Progress at Lower Yosemite Fall
This year, great strides have been made to improve the visitor experience at Lower Yosemite Fall—and much of the work is easily recognizable.
Last April, the parking lot at Lower Yosemite Fall was closed permanently, and vehicles are now redirected to the day-use parking area at Yosemite Village. Currently, construction of a new restroom facility and shuttle bus stop is underway which will more adequately accommodate the area’s high level of visitation. The former parking lot will be restored to natural conditions and visitors will enjoy an informal picnic and seating area placed nearby.
The two major trails leading to base of Lower Yosemite Fall are also experiencing redevelopment, including efforts to make them accessible to disabled visitors. The eastern trail (from just beyond the base of the Lower Fall) is under reconstruction. Granite edging and locations for wayside exhibits have been installed. A raised boardwalk will soon be constructed near the site of the old Hutchings’ sawmill, where a young John Muir once worked and diverted water from Yosemite Creek. Another boardwalk will be placed nearby to protect the braided stream system. In addition to the boardwalks, footbridges will be removed and some replaced to improve the hydrology of the braided stream system, and a path will be laid to reduce damage to creekside areas and the adjacent forest floor.
The western trail, while still in use, is receiving up to one hundred feet of new stone edging per day. Once trail work is completed on the eastern trail and it is opened in its entirety, foot traffic along the western half of the loop will be rerouted to accommodate its final improvements. Through all phases of this trail work, visitors will continue to have access to either the main viewing area or the bridge at the base of Lower Yosemite Fall.
By the end of the year, crews hope to complete the new footbridges, restroom, shuttle bus stop, main viewing terrace at the base of Lower Yosemite Fall, and much of the stone edging on the western trail. They also anticipate removing any designated bridges and rehabilitating the main bridge at the base of the Lower Fall.
Completion of the entire project is anticipated for 2004. Financial support for this effort comes from a partnership between the National Park Service and The Yosemite Fund, a nonprofit partner. When visiting the Lower Yosemite Fall area, check out the displays that describe the project and The Yosemite Fund’s donation campaign, or visit www.yosemitefund.org.
Also
in this newsletter:
- Progress at Lower Yosemite Fall
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| EASTERN
TRAIL Work on the eastern loop of the Lower Yosemite Fall trail will be completed by the end of this year. (Photo by Sara Jennings/NPS) |