YOSEMITE — Ever wonder what it was like to visit Yosemite more than 100 years ago? Find out on this history-themed all day guided adventure in the park organized through the Yosemite Conservancy.
Long before automobiles were formally allowed in Yosemite, in 1913, visitors used stage coaches to visit the park and see the famous sights. During Stage Coach Days, modern visitors will travel back in time to discover the fascinating history behind the park’s early stage coach roads. The event invites the exploration of western Yosemite Valley with expert naturalist guide Dick Ewart.
Ewart is a veteran hiker and skier and has been a ranger-naturalist in Yosemite for over 30 years, hiking most of the park’s 800 miles of trails. Dick spends his summers presenting naturalist programs at Glacier Point, and his winters leading snowshoe hikes at the Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area (Badger Pass).
The adventure reveals stories of Chinese immigrants who helped build the roads, of the tourists who traveled from near and far to see Yosemite’s renowned landscape, and of the stage coach drivers who had to navigate the winding, steep and sometimes risky routes.
Included with registration:
- One full day of guided hiking and learning in Yosemite Valley’s west end (Friday, Mar. 29, 9 a.m. through 4 p.m.).
- Park entry (as needed).
- Camping included, if needed; limited sites are shared among all the participants (reservation arrives Thursday, Mar. 28, and departs Saturday, Mar. 30) at Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley. These dates cannot be adjusted.
- Cost is $99 per person.
The Yosemite Conservancy provides grants to Yosemite National Park based on the highest-priority needs of the park. Public dedication has funded the restoration of the trail to Lower Yosemite Fall, electronic bear-monitoring equipment to keep bears safe, life-changing youth programs and so much more.
