![]() ![]() The stations has maps and sells books.įrom this entrance, you have easy access to the Yosemite Valley via Big Oak Flat Road. This a good place to use the restroom and get more information about the park. will be on your right after you go through the entrance station. The Big Oak Flat Information Station, open May through October from 8 a.m. Groveland’s Main Street is pictured here (Photo by Grant Ordelheide) Stop at the Big Oak Flat Information Station You’ll also find a pharmacy, the Groveland Medical Clinic and a couple banks with ATMs in town. The legendary saloon opened its doors in 1852. And you cannot pass through town without stopping at the Iron Door Saloon, the oldest continuously operating saloon in the state. Discover live outdoor music during the summer at the historic Groveland Hotel patio and daily wine tastings at the historic Hotel Charlotte, both downtown. Located 24 miles from the Big Oak Flat Entrance, it is the largest town between the entrance and Sonora, California. Check out Califorina’s Oldest Saloon in GrovelandĪlong the way, don’t miss Groveland, a quaint town situated close to the park with shops, hotels and restaurants. To enter through the Big Oak Flat Entrance, you will take I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 120 east via Manteca, California. ( Photo by Kim Carroll Photography courtesy of Rush Creek Lodge)ĭriving from the Bay Area? Your most direct route to Yosemite is through the Big Oak Flat Entrance or the Arch Rock Entrance, which is located southeast of Big Oak Flat. Highway 120 Old Big Oak Flat Trail offers views of Yosemite Valley. However, with a current California license, you can fish in most area lakes. Because it is a drinking water source, the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is off limits for swimming or boating. Amid much controversy, the first phase of the dam was completed in 1923 to fuel San Francisco’s growing population. In addition to being an incredibly beautiful area, this entrance also brings you to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir that supplies 2.4 million residents and businesses in San Francisco with water. Kolana Rock is visible from from Wapama Falls at the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (Photo by David Krause) See the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir You may also catch sight of the largest North American bat, the western mastiff, which is one of two bats in Yosemite whose echolocation is loud enough that you can hear it as it swoops by you. As you explore the area, you’ll see California black oak, incense-cedar and gray pine, as well as manzanita shrubs, which are recognizable by their red bark. Two of the largest waterfalls in North America are here, flowing from a thousand feet up over granite. Lower than other areas in the park and much less crowded, this area has a long hiking season from early spring through fall. It is believed that the word “Hetch Hetchy” comes from the Miwok word “hetchetici,” which described the seeds of native grass used for food and other things. Inhabited for more than 6,000 years, the Hetch Hetchy Valley was home to Native Americans until the 1850s when settlers arrived in the area. ( Photo by Linda Hogue courtesy Railtown 1897 State Historic Park) Where Did the Name “Hetch Hetchy” Come From? 28 Steam Engine Train is quite the attraction. 3 that has appeared in more than 100 movies and TV shows, including Back to the Future III. Closer to the park, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown is worth a stop. On the way to the entrance from the Bay area, stop by one of the numerous vineyards and Mark Twain’s cabin ⎯ a reproduction since the original burned ⎯ in Tuttletown, California, where the author wrote his first national hit, the 1865 short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Some roads are closed due to snow from around November through May or June. It is open year round during daylight hours. The farthest north of all entrances on the west side of the park, the Hetch Hetchy Entrance leads you to one of the park’s quieter areas which only sees 1% of total park visitation. Leave the crowds behind at this entrance. Highway 120 Check out this footbridge past Wapama Falls in northwest Yosemite. ![]()
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