close-up of Douglas fir bark and needles. NPS Branch of Structural Fire and Yosemite National Park Announce New Training Class The NPS Firefighter I program (Defensive Firefighter) was beta tested in Yosemite in 2011. NPS fire instructors put wildland firefighters from several national parks through 40 hours of intense classroom and fire suppression exercises, including structure, vehicle, and dumpster fire extinguishment. The training was designed to instill the skill sets to allow defensive firefighters to operate safely and competently, and helps address the problem of limited resources. two women discuss fire training outside Recipe for Mountain Lake Conservation After a long hike through the mountains, nothing compares to the inspiring beauty of a healthy, colorful mountain lake. But airborne nitrogen pollution threatens the health and function of these alpine oases. man sits by mountain lake Helicopter Rappel Program Gets New Start A US Forest Service helicopter rappeller was killed in 2009, so USFS and NPS helicopter rappel operations were halted while the program was reviewed. Given the terrain of some parks, there remained a strong need for the program. A working group exhaustively reviewed procedures and equipment and implemented needed updates. The new program came back online with live training in May 2012. A person being hoisted by a helicopter Yosemite's World War II Hospital The “U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital Yosemite National Park, California” was commissioned on June 25, 1943. Originally thought of a the perfect recovery spot for those suffering from shell-shock or battle fatigue (now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Treatments at the later-renamed Yosemite Special Hospital experiment focused physical and mental health. It proved to be a watershed event in the development of U.S. military medical rehabilitation techniques. B&W; Sailors with bicycles look out on Yosemite Valley 2002 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2002 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards 2006 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2006 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards 2018 Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award Park Ranger Jack J. Hoeflich from Yosemite National Park is the recipient of the 2018 National Harry Yount Award. His incredible intellect, physical fitness, stamina, climbing prowess, and passion for helping others is a perfect fit for the unique challenges of providing assistance to visitors in Yosemite’s rugged landscape. Ranger Jack Hoeflich sitting above a canyon Tracking One of California's Rarest Mammals In the winter of 2018, researchers captured one male and two female Sierra Nevada red foxes in and around Lassen Volcanic National Park. These three foxes are the first of the subspecies captured in over a decade and offer hope of better understanding this state-listed threatened species. A man crouches behind a woman kneeling who is releasing a red fox into a snow-covered forest. Park Air Profiles - Yosemite National Park Air quality profile for Yosemite National Park Gives park-specific information about air quality and air pollution impacts for Yosemite NP as well as the studies and monitoring conducted for Yosemite NP. Half Dome formation Walking With Wildflowers: Monitoring Pacific Crest Trail Plant Communities as Climate Changes Walking with Wildflowers is a citizen science program dedicated to monitoring plant phenology along the Pacific Crest Trail using observations from hikers and backpackers. Its main goal is to determine whether plant species are able to respond to changing climatic conditions and better understand how plants use seasonal cues to time flowering. Trail through a meadow surrounded by trees, with mountains beyond Multiyear Prescribed Fire Treatments Protect Community during Rim Fire Past hazardous fuels reduction treatments and prescribed fire have created defensible space for the Hodgdon Meadow area in Yosemite NP. The Rim fire of August 2013 put this theory to the test, and the treatments worked to protect this wildland urban interface. The fuels treatments and prescribed fire align with the NPS goal of creating fire-adapted human communities. Park entrance station with a large plume of smoke in the distance. Fire Prevention Success--What’s Being Accomplished in the National Parks Sam Zuckerman Sam Zuckerman worked on the Sierra Nevada Network forest monitoring crew in 2017, and while he enjoyed the field work, this experience helped him decide he wanted to get involved with all the steps of carrying out a research project. He is pursuing a PhD in Natural Resources at the University of New Hampshire, where his research focuses on tree responses to drought in northeastern forests. Click on the article title to learn more. Field biologist uses meter tape to set up a forest monitoring plot in foxtail pine stand. Pile Burning Protects Landscapes at Yosemite National Park Crews in Yosemite National Park successfully burned an estimated 300 piles over the winter of 2020. The piles were created from debris left