Yosemite: Big Oak Flat to Wawona Entrances

Bagby Recreation Area (Lake McClure)

    On Tuesday 1 November I drove from the Big Oak Flat Entrance on CA120 to the Wawona Entrance on CA41. Here's a first view of Yosmite's most prominent landmark in the center of the photo. [Click 1 or 2 times to zoom in.]

 

 

 

 

 

    The Many Faces of Half Dome.

 

 

 

 

 

    A veiw of the Merced River and Yosemite Valley from just before the two tunnels on the Big Oak Flat Road.

 

 

 

 

 

    Looking to the north-east from Washburn Point, which is on the Glacier Point Road; it is not only somewhat higher, but it is also much less crowded.

 

 

 

 

    Panning to the left note the ragged/rugged peaks which escape glaciation; the smooth domes which were left when the glaciers receded are easy to spot.

 

 

 

 

 

    A side view of Half Dome -- which is a bit of a misnomer since scientists estimate that 80% of its original formation remains.

 

 

 

    Looking down behind Half-Dome, one see the other prime attraction of Yosemite: waterfalls. Nevada Falls (elev:5907', ht:594') is to the right and Vernal Falls (5044', 317') is lower and to the left. [Click once or twice to enlarge.]

 

 

 

 

    A shot down into the upper end of Yosemite Valley in front of Half Dome, which is the basis for Yosemite's logo.

 

 

    As I was looking at Nevada Falls I noticed a smaller waterfall on Illouette Creek to the right which is such "small potatoes" that it's not even indicated in the brouchures's map which visitors receive at the four Yosemite entrances(Arch Rock on CA140, Big Oak Flat on CA120, Wawona on CA41, and Tioga Pass at the crest of the Sierra Nevada on CA120).

 

    Finally, here's a plaque which salutes Yosemite's "First Guardian, " Galen Clark and explains how the waterfalls, like the domes, were created by glaciation. [Note also a waterfall just over the top of the plaque in this photo; is it Nevada or Vernal Falls?]
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Links:

• 1907 article on rail access to Yosemite
• "Tourists in the Saddle" from Carl P. Russell's One Hundred in Yosemite, with photos

T 1 Nov Actual Route: Pines CG - Big Oak Flat Entrance (Yosemite) - Glacier Pt - Wawona CG

W 2 Nov Actual Route: Wawona CG - Oakhurst - Lupine-Cedar Bluff CG (Bass Lake)

Th 3 Nov Route: Cedar Bluff CG - Oakhurst - Coarsegold - Raymond - Eastman Lake CG

F 4 Nov Actual Route: Eastman Lake CG - Raymond - Mariposa Fairgrounds - Bagley Recreation Area (Lake McClure)

Sa 5 Nov Actual Route: Bagley CG - Coulterville - Greeley Hill - Anderson Valley - Pines CG (near Groveland R.S.)

Su 6 Nov Actual Route: Pines CG - Wards Ferry [Bridge] - Tuolumne - Sonora - N.F. Tuolumne River

M 7 Nov Actual Route: N.F. Tuolumne River - Sonora - N.F. Tuolumne River

T 8 Nov Route: N.F. Tuolumne River - Sonora - N.F. Tuolumne River

W 9 Nov Route: N.F. Tuolumne River - Sonora - Copperopolis - Woodward Reservoir CG
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Finding Campgrounds:

• RV Campgrounds from TrailerLifeDirectory.com
• Family Camping Directories from Woodalls.com

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life or Woodalls for including links to their free campground lookups.