p r e p a r e d b y

t h e n at i o n a l pa r k s e rv i c e

y o s e m i t e n at i o n a l pa r k

c a l i f o r n i a

a s e n s e o f p lac e

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

M a n - m a d e s t r u c t u r e s c a n s c a r c e l y a dd t o y o s e m i t e ’ s m a t c h l e s s b e a u t y .

R a t h e r w e m u s t s t r i v e t h a t t h e y n e i t h e r i n t r u d e

u p o n t h i s s p l e n d o r n o r s e e m t o r i v a l i t i n p e r m a n e n c e .

H i l m e r O e h l m a n n • G e n e r a l M a n a g e r o f t h e C u r r y C o m p a n y

A t D e d i c a t i o n o f Yo s e m i t e Lodg e • J u n e 1 9 5 6

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

C o n t e n t s

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

PAGE 2 Sentinel Rock (1945) YRL-RA

OPPOSITE Nevada Fall (1938) YRL-RA

FOREWOR D 7

INTRO D UCTION 11

HISTOR Y OF D EVELO P MENT IN 

Y OSEMITE NATIONAL P ARK 25

UNIF Y ING ELEMENTS 45

Development of a Design Ethic 46

Unifying Themes 48

Setting 49

Landscape Uses + Structures 56

Developed Areas 80

Y OSEMITE VALLE Y 93

Yosemite Village 101

Curry Village 119

The Ahwahnee 137

Yosemite Lodge 143

Housekeeping Camp 155

WAWONA 159

TUOLUMNE MEA D OWS 179

HUTS , CABINS + HIGH SIERRA CAM P S 199

Huts + Cabins 201

High Sierra Camps 206

CAM P GROUN D S 223

D A Y - USE AREAS 233

Happy Isles 235

LeConte Memorial Lodge 239

Indian Cultural Center at Wahhoga 242

Sequoia Groves 244

Chinquapin 250

Badger Pass 254

Glacier Point 258

Crane Flat 263

Hodgdon Meadow 267

Hetch Hetchy 269

Picnic Areas 275

ROA D S + ENTRANCE STATIONS 281

Major Road Corridors 282

Vehicle Bridges 301

Entrance Stations 304

Shuttle Bus Stops 318

EN D NOTES

Glossary 323

Bibliography 327

Preparers + Reviewers 332

Index 334

 7

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k 

OPPOSITE El Capitan (1938) YRL-OW

I first came to Yosemite in an official capacity in 1975. I was Team 

Captain for what was to become known as the 1980 Yosemite General 

Management Plan. It was a time of great controversy about the park, so 

much so that 62,000 people participated in the planning process. I shall 

never forget the headline in Rolling Stone that blared “Why Are They 

Golfing in the Cathedral?”

Rolling Stone weighing in about a national park? Unbelievable! But it 

happened. The “cathedral” was (and is) Yosemite. “Golfing” referred to 

the since-removed 9-hole pitch-and-putt course then in place behind The 

Ahwahnee. The headline has stuck with me ever since as I have engaged in 

the great ongoing intellectual and ethical adventure and struggle of what 

to do, and not to do, in Yosemite National Park.“Cathedral” almost universally connotes extraordinary beauty and connection to a creating spirit. 

Yosemite evokes the same feelings of quality and connectivity to a greater 

life force, a greater reason for being. It is a sacred place, to many the most 

sacred symbol of sublimity and beauty anywhere in the world.

“Golfing” in such a place often symbolizes a level of separation dividing 

mankind from nature that could hardly be more stark unless it were industrial. The contradiction between golfing and cathedral in my experience 

with Yosemite National Park defines more clearly than any other metaphor 

the roots of controversy and feeling that are the basis for discussion about 

everything that happens or is proposed to happen in Yosemite.

the quest, the never-ending quest, in yosemite is for an almost spiritual or superhuman quality in decisions about preserving and enjoying it. it is less a place than 

an experience. every detail counts—not just a little, but a lot. this is the challenge 

of design of anything in yosemite, be it the valley or any other place in the park. 

yosemite—its aura, its unique place in our minds and souls—demands the ultimate 

in respect for what nature made and the awe it imparts.

F o r e w o r d

joh n j . r e y n o l d s • ( r e t i r e d ) N a t i o n a l p a r k s e r v i c e
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

8 NP S

The quest, the never-ending quest, in Yosemite is for an almost spiritual or super-human 

quality in decisions about preserving and enjoying it. It is less a place than an experience. Every 

detail counts—not just a little, but a lot. This is the challenge of design of anything in Yosemite, 

be it the Valley or any other place in the park. Yosemite—its aura, its unique place in our minds 

and souls—demands the ultimate in respect for what nature made and the awe it imparts.

During the first 100 or so years of the existence of national parks, design professionals 

worked entire public service careers perfecting what was appropriate design in national parks. 

They learned by being immersed in the natural feel of the place. They came to know and 

respond to the rhythms and patterns nature imparts, unique to each place yet as related as 

trees and flowers, birds and bears, air and water are related one to another. These professionals 

dedicated their working lifetimes to creating the design ethics for which the National Park 

Service was and is known worldwide.

That cadre of public service professionals dedicated to studying and designing in 

response to the parks themselves no longer exists. Those who remain mostly manage the 

contracts and expectations of the private contractors hired from afar to do the work.

And so the need for this marvelous and essential book, A Sense of Place: Design Guidelines 

for Yosemite National Park. Its reason for being is to pass on at least the basics of the special and 

unique considerations that undergird excellence of design in Yosemite. It is a humbling undertaking, striving to convey to landscape architects, architects, and engineers the beginning 

basics they need to be sensitive to in Yosemite.

Very often in our culture, as places develop, we lose our sense of place. We lose the sights, 

sounds, smells that most positively impressed us as children. The farsighted men who wrote 

and passed the act creating the National Park Service understood that Americans would 

need places that were touchstones of their existence as a culture, places where wildness and 

history are paramount. More and more the national parks are the symbols for our national 

history and natural identity. Reverence and excellence in the stewardship and development 

of national parks is part of America’s heritage.

A Sense of Place raises the standards for the next generation of designers. These design 

guidelines require designers to absorb the essence of Yosemite and employ that understanding 

in their work. Only then will the resulting design become worthy of Yosemite. 
 9

F o r e w o r d

In closing, I am compelled to make a personal comment. I was given the gift of working 

for the future of Yosemite in many ways, off and on, for nearly 30 years. My experience in striving 

to give equal to what I got from working in and on Yosemite has compelled me to constantly 

question what more I could do to protect national parks and open them to the hearts of visitors. 

I am deeply and emotionally indebted to the authors of these guidelines and the leadership of 

Yosemite National Park for giving me the opportunity to write a foreword for it. If those of 

you who use this book will open yourselves to the same opportunity for growth that Yosemite 

gave to me, then you will be worthy of attempting to design for this most wonderful of places. 

You must do so with the absolute humility that you have been afforded an opportunity that 

only a very few will have. You must “buy into” the idea that you are important to Yosemite 

only insofar as your work deeply and honestly reflects what Yosemite is itself. Your design will 

affect millions of visitors who come to experience Yosemite. If it detracts in any way, you will 

have golfed in the cathedral. If it is true to Yosemite, you will have joined the eternal chorus.

john j. reynolds 

Retired, National Park Service 

Fellow, American Society of Landscape Architects 

March 2011

John J. Reynolds had a long and distinguished career in the National Park Service. During his 39 years of 

service, he served as Deputy Director of the National Park Service, Regional Director of the Pacific West and 

Mid-Atlantic Regions, Manager of the Denver Service Center, Superintendent of North Cascades National Park, 

and Assistant Superintendent of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. In addition to these positions, 

he spent 15 years as a Landscape Architect/Planner, during which he was Team Captain for the studies leading to 

the establishment of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska, and was 

Team Captain of the Yosemite General Management Plan. He led the United States Delegation to the World Heritage 

Committee for three years. As Manager of the Denver Service Center, Reynolds began the sustainability movement 

in the National Park Service, leading the effort to publish the book “Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design.”

 11

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

I n t r o d u c t i o n

Yosemite National Park is unlike any other place in the world. Its breathtaking scenery 

has inspired many to describe this singular setting as a masterpiece of nature and Yosemite 

Valley, its centerpiece, as “the Incomparable Valley.” This extraordinary park exhibits 

a grand assemblage of natural wonders composed of glacially sculpted mountains, immense 

rock forms, thundering waterfalls, pristine wilderness, serene meadows, and ancient groves of 

giant sequoias. Cliffs climb 4,000 feet, while soaring granite monoliths and a multitude 

of domes punctuate the landscape. The park encompasses hundreds of lakes and cascading 

rivers featuring some of the tallest waterfalls in the world, including Yosemite Falls, which 

appear to leap from the sky as they descend almost half a mile to the Valley floor. Millions of 

people from around the globe have made the pilgrimage to experience the park’s wonders. 

Its sublime beauty has galvanized preservationists and inspired painters, poets, and photographers. Yosemite struck John Muir as the “sanctum sanctorum of the Sierra” and the 

“grandest of all the special temples of Nature.” John Muir felt that in Yosemite, “Nature 

had gathered her choicest treasures” into this one mountain mansion. “No temple made 

with hands can compare with Yosemite,” he exalted.

For thousands of years humans have dwelled in Yosemite. It was the first natural area 

set aside by the federal government for protection of outstanding scenery and has served as 

a profound inspiration for preservation philosophy in American and world history. Managed 

as a park since 1864, Yosemite Valley and The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias are landscapes 

that reflect the complex interplay in the environment between the natural and the human-made. 

As places set apart, the park and its wondrous settings continue to evoke reverence and awe in 

all who visit.

How do people build on what many consider sacred ground? This has been an ongoing 

challenge for all who have designed facilities in the park. Within this grand setting, people 

have created a built environment to protect the park’s resources and to facilitate enjoyment 

of them by generations of visitors. Hundreds of historic buildings and structures complement 

the natural setting and have become part of the total park identity and visitor experience. The 

National Park Service (NPS) recognizes that to uphold Yosemite as a special place, new facilities 

must be designed to be compatible and respectful of the park’s natural and cultural setting.

OPPOSITE Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge (1942) YRL-RA
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

12 NP S

Today, as park managers continue to influence the park, there is the desire to harmonize the built environment with the natural landscape. These design guidelines have been 

developed to document, interpret, and understand what has already been built in the park 

and to provide careful direction for future designs that are compatible with the surroundings. 

The ultimate goal is to enhance the unique sense of place embodied by this extraordinary park 

called Yosemite.

SETTING

Yosemite includes scenery and sights ranging from the spectacular to the sublime. At 1,169

square miles and 748,160 acres, the park is nearly the size of Rhode Island. Yosemite is located 

in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, a 400-mile-long mountain range that stretches along the 

eastern flank of California. It constitutes the longest and highest single mountain range in the 

contiguous United States. The park ranges in elevation from 2,000 feet above sea level at the 

western foothills to more than 13,000 feet at the crest of the Sierra Nevada to the east. This 

large park encompasses a wide range of natural environments which each require a unique sensitivity in design. The park includes two major watersheds: the Merced River in the south, 

passing through Yosemite Valley and Wawona, and the Tuolumne River to the north, flowing through Tuolumne Meadows and feeding the Hetch Hetchy reservoir. Much of the park 

is a granite wonderland, with sculpted mountain ranges, deep canyons, and hundreds of lakes 

carved by ice during past episodes of glaciation. Vegetation ranges from the foothills grey 

pine–chaparral belt in the low elevations to the west, through belts of yellow pine and lodgepole pine–red fir, up to the subalpine and alpine belts with short-growing-season plants above 

timberline to the east.

The most famous and highly visited portion of the park is Yosemite Valley. Most of the park’s

development is located within the seven square miles of this area. However, the Valley makes up 

less than one percent of Yosemite National Park. Beyond Yosemite Valley are several other scenic 

landscapes and destinations and smaller clusters of facilities, including lodging and campgrounds. 

Most of the park is undeveloped with 95% of the park being designated wilderness. Visitors

enter the park through the three entrances to the west: Arch Rock, Big Oak Flat, and Hetch

Hetchy; the entrance to the south: South Entrance; and the entrance from the east: Tioga Pass. 
 13

r e g i o n a l m a p

100 200 300
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Tenaya

Lake

Lake Eleanor 

Reservoir

Merced River Canyon

White

Wolf

•

• Wilma Cabin

• Sachse Springs Cabin

• Lake Vernon Cabin

• Buck Camp Cabin

• Snow Creek

 Ski Hut

•

Tuolumne

 Meadows

 Campground

• 

Olmsted

Point

• Merced Lake Ranger Station

Snow Flat Cabin • 

•

Half

Dome

View

Tunnel View • 

Ostrander Ski Hut • 

 • Bridalveil Creek Campground

Wawona • 

Campground 

 • Crane Flat 

Campground 

Tamarack

Flat Campground 

• 

Yosemite Creek •

Campground •

Porcupine Flat

Campground

 • Hodgdon Meadow Campground 

• Miguel

 Meadow

 Barn

• Frog Creek Cabin

Merced Lake • High Sierra Camp 

• Vogelsang High 

 Sierra Camp • Sunrise High 

 Sierra Camp

May Lake • High Sierra 

Camp 

Glen Aulin • High Sierra 

Camp 

Merced

Grove

Tuolumne

Grove

Half Dome

Mt. Conness

Mt. Lyell

Mariposa

Grove

Section 35

•

• Tuolumne 

 Meadows 

 Lodge

Tuol umne River

Highway

395

Hetch Hetchy Road

Tioga Road

Big Oak Flat Road

Valley Loop Road

Wawona Road

El Portall Road

Highway 120

Glacier Point Road

Tioga Road

Highway 120

Highway 140

Highway 41

South Fork Merced River

TIOGA PASS

ENTRANCE

BIG OAK FLAT

ENTRANCE

ARCH ROCK

ENTRANCE

SOUTH

ENTRANCE

EL PORTAL

HETCH HETCHY

ENTRANCE

GLACIER

POINT

Chinquapin • 

BADGER

PASS

HODGDON

MEADOW

CRANE

FLAT

Y O S E M I T E

W I L D E R N E S S

Y O S E M I T E W I L D E R N E S S

Y O S E M I T E

VA L L E Y

WAW O N A

T U O L U M N E

M E A D O W S

2.5 5 7.5 10 15

14 NP S

y o s e m i t e n a t i o n a l p a r k m a p
I n t r o d u c t i o n

 15

Two hundred and sixty miles of roads connect the various developed areas and allow visitors 

to explore the park by vehicle. The major through-corridors are an integral part of the visitor’s 

experience of the park: the Wawona, El Portal, and Big Oak Flat Roads and the Tioga Road, 

a National Scenic Byway. Two other roads are addressed in these guidelines and lead to—and 

end—at the destinations of Glacier Point and Hetch Hetchy.

Major visitor-use areas in the park outside of Yosemite Valley include Wawona, the giant 

sequoia groves, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne Meadows, and the highcountry. Wawona, 

at the southern end of the park, originally served as an overnight stop for visitors traveling from Oakhurst to Yosemite Valley. Architecturally, it features the Wawona Hotel, which is 

the largest Victorian hotel complex in the national park system and is a designated National 

Historic Landmark. Nearby is The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, part of the original 1864

Yosemite Land Grant. It is the largest sequoia grove in the park and arguably the most famous 

sequoia grove in the world. Two other sequoia groves, the Tuolumne and Merced Groves, are 

located close to Crane Flat. Glacier Point is east of Chinquapin, and the access road passes 

by the winter ski area at Badger Pass. The panoramic view from Glacier Point of the Sierra 

Nevada and Yosemite Valley, over 3,200 feet below, is one of the most spectacular in Yosemite. 

Hetch Hetchy is accessed by a road branching north near the Big Oak Flat Entrance and features 

another glacially carved valley similar to Yosemite Valley. Much of it is filled by the reservoir 

created by the O’Shaughnessy Dam. Tuolumne Meadows, at 8,600 feet, is the largest subalpine 

meadow in the Sierra Nevada. Tuolumne Meadows is a 55-mile drive from Yosemite Valley and 

is a favorite starting point for backpacking trips and day hikes, providing easy access to the 

backcountry, including the six High Sierra Camps arranged along a loop trail.

P UR POSE

These design guidelines are intended to provide a framework for determining the appropriate 

architectural and landscape character of new buildings, site work, and alterations. Based on 

the assumption that the most accomplished and creative practitioners will be tasked with the 

sensitive requirements of working within the park’s setting, these design guidelines go beyond 

basic universal principles of good design and focus on the “character” qualities that are reflected 

in and contribute to the distinctiveness of Yosemite.

Parsons Memorial Lodge, 

north facade, Tuolumne 

Meadows, (2007) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

16 NP S

These guidelines build upon and supersede those of the original 2005 A Sense of Place: 

Design Guidelines for Yosemite Valley, which were critical for the implementation of the many

projects in the Valley. This volume expands upon the previous guidelines and covers all of the

developed areas in the entire park.

When visitors come to see and experience the magnificent natural beauty of Yosemite, 

their stay and activities often occur within the developed areas of the park. Their experiences 

are affected, negatively or positively, by the character and quality of these areas. These guidelines 

have been established to ensure that the park avoids a piecemeal approach to facility development 

that would create visual clutter or incoherence in the park. Appropriate design ensures supports a 

setting in which the values of the park are clarified and reinforced.

The built environment must complement the natural and historic setting, blending in as 

though part of it, but at the same time being distinctive in a way that emphasizes the special 

nature of the place. New facilities should be designed in a way that establishes compatibility 

and continuity with the most successful design elements of the past; there should be a respectful 

consistency between old and new. The resulting built environments should enrich and become 

part of the evolving poetry of the Yosemite landscape.

In general, the goals of these design guidelines include:

•	Retaining natural site character, including setting, materials, and ecological processes.

•	Designing new buildings and facilities to blend with the natural environment, emphasizing 

nonintrusive design that is sensitive to the site. Facilities fit in with their sites rather than 

dominate them, and buildings are subordinate to the environment.

•	Designing structures and facilities to be compatible with the historic context in which 

they are located.

•	Coordinating and integrating the design of individual structures with those of the 

site as a whole.

•	Enhancing unifying architectural and landscape themes and elements.

•	Emphasizing simplicity and restraint in design and respect for past building character, 

traditions, and practices.

•	Recognizing established principles of rustic design within the park and identifying those 

aspects of rustic design that retain validity today, while allowing for contemporary interpretation of those principles.

Stone wall under construction at 

Lower Yosemite Fall area (2004) RF
I n t r o d u c t i o n

 17

in the construction of roads, trails, buildings, and other improvements, 

particular attention must be devoted always to the harmonizing of these 

improvements with the landscape. NPS S tatement of Poli c y • 1918

HOW TO USE THESE DESIGN GUIDELINES

These design guidelines are a reference for anyone affecting the design of the built environment 

within the park boundary, including architects, planners, landscape architects, engineers, concessioners, administrators, maintenance personnel, design review staff, and park managers, as 

they work to create contextually and environmentally appropriate structures and landscapes. 

These guidelines are provided to ensure that new park facilities will be compatible with 

the park’s natural and cultural resources. The guidelines will be used by park management, 

becoming part of a project review process that ensures compatibility of design solutions for 

buildings and site work as they are proposed. They provide background information on the 

development and most important design characteristics of the built environment as well as direction for which design strategies and themes may be suitable for a particular area. The guidelines 

recognize that buildings and the landscape setting are closely interrelated and need to be 

considered in an integrated fashion to attain a successful solution. The objective is to develop 

parkwide design themes that are interwoven into specific guidelines for each area of the park, 

ensuring that the built environment harmonizes with the resources. Park managers can use this 

manual to reinforce broad visual concepts from one end of the park to the other. Designers should 

translate parkwide and area themes into project-specific solutions. These themes will be important for guiding design decisions.

The descriptions of the settings within Yosemite and the guidelines in this document are 

organized by:

•	Overarching and unifying parkwide design principles and themes

•	 Significant developed areas with unique qualities and characteristics

•	 Significant or dominant characteristics and site-specific characteristics within each distinct 

geographic area, including common elements and site specific details and features; and

•	Resource sensitivities; compatibility issues; and historical patterns
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

18 NP S

These guidelines are not meant to provide direction in every facet of the visual image of 

the park, nor are they meant to be a substitute for comprehensive design work by professionals, 

nor provide for every decision by park management and maintenance personnel. They will serve, 

however, as a tool to tie the varying areas of the park together into a compatible visual whole.

While protecting recognized values, these guidelines provide sufficient flexibility to 

accommodate changing times, circumstances, and technologies. They are aids to decisionmaking and are not intended to be so rigid as to stifle creative expression or reinterpretation 

of existing design themes and detailing.

Implementation of these design guidelines will contribute to the fulfillment of the overall 

park goals of resource protection and visitor enjoyment. The results should be the design 

and construction of buildings and landscapes that integrate seamlessly within the existing 

landscape of Yosemite. What is added to the setting should provide visual unity and further 

enrich the visitor experience. The resulting built environment, which will become part of this 

magnificent setting, should ultimately enhance the remarkable sense of place within Yosemite 

National Park.

AGENC Y POLICIES + STAN DARDS

National Park Service Management Policies

Familiarity with and understanding of NPS policies and standards will assist designers in implementing the guidelines. Many of those policies articulate how the built environment should 

protect natural and cultural resources and enhance visitor 

enjoyment of those resources. The NPS Management Policies

(2006) provide direction under the “Park Facilities” heading, 

which echoes the purposes and intent of the design guidelines.

[F]acilities will be integrated into the park landscape and environs 

with sustainable designs and systems to minimize environmental 

impact. Development will not compete with or dominate park features 

or interfere with natural processes.... If a cohesive design theme is 

desired, recommended, or required, the theme will reflect the purpose 

and character of the park, or in a large park...an individual 

developed area. nps management policies 2006, 9.1.1.2 The Ahwahnee and Half Dome (1941) YRL-RA
I n t r o d u c t i o n

 19

Designs for park facilities, regardless of their origin (NPS, contractor, concessioner, or other), 

will...be harmonious with and integrated into the park environment. They will also be subject 

throughout all phases of design and construction to the same code compliance; the same high 

standards of sustainable design, universal design, and functionality. nps management 

policies 2006, 9.1.1

The most important statutory directive for the National Park Service is provided by 

interrelated provisions of the NPS Organic Act of 1916 and the NPS General Authorities Act 

of 1970. The key management-related provision of the Organic Act states:

[The National Park Service] shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as 

national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures 

as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which 

purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein 

and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave 

them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.

Accordingly, the NPS Management Policies directs that “the impairment of park resources 

and values may not be allowed by the Service unless directly and specifically provided for by legislation or by the proclamation establishing the park.” It is important for the planner or designer 

to produce designs that will not harm the integrity of park resources or values, including the 

opportunities that otherwise would be present for the enjoyment of those resources or values.

All construction must be accomplished in accordance with applicable codes and accepted 

standards. This is a federal area, and designers need to consult with the National Park Service 

about prevailing codes that apply within the park.