over from large-scale landscape restoration projects in the park. Pile burning has been an efficient and effective way for reducing excessive fuel build-up on the landscape, reducing hazardous fuels in the wildland urban interface, and opening some of the most iconic viewsheds. Firefighter tends to a pile of logs and debris burning in a field near a vertical rock face. National Park Service Finds Success at Hiring Event The National Park Service Fire and Aviation Program participated in a hiring event sponsored by the Department of Interior. The special hiring event was held in Bakersfield, CA and was a collaboration of all four natural resource management bureaus to hire open wildland fire positions in 2020. Employees talk to potential job candidates in front of a large promotional panel. Landscape Conservation Near Yosemite with Sierra Foothill Conservancy Sierra Foothill Conservancy (SFC) is a land trust established in 1996 and rooted in the local community outside of Yosemite National Park. With volunteer time and donations, SFC works with the affected community and its board members to preserve special places for future generations. With an operating budget of just over $1.8 million, SFC owns thousands of acres and works to protect thousands more. (July 2020) drawing of map of the Sierra Mountains in California Megan Mason Megan Mason worked in Sierra Nevada national parks monitoring lake water chemistry and stream hydrology for two summer seasons. Her work in the Sierra inspired her to go on to graduate school in Geophysics, studying snow science - especially annual and seasonal snow depth patterns and how this information can improve forecasting of streamflow and snowmelt patterns. Learn more about her work and why she decided to pursue graduate research. Woman standing in snow pit holding metal triangular scoop for sampling snow density. Wildland Fire in Ponderosa Pine: Western United States This forest community generally exists in areas with annual rainfall of 25 inches or less. Extensive pure stands of this forest type are found in the southwestern U.S., central Washington and Oregon, southern Idaho and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Recently burned ponderosa pine forest. Zehra Osman Zehra Osman has been a Landscape Architect with the National Park Service since 2001. Through her work at a variety of parks around the country, Zehra explores how cultural landscape documentation and research contributes to historic preservation and planning projects. A smiling woman in a green NPS uniform with arms crossed History of the Panoramic Lookout Project Most documentation of the panoramic lookout photos project, which began about 1930 to document areas seen from the lookout system, comes from the US Forest Service. The NPS project began in 1934. Lester Moe worked for the Forest Service taking photos in 1933 and 1934, and later worked for NPS. Several innovations came about from this project: the Osborne photo-recording transit and “special emulsion infra-red sensitive film” not affected by smoke and haze. sample of the panoramic lookout project Gary Fellers Leaves Legacy of Scientific Inquiry in California National Parks Few individuals have shaped our understanding of terrestrial species in the San Francisco Bay Area and California national parks like Dr. Gary Fellers, who passed away in November. Gary worked at Point Reyes National Seashore from 1983 until his retirement in 2013, first as a National Park Service scientist, and later as a researcher for the USGS Western Ecological Research Center. Dr. Gary Fellers Women of Yosemite: The Concessioners Women have played an important—though often hidden—part in Yosemite. In the 1800s, women were expected to play a traditional role in the private world of the family and the home. With the birth of the railroad and as the Gold Rush drew people to California in the late 1800s, pioneering women found ways to broaden traditional roles. Learn about the women concessioners at Yosemite. Portrait of Bridget Degnan Women of Yosemite: The Adventurers Women have played an important—though often hidden—part in Yosemite. In the 1800s, women were expected to play a traditional role in the private world of the family and the home. With the birth of the railroad and as the Gold Rush drew people to California in the late 1800s, pioneering women found ways to broaden traditional roles. Read about the women who adventured in Yosemite. Two women in long skirts dance on a rock outcrop high above the ground Women of Yosemite: Artists and Writers Women have played an important—though often hidden—part in Yosemite. In the 1800s, women were expected to play a traditional role in the private world of the family and the home. With the birth of the railroad and as the Gold Rush drew people to California in the late 1800s, pioneering women found ways to broaden traditional roles. Learn about early women artists and writers at Yosemite. portrait of Constance Cummings Women of Yosemite: The Employees Women have played an important—though often hidden—part in Yosemite. In the 1800s, women were expected to play a traditional role in the