Talk:Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Falls

Wikipedia lists this waterfall as the world's third highest and sixth highest. A user comment on the Image:Yosemitefalls.jpg image indicated that it was the fifth highest. Since it doesn't really matter to the article, let's just leave things as "one of the world's highest" unless someone can come up with a definitive rank. -- (WT-en) Ryan 01:15, 12 Jul 2005 (EDT)

Even better, WikiPedia:Yosemite Falls not only says it is the sixth as you mentioned, but the image caption in the article says it's the 18th. Totally agree with "one of the world's highest." -- (WT-en) Colin 20:50, 9 November 2006 (EST)

I live and work in Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Falls is in fact the highest waterfall in North America at almost 2500 vertical feet of rise over the three different stages. That makes the falls the 5th highest in the world. Just some clarification for anyone that was interested. —The preceding comment was added by (WT-en) Jpete2296 (talk • contribs)

Rafting

I've removed the section on rafting since according to http://www.c-w-r.com/information/yosemite-rafting.html there is no rafting on either the Tuolumne or Merced rivers within the park. -- (WT-en) Ryan 13:14, 16 Jul 2005 (EDT)

Yosemite Valley Image

Hopefully the new Yosemite Valley image works better, but as always feel free to change things around - the image change was supposed to be followed by a (tongue-in-cheek) "subject to (WT-en) Colin's stamp of approval", but work-related matters intervened and I got sidetracked. Also, I went through my Yosemite pictures and none seemed particularly noteworthy, but am always willing to include any of them in the article. -- (WT-en) Ryan 14:57, 1 Aug 2005 (EDT)

I had a change of heart about the main image, so I went digging through my stash of photos. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything that was iconic for Yosemite, but hopefully the new main image is OK - feel free to change if desired. I also removed an older image that was basically a close-up of a cliff with trees sticking into the frame - Yosemite is a really beautiful place, so we can probably do better. -- (WT-en) Ryan 17:36, 9 November 2006 (EST)

anyone have insight on biking in Yosemite?

Biking seems to have been missed.

where to rent bike trail map if you bring your own bikes can you carry them onto the shuttles instead of conjuring a parking place on Valley floor?

I don't think it was missed so much as no one who was a biker has yet edited this article. Feel free to take a look at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/biking.htm (it is public domain so can be copied) and add any relevant info to this page. Also, if you create an account and log in it makes conversations easier, and you can sign your posts with four tildes ("~~~~"). Or not, just a suggestion! -- (WT-en) Ryan 13:59, 31 May 2006 (EDT)

What to Bring

Can someone include information on what to bring (particularly for small day hikes)? Try to assume that there are inexperienced folks who just want to see the sites!

I also have some questions on safety issues...how safe is it for two young students of small stature to be travelling to Yosemite alone? We will be depending on Amtrak as we do not drive, and we are having trouble planning this trip!

Thanks. 64.81.68.198 17:23, 28 June 2006 (EDT)Bloody Rox

You can rent bikes in shops in the valley. However...There aren't many trails that they actually allow riding on. Your much better off strapping a pack to your back and hitting up some of the 800 miles of hiking trails. —The preceding comment was added by (WT-en) Jpete2296 (talk • contribs)

Maps

Can someone link a few good maps of the valley area?

Restaurant updates

Someone spent a lot of time updating the restaurant descriptions, and some of this information is helpful, but at the same time quite a lot of it reads like a rant. Colorful reviews are fine, but it's probably also not good to be so negative as to sound like a bitter patron (see Project:Avoid negative reviews as well). I've reverted (for now) and moved here, and hopefully some of this can be updated and put back into the main article.

