The Backcountry

The Yosemite backcountry is a rugged landscape of glaciated granite, monolithic domes, jagged snowcapped peaks, lush green meadows, clear-running streams, pristine lakes, and forested plateaus and ridges. Most of the backcountry is below timberline - a sharp contrast to the vast alpine backcountry of Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks. As the largest unit of the park, the backcountry covers approximately 725,000 acres, which is 95 percent of the park's land.

The backcountry accommodates the hiker seeking solitude, organized groups, families, and novices. It is only accessible by hiking and horseback in the summer and fall and by skiing in the spring and winter. Trails are maintained at standards that depend on the amount and kind of use received and the distance of the trails from the access road. Bridges are provided over streams at trail crossings where visitor safety is a concern. Trailside camping is dispersed to prevent damage to the resources.

The backcountry is managed to regulate the number of visitors so that the stability of the ecosystems can be maintained. Management is based on a Backcountry Management Plan, and it is closely coordinated with management of surrounding national forests. The plan identifies 53 backcountry travel zones for the backcountry.

A carrying capacity for each zone, based on physical, ecological, and psychological factors, is established to limit use and preserve the resource integrity. A permit system helps control use and the effects of visitation on the resource by setting limits on the number of people entering each trailhead daily.

The concession-operated High Sierra camps offer opportunities for people who desire a different kind of backcountry experience. These camps will continue to be used. If, however, the camps are eliminated in the future, the areas will be managed as wilderness.