private world of the family and the home. With the birth of the railroad and as the Gold Rush drew people to California in the late 1800s, pioneering women found ways to broaden traditional roles. Read about the early women who worked as NPS employees at Yosemite. Enid Michael dances with a bear 1935 Vladimir Kovalenko Vladimir (Vlad) Kovalenko worked on the Sierra Nevada Network forest monitoring crew in 2015 and 2016, and this work inspired him to go on to graduate school at the University of Montana in 2020. He is pursuing a Master's Degree in Systems Ecology, and his research will focus on Clark's Nutcracker ecology in the whitebark pine ecosystem in Glacier National Park. Click on the title of this article to learn more. Four scientists wearing backpacks with a scenic view of Sierra Nevada mountains in background. Yosemite: On the Homefront After the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Yosemite National Park joined the war effort with the rest of the nation. In addition to its military hospital, Yosemite National Park hosted the United States Army Signal Corps for a training camp, visiting army units, and victory gardens in the employee housing areas. Military group in front of large valley Pollinators - Monarch butterfly More than beautiful, monarch butterflies contribute to the health of our planet. While feeding on nectar, they pollinate many types of wildflowers, yet one of the greatest threats to Monarch populations is loss of habitat. A Monarch clings to an orange flower Yosemite National Park Develops New Helicopter Rappel Program Is the Fate of Whitebark Pine in the Beak of Clark's Nutcracker? Clark’s nutcrackers favor the seeds of whitebark pines, which they cache in great numbers. Whitebark pines are largely dependent on nutcrackers for seed dispersal; many cached seeds are not retrieved and go on to germinate. The tree is in decline due to native bark beetles, a non-native fungus, and climate change. Will the bird turn to other food sources? A recent study analyzes data on both species from the Cascades and Sierra to understand the risk to this mutualism. Gray and black bird with beak open perched in a conifer High-elevation Forest Monitoring Whitebark pine and foxtail pine occupy high-elevation Sierra Nevada treeline and subalpine habitats, environments often too harsh for other tree species to thrive. These forests can have a large influence on key ecosystem processes and dynamics, such as regulating snowmelt and streamflow and providing habitat and food for birds and mammals. Learn more about the threats these trees face and a monitoring program to track changes in their condition. Whitebark pine in Yosemite National Park with scenic granite peaks in background Series: Panoramic Project Shows How National Parks Change Over Time In the 1930s, panoramic photographs were taken from lookout points. Comparing these images to present-day photographs allows us to understand change over time. Viewing photographs of different eras in the national parks can give many insights on ecosystem processes, as well as simply change over time. The panoramic lookout photographs provide a window on the past and an opportunity to compare to the present with changes to landforms and land cover. Lester Moe documenting park landscapes in the 1930s Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Mesozoic Era The Mesozoic Era (251.9 to 66 million years ago) was the "Age of Reptiles." During the Mesozoic, Pangaea began separating into the modern continents, and the modern Rocky Mountains rose. Dinosaurs, crocodiles, and pterosaurs ruled the land and air. As climate changed and rapid plate tectonics resulted in shallow ocean basins, sea levels rose world-wide and seas expanded across the center of North America. fossil dinosaur skull in rock face Series: National Park Service Geodiversity Atlas The servicewide Geodiversity Atlas provides information on <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/geoheritage-conservation.htm">geoheritage</a> and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/geodiversity.htm">geodiversity</a> resources and values all across the National Park System to support science-based management and education. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1088/index.htm">NPS Geologic Resources Division</a> and many parks work with National and International <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/park-geology.htm">geoconservation</a> communities to ensure that NPS abiotic resources are managed using the highest standards and best practices available. park scene mountains Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship. A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park Series: Park Air Profiles Clean air matters for national parks around the country. Photo of clouds above the Grand Canyon, AZ NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Yosemite National Park, California Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. waterfall and half dome Cretaceous Period—145.0 to 66.0 MYA Many now-arid western parks, including Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Mesa Verde