• <eat name="Ahwahnee Dining Room" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+1-209-372-1489" email="" fax="" url="http://www.yosemitepark.com/Dining_AhwahneeDiningRoom.aspx" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">An upscale restaurant in Yosemite Valley serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Be aware that there is a "resort casual" dress code for dinners, meaning shorts and jeans are not acceptable attire, and that dinner reservations are recommended. At the far end of the dining room is The Alove, which features a 30 foot floor to ceiling window that perfeclty frames Yosemite Falls. There are only 4 tables in The Alcove. Two of these tables have names, The Honeymoon table and The Queens table. The Honeymoon table seats 2 and is placed against the massive window. The Queens table is probably the most coveted tabel in the dining room. It seats 4 people and is placed in the center of the alcove. This table offers the best view of yosemite falls in the dining room. It is also a notoriously hard table to get. My best advice is to reserve it at least three months in advance. When you make the resevation, speak directly with the dining room manager, currently that would be Bryan Hamil. Once you get the reservation, confirm it every week until you arrive. They have been known to kill reservations if a VIP suddenly shows up and decides they want it, so keep on them. I have direct knowledge of this happening to somebody when Jennifer Annsiton and Brad Pitt showed up. And if this happens don't expect too much sympathy from the waitstaff. They know they'll get better tips from the VIP's ($250+). They'll do some song and dance appology about how the table was "accidentally" over booked, maybe offer a free dessert. The best time to reserve the Queens table with the highest probability of actually geting it is in January, when the dining room first opens. Show up 30 minutes before the dining room opens and circle like a vulture, this is no time to be timid, make sure they know you've got the reservation and fight for it. Don't go for the "We'll call you when it's ready", you leave the host stand - you lose the table. You come back in twenty minutes and try to get another time estimate and all you're gonna get is, "we tried calling you and you didn't show up so we already seated somebody else at that table". Yes, this table really is this hard to get. Don't make a reservation for it even one hour after they open for dinner, people love the view and linger at it twice as long as all the other tables. So if you make a 6 o'clock reservation, the people who had the 5 o'clock reservation are probably going to be there for another hour, you're either going to wait a long time or be seated at another table, and it will be a table as far away from it, and the view, as possible for good reson. While extremly rare, people who have been denied the queens table have been know to dump their drinks in the laps of people siiting at the Queens table as they are leaving. The waitstaff is hopeful that the added distance will further minimize these occurances. Also, if Brian Wunderlich is the captain of servers when you arrive, put a c note in his palm right away. He is a true beliver in the favor system and he will be your best friend, and you will have an absolutley wonderful time.</eat>

• <eat name="The Mountain Room" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.yosemitepark.com/Dining_MountainRoom.aspx" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Open daily year-round, this dining room is located in Yosemite Lodge and offers dinner with a view of Yosemite Falls. A significant portion of its menu includes organic and sustainable food. Food and service that's just as good as the Ahwahnee with menu prices that are 20% less and without that pesky dresscode (dig out them Bermuda Shorts). </eat>

• <eat name="Yosemite Lodge Food Court" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Serving cafeteria-style meals in Yosemite Lodge. Offers breakfast, lunch and dinner year-round. The executive chef of the Mountain Room is also in charge of the food in this facility, and it really shows that he puts all his efforts into the Mountain Room,</eat>

• <eat name="Pavilion Buffet" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Located in Curry Village, this buffet offers both a breakfast and a dinner buffet.</eat>

• <eat name="Curry Village Taco Stand" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Burritos, tacos, nachos, ice cream and beverages. Open Seasonally from April to October. The best mexican food that ever came out of a can. Or as we like to say, "We got the freshest cans in the valley". If you goto a Taco Bell on a hot summer day when they first open, get a bag of whatever. Allow the food to sit in the car until sunset (DON'T TURN ON THE AC, DON'T OPEN THE WINDOWS) and then eat it, it will still taste better than what they serve at the Taco Stand.</eat>

• <eat name="Curry Village Pizza Patio" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Pizza and salads. Open March through December. The product offered is nearly identical in quality and price as the Loft, however if alot, and I do mean alot, of lound, obnoxious people aren't your cup of tea, avoid this place like the plague.</eat>

• <eat name="Curry Village Ice Cream & Coffee Corner" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Open March through December.</eat>

• <eat name="Village Grill" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Fast food in Yosemite Village. Open from spring through fall. All burgers and sandwiches come dry, ketchup, mustard, mayo, and barbecue sauce available at the condiment station. Also, the summer of '07, we had Ukranian employees who had never seen or heard of a hamburger (yeah, my jaw was on the floor too), so don't expect your order to be right until a couple months after it opens.</eat>