Sustainability

Sustainability is an approach that recognizes that every design choice has an impact on the 

natural and cultural resources of the local environment as well as regional and global environments. As an agency whose central mission is the protection of both the natural and cultural 

resources entrusted to it, the NPS has made sustainability an integral part of its design and 

management philosophy. The agency has an obligation, as well as a unique opportunity, to 

demonstrate leadership in environmental stewardship.

Curry Village tent cabins 

(2004) RF
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

20 NP S

Sustainable design concepts should be incorporated 

into new construction as well as alterations to historic 

structures. These concepts include design solutions that 

seek to minimize long-term impacts to the environment 

through strategies such as historic preservation and rehabilitation (often the most sustainable option); recycling; 

reducing material and water consumption; ensuring 

energy efficiency; providing life-cycle cost analysis; planning for long-term operations; and using vernacular or 

local construction methods and materials.

The National Park Service is committed to ensuring that the agency remains a leader in implementing 

sustainable design policies in any park development. 

Current resources that are helpful include the 2009

Executive Order 13514: Federal Leadership in Environmental, 

Energy and Economic Performance, the NPS publication 

Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design (and other federal and state energy conservation requirements), The Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, 

and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) 

program. For larger projects, the National Park Service has used the LEED process to evaluate, 

rank, and make decisions as part of the design process to optimize the levels of sustainability.

Historic Buildings, Structures, and Landscapes

The treatment and management of buildings, structures, and landscapes that are on, or 

determined eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places are covered by 

NPS policy (Director’s Order 28), the National Historic Preservation Act (1966, as amended), 

and The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Planners and designers need to be cognizant of the National Register status of any property 

as well as the historic property’s significance and contributing features.

Vernal Fall (2002) RF
I n t r o d u c t i o n

 21

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties provides historic 

preservation guidance for the treatment of historic resources, applicable to all new construction 

within a historic property, including infill, add-ons, modifications, and replacement of all 

historic buildings, structures, and other associated landscape features. For new construction 

in historic areas, a key standard to follow is: “New additions, exterior alterations, or related 

new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new 

work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, 

and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment” 

(NPS 1995c). This requires a sensitive balance between new development that does not exactly 

mimic yet is still compatible with the historic precedent.

A ccessibilit y + Univ ersal Design

The National Park Service is committed to providing access to facilities and programs to as 

wide an audience as possible. Its policies on accessibility are articulated in Director’s Order 42: 

Accessibility for Park Visitors, which states:

The NPS will design, construct, and operate all buildings and facilities so they are accessible to, 

and usable by, persons with disabilities to the greatest extent reasonable, in compliance with all 

applicable laws, regulations, and standards. This means that all new and altered buildings and 

facilities will be in conformance with appropriate design standards.

One fundamental component of this Director’s Order is that the National Park Service 

will seek to provide the highest level of accessibility that is reasonable, and will not simply 

provide the minimum level required by law. It encourages the implementation of “universal 

design” principles, whereby everyone enjoys the same form of access instead of being provided 

separate or special facilities or programs. For historic structures, special consideration must be 

given to ensure compatibility of any changes with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the 

Treatment of Historic Properties. 

Additional information on accessibility requirements may be obtained from the NPS 

project manager and the United States Access Board, which publishes the Accessibility Guidelines 

for Outdoor Developed Areas, along with other accessibility standards.

Vernal Fall bridge 

(2011) RF
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

22 NP S

Tunnel View, Tom Killion, woodcut print, 1999

P LANNING CONTE XT

Several existing plans provide broad direction for future development within the context of 

protecting resources and providing for visitor enjoyment of the park. In addition to establishing 

overall goals, these plans describe parameters for development at specific locations within 

the park.

In the mid-1970s, the National Park Service began a comprehensive planning process in 

Yosemite that was completed in 1980 with the approval of the General Management Plan and Final 

Environmental Impact Statement. This plan provides basic management direction for Yosemite 

National Park based on the 1916 Organic Act (the law that established the National Park Service); 

the park’s enabling legislation (the laws that established Yosemite National Park); and the 1958

act that established the El Portal administrative site. The 1980 General Management Plan

identifies Yosemite’s purpose: firstly, to preserve the resources that contribute to Yosemite’s 

uniqueness and attractiveness, and secondly, to make those resources available to people for 

their enjoyment, education, and recreation, both now and in the future.

The 1980 General Management Plan established the following five broad goals to guide the 

management of Yosemite National Park and perpetuate its natural splendor:

•	Reclaim priceless natural beauty • Allow natural processes to prevail

•	 Promote visitor understanding and • Markedly reduce traffic congestion

enjoyment • Reduce crowding
I n t r o d u c t i o n

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In support of these goals, the 1980 General Management Plan includes several developed 

area plans (including Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, and Wawona) which recommend 

specific changes to these developed areas. These changes include the removal or modification of 

roads, buildings, and landscapes and the construction of some new facilities. The 1980 General 

Management Plan still guides planning in Yosemite National Park, and the design of all new 

facilities should be consistent with it or any subsequent park-approved planning/design 

documents.

Bird-walk group along Merced River (1936) YRL-Ralph Anderson 

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

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Prior to 1833

H i s t o r y o f D e v e l o p m e n t 

I n Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P ARK

From the earliest time of exploration and pioneer settlement, development at Yosemite 

National Park has occurred under differing influences and priorities. Sometimes decisions were 

made that tried to balance opposing goals, such as the expansion of profit and development 

versus the preservation of aesthetic values and the protection of park resources. The present is 

a time of great change in Yosemite, particularly in the redevelopment of facilities within the park. 

This history of the development of Yosemite is important for today’s planners, designers, and 

park management. The lessons of the past call for a high level of responsibility today—to respect 

what has been accomplished and recognize timeless building principles on behalf of the future.

AMERI C AN INDIAN INHA B ITATI ON: PRIOR TO 18 33

Yosemite National Park has had an estimated 8,000 years or more of occupation by American 

Indians, represented through an impressive archeological record. They influenced, created, and 

cultivated much of the landscape encountered by early settlers in 1851.

American Indians, during their long occupation of the Yosemite Valley, built permanent 

villages in the Valley and winter villages and camps for seasonal hunting, gathering, and fishing. 

Most of the later-period homes in the Valley were “constructed of pine poles tied with grapevines and covered with overlapping layers of incense-cedar bark.... During the hot summer 

months, lean-tos covered with bark or brush were used as temporary shelters” (Bates and Lee 

1990). The native people also built circular ceremonial houses with earthen roofs supported by 

oak posts, “forty to fifty feet in diameter, dug to a depth of three or four feet” (NPS 1987b). 

They built grinding houses of bark slabs, and they kept seed and nut crops like black oak 

acorns for winter use in chukah, or storehouses built of four or more cedar poles supporting a 

basket-like structure.

Information about the number of villages in Yosemite Valley is unreliable because it is 

limited to observations by early settlers, starting with Stephen Powers who in 1877 noted nine 

villages along the Merced River. Dr. C. Hart Merriam identified 37 past villages in his work 

from 1917 (Sierra Club 1917). The most important village in Yosemite Valley was just below 

Yosemite Falls and was known as Koomine. During occupation by early settlers, most of the 

Indian population lived in a village at the mouth of Indian Canyon, near the present-day 

Yosemite Medical Clinic. (Only six of the 37 villages Merriam counted were inhabited by 1898. 

Two other villages were located near what is now the NPS maintenance yard and near Sentinel 

OPPOSITE Old Yosemite Village (ca. early 1900s) YRL
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

26 NP S

1833–1864

Rock.) The village at the mouth of Indian Canyon, 

Yowatchke (or the “Old Village”), was where the 

Mono Lake Paiute often camped, and was occupied 

by the Yosemite Miwok and Paiute until the mid1930s. When a part of the village was needed for 

construction of the Yosemite Medical Clinic, residents were relocated to the “New Village,” called 

Wahhoga, which was built in the NPS Rustic style. 

Eventually all the homes were removed. The last 

one was razed in 1969.

Throughout Yosemite, hundreds of archeological sites demonstrate the American Indians’ 

rich association with the park and the region. Within the Valley, much of the archeological 

record has been damaged by park development. Evidence of American Indian culture is 

retained in bedrock mortars and pestles, midden deposits, lithic scatters, rock shelters, and an 

extensive oral history. The Indians of Yosemite still have vital cultural and spiritual ties to 

the Yosemite landscape, natural resources, and archeological sites.

EXPLORATION + PIONEER SETTLEMENT : 1 833–1864

The first sighting of Yosemite Valley by non-indigenous people was probably made by members 

of the Joseph Walker Party in 1833. After the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills in 

1849, thousands of miners came to the region to seek their fortune; their penetration into the 

native peoples’ territory resulted in conflict with the local native groups, who fought to protect 

their homelands. Because of such interaction, the Mariposa Battalion was organized as a punitive expedition under the authority of the state of California to bring an end to the “Mariposa 

Indian War.” The battalion entered Yosemite Valley while searching for Indians on March 27, 

1851. The Indians, led by Chief Tenaya, fled from the Valley in the face of greater firepower. A 

second expedition in the same year ended in their surrender and relocation to the Fresno River 

reservation. Chief Tenaya made repeated appeals for the Indian people’s return to the Valley, 

and eventually they were allowed to return to Yosemite, where they became partially integrated 

with settlers and concessioners.

Acorn granaries, chukahs, below Sentinel Rock (1901)

YRL-HW
H i s t o r y o f D e v e l o p m e n t

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Although not developed to the extent of Yosemite Valley, the rest of the park also saw 

expansion by settlers in the 1850s. The popular assumption is that development outside the 

Valley and on its rims was stimulated by development in the Valley. However, there is evidence 

of early development in other areas that predates development and the growth of tourism in 

the Valley. Wilderness studies indicate very early use of park areas by settlers after the gold 

rush. Before and during the establishment of the tourist trade in the Valley, cattlemen, sheepherders, and miners penetrated into the central and southern Sierra Nevada. In 1850, settlers 

entered Hetch Hetchy Valley, and soon thereafter cattlemen and sheepherders had explored 

the forests and meadows of the upland plateaus. In Mariposa, the gold rush brought an influx 

of miners, packers, businessmen, and camp followers. Following the gold rush, some miners, 

attracted to the high country south of the Valley, settled in the area, becoming stockmen 

and hunters.

In the 1850s, publicists, writers, artists, and photographers brought Yosemite to the 

nation’s attention. This led Congress to recognize the value of the Valley and The Mariposa 

Grove of Giant Sequoias (or “Big Trees”) as national treasures. As a result, a steadily increasing stream of visitors came on foot and on horseback. Realizing money could be made from 

tourism, James Hutchings became one of the first in a long line of Yosemite entrepreneurs. 

Other business owners contributed to the built environment in and around Yosemite by constructing hotels and residences, by bringing livestock in to graze in the meadows, and by 

planting orchards. Pioneer architecture was typically vernacular in style and was expressed in 

the utilitarian log cabins used by stockmen, miners, and loggers. Although V-notched corners 

prevailed, saddle-notched corners were also used by the pioneers. Roofs were generally covered 

in split shakes. Because of their availability and ease of splitting, sugar pine shakes were widely 

used by pioneers on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Used on both walls and roofs, and 

split from bolts averaging 32 inches in length, these shakes have a distinctive long appearance. 

Boards, if used, were often whipsawn from local trees.

Because the arduous and dusty journey to Yosemite made day visits impossible, early visitors clamored to the California state legislature for hotels with comforts and services similar 

to those offered at fashionable Atlantic coast seaside resorts. In the 1850s hotels were among 

the earliest tourist structures in the Valley and were located near the Merced River for the 

extraordinary views. Such accommodations initially were no more than large barns with stalls 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

28 NP S

1864 –1890

for rooms, dirt floors, and open windows. These eventually gave way to two-story framed wood 

structures constructed of lumber. An exception was J.C. Smith’s Cosmopolitan House, which 

offered “a saloon, billiard hall, bathing rooms, barber shop, mirrors full-length, pyramids of 

elaborate glassware, costly service, the finest of cues and tables, reading-room handsomely 

furnished and supplied with the latest from Eastern cities and baths” (Demars 1991). Albeit 

slowly, hotels did improve and were built within and around Yosemite.

FRO M A STATE PU B LI C TRUST TO A NATI ONAL PARK : 1 864–1890

In 1864, the federal government ceded to the state of California the Yosemite Grant, which 

included the Valley and The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, as a public trust. Early written 

accounts indicate that the Mariposa Grove, six miles southeast of Wawona, was first encountered by settlers in 1849. Once served by a wagon road, this grove of ancient trees became a 

popular stopping place for visitors on their way into Yosemite Valley.

In 1865, Frederick Law Olmsted was appointed chairman (and one of eight commissioners) to manage the area protected in the Yosemite Grant. He first set about defining the 

philosophy of how to manage the grant—an action with consequences for the future Yosemite 

National Park and other national and state parks. An important element in Olmsted’s report 

was his shaping of the reason for parks to exist, and that the establishment “by government of 

great public grounds for the free enjoyment of the people...is thus justified and enforced as a 

political duty” (Olmsted 1865). The Yosemite Grant set a national precedent by becoming the 

first instance of the government preserving an area for 

scenic values and public enjoyment. Thus, the Yosemite 

Grant is recognized as marking the beginning of the 

national park movement in America, as well as the birth 

of the California state park system and of other state 

park systems throughout the country.

Olmsted’s report included suggestions for campgrounds, trails, and accommodations in the park; a good 

road into the Valley and around the perimeter of the 

Valley floor with footpaths to scenic points; and a system 

Lamon’s log cabin: the first house in Yosemite Valley (date unknown) YRL-TH
H i s t o r y o f D e v e l o p m e n t

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for funding the park by contract and concession. At Mariposa Grove, he recommended 

a road to and around the grove as a fire barrier. His plan, however, was expensive and impossible 

to implement within the constraints of the slim government budgets of the day. The commissioners did rely on Olmsted’s report and continued to circulate it in manuscript form at least 

through the turn of the century. Although they were unsalaried political appointees, most of 

the commissioners took a strong interest in the management of Yosemite Valley. To the extent 

there was funding and support, the commissioners planned and managed the resources and 

facilities of the Valley and frequently denied inappropriate permit requests.

During the 1860s, the commissioners instituted a policy of leasing land for 10-year 

periods to hotel owners, road and trail developers, and others; these people charged visitors 

a fee to recover their costs. In the commissioners’ view, income from the leases helped offset 

other costs. After the Valley was made a state grant in 1864, toll roads were built into the park. 

In the early 1870s, companies constructing toll roads from the communities of Coulterville, 

Mariposa, and Big Oak Flat raced to be the first to reach Yosemite Valley. The Coulterville 

& Yosemite Turnpike won, opening in June 1874. The Chinese Camp & Yo Semite Turnpike 

reached the Valley from Big Oak Flat less than a month later. In 1875, a road from the town 

of Mariposa to Big Tree Station (Wawona) and on to Yosemite Valley was completed. Of 

the three toll roads, only Wawona was profitable. Stagecoach service replaced horses as soon 

as passable roads into the Valley were completed. North of Yosemite Valley, the Great Sierra 

Consolidated Silver Mining Company built a wagon road to its mines on the Sierra Nevada 

crest in 1882. The Great Sierra Wagon Road, later called the Tioga Road, was completed in 

1883, although it was abandoned shortly thereafter.

With the completion of the Central Pacific Railroad into the San Joaquin Valley in 1869, 

Yosemite became more accessible to visitors. As early as 1871, developers had wished for rail 

service to Yosemite both for tourism and to facilitate business enterprise. The Stockton 

& Copperopolis line transported travelers partway to Yosemite, from Stockton to Milton, 

where they then transferred to stagecoaches for the rest of the trip. Taking advantage of the 

Southern Pacific Railroad, the California Lumber Company founded Madera in 1876, “from 

which a stage road ultimately led via Coarsegold, Fresno Flats (Oakhurst), and Fish Camp 

to Wawona” (NPS 1987b).
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

30 NP S

Of the 3,800 visitors to the Valley during the 1888 summer season, more than half stayed 

at the Stoneman House (1886), a quarter stayed at the Sentinel Hotel, and the rest camped 

out. In the decades that followed, the number of camping excursions increased, and camping 

grew in popularity in the Valley. Camping was restricted to parts of the lower Yosemite Valley 

because administrators had divided up portions of the Valley among permit holders for grazing. Aaron Harris established the first campground in the area of the Lamon’s winter cabin, 

now the area of The Ahwahnee Hotel. Harris’ campground lasted until 1886, when the area 

was leased to Coffman and Kenney for their stables (which were later removed and rebuilt at 

the current concessioner location). Although the commissioners tried to meet demands for 

campgrounds by clearing land and seeding it with perennial grasses, they found visitors left 

campgrounds littered with trash, defaced prominent rocks with inscriptions, cut down or 

destroyed trees and shrubs, and were careless in the use of fire.

John Muir, a young Scotsman, arrived in San Francisco in 1868 and made his way to 

Yosemite, where he explored, “studied the animals and weather,...formulated theories on 

glaciation and began molding his gospel of wilderness—the basic tenets of a philosophy 

of ecology and conservation that perceived wilderness as a necessity for the sustenance of 

human existence” (NPS 1987b). As the years passed, he became well known for his theory 

of the formation of Yosemite Valley by glaciation—as opposed to the popular theory of 

subsidence—and wrote extensively for national magazines on the origin, beauty, and use 

of America’s wilderness. In 1889, Muir and the editor of The Century Magazine, Robert 

Underwood Johnson, visited Yosemite Valley and were appalled to find it “despoiled by 

commercialism and exploitation.” Both men felt that the commission’s management was 

inadequate and would ruin the Valley’s landscape.

Eventually, sheepherders and the effect of their flocks grazing on the meadows provoked 

Muir and others to secure a forest reserve surrounding the Yosemite Grant. Muir’s articles for 

The Century Magazine brought widespread public attention to the Sierra Nevada and fostered a 

growing awareness of the threats to the mountain environment. The effort prompted Congress 

to authorize the establishment of Yosemite National Park in 1890, in great part because of 

Muir’s influence. More than 900,000 acres were thus set aside for the preservation of timber, 

minerals, meadows, and other “natural curiosities.” (This area was reduced in later years when 

portions of the park were turned over to logging and mining interests.) Not included in the 

park at that time were the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, which remained in the 

state grant until returned to federal management in 1906.
H i s t o r y o f D e v e l o p m e n t

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1891–1914

UNITED STATES ARMY : 1 891–1914

Following a congressional battle over civilian administration of Yellowstone 

National Park, U.S. cavalry were sent to manage Yellowstone in 1886. 

The cavalry became the park manager for Yosemite National Park a few years 

later. They were well-organized, equipped for long periods of field work, 

and needed a substitute for maneuvers in a time of few military conflicts. In 

May 1891, when the cavalry arrived in Wawona to administer the newly created park, their 

chief mission was to control access and to prevent intrusions by miners, loggers, trappers 

and hunters, cattlemen, and sheepherders. Responsible for the entire park except for the Valley 

and Mariposa Grove (which were still under state administration until 1906), the army was 

generally motivated by a policy of “patrol and control” (Farabee 2003). Initially, cavalry 

troops erected basic facilities for seasonal use and patrolled the park only in the summer months. 

Temporary summer quarters were established near Wawona, and in 1906 the army moved 

its headquarters and operations to the Valley after the Valley and the Mariposa Grove were 

both consolidated into the surrounding national park. There the army set up a post on the 

site of the American Indian village of Koomine, near Lower Yosemite Fall. In addition to a system of patrol cabins, roads, trails, and bridges, the army also constructed campgrounds and 

administration buildings. Their buildings were designed and erected either from Quartermaster 

Corps standardized plans or as vernacular buildings using local materials. The army knit together 

ancient trails to form patrol routes and developed new circulation patterns, “with most of the 

main features of today’s system laid down by 1914” (NPS 1987b).

In 1897–98, in an attempt to manage the use of public campgrounds and prevent damage to the park’s natural resources, the state erected a number of tents for rent. This marked 

the beginning of tent camps like Curry Village, established by David A. Curry in 1899, that 

offered tent accommodations to guests. After return of the Valley to federal control in 1906, 

the army conducted a study of the water, roads, and sanitation needs. Because sewage was 

dumped into the river below the Sentinel Hotel, campgrounds below the hotel were closed in 

1908. The campgrounds east of the Sentinel were slowly developed with garbage pickup, 

drinking water, and sewer facilities. Eventually, 20 numbered campgrounds were located in the 

Valley; most of these have been given place names, removed, or replaced by other visitor facilities, 

with the exception of Camp 4. 

Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir at Glacier Point 

(1903) YRL
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

32 NP S

1914 –1940 s

Incorporated in 1902, the Yosemite Valley Railroad approached the park from Merced 

through the Merced River canyon and by 1907 reached El Portal. The company also built a 

stage road from El Portal into the Valley; travelers from El Portal transferred to a stage line 

for the final leg of their trip. Most visitors took this shorter route, causing the other stage 

lines to decline. In 1914, eight years after California receded control of Yosemite Valley and 

the Mariposa Grove to the federal government, civilian park rangers took over management 

of the park from the cavalry.

NATIONAL PARK SERVI C E PLANNIN G: 1914–1940 s

Planning for the National Park Service began in late 1914, when Stephen Mather was informally offered the leadership of a yet-to-be-formed agency to administer the nation’s parks by 

Secretary of the Interior Franklin Lane. After formation of the National Park Service in 1916, 

Mather took time to meet his superintendents, conduct a national publicity campaign to 

educate the public about national parks, buy the long-abandoned Tioga Road as a gift to the 

federal government for Yosemite, and develop an organizational structure for the new agency. 

Under his leadership, the Rustic style of architecture was established by the National Park 

Service as the standard in the planning and development of park facilities from 1916 into the 

1940s. It was “based on a canny combination of pioneer building skills and techniques, principles of the Arts and Crafts movement, and the premise of harmony with the landscape” (USFS 

2001). The Rustic style relied on natural materials like native stone, timbers, shakes, and shingles. Buildings were designed to fit the topography of 

the land. Director Mather’s desire to make Yosemite 

the showplace of the national park system, as well as 

his goal of relocating Yosemite Village to a new site 

on the north side of the Valley, precipitated a lengthy 

study on the design of new park structures. Other goals 

included establishing a strong landscape architecture 

division for the agency to ensure that structures would 

be in harmony with their surroundings.

U.S. Cavalry at The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (1899) YRL
H i s t o r y o f D e v e l o p m e n t

 33

Primary design features of the NPS Rustic architectural style in Yosemite included heavy 

hewn logs; carefully detailed river-washed cobble-and-boulder masonry work; heavy shake roofs; 

and natural colors. Picking up on the earlier pioneer theme, designers consistently used sugar 

pine shake on roofs and side walls of administration buildings, utility buildings, and residences 

in the Valley and throughout the park. They used a palette of shakes, lap siding, and stone to 

create banding patterns on side walls. Sugar pine shakes were used to create alternate bands of 

long and short lengths; alternating courses of sugar pine shakes and cedar shingles were also 

used on many residential structures in Yosemite Village. Other building features were often 

oversized to harmonize with elements of Yosemite’s enormous cliffs and peaks. With darkbrown stained walls displaying foundation plantings and vegetation screening, these buildings 

were unobtrusive and blended well with their surroundings. The “log cabin in the wilderness” 

look evolved into a mature style and was emulated nationwide in other parks.