National Park, were inundated by the Cretaceous Interior Seaway that bisected North America. Massive dinosaur and other reptile fossils are found in Cretaceous rocks of Big Bend National Park. dinosaur footprint in stone Mesozoic Era The Mesozoic Era (251.9 to 66 million years ago) was the "Age of Reptiles." During the Mesozoic, Pangaea began separating into the modern continents, and the modern Rocky Mountains rose. Dinosaurs, crocodiles, and pterosaurs ruled the land and air. As climate changed and rapid plate tectonics resulted in shallow ocean basins, sea levels rose world-wide and seas expanded across the center of North America. fossil dinosaur skull in rock face Wildland Fire in Lodgepole Pine The bark of lodgepoles is thin, which does not protect the trunks from scorching by fire. They die easily when a fire passes through. However, the serotinous cones give lodgepole pine a special advantage for spreading seeds for the next generation. Close-up of the needles of a lodgepole pine. Rangers, Not Rangerettes Increasing national park visitation and a lack of qualified men due to World War I, coupled with educated women being in the right place at the right time, created opportunities for a few more women to become park rangers in 1918. Studio Photo of Clare Hodges The Unisex Uniform R. Bryce Workman’s book National Park Service Uniforms: Breeches, Blouses, and Skirt 1918-1991, published by the NPS in 1998, has been the go-to resource for the history of women’s uniforms. Although it contains much useful information and photographic documentation, some of his assumptions must be challenged if we are to fully understand how the uniform reflects women’s history in the NPS. The 1920 official ranger uniform coat was similar to the authorized 1917 pattern. More Than “Just” A Secretary If you’re only familiar with modern office practices, you may not recognize many of jobs necessary to run an office or national park over much of the past hundred years. Today, typewriters have given way to computers, photocopy machines have replaced typing pools, stenographers are rarely seen outside of courtrooms, and callers are largely expected to pick extensions from digital directories. Women skiing The Odd “Man” Out? Studies of NPS women’s uniforms often begin in 1918 with Clare Marie Hodges—and the statement (accepted as fact) that she didn’t wear a uniform. But which uniform are they referring to? While it’s true that Hodges didn’t wear the iconic green-and-gray uniform we know today, her clothes do reflect the accepted “riding uniform” worn by most early park rangers. Clare Marie Hodges, 1918. (Yosemite National Park photo) The Authority of the Badge Following the success of Clare Marie Hodges as the first women ranger in 1918, Yosemite National Park hired at least five more women rangers in the 1920s. Using his discretion as superintendent, W.B. Lewis didn’t designate them as uniformed positions. His reasons are unknown. It could be that he didn’t support women wearing uniforms. Given that he hired the women rangers, however, he should perhaps be given the benefit of the doubt on that issue until proven otherwise. 1906 Ranger Badge A Family Affair Yosemite National Park hired a handful of women as temporary rangers in the 1920s. Like those at Yellowstone National Park, most had family connections to the park that made them well suited to work in remote areas. Enid Michael (right) with visitors at her wildflower display. (Yosemite National Park photo) Two for the Price of One Companion, assistant, confidant, ambassador, host, nurse, cook, secretary, editor, field technician, wildlife wrangler, diplomat, and social director are some of the many roles that people who marry into the NPS perform in support of their spouses and the NPS mission. Although the wives and daughters of park rangers were some of the earliest women rangers in the NPS, many more women served as “park wives” in the 1920s–1940s. Three members of a family Did You Know We Never Hire Women? In 1920, as Ranger Isabel Bassett Wasson arrived at Yellowstone, Dr. Harold C. Bryant and Dr. Loye Holmes Miller launched the new NPS education program with the Free Nature Guide Service at Yosemite National Park. Female Ranger talks to a crowd Protecting the Ranger Image In 1926, five women rangers worked in Yellowstone National Park. Marguerite Lindsley was the only permanent ranger and supervised the museum at Mammoth. Frieda B. Nelson and Irene Wisdom were temporary park rangers. Wisdom worked at the entrance station, while Nelson did clerical duties in the chief ranger’s office and worked in the information office. Ranger dancing with a bear The Women Naturalists Only two early women park rangers made the transition to park naturalists. Having resigned her permanent ranger position after her marriage, Marguerite Lindsley Arnold returned to Yellowstone National Park under the temporary park ranger (naturalist) title from 1929 to 1931. Yosemite rehired Ranger Enid Michael as temporary naturalist each summer from 1928 to 1942. A handful of other parks hired a few new women under the newly created ranger-naturalist designation. Polly Mead, a woman park ranger-naturalist is giving a talk outdoors to a group of visitors. 