There are several important resources to plan your trip, starting with the Park
Service site with current information.
Yosemite National Park: The Official
Park Service site. This site helps you plan your visit and provides up to date
information on all attractions. It has maps, links to accomodations
(the in-park accomodations web site went for about a month
(mid-May 2011 to mid-June)
withou displaying availability, contrary to the help information), suggested
places to see, the current newsletter, etc. This is an important resource
in planning your visit.
The Yosemite Conservancy
(recently merged with The Yosemite Association, so there is now only one
such organization)
is the support organization for the park. The web site has the park web cams
3 views of Half Dome, (formerly one of Tioga Pass), and the
newer one of Yosemite Falls (which is video).
The Ahwahnee Meadow camera is good for planning valley trips,
Sentinel Dome (when it is working, i.e. not covered by snow) is a great view
of Half Dome. Turtleback Dome has a view of El Capitan.
DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc.
The official concessioner (for accomodations). Rooms are generally available
1 year (and 1 day)
in advance, but tent cabins and housekeeping camp are often available on
shorter notice, even in the usual high season (but less often on weekends).
Places along the Tuolumne Road (White Wolf, Toulumne Lodge)
have expected opening and closing dates, but
this is very approximate. So while early reservations are a must, they do not
mean places will be open in time.
Also in some (1 in 10) light snow years, they may
open earlier than planned and one month advance reservations are possible.
The top ten sights has more information
on staying in the park.
Ansel Adams Gallery The
photography shop in the valley near the visitor center and the official
outlet for official Ansel Adams prints.
Because of the East-West orientation of Yosemite Valley and the
nature of the rocks, Yosemite is a great location for photography.
You might also consider
The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite.
The Gallery runs morning photo walks
(they do provide some information, but can be slow going,
call to reserve early) and longer photography workshops.
Schaffer's book, Yosemite National Park: A Complete Hikers Guide,
gives a good overview of trails throughout the
park and a good discussion of the formation of the valley. This makes it
both something to read and a good reference for trip planning.
Yosemite National Park: A Complete Hikers Guide
The driving guide sold in the park (but by then you have passed half the
markers) is a good reference (Yosemite Road Guide). This book
has descriptions for each of the milepost looking signs you see
along the park roads. Since it was written before some roads were closed, you
can also read about Mirror Lake.
.
The Gallery runs morning photo walks
(they do provide some information, but can be slow going,
call to reserve early) and longer photography workshops.
and
My First Summer in the Sierra (Nature Library, Penguin)
are important reading. Expecially the discussion of day hikes in the first
book. Follow Muir's suggestions carefully. But look at a map first.
has many shots of Yosemite. Much of the early presentation is about Yosemite.
A must see.
). This book
has descriptions for each of the milepost looking signs you see
along the park roads. Since it was written before some roads were closed, you
can also read about Mirror Lake.
and
Mac's Field Guide to Yosemite National Park: Trees & Wildflowers
.
by Nevada Barr.