Within Yosemite Village is one of the largest and most significant collections of NPS 

Rustic-style buildings in the national park system. Early examples of the NPS Rustic style 

include the administration building (1924), the museum (1926), and the post office (1924). The 

Rangers’ Club (1920) was a gift from Stephen Mather to the National Park Service and is an 

example of the Stick style, a variant within the NPS Rustic style. Mather’s association with the 

building is significant in its own right and gains importance because the building represents 

his commitment to a national architectural style for park buildings. Refer to the “Development 

of a Design Ethic” section in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for a detailed discussion of the 

NPS Rustic style.

Although protection of natural resources was a concern, development for visitor use 

was also an issue of tremendous importance. Mather recognized that attracting visitors to the 

national parks meant building facilities to accommodate a wide range of visitors. He immediately understood that the National Park Service had to educate people about parks and that 

doing so would encourage them to fall in love with the parks. His philosophy of providing 

visitors with the chance to see the resources without hardships contributed to Yosemite Valley 

becoming the focus for most visitors. A promoter of Yosemite’s premier lodging in the Valley, 

The Ahwahnee and its bungalows, Mather also supported continued development of Camp 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

34 NP S

Curry (established in 1899) to offer tents and more 

modest accommodations. Until 1907, when the 

Yosemite Valley Railroad was completed, tourist operations were seasonal, with few winter occupants. (The 

Yosemite Valley Railroad stopped running in 1945

after lumber and mining operations along the route 

were closed down and the railroad’s mail service 

contract was cancelled.) Following World War I, the 

National Park Service encouraged Yosemite’s concessioner to develop and offer winter sports to sustain winter operations. Camp Curry offered an 

excellent location for such development. Located on the south side of the Valley, Camp Curry 

was the best place for long-lasting ice skating, tobogganing, and ski-joring (being pulled on skis 

by horses). Within the winter shadow, there is daylight but no direct sunlight, providing a 

consistently cool microclimate.

In 1916 the Desmond Park Service Company, later the Yosemite National Park Company, 

was granted a 20-year concession to operate camps, stores, and other services in the park. The 

company had also begun construction of mountain chalets, forerunners of the current High 

Sierra Camps. Until this time, visitors to the backcountry either carried their own gear or relied 

on pack trains. In 1924, in an attempt to lure visitors into the backcountry, the National Park 

Service began promoting the opening of the High Sierra Camps. Located within one day’s walk of 

each other, the camps offered food and cheap lodging along a grand High Sierra loop that included 

Merced Lake, Boothe Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, Glen Aulin, and Tenaya Lake. Six camps remain: 

Tuolumne Meadows, May Lake (which replaced Tenaya Lake), Glen Aulin, Sunrise (established 

in 1961), Vogelsang (which replaced Boothe Lake), and Merced Lake. 

The Big Trees Lodge was established in 1920 at the Mariposa Grove. Other hotel facilities constructed in the park during that time include the White Wolf Lodge on the Tioga 

Road, built in 1926 and operated privately by the John Meyer family until it was purchased 

for the park. The Wawona Hotel was acquired by the National Park Service, and new furnishings and equipment were purchased by the concessioner in 1932. The Glacier Point Hotel 

Yosemite Superintendent W.B. Lewis, Curry Company Director A.B.C. Dohrman, an 

NPS architect, Curry Company president Don Tresidder and architect Gilbert Stanley 

Underwood hold large rendering of The Ahwahnee (1925) YRL
H i s t o r y o f D e v e l o p m e n t

 35

overlooked the Valley and was later destroyed by fire. At Hetch Hetchy, construction of the 

dam also attracted visitors who stayed at the Hetch Hetchy Lodge. Operated on U.S. Forest 

Service land at Mather by a concessioner, the City of San Francisco bought the lodge and 

opened it as Camp Mather, part of a summer resort.

In 1932 the concessioner and the Sierra Club pushed the National Park Service to develop 

a system of winter huts and ski trails, leading to the development of Badger Pass and the 

Chinquapin area for skiers. Eventually, the Ostrander Ski Hut, designed as a touring shelter 

and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940, became an integral part of winter recreation at Yosemite.

Earlier trails were extended on and around the Yosemite Valley rim and established 

overlooks. Backcountry trails were built by the army for patrolling and later by the National 

Park Service for visitor enjoyment. Using hand labor and with few explosives or heavy equipment, these early trails were designed and planned to blend with the environment and to 

follow the topography. 

Although the first automobiles entered Yosemite in 1900, they were banned from the 

park in 1907 in response to increased road use and then readmitted in 1913. By the 1920s, auto 

tourism created the demand for better and more direct roads into the Valley. In 1926, the state 

completed the All-Year Highway to El Portal and improved the Arch Rock entrance into the 

Valley. In the 1920s and 1930s, the federal government reconstructed the major park roads for 

automobile traffic. The Wawona Road was rebuilt, and much of the Big Oak Flat Road was 

relocated and rebuilt for safety, heavier traffic, and higher speeds. Four tunnels were built 

to avoid scarring of the Valley walls, and overlooks were constructed for visitors to take in 

the scenery. Also in the early 1930s, the western portion of Tioga Road was relocated south, 

connecting White Wolf and Crane Flat, instead of farther north through Aspen Valley. The 

army, to some extent, and the National Park Service, in particular, took care to build tunnels, 

bridges, and stone retaining walls to blend with the land. Significant for engineering and aesthetic reasons, the roads in Yosemite harmonize with their natural surroundings in the use of 

natural materials for road-related structures built in the Rustic style.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

36 NP S

Cascades Civilian Conservation Corps camp (since removed) (ca. 1930) YRL

1933–1942

Civilian CoNSERVATI ON CORPS : 1 933–1942

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s answer to the Great 

Depression was the initiation of New Deal programs in 

1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), one of the 

relief programs to grow out of the New Deal, was responsible for much of the development in Yosemite National Park 

between 1933 and 1942. During the years the CCC program 

was in place, the park enjoyed a boom period of development and construction. The six CCC 

camps established in Yosemite were among the first organized in the west. Their projects 

included road cleanup, signs, borders, bridges, stream channel cleanup, erection of telephone 

lines, insect and erosion control, fire protection, building construction, and trail building. All 

CCC work in natural areas of the national park system was “planned and overseen by landscape 

architects, park engineers, and foresters” (NPS 1983). Their activity was widespread and 

included all the park’s developed areas, with particular attention given to the Valley, where 

their work was characterized by careful craftsmanship and the use of natural materials in the 

Rustic style. CCC projects emphasized harmonious design using natural, local materials like 

wood and stone. Soon, structures of log and stonemasonry outnumbered earlier vernacular 

structures. The labor-intensive CCC work focused on a beautification program in the Yosemite 

Village, which included removing deteriorated buildings; installing log curbing; extensively 

planting native ferns, trees, and shrubs around buildings and campgrounds; and maintaining 

trees. Although the Civilian Conservation Corps was very active in flood recovery after the 

1937 flood, one of their main jobs was cleaning up after the Yosemite Lumber Company, which 

logged in the southwest part of the park, and the Yosemite Sugar Pine Lumber Company in the 

northwest. Forestry work led easily to insect work and the elimination of species like the gooseberry to help prevent blister rust in Yosemite forests.

Another New Deal program, the Public Works Administration (PWA), completed capital 

improvements such as bridges, culverts, roads, and buildings using skilled labor and NPS 

design standards. PWA projects were unique because they were based on master plans initiated 

by Director Mather. In Yosemite, PWA projects were completed in four main areas: park 

headquarters in Yosemite Valley; Glacier Point (overlooking the Valley); Wawona; and 

Tuolumne Meadows. Enlarging and raising the O’Shaughnessy Dam at Hetch Hetchy by 85.5
H i s t o r y o f D e v e l o p m e n t

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1956 –1970

feet was another PWA project, albeit administered by the City of San Francisco. PWA designers 

also devoted a great deal of attention to housing at Yosemite, building a number of residences, 

apartments, and duplexes. Development extended to buildings and a campground at Tuolumne 

Meadows; cabins for the Indian Village; Chinquapin; and the construction of fire lookouts at 

Henness Ridge and Crane Flat.

MISSION 66: 1956–1970

With the onset of the U.S. entering World War II in 1941 and the subsequent disbanding of 

the CCC camps, little development occurred in Yosemite from the 1940s until 1956. From 

its origins in the early 20th century until the development of the Mission 66 initiative, the 

National Park Service had relied on residential-scale administration buildings or structures in 

nearby towns to provide information to visitors. Mather’s goals for the National Park Service 

also included establishing a strong landscape architecture division to ensure that structures 

would be in harmony with their surroundings. Although some ranger stations were located at 

entrances, others were located in the backcountry and thus were inaccessible to visitors arriving by automobile. Employee housing was of substandard quality, with inadequate living 

conditions. Most of the public facilities and services, including hotels, restaurants, and guided 

tours, were provided by concessioners. The sharp rise in park visitation by visitors freed from 

the constraints of World War II quickly placed natural and cultural resources at risk from overuse and mistreatment. In 1945, 11.7 million people visited the parks, and by 1956, this number 

jumped to 61.6 million visitors (Wirth 1980).

In 1956 Congress authorized a 10-year program of planning and construction known as 

Mission 66. This broad-reaching program of service-wide improvement was anticipated to be 

accomplished within 10 years, to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the National Park 

Service (giving rise to the program’s name). The initiative, orchestrated by NPS Director 

Conrad Wirth, focused on a program of park development, infrastructure improvement, and 

resource protection that would “overcome the inroads of neglect and...restore to the American 

people a national park system adequate for their needs” (Wirth 1980).

The design philosophy of Mission 66 was a radical departure from the Rustic-style heritage 

of the National Park Service. The new style was based on a more contemporary, progressive 

architectural design and functionalism, employing the latest materials and technology. Mission 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

38 NP S

66 visitor centers used contemporary architectural forms and materials to fulfill a variety of 

functions, including providing spaces for interpretive talks, park administrative offices, and visitor 

services. Prominently sited at a major entry or other strategic point, the buildings became an 

instantly recognizable feature of the parks. Like visitor centers, ranger stations were also sited 

for easy automobile access and were the initial point of visitor contact and orientation in developed areas. The stations were designed to provide visitors with information, services, and 

orientation. They also provided an official presence in isolated areas of development and often 

served as the first official point of contact within the park boundaries. 

Employee housing was an acute problem, as a projected doubling of the park’s workforce 

was anticipated and, in other large western parks as well as Yosemite, the only available private-sector housing was an hour or more away. Standardized designs were developed for new 

housing, typically expressed by the NPS in this region as low, rectangular, horizontal forms 

similar to the low-cost housing found in suburban communities. Housing units had a shallow 

gable or flat roof with deep overhangs to accentuate the buildings’ horizontal character. Carports 

or garages were common elements.

In the West, the variety of property types represented in the Mission 66 program 

included residential units, ranger stations, campgrounds, picnic shelters, maintenance areas, 

comfort stations, and circulation systems such as road networks, airstrips, and boat launches. 

The Mission 66 program at Yosemite created a new Valley Visitor Center and other visitor 

facilities and services. The program enlarged roads, parking areas, and campgrounds and constructed many new motel units. Visitation to 

Yosemite exceeded one million in 1954, and doubled 

that number by 1976. The post-war tourism boom 

continued unabated, and impacts in the Valley soon 

became apparent. To counteract these impacts, 

the NPS purchased the El Portal Administrative 

Site in 1958 with the expectation that park and 

concessioner administrative functions and employee 

housing could be removed from the Valley and 

placed in El Portal.

Valley Visitor Center at Yosemite Village (2004) RF
H i s t o r y o f D e v e l o p m e n t

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1980 To present

The last 21-mile stretch of the Tioga Road between White Wolf and Cathedral Peak was 

rebuilt in the late 1950s and was the largest Mission 66 project in Yosemite National Park. It 

became the focus of opposition by the Sierra Club and other activists who disagreed with the 

design and construction of a road that required blasting and scarring the glacially polished 

granite surfaces at Olmsted Point and Tenaya Lake. Despite the controversy, the road was 

“carefully designed to display to the fullest the dramatic assets of the Sierra Nevada. [It was]...

well supplied with overlooks and interpretive signs” (NPS 1987b).

In the early 1970s, the National Park Service established one-way road traffic patterns, 

eliminated cars in the far-east end of the Valley, offered free shuttle bus transportation in the 

Valley, converted the parking lot in front of the Valley visitor center to a pedestrian mall, and 

generally encouraged visitors to enjoy the park on foot or by using public transportation.

RE C ENT CHALLEN G ES : 1 980 TO PRESENT

Started in 1975 and completed in 1980, Yosemite’s General Management Plan (GMP) articulated the need for parkwide visitor services, resource management, interpretation services, 

concessions management, and park operations. The GMP established a plan that called for the 

eventual removal of private vehicles from Yosemite Valley and a reduction in development by 

relocating nonessential facilities out of the Valley. After approval of the GMP, several projects 

occurred during the 1990s that implemented the goals of the plan. Two projects moved 

facilities out of Yosemite Valley by relocating them to the Rancheria section of the El Portal 

Administrative Site at the western edge of the park. These projects included the construction of the NPS Maintenance/Warehouse complex to enable removal of the old warehouse and 

maintenance shops in the Valley, and construction of new housing units consisting of a mix of 

single-family residences and apartments. Per the GMP, infrastructure was also improved in 

Wawona with the completion of new water and wastewater treatment plants on the hillside 

above the ranger station.

Early January of 1997 brought a major natural event in the history of Yosemite that had 

a profound effect on the built environment. A moisture-laden tropical storm brought warm, 

heavy rains that melted the deep snowpack in the Yosemite highcountry. The combination of torrential rains and melting snow resulted in a historic flood: the Merced River overflowed its banks 

and flooded much of the Valley, including lodging facilities, employee housing, campgrounds, and 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

40 NP S

administrative offices. Portions of park roads, utilities, trails, and bridges were washed away during the devastation. The park was closed for two and a half months, during which time visitors 

were evacuated, temporary services were put in place, and damage was assessed.

A major effort was required to repair the damage from this flood event. The United States 

Congress, acknowledging the magnitude of the necessary work, appropriated $178 million to 

help Yosemite recover from the flood. This was the largest appropriation in history made to a 

single national park. A flood recovery team was assembled and worked with the rest of the 

park for the next several years on scores of simultaneous projects to remove damaged infrastructure and facilities and then replace, restore, relocate, and/or improve them. This major 

undertaking resulted in the repair or reconstruction of a variety of facilities, including miles 

of roads, trails, bridges, utilities, lodging, concessioner employee housing, and administrative 

offices. Some of the infrastructure, such as the utilities and employee housing, was relocated 

out of sensitive areas such as the floodplain, rockfall zone, meadows, oak woodlands, and the 

Merced River bed. A few of the noteworthy projects include the reconstruction of the heavily damaged El Portal Road from the park boundary to the intersection with Big Oak Flat Road, 

the rehabilitation of the deteriorating utility lines in Yosemite Valley, and construction of the 

28-building Curry Village Employee Housing.

During this period of time, other funding sources were developed that had an impact 

on the rehabilitation or improvement of park facilities. The Recreation Fee program, covering 

the period from September 2004 through December 2014, was approved by Congress as the 

Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act and was an outgrowth of the earlier successful Fee 

Demonstration Program authorized by Congress in fiscal year 1996. This program enabled the 

park to retain and use 80% of the entrance fees collected at the park gates to pay for programs and 

improvements that benefit park visitors. This translated to several million dollars per year, and 

the funds have been used for a multitude of projects that both address deferred maintenance 

and benefit park visitors, such as rehabilitating and improving the safety of the entrance 

stations into the park, rehabilitating the historic buildings in the core of Curry Village, and 

making improvements throughout the park to enhance universal accessibility.

The concessions Capital Improvement Fund was set up as part of the contract with the 

primary park concessioner to use a portion of the revenues to maintain, rehabilitate, and improve 

facilities managed by the concessioner. This program also generates several million dollars per 

year, and has been used to address capital improvement and component replacement needs at 

Flooding at Lower Pines 

Campground, Yosemite Valley, 

(1997) YRL-ST
H i s t o r y o f D e v e l o p m e n t

 41

lodging facilities, stores, restaurants, utilities, and concessioner employee housing. Many of these 

properties are historic, so these projects often provide for the rehabilitation of culturally significant buildings and sites in the park. One of the noteworthy larger Capital Improvement Fund 

projects was the closure of The Ahwahnee Hotel for six weeks in 2011 to allow for improvements 

in fire and life/safety, such as fire detection/alarm/sprinkler systems and fire egress.

NatureBridge, the primary park educational partner, was founded in 1971 to offer an 

outdoor environmental education program for students, connecting them with the natural world

and encouraging them to become future stewards of the environment. In 2002 NatureBridge 

embarked on planning and design for an environmental education center to replace the aging 

CCC era facilities at Crane Flat. A previously disturbed site at Henness Ridge was identified 

as an appropriate new location for a replacement facility that would provide an immersive 

outdoor education experience for young students. Plans were developed for a national rolemodel learning center that embodies sustainable strategies for materials, site work, and energy

conservation. In addition to striving for a Gold LEED rating, the design minimizes grading

by strategically working with the topography for circulation routes and placement of cabins

and communal buildings. With reference to the Design Guidelines, the buildings will use

simple forms with protected entranceways; materials will feature concrete bases, vertical wood 

siding, and metal roofs. 

In 1988 the Yosemite Fund was established as the primary fundraiser for the park. By 2010

it had raised $55 million to support over 300 projects. In 2010 it merged with the Yosemite 

Association to become the Yosemite Conservancy. The Yosemite Association was founded in 

1923 and was the nation’s first “cooperating association,” as well as the first nonprofit organization within a national park in the United States and the world. The Yosemite Conservancy 

has developed a program of providing donated funds to support the park in resource managment and improving park facilities heavily used by park visitors. The first large project was the 

1997 Glacier Point restoration project. This was followed by the Lower Yosemite Fall project, 

a $13.5 million joint effort with the park service to improve the trails, viewing areas, bridges, 

signage, interpretive exhibits, universal accessibility, ecological restoration, comfort stations, 

and overall visitor experience at Lower Yosemite Fall, the most popular natural destination in 

the park. Renowned landscape architect Lawrence Halprin was commissioned to design the 

project, which was completed in 2005. The intent of the design was to retain the presence 

and character of the natural setting while accommodating large numbers of people. Several 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

42 NP S

design objectives to improve the visitor experience and better protect the natural setting 

were achieved. They included replacing the parking area with a natural vegetated open area 

and picnic area; defining the edges of the walkways with stone edging; providing seating areas 

with granite pavers, boulders, and large wood-log benches; installing universally accessible footbridges that provide enough clearance to not hinder the flow of Yosemite Creek; replacing the 

cinder-block comfort station with a contemporary Rustic-style stone and wooden structure; 

improving views of Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Creek, Half Dome, and Sentinel Rock; adding 

a consistent wayside exhibit and signage system; and providing a one-mile scenic loop trail 

throughout the entire area.

2006 was the start of the Campaign for Yosemite Trails, a five-year program to restore 

miles of trails. Other completed projects included the remodeling of the Valley Visitor Center 

and bookstore, as well as the renovation of the exhibit hall to include new exhibits; and repairs 

and improvements to the viewpoints at Olmsted Point, Tunnel View, and Half Dome View. 

Currently, planning is under way to provide natural restoration and improve the visitor experience at two very popular visitor destinations—Tenaya Lake and The Mariposa Grove of 

Giant Sequoias.

All of the recent projects involving removal, repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction, 

or new design demonstrate the ever-changing nature of the built environment in Yosemite 

National Park. As of present, implementation of the General Management Plan continues, 

with several subordinate plans under development as well. Work is currently under way to 

develop plans for the two major rivers in the park: the Merced Wild and Scenic River and the 

Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River. The present time offers continuing opportunities and challenges, one of which is to bring about the changes outlined in the General Management Plan with 

the awareness that today’s work will be critically judged by future generations. Designers can 

recognize the park’s architectural and natural heritage in a manner that acknowledges and 

honors the work of those who came before, while learning from the past and improving park 

facilities appropriately.

Lower Yosemite Fall bridge (2005) RF
UNIFYING ELEMENTS
OVERLEAF Valley morning mist (1994) DNC-KW

U N I F Y I N G E L E M E N T S 

DEVELOPMENT OF A DESIGN ETHIC 46

UNIFYING THEMES 48

SETTING 49

 Natural Systems + Features 49

L A N D S C A P E U S E S + S T R U C T U R E S 56

 Land Use + Spatial Organization 56

 Circulation 57

 Entrance Markers 62

 Small Buildings 63

 Masonry Structures 65

 Footbridges, Culvert Crossings, 

 Retaining Walls + Boardwalks 68

 Grading + Drainage 70

 Barriers, Fences + Benches 71

 Sign Character 74

 Lighting 77

DEVELOPED AREAS 80

 Siting + Building Orientation 80

 Architectural Character 82

 Building Shape + Massing 84

 Roof Form + Material 85

 Building Exteriors 87
 45

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

This chapter describes unifying elements—both natural and humanmade—that thread through the park and contribute to a unified sense of 

place. The guidelines that follow are recommendations for the design of new 

development that respects and builds upon the unifying elements.

This chapter includes three sections that address: Setting, Landscape 

Uses + Structures, and Developed Areas. Setting contains discussions of 

natural systems and features, views, and vegetation. The Landscape Uses +

Structures section includes land use and spatial organization, circulation,

and individual elements in the human-made landscape, including smaller 

structures. The Developed Areas section covers siting and building orientation, architectural character, and building appearance. In each section, these 

unifying elements are identified and described, and guidelines are identified.

Following this chapter, there are chapters on each developed area and 

recurring facility type in Yosemite National Park. The site-specific guidelines 

in those chapters flow from—and are supported by—the Unifying Elements.

never before have i seen so glorious a landscape, so boundless an affluence of sublime 

mountain beauty...the noble walls sculptured into endless variety of domes and gables, 

spires and battlements and plain mural precipices—all a-tremble with the thunder 

tones of the falling water. john mui r

U nifying E lements
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

46 NP S

De v e l op m e n t o f a

De s i g n Et h i c

From the earliest years of the national parks, design 

efforts were based on philosophical premises about the 

nature of the national parks themselves. Parks were 

separate from the surrounding world, and visitors to the 

parks expected to experience a different environment. 

Although there would be inevitable differences among 

the parks, the general goal was that across any particular 

park, all the developments had to share enough elements to 

give them a recognizable unity (NPS1989b). Architectural 

and landscape design contributed to realizing this premise.