1931 Who Wears the Pants Around Here? After a promising start in the early 1920s, only a handful of women were hired as park rangers and naturalists in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the national monuments of the Southwest became the new hot spots for women in uniformed positions in the 1930s. Women in skirts and pants The Job is His, Not Yours In the early 1950s, park wives continued to function as they had from the 1920s to the 1940s. The NPS still got Two For the Price of One, relying on women to keep monuments in the Southwest running, to give freely of their time and talents, to build and maintain park communities, and to boost morale among park staffs. With the creation of the Mission 66 Program to improve park facilities, the NPS found new ways to put some park wives to (unpaid) work. Man and woman with telescope NPS mentors Chinese-Tibetan community rangers The NPS Office of International Affairs mentors park colleagues across the world as they strive to manage the natural and cultural resources in their countries. One example is the partnership work at a new national park in China. Climate Smart Conservation Planning for the National Parks In response to climate change, park managers are having to rethink how they plan for the future. Climate Smart Conservation is a process that can help managers achieve goals in the face of coming changes. Under this framework, scientists and managers use their collective knowledge to anticipate problems and be proactive, rather than reactive. Pika with a mouthful of grass Become a Yosemite B.A.R.K. Ranger For many, pets are an important member of our families. If you are planning to bring a furry family member on your trip to Yosemite, make sure you are prepared to follow the B.A.R.K. Ranger code. The code helps protect you, your pet, and the park. If the activities you have planned for your visit do not allow for pets or are unsafe, consider leaving them at home. Small dog on leash on a boardwalk next to a ranger hat Geologic Type Section Inventory for Sierra Nevada Network Parks A recent NPS Geological Resources Division report for Sierra Nevada Network parks highlights geologic features (or “stratotypes”) of parks that serve as the standard for identifying geologic units. Stratotypes are important because they store knowledge, represent important comparative sites where past knowledge can be built up or re-examined, and can serve as teaching sites for students. Learn more about Sierra Nevada geology and the stratotypes that help characterize it. View of sheer cliffs on northeast side of Mount Whitney, Sequoia National Park. Sandy Hernandez: No Us and Them in Nature Although Sandy Hernandez connected to the natural world at an early age, she’s also been made to feel “out of place” there. Her Latinx family faced criticism during their first visit to Yosemite National Park, where she was about to become an employee. Since then, she has worked to make sure that People of Color have a place in outdoor spaces and the NPS workforce. Her leadership philosophy rests on making stewardship a team effort and gathering diverse voices at the table. Sandy Hernandez in NPS uniform holds the edges of her flat hat, standing outside. Fat Book Week You've heard of #FatBearWeek...now get ready for #FatBookWeek! In honor of the 10,000+ books in the Longfellow family collection, we called on other literary-minded sites to submit the fattest book in their museum collections for a tournament-style bracket of 10 heavyweight tomes. Check out the bracket, then visit @LONGNPS on Instagram each morning from October 6-12 to vote for your favorite bulky book! Graphic of a bear with a paw on a stack of books. Text reads "Fat Book Week October 6-12, 2021" “A New Attraction” States licensed women hunting and fishing guides as early as the 1890s, but in national parks the emphasis was on nature study and tours for visitors. It’s commonly thought that Rocky Mountain National Park was the first park to license women guides in 1917, but there was at least one licensed woman guide working at Glacier National Park four years earlier. Collage of newspaper photographs featuring portraits of women Yosemite National Park Fire Managers Partner with Indian Tribes for Prescribed Fire Project Members of Yosemite Fire look on as the Southern Sierra Miwuk engage in a ceremony and traditional methods to ignite the prescribed fire. NPS Photo by Brent Johnson. Pilot Conservation Corps Program Offers Women Training and Experience in Wildland Fire Pilot Conservation Corps Program Offers Women Training and Experience in Wildland Fire Women Firefighters with dirty faces standing on burnt ground Tuolumne Meadows Campground in Yosemite National Park To Be Repaired and Improved through GAOA Funding Yosemite National Park’s largest campground is receiving a major overhaul with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). The $20 million project will rehabilitate and modernize the Tuolumne Meadows campground which hosts more than 150,000 campers annually. Creek along a path in the