YOSEMITE Circular of General Information 1936

Rules and Regulations
[BRIEFED]

THE PARK regulations are designed for the protection of the natural beauties and scenery as well as for the comfort and convenience of visitors. The following synopsis is for the general guidance of visitors, who are requested to assist the administration by observing the rules. Complete regulations may be seen at all ranger stations and camp grounds.

Fires.—Light carefully and in designated places. Extinguish COMPLETELY before leaving camp even for temporary absence. Do not guess your fire is out—KNOW IT.

Do not throw burning tobacco or matches on road or trail sides.

Camping.—Campers must register at camp entrance. Keep your camp clean; place all garbage in cans provided. Camp at least 25 feet from other tents, buildings, or water hydrants. No person, party, or organization shall camp more than 30 days on the floor of Yosemite Valley in any one year. There is no limit in free camp grounds outside Yosemite Valley floor.

Trash.—Do not throw paper, lunch refuse, kodak cartons or paper, chewing-gum paper, or other thrash on roads, trails, or elsewhere. Ball up and carry until you can burn in camp or place in receptacle.

Noises.—Be quiet in camp from 10 p. m. to 6 a. m. Many people come here for rest.

Hunting, firearms, etc.—Hunting and trapping are not allowed in the park. Firearms must be sealed at entrance.

Fishing.—State of California fishing licenses are required in park. State laws regarding sizes, limits, etc., are enforced in the park. Closed waters are so posted.

Dogs and cats.—Dogs and cats are not allowed in the park, except that they may be transported inside a car through the park provided they do not stay overnight on park lands.

Bears.—Do not feed the bears from the hand; they are wild animals and may bite, strike, or scratch you. They will not harm you if not fed at close range. Bears will enter or break into automobiles if food that they can smell is left inside. They will also rob your camp of unprotected food supplies, especially in the early spring or late fall when food is scarce. It is best to suspend food supplies in a box well out of their reach between two trees. Bears are especially hungry in the fall of the year and serious loss or damage may result if food is left accessible to them.

Trees, flowers, and animals.—The destruction, injury, or disturbance in any way of the trees, flowers, birds, or animals is prohibited. Dead and fallen wood, except sequoia, may be used for firewood.

Automobiles.—Speed limit in park is 35 miles per hour. Drive carefully at all times. Keep cut-outs closed. Obey park traffic rules. Secure automobile permit; fee $2, obtainable at entrance. Keep permit in the car. This automobile permit entities the holder to use of park roads with car designated by number on the permit.

It is good for the calendar year, is not transferable to any other car, and must be presented for entrance to the park.

Lost and found.—All articles lost or found should be reported to the ranger headquarters in the Government Center, to any ranger station, or to the offices at Camp Curry, Yosemite Lodge, or the Ahwahnee. Persons should leave their name and address so that articles which are not claimed within 60 days may be turned over to the finders.

Park rangers.—The rangers are here to help and advise you as well as to enforce the regulations. When in doubt ask a ranger.

NOTE.—Suggestions, complaints, or comments regarding any phase of park management, including the operation of camp grounds, hotels, and attitude of employees, should be communicated immediately to the superintendent.

C. G. THOMSON, Superintendent.

Entrances to Yosemite National Park

Cars may enter or leave the park at entrance stations as follows:

All-year Highway, 83 miles paved high-gear road from Merced. Entrance open at Arch Rock 5 a. m. to 12 midnight, all year.

Wawona Road, 106 miles from Fresno, oiled road. South entrance open 6 a. m. to 12 midnight from May 30 to August 31; 6 a. m. to 9:30 p. m. from September 1 to May 29. Open all year (except during periods of heavy snow in winter).

Big Oak Flat Road, 118 miles from Manteca, oiled mountain road. Entrance open at Tuolumne Grove, incoming 6 a. m. to 8:30 p. m.; outgoing 6 a. m. to 9:30 p. m. Road is open from about May 1 to October 15.

Controls are maintained only on the Big Oak Flat Road between El Capitan checking station on the floor of Yosemite Valley and Gentry checking station on the north rim of Yosemite Valley, a distance of 4 miles. The controls are as follows:

Tioga Road.—Entrances open at Aspen Valley and Tioga Pass 6 a. m. to 9:30 p. m. Road is open from about July 1 to October 1.

Road to Hetch Hetchy Dam.—Entrance open at Mather from 6 a. m. to 9:30 p. m. Road is open from about May 1 to October 15.

Welcome to Yosemite National Park

IN BIDDING you welcome the National Park Service asks you to remember that you are visiting a great playground that belongs in part to you, and that while you are at liberty to go anywhere in the park with perfect freedom, you owe it to yourself and to your fellow citizens not to do anything that will injure the trees, the wild animals or birds, or any of the natural features of the park.

WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN YOSEMITE

Here are a few suggestions to help you plan your time in Yosemite to best advantage. This is a summer schedule. In winter see special programs posted on bulletin boards at hotels.

Do not hurry through Yosemite—take the time to visit at least all points of interest in the Valley and do not leave the park without seeing the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees and the wonderful panoramic view from Glacier Point.

GENERAL

Visit the Yosemite Museum, located in the Government Center, open 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. Interesting exhibits of the geology, Indians, early history, trees, flowers, birds, and mammals of Yosemite. Wild-flower garden and demonstrations of native Indian life in back of museum. Short talks on geology of the Valley given several times each day. Library, information desk, and headquarters for nature guide service. Maps and booklets.