Those charged with overseeing both protection 

and visitor use of Yosemite recognized early on that any 

design within the park required a different and measured 

approach. The chair of the Yosemite Commission, 

Frederick Law Olmsted, proposed farsighted guidelines 

for the management of Yosemite and the Mariposa Grove 

in a Preliminary Report dated 1865. Olmsted, regarded 

as the father of American landscape architecture, wrote 

the following:

The first point to be kept in mind then is the preservation and maintenance as exactly as is possible of 

the natural scenery; the restriction, that is to say, 

within the narrowest limits consistent with the necessary accommodation of visitors, of all artificial 

constructions and the prevention of all constructions 

markedly inharmonious with the scenery or which 

would unnecessarily obscure, distort or detract from 

the dignity of the scenery. (Olmsted 1865)

In a similar spirit during the early years of the 

agency, Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane wrote 

a letter in 1918 expressing an approach for park design 

to Stephen T. Mather, the first director of the National 

Park Service. This became a statement of NPS policy:

In the construction of roads, trails, buildings, and 

other improvements, particular attention must be 

devoted always to the harmonizing of these improvements with the landscape. This is a most important 

item in our programs of development and requires the 

employment of trained engineers who either possess 

knowledge of landscape architecture, or have a proper 

appreciation of the aesthetic value of park-lands. 

All improvements will be carried out in accordance 

with a preconceived plan developed in special reference 

to the preservation of the landscape.

Mather was committed to developmental planning 

and believed in the importance of preserving the parks’ 

natural scenery as much as possible while opening them to 

visitor use. One of his first steps was to establish a landscape architecture division to ensure that park structures 

would be in harmony with their surroundings. By the mid1920s, Mather had instituted a program whereby park 

superintendents integrated and controlled new developments by planning them over a five-year period.

For Yosemite, Mather envisioned a cohesive park 

building program for rustic structures that included a 

grand lodge. He was concerned with the visual effects of 

the built environment on natural scenery. According to 

his vision for the park, buildings were not designed to be 

dominant elements in the landscape but instead were to 

blend with the natural environment.

Doctor’s residence, Yosemite Village (2004) RF
U n i f y i n g E l e m e n t s

 47

Following Mather, Horace Albright, the second 

director of the National Park Service, agreed with preservationists that Yosemite Valley appeared overdeveloped 

and was filled with a hodgepodge of unsightly, unrelated 

structures. He ordered the relocation of administrative 

functions to a new Yosemite Village north of the Merced 

River, away from the floodplain. There was strong desire 

by park planners to rebuild Yosemite’s facilities in an 

organized and aesthetic manner. Mather specified the use 

of rustic structures appropriate to the natural environment. These plans set the basic premises for park facility 

planning and aesthetics throughout the national park 

system. The park planners included a unified vernacular 

architectural theme; strong visual relationships between 

public spaces and nearby natural features; zoning of residential, public, and commercial areas; and a hierarchy of 

different street types (NPS 2004h).

The National Park Service was instrumental in 

creating an architectural vernacular of rough-hewn, 

rustic design using on-site materials such as boulders, 

cobbles, shakes, and peeled logs. Referred to as the 

National Park Service (NPS) Rustic style, it flourished 

between 1916 and 1942. The style was an expression of 

the philosophy that buildings should be in harmony with 

the landscape and in harmony with each other. Virtually 

everyone involved in early national park management 

agreed that proposed architectural development should 

blend and harmonize with the surroundings.

Buildings that are associated with the Rustic style 

may display individuality but include several similar 

characteristics. They often included adherence to a comprehensive plan; deference to the natural environment; 

and careful siting to develop strong visual ties with the 

surrounding setting, especially orientation to views. The 

physical characteristics of such architecture included 

natural materials and expression of texture, such as natural wood siding; wood-shingled roofs; heavily rusticated 

or boulder masonry; and peeled-log walls, columns, and 

trusses. Rustic buildings also often display hand craftsmanship, are small in size, and incorporate historical 

details. Within Yosemite Village, oversized stones and 

logs were used in construction to fit the mass of the 

buildings into the setting, horizontal lines were used 

to lower the profile of the structures, and vegetation 

was often massed along the foundations of structures 

to blend with the surrounding landscape.

The Rustic style grew out of and reinterpreted 

elements of several architectural movements, including 

the American Arts and Crafts movement, the Shingle 

style, the Adirondack style, the Prairie style, and 

regional styles of design. In Yosemite National Park, 

influences included the Bay Area and West Coast 

bungalow styles, including work by the architectural 

firm Greene and Greene.

The distinctive Bay Area style of architecture 

emerged around San Francisco during the first two 

decades of the 20th century and had a lasting influence 

on the design of park buildings. One of the leaders of 

this style was Bernard Maybeck, whose office was responsible for the design of two National Historic Landmark 

structures in Yosemite—the LeConte and Parsons 

Memorial lodges. The Bay Area style used local materials 

and followed principles of siting, hand craftsmanship, 

harmony with nature and structure, and presentation 

of scenic views (McClelland 1998). Many of these same 

features are reflected in Rustic architecture built in other 

national parks. By the 1920s, when NPS landscape engineers were working out a program of landscape design for 

national parks, there existed a well-established philosophy 

for park design drawn from the practices and precedents 

Left Stephen Mather, first director of the NPS, with a model of Yosemite Village (ca. 1925) YRL Right Washington Lewis, first superintendent of Yosemite National Park, and 

Stephen Mather, Director of the NPS, in new Yosemite Village (1924) YRL
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

48 NP S

in landscape architecture and architecture in California. 

During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps crews 

within Yosemite followed those practices in the construction of new buildings and structures.

The Mission 66 era of design heralded a rather severe 

departure from the earlier Rustic style. Mission 66 began 

in 1956 in response to the deteriorating conditions of 

national parks during the post-World War II boom in 

visitation. Mission 66 sought to not only rehabilitate the 

aging national park system but to modernize it. “Distinctive new buildings adapted various strains of postwar 

American modernism to the programmatic and aesthetic 

requirements of the national parks. Postwar park architecture made full use of steel, concrete, prefabricated 

elements, unusual fenestration, climate control, and 

other aspects of contemporary architecture” (Carr 2007). 

Here in Yosemite, Mission 66 projects included the 

Valley Visitor Center, employee housing, Degnan’s Deli, 

and Yosemite Lodge. Projects in Yosemite also included 

campground improvements such as new amphitheaters 

and comfort stations, as well as road expansion—including the highly contentious rerouting of Tioga Road. (Refer 

to the “Mission 66: 1956–1970” section in the “History 

of Development in Yosemite National Park” chapter for 

more detail.)

The built environment in Yosemite National Park 

today contains examples from every phase of NPS architecture. A range of expression in Rustic design as well as 

Mission 66 design is represented by both concessioner 

and NPS-operated buildings.

Un i f y i n g T h e m e s

Several recurring general themes and elements in 

successful site planning and building design help unify 

the built environment within Yosemite National Park:

•	Developments are planned in a holistic and integrated 

fashion.

•	The patchwork of open meadows, woodlands, forests 

of varying density and darkness, and vast stretches of 

unvegetated granitic topography, ranging from level 

to ruggedly steep to vertical, dominates the built 

environment.

•	NPS and concessioner facilities are typically separated 

by distance, topography, and/or vegetation.

•	Historic structures and sites retain their original use 

or are compatibly reused.

•	Natural systems such as flooding, rockfall, extreme 

climate, vegetation, and rich soils are important determinants for the location of physical development 

within the park.

•	 Siting and orientation of structures take advantage of 

scenic views as well as protecting important views 

from other vantage points.

•	 Buildings are sited to accommodate vegetation.

•	 Buildings are sited on level or gentle sloping topography to minimize need for grading.

•	The design of buildings, landscape structures, and 

utilities does not dominate the natural setting.

•	In general, the use of a Rustic style of architecture 

is typical of NPS design throughout the park and is 

an intentional response to the natural surroundings.

El Capitan (1995) RF Museum, Yosemite Village (1952) YRL-RA
U n i f y i n g E l e m e n t s

 49

S e t t i n g

Natu r a l S ystems + F e atu r es

Climate

Located on the gently sloping west face of the Sierra 

Nevada, at the midpoint between the northern and 

southern extremities of the mountain range, Yosemite 

is characterized by hot, dry summers, cool winters, and 

deep snow packs at middle altitudes. Average temperatures range from 25 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit in Yosemite 

Valley (4,000 feet), and from 15 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit 

in Tuolumne Meadows (8,600 feet).

Most snow falls above 4,000-foot elevations between 

the months of October and April. Because most of the 

park’s structures are in this zone, snow is a major influence on site design.

Within Yosemite Valley there are distinct microclimates. Curry Village, on the south side of the Valley, 

lies in the shadow of the adjacent 3,000-foot cliffs for 

much of the year. Although the winters at Curry Village 

are cold and damp, the weather is refreshingly cool during the summer. Most of the developed areas—Yosemite 

Lodge, Yosemite Village, and The Ahwahnee—are at 

the sunnier, north side of the Valley. The warmer exposures there are welcome during the winter, although it 

can be very hot during the summer.

G uidelines

•	 Building siting, orientation, and design detailing should 

respond to the unique microclimatic conditions at each 

site. For example, buildings on the cool, south side of 

the Valley should be oriented to maximize winter light. 

Buildings on the north side require shade in the summer. 

Designers should use passive strategies such as shade, 

ventilation, and insulation, and avoid a dependence upon 

the use of refrigerated air conditioning.

•	Designers should consider the management of snow 

and ice for winter access, visitor safety, and structural 

longevity.

Natural Light and Sound

The combination of light-colored granite, steep canyons, 

and the mostly barren slopes of the subalpine zones and 

peaks of the Sierra Nevada crest creates unique light phenomena. The sun reflecting off the granite on Clouds 

Rest, Half Dome, and other towering peaks outside the 

Valley has attracted artists, photographers, and visitors 

alike since the 1850s. The late afternoon sun occasionally 

bathes the steep, barren west faces and peaks of the Sierra 

crest in a famous orange-gold light called alpenglow. The 

reason John Muir called the Sierra “the range of light” 

is evident when the luminous, snow-covered crest is seen 

from California’s distant Central Valley.

The absence of abundant artificial light at night 

provides opportunities to see the brilliant, star-filled 

night sky, especially away from developed areas. This is an 

important and integral part of the park experience that 

will take on increasing significance as California’s Central 

Valley and Sierra foothills continue to urbanize.

In the Yosemite Valley, relatively quiet environments provide contrast to the Valley’s roaring falls and 

the rushing of the Merced River in early spring. In more 

remote areas, one can take a short walk from the Tioga 

Road and experience solitude and the subtle sounds of 

wilderness. The park’s natural soundscape is a critical 

part of the modern-day visitor experience and is important to document and protect.

G uidelines

•	Any new design should ensure the minimization of 

the impacts of artificial light and sound.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Siting and Building 

Orientation” in this chapter for guidelines on sound.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” in 

this chapter for guidelines on artificial light.

climate is a major ecosystem driver in the park, affecting 

the distribution of flora, fauna, and humans. NP S 1997
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

50 NP S

River Systems

The Merced and Tuolumne rivers, with their network 

of tributary streams and unnamed ephemeral drainages, 

are central to the park’s scenery, recreation, and ecological processes. Both are designated as “Wild and Scenic 

Rivers” and accordingly are protected for about a quarter 

mile on either side of the river. Ecological restoration 

along the rivers’ beds and banks to encourage natural 

flows, channel formation, vegetation, and wildlife habitat 

is a high priority. Although protection from human 

impact is the general goal of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 

Act, facilities and recreation can be compatible. Much 

of Yosemite’s development—Tuolumne Meadows, 

portions of the Valley, and Wawona—lies within these 

river corridors.

The Merced and Tuolumne rivers are subject to 

seasonal floods. On the Merced River there have been 

at least five severe floods in the last 100 years. Facilities 

near the rivers have been damaged by flooding at various 

times throughout the park’s history.

The natural processes of flooding and the slow 

migration of river channels have resulted in a variety of 

associated landforms, such as low-lying wetlands and wet 

meadows. In some areas, bank erosion can temporarily 

damage or remove riparian vegetation. Valuable riparian 

and wetland vegetation has also been removed by trampling and riprapping in many places along the rivers, 

creeks, and other seasonal drainages.

G uidelines

•	 Locate new buildings and major landscape structures 

outside the 100-year floodplain.

•	New development should be located to avoid the 

potential migration of rivers and streams and should 

be consistent with Wild and Scenic River plans.

•	New development should not alter the alignment 

of natural drainages or cause erosion by altering 

surface flow.

•	 Buildings, structures, trails, and utilities should be 

sited and designed so that they do not interrupt 

groundwater migration and recharge.

Horsetail Fall (2003) GH

Merced River with spring runoff (1943) YRL-RA

but no temple made with hands can compare with yosemite. every rock 

in its walls seems to glow with life. some lean back in majestic repose; 

others, absolutely sheer or nearly so for thousands of feet, advance 

beyond their companions in thoughtful attitudes, give welcome to 

storms and calms alike, seemingly unaware, yet heedless, of everything 

going on about them. john muir • the yosemite • 191 2
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UPPER LEFT El Capitan (2004) GH MIDDLE LEFT Cathedral Rocks with Merced River (2004) GH upper right + bottom Cross sections of Yosemite Valley
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

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Vegetation

The complex mosaic of vegetation communities that 

dominates the landscape 

of much of the park can be 

understood as a series of belts 

stacked along the west slope 

of the Sierra Nevada range. 

Although they respond to 

microclimates, the belts generally conform to elevational 

differences. The four belts 

most relevant to Yosemite 

(the foothill, mixed conifer, red fir, and subalpine belts) 

range in elevation from the 2,000- to 4,000-foot levels to 

the short-growing-season levels of 8,000 to 11,500 feet. 

Although the meadows may vary somewhat in species 

make-up, they are found in each of these vegetation belts. 

The meadows in Yosemite National Park are unique, fragile, and have great ecological, scenic, and historic value.

The park’s primary policies and approaches related 

to vegetation management are embodied in the 1997

Yosemite National Park Vegetation Management Plan. 

The management issues and programs described in the 

plan include protection, fire, insect infestation and disease, hazard trees, nonnative and invasive species, and 

revegetation of disturbed sites, among others. This 

document continues to function as the general guide to 

vegetation management practices. All actions related 

to the removal of plants, modifications by trimming, 

removal of limbs, the addition of new plants, and irrigation and fertilization of plants must comply with this 

plan. National Park Service management policies regarding vegetation management, as well as the various 

vegetation studies (e.g., root rot studies, hazard tree 

removal guidelines, and wetland identification efforts), 

should also be consulted.

G U I D E L I N E S

General Vegetation Guidelines

•	New buildings and structures should avoid or minimize 

the removal or damage of highly valued or healthy 

vegetation (such as deciduous oaks).

•	Consider the age and health of plant communities 

when siting buildings and other structures. For example, consider locating new buildings and structures in 

areas where diseased or hazard trees might be approved 

for removal.

entering the valley, gazing overwhelmed with the multitude of grand objects around 

us, perhaps the first to fix our attention will be bridal veil, a beautiful waterfall on 

our right. its brow, where it first leaps free from the cliff, is about 90 0 feet above us; 

and as it sways and sings in the wind, clad in gauzy, sun-sifted spray, half falling, half 

floating, it seems infinitely gentle and fine; but the hymns it sings tell the solemn 

fateful power hidden beneath its soft clothing. john muir • the yosemite • 1912

Civilian Conservation Corps at work 

(ca. late 1930s) YRL

Cluster of oak trees at meadow edge (1945) YRL-RA Black oak in sunlight (2003) GH
U n i f y i n g E l e m e n t s

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•	Avoid locating new buildings or structures in plant 

communities where natural processes will be disrupted 

or disease accelerated.

•	 Structures to be located adjacent to meadows should 

be sited within the forest edge, adequately screened 

with plantings to blend with forest vegetation and 

reduce the visual impact on open meadows.

•	Native vegetation impacted by construction projects 

should be salvaged for revegetation, when appropriate.

Guidelines for New Vegetation

•	The plant palette for each developed area should be 

visually unified with the endemic plant community’s 

associations and natural succession. All plant species 

used for landscape purposes should be appropriate to 

the plant community, as identified in the “Vegetation 

Management Plan” (NPS 1997).

•	 Selection, spacing, and massing of plant material for 

screening, restoration of disturbed areas, erosion control, or other design objectives should be modeled after 

and integrated with the natural plant mosaic found in 

the vicinity of the proposed work.

•	Use deciduous trees for developments where winter 

solar gain is important, to reduce energy requirements.

•	Where deciduous oaks have been identified as having special ecological value, new plantings should not 

include conifers if oaks would be negatively impacted.

•	 Planting projects should recognize the ultimate height 

and spread (among other characteristics) of the mature 

plants. When new trees are planted, care should be 

taken to ensure that they will not obscure important 

views when they mature.

•	To minimize building maintenance and prevent damage to building foundations, the location and mature 

size and growth characteristics as well as anticipated 

maintenance levels of new trees and shrubs should be 

considered.

•	Dense plantings of shrubs and trees adjacent to buildings are considered a fire hazard. New plantings should 

be in conformity with the “Yosemite National Park 

Fire Management Plan” (NPS 2004f ).

Scenic Views

The importance of Yosemite’s outstanding scenery and 

its many associated views and vistas cannot be overemphasized. Early attempts to describe the scenery may have 

helped to shape modern definitions of scenic beauty. The 

early Romantic writings and paintings have evolved today 

into a sophisticated component of environmental analysis 

involving systematic documentation of scenic resources.

Broad, sweeping views of pastoral meadows, mountain landscapes and prominent peaks, towering geologic 

features, and the Valley’s dramatic waterfalls have been 

Erosion of river bank near Yosemite Lodge (1929) YRL

Winter in Yosemite Valley, Albert Bierstadt, oil on paper, 1872. Garzoli Gallery, 

San Rafael, CA

California black oak (Quercus kelloggii)
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54 NP S

recognized as some of the most revered scenic resources 

of the park. Human manipulations such as the periodic 

burning of vegetation by American Indians contributed 

to the development of broad, open meadows, allowing 

impressive vistas of the surrounding cliffs and falls. It 

is largely through the writings of early visitors to the 

parks, as well as the photographs and paintings of 

nationally recognized artists, that the beauty of the 

landscape came to the attention of the nation. These 

images helped make the case to Congress that Yosemite 

Valley was worthy of special protection, and later, of 

national park designation. It should be noted that other 

human manipulations that occurred after the park was 

established contributed to conifer encroachment on 

these meadows and scenic vistas. These manipulations 

included the removal of a large section of the El Capitan 

moraine that was acting as a natural impoundment of the 

Merced River (possibly resulting in a lowered water table 

in Yosemite Valley); the excavation of drainage ditches 

throughout meadows in the park; and fire suppression 

(allowing conifers to encroach on meadows).

From the earliest development of visitor facilities 

in Yosemite, views have been a major influence in the siting and orientation of structures. For example, the Lower 

Hotel, constructed in Yosemite Valley in 1856, was sited 

to take advantage of the view to Yosemite Falls. In the 

words of one visitor, “[C]omforts were at a minimum, but 

[the] surrounding beauty [was] so great that few lodgers 

complained.” The siting of The Ahwahnee in 1926 was 

greatly influenced by the spectacular views from its 

site; the main axis of the dining room was purposefully 

oriented toward the view of Yosemite Falls.

Over the years, as the built environment in the 

Valley expanded, management of vegetation to retain 

significant views became an issue. In 1880 and again in 

1886, the commissioner’s report noted that dense underbrush in the Valley floor had begun to block the Valley’s 

magnificent views. In 1890, trees were felled around the 

Stoneman House to permit views to Yosemite Falls. That 

same year, the commissioners announced a policy to clear 

the Valley of underbrush and restore the long vistas of 

the Valley’s 1851 park-like setting.

Outside the Valley, the Wawona and Glacier Point 

hotels were sited with respect to scenic views. The former 

overlooks the verdant Wawona Meadow and the latter 

took in the spectacular panorama of the Sierra Nevada 

and Yosemite Valley.

During the preparation of the 1980 General 

Management Plan, the scenic resources of the Valley were 

analyzed to determine their historic and existing conditions. Lands within the Valley were classified according 

to three development categories. Scenic vistas to Yosemite 

Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Three 

Brothers, Cathedral Rocks, Sentinel Rock, Glacier Point, 

North Dome, Washington Column, and Royal Arches 

were identified as areas where development should not 

The Yohamite Falls, Thomas A. Ayres, 1855. This is the first published image of Yosemite 

Valley. Courtesy of the California Historical Society
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TOP LEFT Meadow grasses, Yosemite Valley (2004) TP TOP RIGHT Upper Yosemite Valley from Rocky Point (1946) YRL-RA bottom Yosemite’s forest belts, adapted from 

Sierra Nevada Tree Identifier, Jim Paruk, Yosemite Press Association (1997) 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

56 NP S

occur. The General Management Plan identified several 

points in the Valley that were consistently selected by 

19th-century photographers such as Carleton Watkins, 

Eadweard Muybridge, George Fiske, and Charles Weed. 

The GMP attempted to reconcile the emotional response 

to these scenic resources with the need to objectively 

quantify scenery. The information gathered in this analysis was used to make recommendations about where to 

build, where not to build, and how to mitigate the visual 

impacts of the built environment.

G uidelines

•	Align roads, overlooks, and pedestrian walkways to 

include views of prominent scenic features wherever 

possible. Views should be one of the important organizing elements for the site planning process.

•	The siting, design, and arrangement of buildings and 

open spaces should recognize and maximize views to 

scenic resources.

•	New buildings should not intrude upon or detract from 

significant views. Brightly colored finishes and reflective surfaces should be avoided. Multiple outbuildings, 

service areas, etc., should be sited and screened to minimize impacts on existing views.

•	If creating a view: plant, trim, or clear trees and 

shrubs in a manner that blends with adjacent natural 

vegetation patterns.

•	Refer to Yosemite Scenic Vista Management Plan (NPS 

2011d) for further guidance.

L a n ds c a p e Us e s + St ru c t u r e s

L a nd U se + Spati a l O r g a ni z ati o n

The establishment of permanent human development 

in Yosemite has always been constricted by the area’s 

physical geography—be it the steep walls of the Valley, 

rugged river canyons, or the vast, exposed-granite slopes 

of the high country. Prior to the establishment of the 

park, development in Yosemite occurred with only 

limited access, due to rough wagon roads. Thus, early 

buildings and structures tended to be modest in size, 

finish, and detail—reflecting the harsh and rugged 

nature of their surroundings. After the establishment 

of the park, the beginning of master planning in the 

20th century, and the initiation of the era of Rustic 

design, most development was limited to concentrated 

areas in a conscious effort to preserve the surrounding 

natural environment.

At the highest elevations, development was limited to widely separated log cabins. Later development 

at Tuolumne Meadows was sited in clusters primarily 

strung along the south side of Tioga Road. Some clusters 

were separated by distance and forest screening to create 

an impression of being isolated in a backcountry setting.

At Wawona, the concentrated cluster of historic 

hotel buildings sits on a small topographic shoulder, 

screened by forest from the nearby store and gas station. 

Administrative and maintenance facilities at Wawona 

are also located as distinct clusters.

Human activity in Yosemite Valley has been 

constricted by the steep walls of the Valley and the meandering course of the Merced River. Development has 

historically occurred in concentrated areas at the eastern 

end of the Valley. The six major developed areas—The 

Ahwahnee, Curry Village, Yosemite Lodge, Housekeeping 

Camp, Yosemite Village, and the campgrounds—support 

the needs of visitors and NPS administration. In spite 

of changes in the early days of development, the overall 

Cascades cabins, 2003 (since removed)
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Cabins set in the trees, Curry Village

pattern of concentrated developed areas is well-established in the Valley and has remained in place over time. 