woods Finding Places Buffered from Climate Change in a Bid to Protect Them Existing tools to identify and protect areas where the climate is changing more slowly may help preserve resources into an uncertain future. A healthy stand of giant sequoia trees bears the signs of a previous fire. Prescribed Burning in Yosemite Valley has Multiple Benefits Yosemite National Park initiated a valley-wide restoration project to remediate excessive tree mortality from the 2014-2015 drought, as well as to restore native plant communities and cultural practices. Staff burned 182 acres in May 2021, launching an ambitious plan to ultimately treat all 11,571 acres in the Valley units with fire over the upcoming years, as conditions allow. Prescribed fire in Yosemite Valley helps to restore native plants. Technology Helps Measure Prescribed Fire Objectives Fire effects monitoring crews (FEMO) from North Cascades National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the Fremont-Winema National Forest assisted Yosemite National Park fire crews in measuring post-fire effects of the 2020 Blue Jay and 2021 Lukens fire footprints. Crews measured post-fire effects to ensure that the park is meeting fire management objectives. Data will assist in streamlining approaches to measure reductions in fuel loading and other resource objectives. Staff use terrestrial Lidar device to measure forest conditions after a prescribed fire. All Women’s Fire Crew Success in Yosemite National Park During summer 2021, Yosemite National Park was selected by the National Park Service Fire Management Leadership Board (FMLB) as one of two national park units to host a six-person all-women fire crew for 10 weeks. The project was funded by the National Park Foundation through a grant provided by Recreational Equipment, Incorporated (REI). The six women for Yosemite were selected through a competitive application process conducted by the California Conservation Corps. Women’s Conservation Corps Crew stops for a photo at Olmstead Point at Yosemite National Park. Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Shirley Sargent Born on July 12, 1927 in Pasadena California, Shirley Sargent grew up to become a prolific historian of Yosemite National Park. A black and white photo of woman with short hair on a bicycle, smiling Ranger Roll Call, 1916-1929 Recent research demonstrates that there were more women rangers and ranger-naturalists in early National Park Service (NPS) history than previously thought. However, the number of women in uniformed positions was quite low in any given year. Ranger Frieda Nelson shows of the suspenders used to hold up her uniform breeches. Clare Marie Hodges Clare Marie Hodges first visited Yosemite National Park when she was just 14 years old. She felt a connection to the park and eventually got a job there as a teacher. When World War I made it hard to find men for vacant ranger positions, Hodges seized the opportunity to become the first woman ranger at the park. Clare Hodges posing for a photo wearing a blouse, scarf and soft-brimmed hat. Staff Spotlight: George McDonald Meet George McDonald, the Chief of Youth Programs and the Experienced Services Program Division. George oversees projects and programs that involve youth and young adults working at National Park Service sites across the country, primarily focusing on individuals 15 to 30 years old, and those 35 years old or under who are military veterans. These projects generally cover natural and cultural resource conservation. Learn more about him. George McDonald smiling at Grand Canyon National Park The Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger Program Brings BSA Scouts and National Parks Together To connect more youth to their local communities, NPS created the Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger Program in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America, which welcomes boys, girls, and young adults to participate. Through this program, BSA Scouts and Cub Scouts can earn award certificates and may also receive a patch. Learn more in this article. William Kai, a Cub Scout, holds up his Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger Certificate Award Thaddeus Bell and James Etheredge: Changing Expectations In the 1960s, James Etheredge and Thaddeus Bell were part of a pioneering group of African American college students who helped diversity the National Park Service by serving as seasonal rangers in park in the West. Neither made a career in the NPS, but their summer jobs at Yosemite and the Grand Canyon left lasting impressions. A young African American man in NPS uniform poses beside a building, with hat on his raised knee Keith Park: Horticulturist, Arborist in the Pacific West Region Keith Park is as a horticulturalist and certified arborist and maintains the historic landscapes at John Muir National Historic Site, Eugene O’Neil National Historic Site, Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. He received the 2021 regional Cultural Resource Award for Facility Maintenance Specialist for his outreach work with community partners and National Park Service sites