Guide to Yosemite National Park
Information on Hotels, Camping and Other Lodgings, Hikes and Driving
Jun 16, 2008
One look at the cover of the new Rough Guide to Yosemite National Park and you want to be out there on the Merced River with those rafters, enjoying the blue sky, the greenery, and the sight of the thundering Yosemite Waterfall plunging down a mountain in the background.
Some guidebooks just keep on getting better and better, and that's certainly true of the Rough Guides, and of their main rivals Lonely Planet. The layout, colour photos, paper quality and mapping are all excellent these days, and there's no cutting corners on the content either. This 3rd edition builds on the two previous editions of the guide, and on author Paul Whitfield's regular visits to Yosemite, to produce a 272-page collection of information on everything you need to know about one of California's most beautiful corners: Yosemite.
Even the name Yosemite makes you want to go there. It's been known to the Native Americans for over 7000 years, the guide's History chapter explains, and became the nation's third National Park in 1890, after Yellowstone and Sequoia. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in1984. It covers almost 1200 square miles, about the size of Rhode Island, and almost 95% of Yosemite is now an officially designated wilderness area, protecting the land from development.
The 7-page History section is just one of the bonuses that make well thought-out guidebooks like this worth buying. It's followed by nine pages on the Geology, Flora and Fauna you'll see, and another seven pages on the Ecology: how to cope with the 3.5 million or so annual visitors, without destroying Yosemite's fragile natural balance. There are then three pages of recommended books to read, the first three titles all being by the legendary Scottish-born explorer, writer and early conservationist, John Muir.
The author of this Rough Guide to Yosemite, Paul Whitfield, is a mountain biking and kayaking enthusiast who lives in New Zealand when he's not on the road. Coming from an awe-inspiring country like New Zealand, he appreciates Yosemite's natural beauty, its wilderness areas, and all the outdoor activities it offers. But he doesn't dismiss those visitors who only have time to drive quickly through, and provides some suggestions as to the main things to see if you only have two hours, or even just 2-3 days.
If you had 2-3 months to visit Yosemite, it wouldn't be enough, but nor would you exhaust all the information this Rough Guide gives you. There are 15 pages of accommodation listings, from campsites and RV parks to motels and hotels, and the top-end places to stay like The Ahwanhee, with its AAA 4-Diamond rating. The Ahwanhee Dining Room is described here as quite simply one of the most beautiful restaurants in the USA, which is some compliment, but the seven pages of restaurant recommendations do stretch at the other end to places like Happy Burger and the Mariposa Pizza Factory.
Separate sections list what to do in Yosemite in winter or summer, and another section covers what to do in the areas around Yosemite too. All in all, if you're heading that way then don't leave home without the Rough Guide to Yosemite National Park.
Practical Information
The 3rd edition of the Rough Guide to Yosemite National Park was published in June 2008 and costs $19.99 in the USA, $22 in Canada, and £11.99 in the UK. Further details from the Rough Guides website.
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