Although changes within individual developed areas have 

taken place (such as the redevelopment of Yosemite 

Village and Yosemite Lodge), these changes have generally 

occurred within the historic footprint of development 

since 1942 (NPS 2004h).

In addition to the primary developed areas in 

Yosemite Valley, there are day-use parking areas, campgrounds, picnic areas, interpretive wayside exhibits, trails, 

stables, multiuse paths, and other visitor resources. For 

more information, see separate chapters on developed 

areas outside Yosemite Valley, including Tuolumne 

Meadows, Wawona, and day use areas.

Ci rc ul ati o n

Circulation within the park can be expressed as a 

hierarchy of routes ranging from paved highways to 

rocky foot-trails.

Roads

Vehicle circulation in the park is limited and consists of 

five major road corridors: Tioga, Big Oak Flat, El Portal, 

Wawona, and Hetch Hetchy. Secondary roads include 

Valley Loop Road, Glacier Point Road, and Mariposa 

Grove Road. The roads often provide visitors with quintessential views of natural features while also orienting 

them to specific destination points. The scenic driving 

experience is paramount in the design of these roads. 

Ahwahnee Bridge with Half Dome (2004) GH
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58 NP S

Often curvilinear, oriented toward views, and designed 

for slower speeds of travel, these roads are intended 

to enhance the visitor’s experience of the park’s natural environment and not just provide a means of ingress 

and egress. A mixture of concentrated parking areas and 

informal turnouts are located along the roads.

In addition, a number of secondary paved roads 

provide public access to both major and minor developed 

areas. The most intense traffic is found in the highly 

developed Yosemite Valley. A number of other service 

roads are open only to authorized vehicles. Some of the 

latter are historic routes and still serve the public as 

hiking trails or cross-country ski routes.

Although the need for new roads is not anticipated, 

any modifications or relocation of roads in developed 

areas should conform to the NPS “Park Road Standards” 

and the following guidelines.

G uidelines

•	In order to remain subordinate to the landscape, the 

design and alignment of road modifications should 

respond to natural conditions and features such as 

topography, boulders, healthy trees, and drainages. 

Graceful, curving alignments based on low speeds 

should be used to impart a sense of a scenic road fitting naturally in the landscape while conforming to 

applicable safety standards.

•	Roadway width, paving type, and edge treatment 

should be designed to help the visitor distinguish a 

hierarchical circulation pattern and make wayfinding 

easy and logical for visitors, with a minimum of directional signs.

•	 Primary and secondary roadways should be sited with 

an emphasis on the driver’s visual experience. As a new 

road approaches a developed area, it should be aligned 

to provide views of significant natural features where 

possible. Parking areas should not distract from this 

view opportunity.

•	Within a developed area, the approach roads should be 

aligned to building entry points.

•	Convenient access should be provided to park transit 

systems, shuttle bus stops, walkways, and hiking trails.

Rangers’ Club at edge of Cook’s Meadow

Tioga Road at Tenaya Lake (2008) GH
U n i f y i n g E l e m e n t s

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Trails and Pathways

Trails provide the most intimate experience with the 

landscape. The park contains almost 800 miles of hiking 

trails, ranging in elevation from 2,000 to 13,000 feet, and 

connecting the most developed areas (Yosemite Valley) 

to the most remote corners of the Yosemite Wilderness. 

Yosemite’s trail system includes long segments of the 

regional John Muir and Pacific Crest trails.

In the Valley, a network of biking, equestrian, and 

pedestrian routes connects visitor attractions with lodging, employee housing, administrative offices, and visitor 

services. Although the distinctions are not always clear 

within developed areas, circulation routes are typically 

hierarchical and include primary entries, pedestrian 

plazas and gathering areas, walkways, and footpaths. 

In less-developed areas, pedestrian access is informal in 

nature and typically along asphalt, packed decomposed 

granite, gravel, or dirt trails. In meadows or wetlands, 

boardwalks are frequently used to allow visitor access 

while protecting sensitive resources.

Pathways in developed areas vary in character, 

width, surface treatment, and edging. The following guidelines are intended to provide a uniform approach to trail 

and pathway design and maintenance, appropriate for the 

differing landscapes in the park.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Design pedestrian and bicycle paths to be clearly 

distinguishable—through width, pavement type, 

and edge treatment—as non-vehicle routes.

•	The design of new paths and walkways in developed 

areas should be compatible with existing materials, 

widths, and alignments. Widths should be the minimum required to accommodate anticipated usage.

•	Design trails and pathways to be natural in character, 

following site contours and outside edges of vegetation 

and incorporating rock formations, trees, and views. 

Some trails and pathways may directly follow established desire lines, while others should provide for a 

relaxed pace, a sequence of experiences, surprise views, 

interpretive exhibits, seating, and places to pause and 

take in the scenery.

•	Define vista or rest points by widening the path. 

Where feasible, provide log benches, boulders, or 

downfall logs for seating.

•	 Paths and walkways should be designed to meet current accessibility standards. Detail curbs, landings, 

and ramps to be rustic in character, which will reinforce the overall aesthetic character of the path.

•	Where steeper gradients cannot be avoided, construct 

steps, stair runs, or step-ramps using materials that 

Trail to Lower Yosemite Fall (2004) RF Snow on path, Yosemite Lodge (2004) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

60 NP S

match site conditions. Stair dimensions should accommodate average and comfortable-stride lengths and 

riser heights. Setting flattened faces up for stone treads 

is critical for safety. Provide for landings at reasonable 

intervals or as topography allows. Choose or treat 

tread materials to ensure adequate slip-resistance 

for safety.

•	 Paving for pedestrian routes in developed areas should 

be distinguished by material and edging variation from 

vehicle routes and should be continuous, clearly leading the pedestrian from the parking area to visitor 

services. Material should match site conditions so that 

the defined walking area presents minimal contrast to 

the surrounding matrix of soil and rock.

•	In intensely used developed areas, earth-tone pigmented exposed aggregate, pigmented concrete, and 

surface-treated asphalt may be considered.

•	If feasible, pathway paving should be a porous, compacted granular material placed on a compacted 

subgrade. In some cases, a stabilized granular material 

(using a resin or similar binder) may be acceptable to 

ensure accessibility. The design of all-season, hardsurfaced paths should specify materials that are readily 

maintained, durable, and easily cleared of snow and ice. 

In more isolated areas, decomposed granite, gravel, 

stabilized soil, or other hardened surfaces should be 

used, as appropriate.

•	Use materials and details that are contextually appropriate to define the edges of trails and pathways. In 

wooded areas, use downfall logs, short split-cedar post 

and rope fencing, or low split-cedar log and piercedpost barriers to delineate pathway edges. Taller barriers 

such as zigzag fencing may be used where more 

substantial barriers are needed, where historically 

appropriate, and/or near dense vegetation where they 

will blend visually. In open or dry areas, particularly in 

rocky subalpine elevations, use local or matching rock, 

unevenly spaced and partially buried, to define path 

edges. Spacing of rocks may decrease to make the edge 

more obvious where protection of vegetated areas 

is needed, strive for a naturalistic look. Rounded, 

river-washed cobbles may be appropriate near rivers 

or streams. Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—

Barriers, Fences, and Benches” in this chapter.

Parking

The first automobile—a “Locomobile” driven by Oliver 

Lippincott—arrived in Yosemite Valley in June 1900. That 

year, Foley’s The Yosemite Tourist announced that “the 

auto will soon become a prominent factor in Yosemite 

travel” (Johnston 1995). By the 1920s, automobiles filled 

the parking lot at Government Center (later Yosemite 

Conceptual site-sensitive parking layout
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Village), and photographs of the period depict visitors 

parked and camped on meadows.

Since then, relatively small parking areas were 

added where deemed necessary. Where more parking was 

needed, the additions were placed adjacent or close to 

existing parking areas to avoid trees, wetlands, trails, etc.

Today, with increasing visitation to Yosemite 

National Park, parking for private vehicles has become a 

major concern. Planning and siting for parking calls for 

careful site analysis and documentation of resources such 

as wetlands, drainages, healthy trees and vegetation, and 

wildlife habitats.

G uidelines

Siting

•	 Site parking areas on dry, naturally well-drained soils.

•	 Site parking areas to be naturally screened from pedestrian areas and viewpoints.

•	 Parking areas should not be located where they would 

detract from views of significant natural or historic 

features from existing buildings or pedestrian areas.

•	 Siting new parking areas in meadows, oak groves, wetlands, or other sensitive areas is not appropriate.

Layout

•	 Lay out parking areas to create small, partially separated clusters. Work with existing topography and 

vegetation (e.g., large trees) to separate parking areas.

•	 Include intervening grade-change strips sufficiently wide 

to support planting, use existing features such as trees 

and boulders to break-up continuous parking bays, and 

avoid long, straight rows of parked vehicles.

•	Natural features (e.g., healthy shrubs and trees, boulders, trees, etc.) should be incorporated into parking 

areas to help break up the size of the parking areas and 

visually buffer them from developed and natural areas. 

Parked cars at new Yosemite Village (date unknown) YRL
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

62 NP S

Grading and paving should not extend within the drip 

line of trees.

•	 Lay out pedestrian routes to clearly link parking areas 

to visitor services and take advantage of natural features such as boulders, views, and vegetation.

•	 Parking areas that are visible from elevated viewpoints 

(such as the Valley from Glacier Point) should be 

screened by tree canopy to minimize visual impacts.

Details

•	 Lay out non-porous paved areas so that runoff and 

snowmelt is guided to mechanical or biological filters 

(such as bio-swales, oil/water separators, and filter 

ponds). In areas where potential contamination of 

waterways is not a concern and where climatic conditions permit, porous pavements may be considered.

•	Design parking areas to provide snow storage areas 

where winter use and plowing are anticipated, vegetation will not be damaged, and snowmelt runoff will 

be filtered.

•	 Because of the high potential for damage by plow 

blades, avoid the use of curbs in parking areas that are 

subject to snow removal.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” in 

this chapter for guidelines on lighting for parking areas.

E nt r a n c e Ma r k e r s

Entrances to some of the major developed areas in 

Yosemite are announced with a visually significant 

marker in a style that is appropriate to that development. 

Historically, markers such as rockfall cairns marked the 

entrance to the park. The Ahwahnee has a masonry gate 

shelter set into a large granite block. Curry Village has 

a lighted, unpeeled-log welcome sign that acts as a gateway to the Curry Village commons.

G uidelines

•	 Entrance markers should be inspired by the surrounding natural setting and the architectural character 

(e.g., the granite used at The Ahwahnee gatehouse or 

the logs used in the Camp Curry welcome sign).

The Ahwahnee entrance marker

Camp Curry entrance marker 
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S m a ll B uildings

Small buildings throughout the park accommodate visitor activities away from the main centers of developed 

areas. They include comfort stations, shower houses, 

kiosks, storage sheds, and miscellaneous shelters. (Shuttle 

bus shelters are addressed in a separate chapter.) These 

buildings are often solitary structures in locations such 

as campgrounds or trails, and they may also be used as 

ancillary structures within a development where the 

character is defined by larger buildings. This building 

type should be designed to adapt to local site conditions.

Entrance kiosks, comfort stations, and shower 

houses are visitor service facilities found in campgrounds 

and other developed areas within the park. In keeping 

with traditional NPS design principles, these buildings 

are typically designed with a consistent architectural 

character. In campgrounds, a comfort station may be the 

largest building, but it is seen as part of a larger developed area that includes picnic tables, benches, barriers, 

amphitheaters, and footbridges. Because all of these 

elements contribute to the character of the site, they 

typically share character-defining features such as materials and workmanship.

During the 1920s and 1930s, the National Park 

Service recognized the importance of small buildings 

and related landscape elements. Standard designs were 

developed and included in portfolios that were circulated 

throughout the National Park Service as well as in state 

parks. In 1938, a compilation of illustrated examples from 

national and state parks was published in an influential 

book by NPS Architect Albert Good, entitled Park and 

Recreation Structures. This publication continues to be a 

useful reference.

The standard design for comfort stations in 

Yosemite consisted of simple, rustic, wood-frame buildings with gable roofs and shake roof covering. These 

buildings were typically rectangular, with entrances at 

each end. This basic design was adapted to different 

sites using variations of rustic treatments including 

a stone base, exposed wood posts, infill wall panels of 

wood boards, exposed rafters, gable roofs, wood shingle 

or shake roof covering, and muted colors. The comfort 

stations in the park typically used a wood frame with 

exposed posts, exposed rafters, and no gutter or fascia. 

The comfort station built at Yosemite Falls in 2004

shares many features with the standard design of the 

1920s, including entrances at both ends, a gable roof, 

muted colors, wood siding, and a stone base.

Shower houses and comfort stations have similar 

functional requirements, and they are typically designed 

as companion buildings. Designed with rustic character, 

their utilitarian purpose is expressed with compactness 

and simplicity.

Campground kiosks, as distinguished from fee kiosks 

at entrance stations, serve to announce a developed area 

or a point of contact with park personnel. For example, 

the kiosk at Camp 4 interfaces with the campers and 

active climbing community to provide a wide variety of 

information. Kiosks also provide shelter and a place for 

signs. NPS kiosks are typically open and have a welcoming 

aspect, and they may function informally as a meeting place 

for visitors.

G uidelines

•	The siting of small buildings for picnic areas and 

campgrounds should minimize visual intrusion and 

blend with the natural setting. Small buildings can 

be easily sited around natural features such as trees 

and boulders to minimize their visual impact on the 

landscape.

•	Temporary trailers or modular buildings should be 

avoided where it is anticipated that there will be an 

ongoing or permanent need for a building. These 

structures do not harmonize with the landscape, nor 

convey appropriate character, nor embody quality 

construction.

•	Design comfort stations and shower houses to be compatible with NPS Rustic design. These include a 

standard plan, a gable roof, the use of exposed wood 

framing and siding, and natural colors. They should be 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

64 NP S

TOP LEFT Comfort station at the Valley stables (2004) GH MIDDLE LEFT Small building at the Valley stables (2004) GH TOP RIGHT Comfort station plan and section 

BOTTOM Comfort station at Union Point (1932) YRL-RA
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simple, one-story, rectangular shapes. Entrances should 

be at the gable ends. Roof pitches should be at least 

5:12, with overhangs to shed rain and snow. Roofing 

must meet Class A fire requirements.

• Cluster functional and convenience equipment such 

as public telephones and vending machines in small 

buildings or integrate with comfort stations. Place 

equipment within the volume of the structure, sheltered 

by overhangs or porches or in recessed alcoves.

•	Where telephone booths must be freestanding, they 

should be placed in enclosures with minimal or no 

lighting. Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—

Lighting” in this chapter.

•	Design facades to be modest in character. They should 

have a protective base of masonry or board-form concrete. The upper walls should have a single material 

treatment. Vertical board and batten is a typical siding 

pattern, using full-size battens and boards of resawn 

western red cedar with tight knots. Alternative siding 

treatments may be appropriate depending on site 

character and that of nearby historic or designated 

structures and buildings. Refer to “Developed Areas—

Building Exteriors” in this chapter.

•	A semitransparent stain or paint should be used for all 

wood elements, including siding and exposed framing 

members. Apply semitransparent stain where the natural wood grain and color should be seen. Use opaque 

stain to hide imperfections, if required.

•	Doors and window frames should be of the same material as the exterior wall they are set in. Window sashes 

and doors should be painted with exterior sash and trim 

paint. Refer to “Developed Areas—Building Exteriors—

Color” in this chapter for guidelines on color.

•	If new small buildings are needed near or within a 

Mission 66 complex such as Yosemite Lodge, consider 

a more functional, contemporary approach that incorporates design and materials that are compatible with 

the Mission 66 era facility.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” in 

this chapter for guidelines on exterior lighting.

Ma so n r y S t r u c tu r es

One of the most durable unifying elements found throughout the park is that of masonry structures. They include 

dry-laid and mortared retaining and guard walls, fitted 

riprap and line culverts, building foundations, and base 

walls. Larger structures include tunnel portals, chimneys, entry pylons, and gate pediments. Many of these 

structures were built by hand during the CCC era 

(1933–42). Many have been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The 

color and texture of local granite, basalt, or river-washed 

cobbles blend well with the immediate surroundings. 

The granite was worked by hand to some degree but 

seldom gauged, initially because of the lack of refined 

tools. Early in the 20th century the granite was left 

deliberately rough to achieve a rustic appearance.

Some of the best examples of rustic granite 

masonry occur in the vicinity of Hetch Hetchy in the 

form of guard and retaining walls. Built in conjunction 

with the dam, they are composed of members ranging from massive, roughly rectangular dry-laid slabs to 

more evenly dimensioned, lightly worked blocks. Other 

examples are the mortared guard walls along Big Oak 

Flat Road, which show great skill in shaping the granite members without compromising the rustic look. The 

stone work at the historic Geology Hut at Glacier Point 

is an excellent example of the masterful selection, orientation, and shaping of the partially angular stones of 

this small building to form a pattern of tightly fitted but 

nevertheless rustic walls.
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it is possible for markers and related devices to capture and convey in 

greater degree than most other park structures the spirit of a particular area. it is their function, and by no means a minor one, to accent, 

to ‘highlight,’ whatever might be termed the essential personality of a 

park. Albert H. Good • Pa rk and R ecr e ation S tru ctures • 1938

Recessed steps and retaining wall, Tunnel View, Wawona Road (2009) TP Lower masonry wall of Museum, Yosemite Village (2004) GH

Historically, river-washed cobbles, found in abundance in the streams and rivers that flow down from 

the High Sierra, were usually available a short distance 

from construction sites. They soon became important 

elements of the early Rustic style in the park. At Camp 

Curry, cobbles were used as foundations for cabins and 

larger structures. The fireplaces at both the Camp Curry 

lounge and the Wawona Hotel are fine examples of cobblestone masonry. At the South Entrance Station, the 

rangers’ quarters, the comfort station, and the recently 

restored ticket office kiosk all use cobbles for the rustic 

base. Nearby at the Wawona Hotel, cobbles are used on 

the light standards flanking the main stairs, the large 

decorative fountain, and the flagpole base with the historic plaque. Nearby, in an area with private inholdings 

(called “Section 35”), a large chimney has a decorative 

installation of cobbles that is unique for a residence. The 

covered bridge at the Pioneer Yosemite History Center 

has a cobble veneer over the concrete abutment.

G uidelines

•	Design new masonry landscape structures to reference, 

but not mimic, the quality of hand construction from 

the era of early park development. This can be achieved 

through scale of components, finish, and ground-up 

sequencing, whereby heavier-looking and larger stones 

are placed at ground level, followed on up by incrementally smaller stones.

•	The design for replacement or repair of historic 

masonry features such as guard walls, fitted riprap, 

and stone culverts should match the size, scale, shape, 

texture, materials, color, and joint work of the original features. Do not use faux materials, finishes, or 

detailing.

•	Design new guard walls, culverts, etc., for compatibility with natural surroundings or, if located within 

a historic property, nearby historic features. Some 

modern materials such as reinforced concrete may 

be appropriate. Refer to The Secretary of the Interior’s 

Standards where compatibility of new construction 

within a historic property is required.

•	 Select stone for masonry structures, whether drylaid or mortared, to blend with the character of the 

surroundings. Wall design and finish should be complementary to adjacent elements such as exposed 

foundations of historic buildings. Local weathered 

granite should be used when available. Imitation 

materials should not be used. 

•	Where mortared masonry is called for, finished jointing patterns should be random with deep-raked mortar 

joints, as found on most historic structures in the park. 
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TOP LEFT Camp Curry Lounge (2008) GH TOP RIGHT Fireplace hearth, Wawona Hotel (2009) GH MIDDLE LEFT Dry stacked masonry, Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (2004) RF

MIDDLE RIGHT Cobble base, South Entrance comfort station (2008) GH BOTTOM LEFT Covered bridge and cobble pier, Pioneer Yosemite History Center, Wawona (2009) GH

BOTTOM RIGHT Masonry detail, Road Crew Camp, Tuolumne Meadows (2007) GH
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Avoid obvious vertical and horizontal alignment of 

joints. It is worth noting that historic masonry joints 

are often smaller than modern ones, and that the new 

should not always replicate the old.

•	Where concrete is exposed on a structure, it should 

have a rough-sawn, board-formed surface.

Footb r idges , Culv e r t C ro ssings , 

Reta ining Wa lls + Boar dwa l k s

There is little evidence describing the structure and 

character of footbridges in Yosemite National Park 

before the advent of the NPS Rustic style of the 

1920s. The 2006 National Register nomination for the 

Yosemite Valley Historic District refers to the many 

footbridges that crossed the Merced River and its tributaries over the years, but notes that only the footbridge 

at Housekeeping Camp and Superintendent’s Bridge 

date to the period of historic significance. Though it has 

been altered over time, the footbridge that crosses the 

Tuolumne River near Soda Springs and Parsons Memorial 

Lodge is historic. A number of historic road bridges, such 

as the Bridalveil Fall and Ahwahnee bridges, are now 

used as footbridges.

These Rustic-style stone and timber structures 

are echoed by smaller footbridges of logs, concrete, and 

worked-granite boulders scattered throughout the park. 

These footbridges are detailed and scaled to reinforce 

their sense of being hand-made with local materials. In 

the Valley, the walkway of granite-boulder bridges is 

usually flanked by low stone curb walls. Smaller modern timber bridges and boardwalks have a heavy plank 

walking surface with either raised timber curbs or handrails. Examples include the main bridge below Lower 

Yosemite Fall and other bridges that cross branches of 

Yosemite Creek downstream. Other examples can be seen 

at Happy Isles and several meadow viewpoints or crossings. The unique bench-bridge near The Ahwahnee is an 

exception, because it provides an intimate, small-scale 

place to pause and observe the setting. 

Except for those installed in the Mission 66 era, culvert headwalls are built of dry-laid or mortared natural 

stone that blends easily with the surrounding landscape. 

Both rough-worked and weathered boulders are used to 

armor the steep slopes flanking the open ends of culverts 

throughout the park. The walkway over the larger culverts 

may be flanked by low boulder curbs. At all of these crossings the boulder size appears to be such that one or two 

workers could lift them into place, reinforcing the handmade quality. The Mission 66 era culvert headwalls are not 

consistent with earlier rustic design.

Although many historic stone walls and other 

structures exist throughout the park, relatively few are 

located in the Valley, because most roads and buildings 

were built on flat terrain and earth-moving capacities 

Boardwalk in meadow, Yosemite Valley (2004 (TP)
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in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were limited. 

Where retention of a slope for a road, building, or outdoor use area was necessary, low dry-laid walls of local 

stone (or, in some cases, large individual boulders) were 

used. These walls were mostly constructed for trails. 

Historic photographs show small-scale dry-laid walls 

throughout the park, with larger rocks at the base of the 

wall. The size of the rocks decreases with the height of 

the wall. Later walls were built of reinforced concrete, 

some with stone cladding.

