Welcome to Yosemite

On behalf of the National Park Service, welcome to Yosemite!

There are as many ways to experience this amazing place as there are granite rocks in the Sierra Nevada landscape. To make the most of your time here, I invite you to read through and enjoy this edition of the American Park Network guide to Yosemite. Keep it with you as you make your way through the park. Pass it along to friends and family when you get home. Or perhaps, save it as a memento of your trip. My hope is that it becomes well-used and dog-eared during your Yosemite stay.

This guide represents the collaborative energy of the National Park Service, American Park Network and our park partners—organizations dedicated to Yosemite and making your visit enjoyable and inspiring (see pages 35—37). The grandeur of Yosemite brings us together with a common sense of awe. I am grateful to the legions of staff and volunteers who work together to ensure that the wonders of this park are preserved for future generations.

John Muir once wrote, "As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can."

Many volunteers, park employees and park partners participate in providing you a rich visitor experience. This guide is the product of such an effort. It is meant to provide you a broad spectrum of information and should in no way be construed as an endorsement by the National Park Service of any of the sponsors whose messages or advertisements appear in this publication.

National parks were established to preserve what is truly special about America. They are places to be shared, places where everyone is welcome, places where we can re-connect with our American spirit. Whether you are here for a few hours or a few days, let Muir's words—and this guide—bring you nearer to the heart of Yosemite!