Yosemite National Park Interactive Classroom

Teacher Resources: Visiting the Park

You can order brochures for self-guided trails and walks from the Yosemite Association. The trails offer opportunities for students to learn about the natural and cultural history of Yosemite, which can easily be incorporated into your curriculum.

Visiting the Park
Not Visiting the Park

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Entering Yosemite Driving Tips Parking Picnic Areas Self-Guided Trails Teaching Sites Hiking	.	Before You Arrive \| When You Arrive \| Helpful Resources \| Maps \| Teaching Recommendations When You Arrive: Self-Guided Trails Move your mouse over areas of the map below to find self-guided trails in Yosemite (several of these areas are closed in the winter). You can also print or view a non-interactive version of the map (90K). (Click here to get the Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
	.	Useful links to help plan your visit: Resource Education Fee Waivers \| Permit Application \| Educational Visits
.		Yosemite at a Glance \| Yosemite in Depth \| Teacher Resources \| Discovery Center
		Yosemite National Park Home Page http://www.nps.gov /archive/yose/education/visiting/when_arriv/trails.htm Last modified Wednesday, 22-Dec-2004 10:14:51 Eastern Standard Time Yosemite National Park Web Manager

Yosemite Valley

Ask at any entrance station or visitor information desk for specific directions to self-guided trails in Yosemite Valley.

Wawona: Pioneer History Museum

The spirit of Yosemite’s past lingers among six historic buildings that chronicle the life and times of those involved in the development of a national park. The Pioneer History Center brochure is available next to the covered bridge. Interpretive signs near each of the buildings correspond to the brochure. The history center is just off the highway in Wawona.

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Giant sequoias are among the oldest and largest living things on earth. A self-guided trail with interpretive signs and accompanying brochure takes you into the heart of this beautiful grove. During the winter, access by vehicle can be limited, but a two-mile hike or snowshoe trip will bring you into the grove. A brochure is available at the trailhead. The Mariposa Grove is a 1¼ hour drive from Yosemite Valley.

Tuolumne Meadows: Soda Springs

Walk the trail to Soda Springs along the edge of the largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada and read about the cultural and natural history of this beautiful area. The self-guided trail provides an excellent background for discussions on glacial geology, forest meadow succession, riparian habitat, and the making of a national park. John Muir sat with Robert Underwood Johnson near Soda Springs and discussed the necessity of federal protection for the high country of Tuolumne. The trail starts as a gravel road at the Lembert Dome parking area in Tuolumne Meadows and continues past the locked gate to Soda Springs.

Glacier Point

There are no self-guided trails at Glacier Point.