Historically, handrail design has varied throughout 

the park, frequently without reference to the Rustic style. 

The new bridges at Yosemite Falls are good examples of 

those incorporating Rustic detailing. The handrails of 

many bridges in Yosemite Valley consist of stout square 

posts with square handrails turned 45 degrees. These 

include the bridges at Yosemite Falls and below Vernal 

Fall as well as the new pedestrian bridge over Yosemite 

Creek by Northside Drive.

G uidelines

Footbridges and Boardwalks

•	 Site new bridges so that the hydrologic processes of 

rivers, streams, and tributaries are not impeded during 

high-water periods.

•	Design abutments for footbridges using dry-stacked 

or deep-raked mortared stone. Use stone cladding or 

rough-sawn, board-formed surface for concrete walls.

Ahwahnee Bridge, Yosemite Valley (2004) RF
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•	Design decking for free-span bridges using heavy, 

rough-sawn planks. Log substructures should be used 

where feasible. Weathered steel or concrete girders 

may be used and should not be overly disguised.

•	Design guardrails for nonhistoric bridges using sanded 

timbers or peeled logs mounted on sturdy supports. 

The use of natural-weathering steel for components of 

the structure may be considered.

•	 Select wood species for their ability to withstand the 

elements yet be friendly and soft to the touch. Western 

red cedar, Port Orford cedar, and Alaska yellow cedar 

are appropriate for handrails, because these species do 

not produce splinters as they weather.

•	 Boardwalks for paths or trail crossings may be needed 

in the vicinity of meadows, wetlands, or other sensitive plant or soil conditions. The standard Yosemite 

design of heavy cross-planks and rough-sawn timber 

edging is stylistically appropriate and effective for 

directing foot traffic. The entire structure is held on 

piers slightly above native soil level to prevent soil 

compaction. 

•	Refer to the “Roads + Entrance Stations” chapter for 

guidelines on vehicle bridges.

Small-Scale Culvert Crossings

•	The headwall inlets and outlets of small drainages that 

are in public view should be designed of dry-laid or 

mortared stone masonry, boulders, or a single large slab 

of granite, depending on the specific context.

Landscape Retaining Walls and Riprap Slopes

•	 Minimize the need for retaining walls and riprap slopes 

with careful siting and grading.

•	Design retaining walls to reflect the historic, handconstructed walls found in the park, matching any 

nearby examples. Where possible, wall ends should die 

into the adjacent slope. Dry-laid or mortared walls 

constructed of large, fitted Sierra granite boulders 

should be used.

•	Construct riprap slopes with fitted local stone with flat 

face exposures.

•	Retaining wall heights should be kept to the minimum 

possible and should not be uncomfortably high in 

pedestrian areas.

G r a ding + Dr a in age

Early photographs indicate that most builders used 

stepped foundations to adapt buildings to the slope 

rather than changing or flattening the slope. Structures, 

roads, and trails were sited along contours or on flat TOP Wapama Falls footbridge, Hetch Hetchy (2005) RF BOTTOM Cascades cabin, 2003 

(since removed)
U n i f y i n g E l e m e n t s

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or gentle slopes, requiring only minimal grading of the 

natural landform. This has created a pattern of development in the park that harmonizes and blends with the 

natural environment.

G uidelines

•	Design all projects so that buildings, roads, and structures are sited to make use of existing landform. 

Minimize cut and fill to the greatest extent possible.

•	Design finished grading to emulate surrounding landforms and natural drainage patterns. Avoid mechanical 

solutions to manage runoff.

•	Design projects to enhance groundwater recharge 

systems, where soil characteristics permit, using 

strategies such as porous pavements, run-off retention 

areas, and specification of appropriate vegetation.

•	Avoid grading impacts to streams and drainages, 

riparian vegetation, and existing trees.

Barr ie r s , F en c es + B en ch es

Barriers are defined as any system designed to control or 

direct the movement of people and protect natural features without blocking or obscuring views from one side 

of the barrier to the other. Screening, on the other hand, is 

defined as less-solid fencing intended for privacy or to hide 

outdoor materials or areas from view. For purposes of yard 

fencing, trash screening, or control of pets, the park provides prescriptive guidelines for residential spaces.

Barriers may be needed to keep visitors on designated pedestrian pathways and trails and out of sensitive 

soil areas, plant communities, and habitats. Trampling of 

vegetation, compaction of soil, and bank erosion are common in Yosemite National Park, a consequence of the great 

number of visitors to the park each year. A reduction in 

the number of fence types on a single site, both temporary 

and permanent, will help unify the landscape.

Solid fencing is often necessary for both private 

dwellings and visitor services. Lodging units may require 

screens for privacy and to conceal outdoor storage areas. TOP Footbridge BOTTOM Rock-faced culvert
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72 NP S

to 20 inches high, may be incorporated into the edge 

for seating.

•	Typical fences in Yosemite include: zigzag fencing, 

pierced-post fencing, double-post fencing, and post and 

rope fencing. These emphasize hand-crafted simplicity 

and the use of park-sourced materials. Cedar, due to 

its rustic character, longevity, and local abundance, is 

preferred. (Refer to descriptions in following text.)

•	Where temporary barriers are needed, specify a system 

that can easily be dismantled and relocated, such as a 

staggered zigzag type.

Zigzag Fence

Because it requires no posts, zigzag fencing is highly 

adaptable to level ground. Made of split timbers, this 

fencing also imparts a rustic, rural, hand-crafted character. It is constructed of several 12-foot-long split-cedar 

rails, stacked and secured at the joints by a steel reinforcing bar and laid out in a zigzag pattern for stability. 

The design should be used consistently where impacts 

to roots or archeological resources is of concern, such 

as in oak woodlands, sequoia groves, and riparian zones. 

Zigzag fence Pierced-post fence

In addition, such fencing is required to screen the service 

functions associated with receiving and maintenance 

activities.

Benches such as those seen in public spaces today 

were scarce in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 

according to photographs of the time. People in outdoor spaces sat either on indoor chairs that were brought 

outside or on fallen logs, upended log segments, or boulders. Rustic one- and two-sided log benches were shaped 

from large tree trunks by the Civilian Conservation Corps 

in the 1930s. These bench forms still exist in some locations and provide a link to the past. They represent a 

heavy rustic scale and often appear solidly anchored among 

the surrounding towering trees and massive boulders.

G uidelines

Barriers

•	Design planted barriers, on either flat or sloping terrain, on grades raised a minimum of 12 inches from the 

surrounding surface. The edge of the planted barrier 

should be reinforced with nested and partially buried 

native cobbles and boulders. Flat-topped boulders, 16
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The number of rails can be a reflection of the level of use 

being managed.

Pierced-Post Fence (sometimes called Hetch Hetchy)

This design uses six-by-eight-inch split and rough-squared 

cedar posts at normal and low heights, spaced at about 

eight-foot centers. The posts are secured in compacted, 

backfilled holes. The fence can have either one or two 

rails. The rail openings in the posts and the eight-to-tenfoot-long, split-cedar rails imply a degree of woodworking 

and installation skill. This type of fence may therefore be 

appropriate for developed areas as well as timbered areas 

and steep slopes. The low-height version would be appropriate at the edges of newly planted or plant restoration 

areas and near meadows.

Double-Post Fence

The double-post fence is made of split timbers with a 

varying number of rails, depending upon the use and level 

of pedestrian control. Typically, the posts are bolted 

together to support the rails between the posts. Rails are 

typically 12 feet in length but vary depending upon site 

conditions. Often used in conjuction with the zigzag fence, 

double-posts are needed where tight control of pedestrian 

flow is critical, such as along raised paths. The height of 

the fence and the number of rails used is dependent upon 

the intensity of pedestrian use being managed. Doublepost fences are avoided in areas where surface roots (e.g., 

near sequoia trees) or archeological resources are an issue.

Cedar-Post and Rope or Cable Barricade

This design uses two-to-four-foot-tall split-cedar posts, 

spaced about 10 feet apart, and buried 12 inches or more 

in compacted, backfilled post holes. A one-inch diameter 

hole near the top of the post carries a semi-taut galvanized 

cable or hemp rope. This design should be used only where 

a temporary barrier is needed, such as to protect replanted 

or recovering vegetation. The barricade should be removed 

when vegetation has grown sufficiently to act as a barrier. 

Do not use faux materials or plastic-lined cable.

Screen Fences

•	 Locate or consolidate buildings and associated utility 

elements so that the need for screening is reduced 

or eliminated.

•	Vegetation should be considered for use in screening 

before fencing solutions are explored.

•	 Fence heights should be kept to the minimum possible 

to provide screening and protect resources, and should 

not be uncomfortably high in pedestrian areas.

•	 Screen fencing that is an extension of a structure should 

be designed as an integral architectural component, 

using materials of the building where appropriate.

•	Design freestanding screen fencing to blend into the 

natural landscape. Wood, salvaged from NPS vegetation management operations, should be specified when 

available. Fence-panel infill should present a rough, 

textured, opaque look, such as that provided by multiple vertical split-cedar grape-stake units or other 

wood members of a similar scale. Posts may be of 

peeled logs or rough-sawn timbers. Wood selected 

should be naturally aged or painted to remain a dark, 

Cedar-post and rope barricade earth-colored tone such as Wosky brown.

Double-post fence
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74 NP S

•	 Locate and design enclosures for satellite dishes, antennae, and other communications equipment to be as 

hidden as possible from public view, to blend into the 

surroundings, and to avoid an industrial appearance. 

Equipment should be kept lower than the fence-top or 

sited with a building in the background.

Benches

•	Design benches to reflect the Rustic style. Timber, 

salvaged from NPS vegetation management operations, 

should be used when available. Sierra granite is an 

appropriate material for use as pads under benches.

•	 If benches are needed near or within a Mission 66 complex such as Yosemite Lodge, consider a more functional, 

contemporary approach that incorporates materials and 

design compatible with the Mission 66 era.

•	Design benches for shuttle bus stops from heavy, 

rough-milled lumber set on granite pads. Incorporate 

backs and armrests, and design to meet accessibility 

standards. Cluster groups of benches where site conditions allow. Note: The custom redwood bench in use at 

shuttle bus stops in the Valley is an appropriate alternative for highly developed areas such as the Yosemite 

Falls viewing area.

•	Design benches for unsheltered settings using unpeeled 

logs, which contribute a strong rustic character. 

Three types of log benches are recommended: a threequarter-round log with seat and back carved out, set 

on a granite base; a half-round log with no back, set 

on a granite base; and a complete-round log, partially 

buried with no base. Include modest pitch to drain 

water and prolong the life of the bench. Small masonry 

pedestals or board-form concrete may be appropriate 

for the base in addition to granite. 

•	Design individual seats using bucked-up logs at least 

24 inches in diameter and about 18 inches tall, set 

vertically. This type of informal seating may be appropriate around campfires and small amphitheaters.

S ign C har ac te r

Signs are found throughout Yosemite National Park, in 

both densely developed settings like Yosemite Village 

and on trails deep in the remote Yosemite Wilderness. 

In these varied locations, signs have considerable differences in frame and support character, including 

fabrication, size, construction, materials, and function. 

Some signs use a simple style blending natural brown 

colors and embossed features appropriate to the area, 

such as the triangle in the frames of signs at the Indian 

Village and acorns at Lower Yosemite Fall and other 

areas. More rustic signs feature stone pedestals or log 

frames, making them appear to be constructed from 

surrounding materials.

Sign character reflects the different cultural and 

natural settings in which they are sited. The Valley is 

highly developed and has many examples of urban sign 

forms such as prerusted square tubing supports and 

Log barrier at Crane Flat (2004) GH

LEFT Bench with armrest and granite pedestal (2010) RF 

RIGHT Log bench with armrest (2010) RF
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frames. In the Wawona/Chinquapin area, white painted 

buildings contrast dramatically with the dark forest surroundings, suggesting white painted signs with light 

frames and posts. Semiprimitive, lightly developed areas 

such as picnic grounds and trailheads have examples of 

rustic signs constructed of logs and stone. In the NPS 

Rustic Design era, construction elements were oversized 

to produce a greater sense of harmony with the massive 

surrounding landscape of Yosemite.

These guidelines are limited to the visual character 

of sign frames, coverings, supports, and pedestal materials. 

Site factors and sign location are also considered. The 

issues of sign panel design, material typeface, font, lettering, color, and messaging are not dealt with in these 

guidelines. Refer to the Yosemite National Park Long Range 

Interpretive Plan (NPS 2011f ) for more detail on wayside 

exhibits and other interpretive signs. All signs, regardless of function, should project a National Park Service 

style and relate to the special qualities of the site. 

Subgroupings can be related to function, setting, and area.

The basic types of exterior signs include the 

following:

1. Informational. Fees, campground rules, bulletin boards, 

etc., often including international symbols. The sign 

elements themselves may include metal panels with 

white lettering on a brown background, wood panels 

with white routed lettering, and rustic wooden-roofed 

bulletin boards. Examples can be found at the Valley 

Visitor Center, Mariposa Grove, Chinquapin, and at 

the entrances to several campgrounds. 

2. Wayfinding. Trail mileage, directions, etc. at trailheads 

and junctions. Sign elements may include weathered 

metal panels with incised letters and mileages in the 

wilderness areas, as well as the park systemwide Meeker 

sign system: two weathering-steel support legs and 

removable panels featuring maps and messages about 

safety, wilderness travel, and natural and cultural 

resources. In some heavily visited areas or districts such 

as the Lower Yosemite Fall area and Yosemite Village, 

a more specialized system of rustic signs using stone, 

wood, and metal has been designed and installed. 

3. Site Orientation. Area maps with trail system layouts, 

descriptions of features and possible destinations, 

interpretation, and mileages. The standard sign that 

has developed for site orientation at the entrances 

of visitor day use areas is the rustic peeled-log orientation sign with two large-diameter logs holding 

up a horizontal lintel log to frame an information 

panel. Examples can be found at Happy Isles, Glacier 

Point, Hetch Hetchy, Lower Yosemite Fall, and The 

Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Merced Groves of Giant 

Sequoias. Also, a rustic, roofed, wood bulletin board 

can accompany the log site-orientation sign to provide 

additional information. 

4. Interpretation. Wayside exhibits and sculptural or graphic 

depictions of view panoramas at roadside turnouts. 

These signs are typically weathering-steel with inlaid 

porcelain enamel information panels and a tapered 

top Civilian Conservation Corps building benches (c. 1930) YRL bottom Weathering 

steel interpretation sign (2009) DN
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weathering-steel support. In some areas the porcelain enamel panel is set into granite blocks (such as 

at Olmsted Point) in order to minimize the amount 

of visible metal in the granite-dominated setting. 

Embossed patterns in the weathering-steel frame add 

a tactile element. Sculptural wayside exhibits can 

include bronze topographic depictions of features in 

the viewshed and can be seen at Glacier Point, Lower 

Yosemite Fall, Tunnel View, and Half Dome View. 

5. Park Entry Signs and Monuments. Entry signs, log gates, 

and stone pylons. These can be more unique, largescaled, rustic, very visible signs. Examples include the 

log gates at Tioga Pass, stone pylons with wood signs 

that announce “Yosemite National Park” at the park 

boundaries.

6. Highway and Traffic Related. Rules and standards related 

to signs for traffic and highway safety as well as to 

accessibility are not included in these design guidelines 

but may be found in applicable state and federal regulations. However, highway and traffic-related signs should 

be used sparingly, and only when necessary to comply 

with regulations and meet safety goals. 

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 Locate signs to minimize visual clutter; avoid obscuring views of natural, cultural, or historic resources. 

Wherever possible, consolidate messages within a single 

sign frame or system with the same supports and frames.

•	 Locate signs to facilitate maintenance and avoid damage. Signs in snow areas should be placed clear of plow 

zones and snow storage areas.

•	In the design of sign frames, pedestals, or supports, 

consider providing adequate space for the addition of 

more information over time.

•	In the developed areas of Yosemite Valley, signs should 

conform to the standards and character developed for 

Lower Yosemite Fall. Signs in historic properties such 

top left Campground informational sign, Hodgdon Meadow (2008) GH top right Trail 

interpretation sign (2010) RF middle left Granite base for wayfinding sign (2010) RF 

middle right Steel plate wayfinding trail marker (2007) RF bottom Peeled log siteorientation sign (2010) RF
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as Yosemite Village or Curry Village should retain the 

Rustic style or be compatible with the character of 

adjacent historic structures.

•	At Wawona and Chinquapin, signs in the immediate 

vicinity of historic white-painted buildings should 

reflect this special character. Signs at the Wawona campground, Wawona trailheads, and other Wawona or 

Chinquapin facilities that are visually separated from 

white buildings should be treated the same as wilderness 

signs. Material such as river-washed cobbles may be 

appropriate for pedestals when signs are sited close to 

stream, river, or riparian zones.

•	 Signs at entrances to wilderness areas should be 

designed in the Rustic style. Trailhead and view-area 

signs at Tuolumne and Merced Groves are good 

examples. These areas call for the use of unrefined, 

often-oversized, natural materials that are local or give 

such an appearance. The dominant landscape character 

of the immediate surroundings should indicate which 

natural materials are most appropriate. For example, 

sites in forested areas should make use of rough logs or 

timbers. Many site-orientation signs already employ a 

post-and-lintel design consisting of upright log supports 

bridged by equally heavy horizontal members that frame 

the sign board. Thick, routed-wood informational or 

mileage marker signs, on stout, single-log posts, are also 

appropriate at such sites. The structural system of the 

logs, timbers, or stones used to construct the frames and 

supports, as well as the connections (bolts, metal bands, 

etc.), should be clearly expressed (USDA 2007). In 

wilderness areas, prefabricated units, such as prerusted 

steel frames and sign supports, lack a primitive character 

and should not be used.

•	At subalpine or other sites dominated by rock, sign 

pedestals could make use of that material. Trail distance-marker signs with steel panels and posts and 

incised lettering are also appropriate at such sites.

L ig h ting

One of Yosemite’s most profound experiences takes place 

at night, with the darkness of the mountains and the 

Valley walls framing an umbrella of stars. Like other 

natural wonders, the night sky is a diminishing resource 

that Yosemite and other National Parks seek to manage 

and preserve. NPS management policies address the protection of the nighttime environment in parks, termed 

“natural lightscapes.” These natural lightscapes are 

recognized both as an important visitor resource and 

an integral part of the ecosystem.

But these natural lightscapes are seriously threatened by light pollution, even from within the park. The 

pressing concerns of safety and security have for several 

top left Wayside exhibit and seating area, Tuolumne Grove (2007) GH top right

Interpretive sign (2010) RF bottom Arch Rock Entrance pylon (2011) RF
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decades caused a proliferation of electric lighting and a 

corresponding increase in the ambient light level. Indoor 

and outdoor lighting design practices common to commercial developments in urban and suburban areas are 

the principal cause of light pollution in the park. To protect the natural lightscapes, lighting must be designed 

far more carefully than in the past, with lighting used 

only when absolutely needed.

Recognizing its responsibility to address lighting 

issues, Yosemite National Park adopted the Yosemite 

National Park Lighting Guidelines in 2011. This document 

contains a complete set of standards and guidelines created to prevent new sources of light pollution in the 

park and mitigate problems of existing lighting, without 

sacrificing the essential lighting needed to ensure the 

safety of park visitors and staff. Designers should refer to 

this document prior to the start of lighting design work. 

The following is a summary of the lighting guidelines.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 Employ electric lighting only where needed. Appropriate 

locations include public walkways, parking lots, and 

access ramps where normal night use, safety, security, 

and/or accessibility are essential. Specific locations 

include building entrances/exits, steps or changes in 

elevation between buildings and parking lots or major 

trails, and parking lots adjacent to night-activity centers. Outdoor work areas, such as service or storage 

yards, should be carefully evaluated for the need for 

illumination. In general, do not illuminate drives, 

roads, or streets except for shuttle bus stops or intersections where cross-traffic involving pedestrians is a 

significant safety concern.

•	Avoid landscape lighting and architectural lighting 

such as building floodlighting. Do not provide any outdoor lighting for wilderness or backcountry locations 

unless absolutely necessary.

•	Design lighting systems that produce an absolute minimum of glare and intrusion on the night. Without 

exception, use fully shielded lighting gear. Avoid 

floodlights, lanterns, post-top globes, and any other 

luminaire that emits light other than downward.

•	As a general rule, luminaires should be mounted atop 

poles no more than 12 feet tall and strategically located 

to be protected from snow plowing equipment, with 

a maximum mounting height of 20 feet for parking 

lots and other areas. Use low-wattage sources with 

warm-toned lamps. A specific indirect LED luminaire 

is strongly recommended for most applications.

•	Accent lighting, when used, should be aimed downward and be equipped with long “snoot” shields 

to prevent obtrusive light. Minimize light cast onto 

building walls, and illuminate steps from directly 

above as much as possible.

Night sky in Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point (2003) NPS-DD
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•	Uniform illumination is generally not required except 

for universally accessible areas such as stairs or building entrances. Pathway lighting should consist of a 

very low-level “pool” of light, if at all.

•	 Lighting systems should be attractive, consistent 

with the architecture, and preferably innocuous. Use 

long-life, naturally-weathering materials or materials 

designed to minimize degradation, such as composite 

or Wosky brown powdercoated aluminum poles, granite and concrete bollards, and treated wooden poles. 

Seek timelessness in style and mounting.

•	 Locate lighting systems where they will not be damaged. 

Avoid conventional bollard lights and similar systems 

that can be easily damaged by people and wildlife. 

Consider snow and its removal in determining lighting 

designs and mounting heights.

•	Use energy-efficient luminaires with the lowest possible wattage for each application. In general, lighting 

systems should be LED with permanently installed 

and heat-sinked 2,700–3,000K sources. Due to the 

potential for excessive glare, LED luminaires should 

be indirect or employ a diffusing lens. In some cases, 

luminaires may employ ceramic metal halide or compact fluorescent lamps.

•	Design interior lighting to prevent light from spilling 

outdoors. Use adaptation compensating controls to 

reduce interior-light levels at night, which minimizes 

exterior spill and permits lower exterior-light levels. 

Aim lights away from windows and skylights.

Lamp post in Yosemite Village (1928) YRL
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found in informal groupings with generous open space 

around them, sited to capture views or winter sun 

exposure where possible.

Each developed area has a unique site layout that 

influences its architectural character. Curry Village is 

laid out in a band along the base of a talus slope. The 

visitor service buildings are organized around a central 

public space, flanked by tents and cabins carefully integrated with the slopes, boulders, and trees. Yosemite 

Lodge has a campus layout, with lodging buildings 

dispersed around the visitor service complex. Yosemite 

Village began as a group of buildings around a rectangular open space. The open space was later extended into a 

linear pedestrian precinct to incorporate additional visitor 

service buildings. The Ahwahnee stands in splendid 

isolation from other developed areas in the Valley, set on 

the edge of a meadow against the backdrop of Valley 

walls. The Wawona Hotel, on a gentle slope above the 

Wawona Road, offers quiet and solitude for visitors coming 

to and from the more active Valley. Glacier Point at the 

Valley rim, some 3,500 feet above the Valley floor, is 

closely defined at the forest edge as a linear promenade 

with sweeping vistas of the Valley, Yosemite Wilderness, 

and Sierra Nevada crest to the east. Tuolumne Meadows, 

a dramatic subalpine location, is flanked with small areas 

of development mostly tucked into the forest edge overlooking the meadows.