Take the auto caravan tour of the Valley floor with your own car, starting from the museum at 9:30 a. m. and 2 p. m. A ranger naturalist leads the caravan and explains the interesting features of Yosemite on this free trip of about 2 hours around the Valley, every day except Sunday and holidays.

A daily tour of the Valley in open stages is an ideal way to see the most in a short time. Inquire at Camp Curry, Yosemite Lodge, or the Ahwahnee for rates and schedules on stage transportation.

Visitors desiring to make an unescorted tour of the Valley should take the Valley floor loop road, stopping at points of interest which are signed. See detailed map of Valley. See the wonderful view of the whole expanse of the Valley from the east portal of the 4,233-foot tunnel, a short, easy drive of 1-1/2 miles up the new Wawona Road, just west of Bridalveil Fall.

Take trips afield with a ranger naturalist. See posted daily schedules.

During July and August a naturalist leads a party once each week on a 7-day hiking trip through the spectacular high-mountain regions of the park, stopping each night at a High Sierra camp. See bulletins posted at hotels and camps.

Visit the fish hatchery at Happy Isles.

See the sunrise at Mirror Lake.

Camp-fire entertainments every night except Sunday in Camp 14.

Outdoor entertainments every evening at 8 o'clock at Camp Curry.

See the fire fall each night at 9 o'clock from the upper end of the Valley or at Camp Curry.

Bears are fed every evening at 9:30 o'clock about 2 miles west of the Old Village.

Dances every evening except Sunday at 9 o'clock at Camp Curry.

See complete programs of weekly events which are posted at camps, hotels, and lodges.

Visit Yosemite both summer and winter. The All-Year Highway is open every day of the year. Keep your Yosemite automobile permit—it is good for the entire year. Each season has its particular charm.

In spring—booming waterfalls, rushing streams, green meadows.

In summer—ideal camping, High Sierra trips, good fishing.

In autumn—beautiful autumn coloring, ideal Indian summer weather.

In winter—a different Yosemite, with snow mantling trees and cliffs, all-winter sports—skating, skiing, tobogganing.

ONE-DAY MOTOR TRIPS

To Glacier Point.—Thirty miles (about 1-1/2 hours) each way, paved highway. Leave the Valley on the Wawona Road just west of Bridalveil Fall. Visit Sentinel Dome, elevation 8,117 feet—a one-half mile drive and short climb from the main road above Glacier Point. Wonderful panorama of the High Sierra and the Valley. Camp ground and hotel at Glacier Point.

To the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees.—Thirty-five miles (about 1-1/2 hours) each way. Paved highway. Leave the Valley just west of Bridalveil Fall; go through the 4,233-foot tunnel; wonderful views along this road. Hotels, camp ground, garage, golf, saddle horses at Wawona, 27 miles from the Valley. See the oldest and largest living things in the world and the tunnel tree through which cars may be driven. There is a new hotel and good camp ground at the Big Trees.

To Hetch Hetchy Dam and Valley.—Thirty-eight miles (about 2 hours) each way. Good, oiled, mountain road. Leave the Valley at El Capitan station; one-way road for first 4 miles, and cars must leave on the even hours—6 to 6:25 a. m., 8 to 8:25 a. m., 10 to 10:25 a. m., and so on throughout the day. See the Tuolumne Grove of Big Trees and visit the fire lookout tower, 1-1/2 miles west of Crane Flat.

ALSO DAILY STAGES TO THESE SCENIC POINTS; INQUIRE AT HOTELS.

ONE-DAY HIKES FROM VALLEY—DISTANCES GIVEN ONE WAY

To Sierra Point.—Marvelous view of four waterfalls and Valley. Three-fourths of a mile of steep trail branching off the Vernal Fall Trail, just above Happy Isles (about 2-hour trip, not a horse trail).

To Vernal Fall.—One and six-tenths miles from start of the trail at Happy Isles.

To Nevada Fall.—Three and four-tenths miles from start of the trail at Happy Isles.

To Glacier Point.—Eight and three-tenths miles from start of the trail at Happy Isles (via the long trail by Vernal and Nevada Falls, Panorama Cliff, and Illilouette Fall).

To Glacier Point (via "Four Mile Trail").—Four and six-tenths miles from start of trail, 1 mile west of Old Village.

To Top of Half Dome.—Seven and seven-tenths miles from start of trail at Happy Isles, via Vernal and Nevada Falls; 900 feet of steel cables on climb up Dome.

To Top of Yosemite Falls.—Three and six-tenths miles from start of trail, one-fourth mile west of Yosemite Lodge. Eagle Peak is 2.6 miles farther on.

Saddle trips daily to most of these points. Inquire at hotels or stables for horses.

A taxi service is available for all hikers, to and from the start of trails in the upper half of the Valley, at 25 cents per person. Telephones are available at base of all trails.

All hikers are warned to stay on designated trails—do not take short cuts across zigzags; you may dislodge rocks that will injure someone below. On the long hikes to the rim of the Valley, start early when it is cool and get back before dark. Hikers going into isolated sections of the park or off the regular trails should register at the chief ranger's office before starting.

Accurate information on roads, trails, fishing, and camping, and maps of the park are available without charge at park headquarters, the museum, and ranger stations.