across the Pacific West. Man stands in tree Ranger Roll Call, 1930-1939 Few women worked in uniformed positions in the 1930s but those who did weren't only ranger-checkers or ranger-naturalists. Jobs as guides, historians, archeologists, and in museums opened to more women. Seven women in Park Service uniforms stand in line inside a cave. The Winds of Change The history of women rangers in the National Park Service (NPS) was believed to start with Yosemite and Mount Rainier national parks in 1918, followed by Yellowstone in 1920. New information confirms that Wind Cave National Park, which had a third of the visitors of these other parks in 1917, hired the first woman ranger in 1916 and the second in 1918. Esther Brazell in a cap and gown. Ranger Roll Call, 1940-1949 Only a small number of women held temporary ranger positions in national parks during World War II. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, national monuments in the Southwest, and historical sites in the East continued to employ more women. Although a few women veterans benefitted from post-war veteran hiring programs, most veterans were men and permanent positions became even more difficult for women to get. Catherine Byrnes and Barbara Dickinson stand outside modeling the NPS uniform. Bridging Boundaries to Protect Migratory Birds U.S. national parks are part of an international network tracking vulnerable migratory birds. They are also vital training grounds for future bird conservationists. Young man holds the hand of a boy with a bird in it Ta-bu-ce In the 1930s, the National Park Service (NPS) hired a handful of Native Americans to demonstrate their crafts, cooking methods, and other traditional skills for visitors. One of the earliest cultural demonstrators at Yosemite National Park was Ta-bu-ce, a Paiute woman also known as Maggie Howard. Maggie Howard sitting among baskets of acorns. Bridalveil Creek Campground Water Distribution System in Yosemite National Park to be Rehabilitated through GAOA Funds Yosemite National Park, with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) will rehabilitate the Bridalveil Creek Campground water system by replacing the groundwater treatment vault, chlorination system, and 11,586 feet of water lines. a large dirt hole reveals an underground pipe. Construction vehicles and trees are in the background Critical 70KV Transmission Line from Yosemite National Park’s boundary to Highway 140 Powerhouse to be Replaced through GAOA Funding Yosemite National Park, with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), will replace critical failing electrical infrastructure and a high voltage transmission line that serve multiple areas in Yosemite National Park including: Yosemite Valley, Turtleback emergency communications hub, and the Wawona Tunnel distribution systems. A helicopter flies with a powerline tower across a mountain range Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park to be Rehabilitated through GAOA Funding Yosemite National Park, with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), will repair a 10-mile stretch of Glacier Point Road between Badger Pass and Glacier Point. The last major maintenance on this road was completed about 1980. A yellow dump truck goes downhill on a dirt road Crane Flat Campground in Yosemite National Park to be Rehabilitated through GAOA Funding In a world where more Americans are looking for opportunities to take a break from technology and enjoy the great outdoors, campgrounds are just as relevant today as they were to early twentieth-century campers. To create a campground better suited for modern day use, this project will reconstruct roads, regrade campsites, add amenities, and improve landscaping. Eight Campsites will be upgraded to meet federal accessibility standards and new accessible paths will connects Large tire tread imprints on a dirt road follow a large construction vehicle in the forest Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park to be Rehabilitated through GAOA Funding Yosemite National Park, with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), has been conducting a multiphase project to make comprehensive repairs and upgrades to the Ahwahnee Hotel. This leg of the project will bring the landmark hotel and associated cottages into compliance with current codes, seismic safety, and accessibility standards. A stone building with wood trim sits in front of a stone mountain with trees Four Birds from Golden Gate and Yosemite Star in New Study of Migratory Species’ Responses to Climate Change Scientists have abundant data on bird population trends and on climate change impacts to habitats around the world. For birds that stay in one place year round, linking the two to study bird population responses to climate change is relatively straightforward. But migratory birds spend time in different places at different times. As a result, all of that existing data isn’t enough to tease apart how climate impacts birds at different stages of their annual journeys. Bird with black head, deep orange breast, black-and-white wings, and a wide gray beak. Forgotten Footsteps: The Role