A unique example of sensitivity to setting was 

displayed in John Muir’s hang-nest—his small, box-like 

home fastened beneath the gable of James Hutchings’ 

sawmill. Muir wrote, “The hole in the roof is to command a view of the glorious South [Half] Dome...There 

Mother Curry Bungalow, Curry Village

•	Installing luminaires and feeder lines on trees is 

not appropriate.

•	Internally illuminated vending machines shall 

not be illuminated at night.

•	 Signs should not be illuminated.

De v e l op ed A r e a s

S iting + B uilding O r ient ati o n

Ideally, buildings in Yosemite are sited to harmonize and 

blend with the landscape, placed in ways that respect 

major features, natural open spaces, drainages, trees, and 

boulders. In addition to visible features, buried archeological sites and other less-apparent, sensitive natural 

resources must be taken into consideration when siting 

buildings.

Many major developed areas in Yosemite are organized around a central outdoor space with views of 

scenic features. Traditionally, the important interior 

spaces of public buildings are also oriented toward views. 

Smaller buildings, such as lodgings and residences, are 

John Muir’s sketch of his hang nest at Hutchings’ Saw Mill (ca. 1871) from John Muir in 

Yosemite by Shirley Sargent
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to the requirements of sound attenuation between 

lodging units to preserve the opportunity to enjoy 

natural sounds.

Visual privacy depends on the relationship between 

indoor and outdoor spaces. Guests should have a degree 

of separation from people in the adjacent outdoor spaces, 

and passersby should not feel that they intrude on guests 

enjoying the view from their rooms or balconies.

G uidelines

•	Designers should provide a pre-design analysis that 

identifies existing site spatial organization, positive 

and negative site characteristics, and natural, cultural, 

and archeological resources and data provided by park 

staff. Major views, site features, advantageous topography, and opportunities for appropriate solar orientation 

should be noted for potential incorporation into site 

Rangers’ Club at the edge of Cook’s Meadow, Yosemite Village (2004) GH

is a corresponding skylight on the side of the roof which 

commands a full view of the Upper Yosemite Falls, and 

the window at the end has a view sweeping down the 

Valley among the pines and cedars and silver firs.” He 

recounted as well the “murmuring hush of the water 

below” and the window in the roof that allowed him to 

“look at the stars on calm nights” (Johnston 1971).

The siting and orientation of buildings can take 

advantage of both silence and the sounds of nature. The 

sounds of waterfalls and wildlife are key aspects of the 

visitor experience. In spring and early summer, waterfalls can be heard throughout the Valley, and they can be 

enjoyed from a private balcony or a dining terrace. With 

increased visitation and its attendant traffic, humanmade noise has disrupted natural silence and sounds. 

Unnatural noise intrusion can also occur indoors between 

guest rooms in lodging areas. Attention should be given 
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design and building orientation. The pre-design analysis 

should also note areas such as meadows that may provide view opportunities and natural sounds, such as 

waterfalls but must not be impacted by development.

•	During the schematic design phase, designers should 

indicate how the location of public- and private-use 

structures have taken advantage of the site opportunities, avoided negative impacts, and minimized the 

overall impacts of the planned development.

A rch ite c tu r a l C har ac te r

The architectural character of the older developments— 

such as Curry Village and Yosemite Village—established 

rustic design in Yosemite Valley. NPS Rustic style buildings were designed to blend with their natural setting, 

using materials and colors found in the landscape. The 

early buildings and structures at Camp Curry, including 

the welcome sign, the registration building, Mother 

Curry’s bungalow, and the Foster Curry cabin, are distinguished by simple roof forms, wood shingle roofs, and 

unpeeled logs. Many of the buildings in Yosemite Village 

make use of local materials found in the landscape and 

handcrafted construction techniques. The Ahwahnee 

combines rustic design with contemporary technology. 

Its facades are composed of granite-clad piers that are 

joined by concrete infill walls stained and formed to simulate wood. Other rustic elements include low-slope hipped 

roofs, exposed concrete roof framing elements designed 

to simulate wood rafters, board-formed concrete simulating 

wood siding, wood windows arranged in regular patterns, 

and natural colors.

Buildings in the upper reaches of the park respond 

to their particular high-altitude remote environment. 

Important early rustic buildings include the Geology Hut 

at Glacier Point, Parsons Memorial Lodge, Tioga Pass 

Entrance Station, and the historic comfort stations 

TOP + bottom Cascades cabins, 2003 (since removed) 
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designed by NPS landscape architect John Wosky at 

Tuolumne Meadows. All of these are noteworthy examples 

of masonry construction and classic alpine architecture. 

Later architecture in Yosemite Valley departed 

dramatically from the Rustic tradition. The buildings at 

Yosemite Lodge, completed in 1956, were built in the 

Mission 66 style. The registration building, lounge, 

cafeteria, restaurant, and souvenir shop buildings are 

distinguished by steel-frame construction and large 

expanses of glass. Their goal was sturdy, low-maintenance, permanent structures that could serve the 

modern-day needs of the traveling public on a large 

scale (McClelland 1998).

G uidelines

•	 For the design of new structures within a historic 

property, designers should consult The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties

for guidance to ensure compatibility. •	Designers should analyze the architectural character 

of a developed area and identify the unique response 

to the natural setting that guided the original development. When building in developed areas, continue 

the essence of the spatial order, massing, and character 

using compatible forms, materials, and color.

•	Designers should seek inspiration from the rich 

examples of rustic design that exist in the park, 

and develop contemporary expressions employing 

rustic principles. Design buildings to blend in with 

their natural setting. Employ the colors, texture, 

and materials found in the surrounding landscape.

•	If designing within a Mission 66 complex such as 

Yosemite Lodge, consider a more functional, contemporary approach that incorporates materials and 

design compatible with the Mission 66 era facility.

•	Designers should specify natural or natural-looking 

material such as wood, stone, or concrete. Natural 

weathering of wood is a basic characteristic of rustic 

The Ahwahnee with backdrop of cliff to north (2004) GH

Rustic porch, Yosemite Village (2008) GH
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B uilding Sh ap e + Ma ssing

Simple building forms are found throughout Yosemite 

National Park. These buildings are designed to blend with 

their natural surroundings and serve as backdrops for park 

activities. The historic approach to shape and massing for 

large buildings has been to limit the size of each building and accommodate program requirements in a series 

of linked structures. Simple rectangular shapes and rustic 

details help to further reduce the scale of large buildings. 

Use of building elements that surround portions of a 

building, such as verandahs, porches, roof dormers, and 

raised terraces, break down the mass of a large building, 

for example the Annex at the Wawona Hotel.

Orientation of rooms or major spaces that depart 

from the overall organization of the plan give emphasis to the importance of the natural world beyond. For 

example, the axis of the dining room at The Ahwahnee 

was adjusted from the building’s overall plan arrangement to take advantage of views of Upper Yosemite Fall.

In general, buildings within the developed areas 

of the park have been designed with consistent shape 

and massing. Features vary within a restrained vocabulary of rustic forms. An example of this can be found in 

the three early buildings in the Yosemite Village administrative center—the NPS administration building, the 

museum, and the post office.

Geology Hut, Glacier Point (2008) RF

Roof detail, comfort station, Tuolumne Meadows Campground (2008) GH

architecture making wood a preferred material. Boardformed concrete has historical precedent in Yosemite 

Valley and is an appropriate construction technique 

for new buildings. However, avoid imitation of natural 

materials, such as concrete made to look like stone.

•	If composite materials are used, they should be 

plain-surfaced, not grain-simulated. Stains and paint 

applications should be carefully selected to blend 

with the building’s natural surroundings.
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G uidelines

•	The size and massing of structures should be designed 

to reflect and enhance the immediate natural or historic 

setting. Balance between the functional requirements 

of the building and the capacity of the site must be 

maintained. Where a program calls for a large floor area, 

that area should be broken down into logical elements 

that fit the site, keeping in mind that too many small 

outbuildings could detract from the overall massing of 

buildings.

•	 Plan shapes should be rectangular, with variations 

from the basic shape generated by the programmatic 

requirements.

•	The height of new buildings should not be radically 

different from adjacent, existing structures.

R oo f For m + Mate r i a ls

Although a wide range of roof forms are found throughout Yosemite National Park, each developed area is unified 

by a predominant roof form, material, and detailing. The 

most common roof is a simple gable, usually of medium 

pitch, with moderate overhangs. Steeper roof pitches 

are sometimes combined with dormers. Less common are 

hipped roofs, found at The Ahwahnee and Curry Village, 

and jerkinhead roofs, formerly found at Yosemite Lodge 

and other areas.

Exposed roof sheathing and framing is seen consistently throughout the park. Rough-sawn framing 

members and decking weather well, and their use provides architectural consistency in developed areas. 

Overscaled, wood framing elements were employed 

during the Rustic period, and these same principles 

can be used today to establish rustic character.

TOP LEFT Mountain Shop clerestory at Curry Village BOTTOM LEFT Museum, Yosemite Village (2004) GH RIGHT Small building with jerkinhead roof, near Yosemite Lodge (2004) GH
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Historically, roofs in the park were clad with wood 

shingles or shakes, with the exception of The Ahwahnee, 

which has a slate roof. On historic buildings with wood 

shingle roofs, wood replacement shingles are used. Asphalt 

shingles are commonly used on newer structures to 

satisfy fire protection requirements of a Class A fireresistant roof.

Metal roofing has little precedent in Yosemite 

Valley and is not an appropriate replacement material for 

historic buildings. It has been used to a limited extent 

in Yosemite Village at the maintenance buildings and 

the dorms at Lower Tecoya. Metal roofs are found in 

the remote higher elevations where heavy snowfall and 

fire are important issues. Metal is less appropriate in 

Valley locations because of its reflectivity when viewed 

from a distance, especially from the surrounding cliffs. 

Weathering metal and durable coatings can address this 

concern for excess reflectivity. Careful site review of 

these issues is required.

G uidelines

•	 Schematic design of roofs should consider compatibility with existing structures, the use of simple 

geometry, the incorporation of dormers to break 

down the scale of a large roof, and provision of usable 

interior space, sheltering of primary entries, and protection of exterior walkways from roof drainage.

•	Roofs should be designed to provide protection and 

shading for windows. The specification of tinted 

Superintendent’s House (Residence 1), Yosemite Valley (1942) YRL-RA
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glazing is inappropriate due to incompatibility with 

historic structures and because of the distortion it 

causes to natural colors in the views.

•	Asphalt shingles are an acceptable roof material for 

new buildings. Asphalt shingles that are complementary to those on existing (and in many cases historic) 

buildings in terms of color, texture, and thickness of 

the edge should be specified.

•	When circumstances require a metal roof, it should be 

a standing seam roof treated with a nonreflective coating in an approved color. Refer to the “Huts, Cabins 

+ High Sierra Camps” chapter for guidelines on metal 

roofs in the high country.

•	Roof accessories and structures such as chimneys 

and mechanical equipment should be combined, 

where they are less visible, and should be placed to 

allow snow movement. Recommended details include 

exposed framing elements with rough-sawn texture.

•	Clerestory windows and skylights are useful for letting daylight penetrate interior spaces. Their location 

and detailing should recognize the hazards of snow 

and ice accumulation and potential for moisture 

penetration.

B uilding E x te r i or s

The use of natural weathering materials, such as wood 

and stone, on a building exterior establishes a visual 

connection between the building and the natural setting. The major components of a building’s exterior are 

the walls, base, windows, entrances, and porches.

Facade design should strive for compatibility with 

adjacent buildings as well as the natural setting. Many 

of the historical facade patterns that have been used in 

the park, including resawn boards, shingles, or shakes, 

are appropriate for new buildings.

Walls

Wood used for wall siding, columns (either logs or sawn 

timbers), and exposed roof framing is common throughout the park. A variety of wood wall siding material is 

used, including sugar pine shakes, redwood and cedar 

shingles, vertical board and batten, and horizontal board 

patterns. Select wood species for their ability to withstand the elements. Siding patterns often change between 

the first and second floors. Boards are typically rough 

sawn. Wood with resawn texture creates a rustic surface 

that blends surface blemishes. The texture can vary from 

rough-sawn, found in the beginning stages of the milling 

process, to fine-sawn. Since the 1920s and 1930s, different 

protective finishes were used for wood siding, including 

clear oil, clear stains, and paint. While these finishes continue to be used today, pigmented coatings have become 

the most reliable long-term protection.

Detail of Administration Building, Yosemite Village
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Granite masonry has often been used as foundation 

cladding or as a rusticated lower-story wall. At The 

Ahwahnee, stone was used extensively to clad the massive piers that rise the full height of the building. Parsons 

Memorial Lodge in Tuolumne Meadows and the Geology 

Hut at Glacier Point demonstrate how native granite can 

create a strong visual connection to the boulders and 

cliffs in the immediate background.

Base

The protected base or weathering base is an important 

unifying element for buildings in Yosemite. It is not only 

a character-defining feature, but also a functional element that extends the life of the lower wall cladding. 

A base of natural weathered rock similar to that found 

in the adjacent landscape visually anchors the building 

to the ground and protects vulnerable upper walls from 

accumulated snow and wind-driven rain splash.

The protected base has historical precedent in 

Yosemite Village, Curry Village, and the CCC Mess Hall 

at Tuolumne Meadows. Contemporary treatments have 

been used at Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village employee 

housing.

In Yosemite Village, stone masonry clads the entire 

ground floor of the museum, the post office, and the 

administration building. This treatment visually lowers 

the overall height of the buildings. Concrete formed 

by rough-sawn boards results in a strong textured surface. This technique has been used extensively at The 

Ahwahnee and also at the extension of the Mountain 

Room Restaurant at Yosemite Lodge. At Tuolumne 

Meadows, the CCC Mess Hall is an excellent example 

of the masonry protected base.

Windows, Entrance, and Porches

Window size and design will vary due to functional and 

architectural requirements. Scale and proportion should 

be more vertical than horizontal. Lodging and residential 

buildings require more modestly scaled windows than 

public buildings. Divided lights are not required but 

Detail of Medical Clinic, Yosemite Village (2004) GH Historic residence, Yosemite Village
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may be appropriate for compatibility in historic properties. Use windows divided into small lights when single 

glazing is possible. When double glazing is required by 

energy conservation standards, be careful that the scale 

of muntins does not become bulky.

The entrances of major public buildings are often 

identified as important elements of the facade through 

the use of porches and verandahs. These elements give 

additional form to the facade, indicate to visitors the 

location of the entrances, and offer protection from 

the weather. Smaller buildings frequently incorporate 

modest porches or shed roofs over entrance doors.

The use of color to blend structures with their natural setting is an important principle. Historically, NPS 

buildings have been stained or painted a standard brown 

color, and their roofs have had unpainted wood shingles.

G uidelines

•	Design facades to be compatible both with the prevailing architectural character of the area and with 

adjacent structures and the natural setting.

•	Arrangements of doors and windows should follow regular patterns and also respond to interior requirements. 

Window proportions and sizes in the commercial buildings should be more generous than those of guestquarter buildings. Wood windows and glazed wood 

doors with generous lights are recommended.

•	Tinted glazing is inappropriate due to incompatibility 

with historic structures and because it mutes and 

distorts colors.

•	Building entries must be clearly defined, and easily 

accessible, and must provide protection from the 

weather. An entrance accessed through a porch or 

verandah allows a gracious transition to the outdoors.

•	Design buildings with a minimum base of 20 inches 

above grade of either granite or board-formed concrete 

to ensure protection from rain splash and snow buildup.

•	 For new construction, designers should specify granite 

with the same composition, color, and texture as the 

granite in the immediate setting. Small quantities of 

Sierra granite may be available as a result of other projects within the park. When possible, use weathered 

granite.

•	Use granite in places where it will have the most visual 

impact. It may well be that the most appropriate use 

will be in interior spaces, such as for fireplaces.

•	 Exposed framing such as rafters should be sized more 

generously than for conventionally framed buildings.

Color

Color used on buildings has an important role in reducing 

the intrusion of buildings and structures into the natural 

environment of the park. The NPS architect Albert H. 

Good was an early advocate of incorporating color that 

occurs in nature and employing colors dominant in the 

immediate surroundings of buildings as a basis for their 

color. Generally, warm browns were recommended for 

“retiring a wood building in a wooded or partially wooded 

setting” (McClelland 1998). John Wosky, a NPS landscape 

architect in the 1930s, advocated the use of a warm brown 

color for most park service structures in Yosemite. NPS 

buildings and structures throughout the park soon became 

unified by their use of “Wosky brown.”

Accent color gives relief and detail to an overall 

subdued rustic character. Typically used are dark blackgreen, dark umber, warm white, and charcoal grey.

Accent colors applied to sash and doors offer relief 

to an overall monotone. Stain color on various elements 

of a building can articulate the overall image; a subtle 

difference between beams and sheathing can articulate 

the roof soffit; likewise, columns and frame members 

may provide contrast to shingles and siding. Consider all 

elements of the exterior as opportunities to establish an 

overall palette for the building. These include elements 

such as masonry, ironwork, and hardware.

left Exterior wall of 

Administration Building, 

Yosemite Village (2004) 

GH right Roof framing and wall treatment, 

CCC Mess Hall, Tuolumne 

Meadows (2007) GH 
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Colors found in the park vary from white (warm), 

dark green, dark burgundy, dark red oxides, and the 

reliable Wosky brown. The Ahwahnee has a special and 

distinct color palette that should be reserved for it alone.

The white structures in Wawona, White Wolf, and 

Chinquapin are in stark contrast to the rustic color 

palette found throughout the rest of the park. These 

buildings, located outside of Yosemite Valley, provide a 

cultural link to the nearby foothill communities with 

their predominately white buildings. (Refer to the discussion of the Wawona Hotel Complex in the “Wawona” 

chapter for more details.) Although deliberately temporal, the white canvas tent cabins of the High Sierra 

Camps and the general store and employee housing at 

Tuolumne Meadows fit easily with the late summer snow 

patches and the grey and white granite landscape.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Designers must evaluate the building context to establish a color palette for the project in the early stages 

of work. Identify colors and material textures that will 

assist in the blending of the structure with the surrounding landscape and development. Palettes should 

be limited to one or two general colors with additional 

colors used to designate important project areas. Accent 

color should be used to provide relief and detail to 

an overall subdued rustic character. Typically used 

are dark black-green, dark umber, warm white, and 

charcoal grey.

•	Designers should continue the use of white canvas, 

as established at the High Sierra Camps and the 

Tuolumne Meadows store, for any new canvas buildings or cabins. Continue the use of painted doors and 

framing in the same color as in the established tradition.

•	Carefully evaluate the setting for buildings in the High 

Sierra. Tioga Pass Entrance Station is a good example 

of building color and texture blending with the natural 

surroundings. Located in a spare, boulder-strewn position at the edge of the timberline, the station makes 

generous use of masonry in the sidewalls, establishing a 

strong connection to the adjacent landscape—the walls 

seem to emerge from the hillside. The wood framing 

elements found in the nearby landscape are treated with 

a warm stain color that is harmonious with the adjacent landscape and the masonry construction.

•	In some areas, color has been used to establish an identity for a site. The light green shutters are an unusual 

application at The Ahwahnee. While variations on 

color can be pleasing, color should be used with 

restraint to achieve harmony with the natural setting.

“In these great areas the landscape architect and the architect 

must approach their problems with humility. In the natural 

areas the landsape work is done. The landscape architect is in 

the position of placing intrusions (for human convenience) 

in the natural picture, knowing full well the landscape will 

be less perfect when he is through. The architect must subdue 

his design [so] that the work of man will not attempt to 

dominate that of nature. Likewise, in historical areas they 

must endeavor to let the past dominate the present. Their task 

is a delicate one.” tom vint, chief architect, nps 

western region landscape engineering division, 

ca. 1930 (nps 1989c)
Y o s e m i t e V a l l e y
Overleaf Sentinel Rock and Rangers’ Club after snowstorm (1935) YRL-RA

Y OSEMITE V ALLE Y

S e t t i n g 93

D e v e l o p e d A r e a s 98

Y o s e m i t e V i l l a g e 101

C u r r y V i l l a g e 119

T h e A h w a h n e e 137

Y o s e m i t e L o d g e 143

H o u s e k e e p i n g C a m p 155
 93

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

Y osemite valley

The Yosemite Valley landscape is the result of a long and complex 

history of interactions between natural systems and human influences. 

Today it is the landscape record of one of the most ambitious and historically significant experiments in the preservation of “natural” scenery ever 

attempted. The Valley floor landscape as a whole is nationally significant in 

the themes of outdoor recreation, tourism, and conservation. Since 1864, 

Yosemite has been an archetype for the preservation of scenic places through 

their development as public parks.

S e t t i n g

Yosemite Valley is one of the most familiar and scenic places in the 

American West, and perhaps the most famous glacially carved valley in 

the world. Within its modest seven square miles are what many consider 

to be the greatest concentration of natural wonders in the world. Yosemite 

Valley boasts numerous waterfalls, ranging from the windblown cascade 

of Bridalveil Fall to thundering Nevada and Vernal falls as they drop more 

than 900 feet over two gigantic, glacially carved granite steps. The Valley 

includes many of the highest waterfalls in the world. Yosemite Falls, the 

highest falls on the continent, descends 2,425 feet. The Valley is bounded 

by sheer cliffs, spires, domes, and imposing granite monoliths. These monoliths include Half Dome, a massive dome with one side seemingly sheared 

off, and El Capitan, standing guard at the entrance to the Valley and 

attracting rock climbers to one of the largest exposed-granite cliff faces 

in the world.

the cultural processes of defining sacred space, of turning land into landscape, and 

of making a wild place into a public park, have made yosemite valley one of the most 

culturally significant natural places in america. the significance of the cultural 

landscape of yosemite cannot be described or assessed apart from its significance as 

a natural landscape. the distinction between what is natural and what is artificial 

is rarely clear in yosemite valley. the valley floor landscape is a unity that combines 

the pastoral and the awesome, the cultural and the natural, the indian and the european, the past and the present. yosemite valley historic district nomination • 2004
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The unparalleled drama of these (and many other) 

features is set on a stage of serene and pastoral beauty. 

The dazzling juxtaposition of the calm, parklike setting 

and nearly incomprehensible grandeur has made Yosemite 

one of the most visited, described, and depicted places 

in the world. Many have attested that descriptions and 

photographs are inadequate to fully convey the magnificence of the setting. “I sit in a kind of delicious dream, 

the scenery unconsciously mingling with my dream,” 

rhapsodizes Joseph LeConte, University of California 

geology professor, in his Yosemite trip journal during his 

first trip in 1870.“I have heard and read much of this 

wonderful valley, but I can truly say I have never imagined the grandeur of the reality” (LeConte 1875). 