• <eat name="Degnan's Loft" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Open seasonally to the general public, offering pizza, salads and soups in Yosemite Village. Open to the public from April to October from 12pm to 9pm. Open only to park employees and residents November through March from 5pm to midnight (last call at 11:30pm). Pizzas and salads are available only from 5pm to 9pm. They also add pool tables and video games during the winter. They are removed during tourist season to maximize seating. Traveler hint: If you go during the winter just tell them you just started working in the park, someplace remote like wawona. then they'll understand why they don't recognize you and let you in. Plus, at the order counter, there is an employee sign in sheet that employees must sign to get a 50% discount on menu prices. Immediatly go to sign this as if you know what your'e doing. The fisrt column is where you print your name, make sure you print, some cashiers aren't to picky on this but don't take the chance, the second columnn is where you fill in your employee number, all employees numbers are six digits and since your'e posing as a new employee make sure the first number is a 2 or 3, the other numbers don't matter so you can make up anything for the other five. However it would mean a great deal to me if you use mine, 150200. The next column specifies the type of discount, 50%, manager meal, or meal card. Check the box in the 50% Column. If they push you for your employee id just say you forgot it and reiterate you just started at wawona. If they ask if anybody knows you, tell them you know lynette dean (she's a head honcho at human resources), and you just met her today to process your human resouces paperwork. And by the time the Loft opens HR has closed and won't be able to verify. But I know nobody there cares enough to be that thourogh. If you need back up info the name of the company that runs Yosemite is Delaware North Co. but we all just call it DNC. This trick should also work at most other dining venues excluding The Ahwahnee and The Mountain Room. This trick is even more effective at the Village Grill during the summer when they are so busy they just want to keep the line moving, they don't care who you are and will just want you to fill in the sign in sheet as fast as poosible, and get you in and out as fast as possible. If you are african american, talk with a jamaican accent and we'll just think you're one of the jamaican employees here on a H2B work visa. Remember it gets you 50% off menu prices at the Curry Pavillion buffet, the Curry pizza deck, the Curry taco stand, the Village Grill, Degnan's Loft, and the Yosemite Lodge food court.</eat>

• <eat name="Degnan's Cafe" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Next to Degan's Loft, serving pastries, coffee and ice cream. Open Summer Season.</eat>

• <eat name="Degnan's Deli" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Open year-round and offering standard deli fare, located in Yosemite Village.</eat>

• <eat name="Happy Isles Snack Stand" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">Offering drinks and snacks during the summer. Located near the Happy Isles nature center. All the same snack goodies as they sell at the Village Store but with a slight mark up, 500%.</eat>

-- (WT-en) Ryan • (talk) • 11:22, 7 February 2008 (EST)

Rental homes

As the article notes, there are a number of private rental homes available in the park. Today I removed two listings ( and ) that were for single homes - this is a star article, and per Project:Goals and non-goals it shouldn't be a yellow pages, but should instead feature items of the most use to travelers. I'm afraid that listing individual properties is a slippery slope towards an article that is less focused on travelers and more focused on providing exposure for property owners, but am starting a discussion in case others feel that a revert was inappropriate. -- (WT-en) Ryan • (talk) • 20:45, 11 January 2012 (EST)

Ryan:

Yosemite West, a private community inside the gates of Yosemite park, is unique. Unlike Wawona that has one central rental company and Foresta with a similar system, Yosemite West has numerous individual companies representing 1-4 homes/units -- examples Cozy-bear.com, PineArbor.com, http://yosemitewest.com/falcon.htm, http://yosemitewest.com/sun.htm, http://yosemitewest.com/top.htm, and Red Door to list a few. Yes, there are large rental groups too, but with 20 homes being build in Yosemite West this year and the building of Yosemite Institute new campus adjacent Yosemite West nearing completion, the number of independent rentals will increase. In fact, the county has written this small rental system method into the Mariposa General Plan, which will force most large rental groups to disband.

What I suggest is we make a Yosemite West section as you have done with Wawona (which is both private and park properties). As you know, there are hiking trails in Yosemite West as outlined in this wikipedia -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_West,_California as well as historic sites of Henness Ridge.