of Chinese in Yosemite's History Chinese people moved to California during the Gold Rush, but by 1850 the Foreign Miners Tax forced many Chinese to search for work outside the mines. Chinese workers, some immigrants and some American-born, began arriving in the Yosemite area around this time. Resilient and skilled, they soon found work, and a home, in Yosemite. Here, Chinese filled a growing need for essential work such as cooking, farming, cleaning, ranching, and road building. Chef Tie Sing in an apron surrounded by a table of men in the wilderness Ranger Emily Dayhoff’s Road to the National Park Service Ranger Emily Dayhoff shares her “official” and “real” roads to her career with the National Park Service. She shares how her Southern Sierra Miwuk and Chukchansi Yokut heritage gives her a special connection and perspective to Yosemite National Park. Ranger Emily Dayhoff cleaning a basket in her lap Taking the Pulse of U.S. National Parks How do we know if parks are healthy? We measure their vital signs, of course! Across the country, there are 32 inventory and monitoring networks that measure the status and trends of all kinds of park resources. We're learning a lot after years of collecting data. Check out these articles written for kids and reviewed by kids in partnership with the international online journal Frontiers for Young Minds. A cartoon of a ranger taking the pulse of the Earth. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Series: Women's History in the Pacific West - California-Great Basin Collection Biographies from Northern California, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Nevada Map of northern California, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Nevada Bird Population Trends in the Sierra Nevada Network, 2011-2019 Birds occur across a wide range of habitats and their sensitivity to change makes them good indicators of ecosystem health. The Sierra Nevada Network partners with The Institute for Bird Populations to monitor breeding-bird species. Population trends between 2011 and 2019 are summarized by species and park, and in relation to mean spring temperature and amount of snow. Learn which species were increasing or declining at network parks during this period. Bird (flycatcher) perched on leafy stem of a tree. Effective fire management reaps benefits in Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park managed the lightning-ignited Red and Rodgers fires in summer 2022. Park management chose to use a strategy to confine and contain the fires using natural barriers such as rocks, trails, and creeks, to minimize the risk to firefighters due to remoteness of the area, as well as steep, rugged terrain. A group of firefighters listens to a speaker at the base of a fire lookout tower. Yosemite National Park's aggressive initial attack response on the Washburn Fire The Mariposa Grove is the largest of three giant sequoia groves in Yosemite National Park with about 580 trees. They are a fire-adapted species that grow naturally only in the California Sierra Nevada mountain range. Historically, fire rarely killed mature giant sequoias, but approximately 20% of giant sequoias have been lost in recent years from high severity fires. When 911 callers reported a wildfire near the Mariposa Grove, a full suppression response was launched. Firefighters stand in front of a giant sequoia with a large cavity at the bottom. 50 Nifty Finds #4: Getting In the Zone For more than a century the National Park Service (NPS) has won awards and honors for its work preserving cultural and natural resources and sharing the diverse stories of American history. One of its earliest honors came from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco, California, in 1915. But wait…The NPS was created in 1916, right? How could it win an award before it existed? Round bronze medal featuring nude man and woman Guide to the Henry G. Peabody Photograph Collection Finding aid for the Henry G. Peabody Collection Guide to the Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection Finding aid for the Thomas J. Allen Photographs in the NPS History Collection. 50 Nifty Finds #6: Something Fishy How do fish get up the mountain? By horse, of course! When is a plant not a plant? When you plant a fish! What? No, those aren’t nonsensical kids’ jokes. Photographs from the NPS Historic Photograph Collection will help explain. A string of mules being led along a trail carrying milk cans Guide to the General Milton F. Davis Papers This finding aid describes the General Milton F. Davis Papers, which is part of the National Park Service (NPS) History Collection. 50 Nifty Finds #9: Green Stamps Described by some as "the greatest propaganda campaign ever launched by the federal government to exploit the scenic wonders of the United States," the national park stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office Department in 1934 became one of the most recognized series of U.S. stamps. Despite being in the middle of the Great Depression, over one billion of the 10 national park stamps were printed in under two years. College of ten colorful national park stamps