About twenty camp grounds have been prepared for the free use of the public by the Park Service. Water is piped to these localities and a sanitation system provided for. Applications for camp sites should be made at the National Park Service office in Yosemite Village. Those without outfits, who desire to establish camps, may arrange at the Housekeeping Camps Department of the Yosemite National Park Company (at Camp 17, a quarter mile east of Sentinel Bridge and north of the river) to rent all necessary equipment. This will be delivered and set up ready for occupancy. It is advisable to arrange in advance for the outfit desired.
An auto-bus service (fare 10c and 25c) to all points on the valley floor provides a quick and convenient means of transportation. All main roads are paralleled by trails for the use of pedestrians.
Information as to the hiring of horses and automobiles, arrangements for camping tours, and about many other items of general interest, is contained in the "Circular of General Information regarding Yosemite National Park," which may be obtained free at any of the government information bureaus.
YOSEMITE ROADS
The roads of Yosemite have just passed their initial stage of development. Most of the 138 miles of road in the park were built for old-time stage coaches and for horse travel. With the advent of the motor has come a second period—that of reconstruction and improvement. The highway from El Portal to Yosemite and the roads on the floor of the valley illustrate the type of present-day construction; but it must be remembered with indulgence that such roads are just beginning to be, and that most of the park routes, although not at all bad, are yet mountain roads.
Let us assume that the motorist is now in Yosemite. Besides the routes to the low country, the following scenic trips may be taken within the park:
- 1. A Tour of the Valley.
- 2. El Portal and return.
- 3. Glacier Point.
- 4. The Mariposa Big Trees.
- 5. Tuolumne Big Trees.
- 6. Hetch Hetchy.
- 7. Lake Tenaya and the High Sierra route to Mono Lake and Tahoe.
Each of these (except number four) is described in the following road trips.