(WT-en) Peter •(talk) • 8:025, 12 January 2012 (EST)

My concern is that including individual property listings would just be a spammy list of properties that may or may not meet Wikivoyage's existing guidelines on rental listings. Similarly, if this is a private community then I'm not sure including an entire section on it within the park article is appropriate since it would not be accessible to most park visitors, correct? I've been to Yosemite dozens of times, and my understanding is that these private communities within the park are mostly managed as inholdings separate from the rest of the park and not places that the vast majority of visitors would ever go to. If that's the case, then briefly mentioning them and providing some guidance on how a visitor would access these areas might be appropriate, but I'd be uncomfortable with anything more than brief mentions. Alternately, if Yosemite West is going to essentially be a small town within the park, maybe a separate article like what is done with Lee Vining or El Portal would make the most sense... -- (WT-en) Ryan • (talk) • 11:35, 12 January 2012 (EST)

Ryan, you are limiting your readers to DNC housing by ignoring Foresta and Yosemite West alternatives. Your article includes The Redwoods in Wawona, a large private rental operation. Yosemite's Four Seasons and Scenic Wonders offer for rent a large number of cabins (each with 75+ units) in Yosemite West. If they were added to your listing, would you leave them in your article? - : (WT-en) Peter •(talk) • 9:16, 12 January 2012 (EST)

Listing a small handful of agencies that visitors can use to rent private cabins in the park seems fine, including for Yosemite West, but as noted originally I'm uncomfortable with listing individual houses since that could easily turn into a list of dozens of properties and detract from the rest of the article. Similarly, if the number of listings for rental agencies gets unwieldy (more than five or so) then I think this would need to be re-visited per the rental listing guidelines and the not a yellow pages guidance. -- (WT-en) Ryan • (talk) • 12:39, 12 January 2012 (EST)

This seems reasonable. I will list the two largest rental groups in Yosemite West. (WT-en) Peter •(talk) • 10:45, 12 January 2012 (EST)

Ryan, I have developed a wikivoyage article on Yosemite West. Is it possible to link this article to yours (WT-en) Peter • (talk) •

The new Yosemite West article looks good. I would suggest linking it from the "Get out" section, and under the "Sleep" section (similarly to how towns like El Portal have been linked), with a few brief mentions elsewhere if relevant. Similarly, since there is now a separate article the rental agency listings located in Yosemite West should be moved from this article to Yosemite West. Thanks for your work on this! -- (WT-en) Ryan • (talk) • 10:42, 21 February 2012 (EST)

Your suggestion -> "I would suggest linking it from the "Get out" section, and under the "Sleep" section (similarly to how towns like El Portal have been linked), with a few brief mentions elsewhere" -- That would be fine -- Could you do that on your site? I don't want to muck your site up.

Also thanks for the compliment! Also, one question that plagues visitors to Yosemite West is the access to it. Technically, it is outside the park yet its access is inside the park only. Is there a way to clarify that on your site? Thanks (WT-en) Peter • (talk) • 11:30, 21 February 2012 (EST)

I've added references to Yosemite West in the "Sleep" and "Get out" sections, but please correct anything that needs fixing. Also, one concern with the images on the Yosemite West article - you have uploaded them as "public domain" which means that you are saying that they are your own creation and you are allowing anyone to do anything they like with them. However, maps and images with captions often come from other web sites, so to be sure these really are your own work, could you just confirm that you are the photographer of the pictures and the creator of the map? Thanks! -- (WT-en) Ryan • (talk) • 20:55, 21 February 2012 (EST)

Hiking information very long

The hiking section has gotten very long and it may probably merit its own article, and therefore benefiting the traveler. Any objections before I do such? I'd also like to add some mini-itineraries within, but the layout of this article doesn't permit such. --SHB2000 (talk | contribs | meta.wikimedia) 02:16, 29 March 2022 (UTC)

Very Good article but is it really a STAR?

In the SEE section it appears to just be basic descriptions of each district in the park, rather than a compilation of actual sites. I have no objection to separate the parts of the park, but I think we can do better. NathanRlds (talk) 04:23, 12 December 2022 (UTC)

@NathanRlds: if you think it's not star-worthy, then by all means list it on Wikivoyage:Star nominations#Nominations to remove Star status.

My 2c is that a lot of info on this page is out of date, and I had to double check some other websites before visiting this park earlier this year. It needs an overhaul, but I'd leave it to someone who knows the park more than I do. SHB2000 (talk | contribs | meta) 04:55, 12 December 2022 (UTC)