The Valley is set in the south-central portion of

Yosemite National Park, which is on the western slope 

of the central Sierra Nevada Mountains. Oriented in an 

east–west direction, the Valley is about 7 miles long and 

0.5 to 1 mile wide. Elevations along the Valley floor range 

between 3,800 feet and 4,200 feet above sea level. The 

exceptionally sheer and nearly vertical walls of Yosemite 

Valley rise up to 4,000 feet from the almost-level Valley 

floor. The Valley floor itself is a relatively flat floodplain, 

through which the Merced River winds, flanked by open 

meadows and forests of oaks and pines.

Yosemite Valley was formed over a period of millions of years, first by the waters of the ancient Merced 

River as the Sierra Nevada Mountains were uplifted 

and then by several advances of glaciers that scraped and 

carved away the weaker portions of the walls of the upper 

Merced River canyon. When the climate warmed and 

the glaciers receded, they left behind a U-shaped Valley 

with almost vertical sculpted granite walls rising above 

a shallow Lake Yosemite. This ancient lake eventually 

filled with sediment to form the flat floodplain seen today.

Valley Walls

Rising dramatically from the Valley floor are sheer walls 

of granite. Formed in a distinctive U-shape by three 

major glacial periods, these cliffs are visible from almost 

Yosemite Falls from Yosemite Lodge

every point in the Valley. Perhaps the most dramatic 

spatial characteristic of this landscape as a whole is the 

narrowness of Yosemite Valley in relation to the height 

of the walls enclosing it. The approximately 1:3 to 2:3

vertical–horizontal ratio creates a highly unusual landscape that has historically influenced the location of 

development in the Valley.

The often-overwhelming visual impact of the flat 

Valley floor contrasted with the sheer cliffs (especially 

the east–west views in the narrow section of the Valley) 

has for more than a century attracted painters and 

photographers to capture their effects. This powerful 

combination imposes a dominant presence from almost 

any point in the Valley.

The Valley walls provide a powerful context and 

backdrop for buildings placed on the Valley floor. Many 

historic buildings, such as The Ahwahnee, were designed 

but no temple made with hands can compare with yosemite. every rock 

in its walls seems to glow with life. some lean back in majestic repose; 

others, absolutely sheer or nearly so for thousands of feet, advance 

beyond their companions in thoughtful attitudes, give welcome to 

storms and calms alike, seemingly unaware, yet heedless, of everything 

going on about them. john muir • the yosemite • 1912
REGIONAL MAP

100 200 300
Horsetail 

Fall

Big Oak Flat Road

Wawona Road

YOSEMITE VALLEY MAP

VICINITY MAP

10 20 40
Y o s e m i t e V a l l e y

 95

and sited with the cliffs as a backdrop. Curry Village, by 

virtue of its small buildings, does not compete with its 

awesome setting but celebrates the difference in scale.

Because of the geological forces that have shaped 

the Valley, the surrounding cliffs present a constant and 

unpredictable danger of rockfall. Periodic rockfall in 

Yosemite Valley is caused by freeze–thaw periods and 

earthquakes, among other factors. Rockfall has created 

steep talus slopes on layers of colluvium in many locations along each side of the Valley.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New buildings near or within direct view lines to cliffs 

in Yosemite Valley should incorporate these views as 

part of the visual context of the building.

•	New buildings near the cliffs should address the issues 

of building scale and massing in the context of the 

steep and dramatic cliffs.

•	 Public gathering spaces, where possible and appropriate, should be oriented to views of the Valley walls as 

well as the landmark peaks and monolithic forms, such 

as Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, and Royal Arches.

•	New housing or lodging near the rockfall zone must be 

built in accordance with Yosemite National Park rockfall guidelines.

Wate rf alls

Yosemite Valley contains a number of magnificent waterfalls that have through time been a major attraction. Each 

spring, the falls and rapids draw throngs of visitors to 

Yosemite, Vernal, Nevada, and Bridalveil falls, as well as 

to smaller waterfalls throughout the Valley.

In Yosemite Valley, developments and buildings have 

been sited around views of Yosemite Falls. As early as the 

late 1800s, vegetation was cleared to preserve these views. 

The plaza in Yosemite Village is oriented toward a view of 

Upper Yosemite Fall. The Ahwahnee dining room and the 

Mountain Room at Yosemite Lodge both feature views of 

Yosemite Falls. Trails provide views of Upper and Lower 

Y o s e m i t e V a l l e y

Yosemite Falls from Yosemite Village

Yosemite Falls and the Middle 

Cascades from many different 

vantage points.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Designers should orient buildings, public open spaces, 

public roadways, pedestrian trails, and gathering places 

to provide views of the waterfalls, when feasible and 

appropriate.

•	 Manage plant communities through prescribed burning, 

pruning, and removal to maintain views to waterfalls, 

including important views from main roads. Refer to the 

Vegetation Management Plan (NPS 1997) and vegetation 

studies for specific areas of Yosemite Valley for more 

information. Seek guidance from the park’s Scenic Vista 

Management Plan Environmental Assessment (NPS 2011d).

Evening Glow at Yosemite Falls, 

Chiura Obata, woodcut print, 1930
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

96 NP S

•	Designers should consider protecting and enhancing 

winter views of waterfalls when developing landscape 

and planting plans.

•	Refer also to the “Vegetation” and “Scenic View” 

sections in this chapter.

V e g etatio n

Natural vegetation in Yosemite Valley can be grouped 

into four major communities: mixed conifer, oak woodlands, riparian, and meadow. Mixed conifer communities 

border the Valley in higher and drier zones and cover 

almost half of the Valley floor. Oak woodlands are composed of California black oaks and live oaks. Live oak 

communities are found on upland areas as well as drier 

parts of the talus slopes. Riparian vegetation along the 

Merced River includes willows, black cottonwood, and 

white alder. At the edge of the meadow, between meadow 

and forest, lies a zone of mixed-height vegetation, including low shrubs and small trees. The vegetation in this 

area is dense and varied, and it provides an important 

habitat for many forms of wildlife.

Sentinel Rock from Camp 4 with Big Columbine and Little Columbine boulders in 

the foreground 

As long as people have lived in Yosemite Valley, the 

meadows have been managed in one form or another. 

American Indians burned the meadows to make it easier 

to flush out game and forage for seeds and acorns. Later, 

the meadows were used by settlers for agriculture and 

grazing. Nonnative vegetation (trees, shrubs, and grasses) 

was introduced by early park settlers for orchards and 

farming. By 1888 the commissioners of Yosemite Valley 

issued a policy for management of the meadows that 

would restore the landscape to its 1851 appearance. 

Fire management was discontinued in the 1850s, which 

encouraged the encroachment of pines and cedars into 

the meadows. Through the early 1900s, pasturage was 

limited in the meadows to ensure that the grasses and 

flowers had time to seed. Blasting of a glacial moraine in 

1879 near El Capitan may have contributed to a drop 

in groundwater level, causing meadows to become drier, 

and allowing for the encroachment of conifers, which, in 

turn, shaded out the black oaks. Today the watering of 

vegetation in residential areas negatively affects native 

oak trees.

Southeast elevation of The Ahwahnee
Y o s e m i t e V a l l e y

 97

In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps altered 

vegetation throughout Yosemite Valley. With the goal of 

opening up vistas, screening buildings, and improving the 

appearance of developed areas, CCC crews transplanted, 

pruned, and removed vegetation. Close to building foundations, they planted a variety of native, nonnative, and 

non-Valley species. 

During the 1970s, there was a significant encroachment of plants—mostly conifers—into the meadows. 

In some cases, trees have grown large enough to block 

important scenic views. Although the meadows have 

been reduced by almost 50% since the 19th century, 

they remain an important landscape feature, providing 

crucial foreground for spectacular vistas of surrounding 

Tent cabins at Curry Village

monuments and sanctuary for rodents, animals, reptiles, 

birds, and insects.

The Vegetation Management Plan recognizes that 

vegetation is “dynamic in form and function,” and that 

the complexity of “plant communities, cultural landscapes, human impacts, development, and management 

zoning” in the Valley must be taken into consideration. 

The changing pattern of plants on the Valley floor also 

reflects the fact that the Merced River has meandered 

across the width of the Valley for thousands of years.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 For guidelines regarding Valley vegetation, refer to 

“Setting—Vegetation” in the “Unifying Elements” 

chapter.

from the margin of these glorious forests the first general view of the valley is to 

be gained—a revelation in landscape affairs that enriches ones life forever. entering the valley, gazing overwhelmed with the multitude of grand objects around us, 

perhaps the first to fix our attention will be bridal veil, a beautiful waterfall on 

our right. its brow, where it first leaps free from the cliff, is about 90 0 feet above 

us; and as it sways and sings in the wind, clad in gauzy, sun-sifted spray, half falling, 

half floating, it seems infinitely gentle and fine; but the hymns it sings tell the 

solemn fateful power hidden beneath its soft clothing. john muir • the yosemite • 1912
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

98 NP S

Dev e l op ed A r e a s

Because of its unique scenic beauty and the attraction it 

holds for tourists, Yosemite Valley—particularly at the 

eastern end—has been the focus of most of the development in Yosemite National Park. Six main areas present 

the highest density of development and range of visitor 

facilities. These include Yosemite Lodge, Yosemite 

Village, The Ahwahnee, Housekeeping Camp, Curry 

Village, and the campground areas.

Yosemite Village is the heart of visitor facilities in 

the Valley and is at the northernmost edge of the developed valley, between Yosemite Lodge and The Ahwahnee. 

Northside Drive delineates the area boundary to the 

south, and the canyon walls bound the area to the north. 

The Village area is bounded by the Ahwahnee Meadow 

and the easternmost channel of Yosemite Creek. The concentrated development in Yosemite Village accommodates 

a constant throng of visitors. The Village contains the 

main visitor center of the park, a museum, a re-created 

Indian Village and garden, a historic cemetery, a medical 

clinic, commercial enterprises, food services, employee 

housing, recreation facilities, park and concessioner 

administrative offices, maintenance facilities, and 

Cabins at Housekeeping Camp

institutional facilities such as an elementary school, a 

childcare center, a magistrate court, a public garage, and 

a post office. The western portion of Yosemite Village 

includes a neighborhood of rustic, mostly single-family 

units; the park administration building; the museum; 

the Rangers’ Club; the post office; and the Ansel 

Adams Gallery.

To the west of Yosemite Village, within view of 

Yosemite Falls, is Yosemite Lodge, the Valley’s lodging 

facility with the most modern architectural design, largely 

built during the Mission 66 period. The Camp 4 walk-in 

campground and the Lower Yosemite Fall area define 

much of the northern boundary. Yosemite Creek forms 

the eastern edge, and to the south are the fluctuating 

wetlands and floodplain. Developed over many years as 

a housing, lodging, and administrative center, Yosemite 

Lodge comprises a number of building clusters set in 

groves of trees and open meadow areas. These clusters 

include various lodging developments; a visitor services 

and recreation complex, containing both indoor and outdoor facilities; and a network of parking and circulation 

systems geared for pedestrians, vehicles, and bicycles.

Nearby, below the talus slopes of the cliffs to the 

north, is Camp 4, an informal, walk-in campground that 

was designated as a national historic site in 2003 for its 

role in the development of rock climbing. Just west of 

Camp 4 is the site of the future Indian Cultural Center, 

which will be at the historic site of the last Indian village 

in the Valley.

The Ahwahnee is in the northeastern section of 

Yosemite Valley, east of Yosemite Village. This site is 

dominated by the 1920s-era hotel building, but it also 

contains associated 1928 guest bungalows, a dormitory 

building for concessioner personnel, recreation facilities, 

and parking and circulation networks related to the facility 

and adjacent grounds. The hotel is considered the prime 

example of a Rustic-style grand lodge in a national park, 

and the hotel has been designated a National Historic 

Landmark.
Y o s e m i t e V a l l e y

 99

South of the Merced River are Curry Village and 

the more seasonal facilities of Housekeeping Camp, 

Lower and Upper Pines campgrounds, and Happy Isles. 

Curry Village, historically known as “Camp Curry,” 

is in the southeastern portion of Yosemite Valley, with 

Southside Drive and Stoneman Meadow bounding it on 

the north and the steeply sloped base of cliffs and talus 

below Glacier Point forming the southern edge. Curry 

Village first provided lodging for park visitors in 1899. 

Today Curry Village is a densely developed visitor services and lodging facility that incorporates recreation, 

circulation, and parking, and includes various lodging 

types, commercial facilities, and services. The predominant feature of the site is a cluster of several hundred 

tent cabins and simple wood cabins that dot the wooded 

area at the base of the talus slope. A large visitor services 

and administrative center containing shops, restaurants, 

recreational facilities, and an information kiosk is at the 

center of the complex. The historic significance of the 

camp includes its philosophy of providing lower-cost 

lodging for visitors and the Rustic style of architecture 

used in building construction.

Nearby developments are more seasonal and less 

dense in character. West of Curry Village, along the 

south bank of the Merced River, is the more contemporary Housekeeping Camp, which consists of a few core 

visitor services facilities and multiple open-air structures 

with tilt-up walls, canvas roofs, and screened and treeshaded patios. South of Housekeeping Camp is the stone 

LeConte Memorial Lodge, a National Historic Landmark. 

Originally built by and still staffed by the Sierra Club, 

the lodge serves as an interpretive and meeting center 

open to the general public.

East of Curry Village are all the Valley drive-in 

campgrounds, which include Upper, Lower, and North 

Pines campgrounds. They are characterized by open sites 

under a forest canopy with an intermingling of comfort 

stations and kiosk structures. Near the entrance to North 

Pines Campground are the fenced enclosures and rustic 

structures of the Valley concessioner stable stand. And 

farther east, where the 

Merced River tumbles 

down to the level 

Valley floor, is Happy 

Isles, the major trailhead center in the 

Valley. Located at the 

start of the 211-mile 

John Muir Trail, 

Happy Isles includes a nature center, a comfort station, 

and a system of pedestrian bridges that provide access to 

islands set in the rushing river.

Yosemite Valley’s primary circulation system 

features two west–east roads parallel to the Merced 

River, one on the north and the other on the south, 

appropriately named Northside and Southside Drives; 

these drives have branches and loops that provide access 

to the various developed areas. The roads and pullouts 

were designed to provide a sequence of ever-changing 

views as visitors traveled through the Valley. The two 

roads are connected by a series of vehicle and pedestrian 

bridges spanning the Merced River from Pohono Bridge at 

the west to the Happy Isles Bridge at the east end of the 

Valley. Six of the bridges spanning the Merced River, as 

well as those spanning Tenaya and Yosemite creeks, are 

of Rustic design and are listed on the National Register 

of Historic Places. Portions of the roads to the east have 

been converted to pedestrian or transit use only.

The Yosemite Valley Historic District features 

nationally significant examples of architecture, including 

the Rangers’ Club, The Ahwahnee, and the LeConte 

Memorial Lodge, all of which are National Historic 

Landmarks. Yosemite Village is a nationally significant 

example of early NPS “park village” planning. Curry 

Village is a rare example of a surviving tent cabin complex 

that was once common in many parks. The bridges and 

other resources already listed in the National Register of 

Historic Places are significant examples of park development dating from the late 19th century to 1942.

Tents at Camp Curry, Chiura Obata, Sumi on 

postcard, July 2, 1927
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

100 NP S

The Valley’s cultural landscape is well documented 

in the Yosemite Valley Historic District National Register 

Nomination. The boundaries of the historic district extend

from Valley wall to Valley wall, from Pohono Bridge to 

Mirror Lake and Nevada Fall. By 1942, the Valley landscape

had assumed the overall dimensions and character it 

possesses today; the basic footprint of development has 

remained relatively constant since the 1940s. Only the 

Mission 66 era development in the Valley has yet to be 

fully researched and assessed to establish its significance 

and integrity. It is in Yosemite Valley that one can find 

the oldest, fullest, and purest expression of what scenic 

preservation and park development can achieve on the 

national scale.

Museum with Upper Yosemite Fall, Yosemite Village (1938) YRL
 101

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e V i l l a g e

the yosemite village historic district, through both sites and structures, represents 

almost the entire range of yosemite history since 1855, including early homesteading, 

john muirs early residence in the park, development of the national park, the armys 

role in park administration, and the evolution of early national park service administration and interpretation of the resource of yosemite. national r e g iste r of histor ic p laces 

nomination form • 1977

yosemite villa g e

The present-day Yosemite Village originated in the 1920s as a replacement for the outdated, 19th-century Old Village. Increasing numbers of 

visitors put pressure on the National Park Service to improve and develop 

new facilities, such as museums, observations stations, checking stations, 

comfort stations, and administration buildings. The old Yosemite Village, 

prone to flooding, was moved away from the river and out of the open 

meadows. Its new site on the sunny north side of the Valley, under the trees 

and against the Valley walls, was less conspicuous from popular viewpoints 

above the Valley.

The plan for the new Yosemite Village was devised by Myron Hunt, 

Daniel Hull, and Thomas Vint, architects and landscape architects for the 

National Park Service. Drawing from the best of contemporary American 

and British town planning, three separate areas were created for administrative, residential, and maintenance uses. The plan called for the careful 

selection of building sites and an adherence to an architectural theme that 

harmonized construction with the natural environment.

Buildings for the park’s administration and concessioner services were 

to be placed around a central plaza that provided parking. By 1924, with 

the construction of a new administration building, the new Village center 

was beginning to take shape. Myron Hunt’s administration building was a 

modest Rustic structure with a lower-story concrete foundation faced with 

boulders, an upper story of shingled walls, and a broad sloping roof supported on exposed log purlins. This building established the particular 

mode of harmonious Rustic design to which later buildings in the Village 

would conform. The construction of a post office and museum followed 

within two years. The three government buildings and the Rangers’ Club 

of 1921 created the nucleus for the new civic center.

S etti n g

Natural Systems + Features 102

la n dsca p e uses 

+ st r uctu r es 

Land Use + Spatial 

Organization 105

Circulation 106

D evelo p ed A r eas 

Central Village 

Administrative Area 108

Residential Areas 111

Maintenance, Service 

+ Storage Areas 118
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

102 NP S

Post Office and Upper Yosemite Fall, Yosemite Village (2004) GH

A separate residential subdivision was laid out 

adjacent to the civic area, with curvilinear streets and 

Arts and Crafts-style bungalows. A new maintenance 

area was also planned to the north of the central plaza. 

Each area of the Village was separated by vegetation, 

topography, and design to keep each land-use zone independent of the others (NPS 2004h).

By 1925 Yosemite National Park had more visitors 

and more automobiles than any other park. To accommodate this level of visitation, Yosemite Village continued 

to grow. Later, during the Mission 66 period, the Village 

gained a new visitor center, store, restaurant, and other 

facilities. A few years later, the civic plaza was converted 

to a pedestrian area, and cars were excluded from the 

center of the Village.

S e t t i n g

Natu r al S ystems + Featu r es

Yosemite Village is found on the warm, north side of 

Yosemite Valley, at the base of a gentle alluvial fan formed 

over the millennia by debris from Indian Canyon and 

Lehamite Creek. A year-round creek flows from north to 

south across the Village and may be a source of wet soils 

and pavement subsidence just west of the Village Store. 

The creek bed is obscured and unavailable as an interpretive element throughout most of the Village. Today, the 

Village site is above the floodplain of the Merced River, 

though it is within the floodplain of Indian Creek.

The other major natural systems influencing and 

limiting development in the Village are the nearby cliffs 

and talus slopes along the northern edge of the Village. 

This area continues to be subject to periodic rockfall and 

continues to influence land use and services.

S ce n ic V iews

Yosemite Village is set in its current location partly to 

take advantage of the spectacular view of Upper Yosemite 

Fall. The main civic plaza of the Village is oriented 

toward the waterfall, and it is visible from many areas of 

the central Village. There are also impressive views to 

such scenic features as Lost Arrow Spire, Indian Canyon, 

Sentinel Rock, and Royal Arches, some of which are now 

obscured by the growth of conifers. Historic views to 

Yosemite Falls remain, although the growth of vegetation within the plaza areas has reduced the number of 

vantage points and open views that existed historically.
 103

Y o s e m i t e V i l l a g e

Historic residences, Yosemite Village (2004) GH

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

1

2

3

4

5

6 7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

25

16

17

18

19 20

21

23

24

22

A Historic NPS Residential Area

B Visitor Services and Administrative Core

C Maintenance, Service, and Storage

D Upper Tecoya

E Middle Tecoya

F Medical Clinic

G Lower Tecoya

H Village Store and Garage

I Visitor Arrival/Meadow

1 Historic Residences, Garages, 

and Woodsheds

2 Utility Buildings—Barns, Sheds, Shops

3 Utility Building #527 (Fort Yosemite)

4 Concessioner Warehouse

5 Upper Tecoya Residences

6 Visitor Center

7 Yosemite Medical Clinic

8 Cottages and Garages in Tecoya

9 Tecoya Dormitories

10 Ahwahnee Row Houses and Garages

11 Concessioner’s General Offices

12 Village Store

13 Pedestrian Mall

14 Rangers’ Club

15 Administration Building

16 Pioneer Cemetery

17 Indian Village

18 Museum

19 Ansel Adams Gallery

20 Post Office

21 Northside Drive

22 Ahwahnee Meadow

23 Degnan’s Restaurant

24 Elementary School

25 Village Drive

Y o s e m i t e v i l l a g e

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

1

2

3

4

5

6 7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

25

16

17

18

19 20

21

23

24

22
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

104 NP S

Black oak trees in Yosemite Village NPS historic residential area (2004) TP

Key views from the Village include the following: 

views from the plaza area up to Yosemite Point, Upper 

Yosemite Fall, Half Dome, and Sentinel Rock, views 

from the NPS residential area to Yosemite Falls and 

Yosemite Point, and views from the Lower Tecoya residential area across Ahwahnee Meadow to North Dome, 

Half Dome, and Glacier Point.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 Preserve and maintain the documented historic views 

from the public and residential areas of Yosemite Village.

•	Identify and evaluate the feasibility of restoring 

historic views as part of a new project.

•	When siting new or expanded buildings, pathways, and 

plazas and their related landscape features, orient them 

to include views of scenic resources.

•	Refer to “Setting—Scenic Views” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter for additional guidelines.

V e g etatio n

The original vegetation in the Yosemite Village area was 

mostly deciduous oak woodland, interspersed with stands 

of mixed conifers, primarily ponderosa pines and incense 

cedars. A primary goal in the original design and development of the Village was to use the site’s natural vegetation 

to screen structures and delineate public spaces.

New planting between 1916 and 1942 emphasized 

the use of native vegetation (collected and transplanted 

from nearby areas) arranged in artistic compositions 

(NPS 2004h). Specimen trees such as sequoias were also 

planted and identified near the museum and the Rangers’ 

Club for the benefit of visitors. The goal was to mirror 

natural plant communities by massing plants in groupings 

commonly found in nature. This approach to planting 

design became known as landscape naturalization, and 

was employed in many other national parks during this 

period. By 1930 it included a specific prescription of nonnative plants, for both scientific and aesthetic reasons. 

Foundation plantings around visitor service buildings 

were designed to enhance the rustic facades rather than 

obscure them behind a wall of vegetation.

In the residential area, vegetation was used somewhat differently. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. recommended 

siting structures under the canopy of black oaks to screen 

the visual impacts of the development when seen from 

Glacier Point and other elevated points. Houses were 

well set-back on main streets, with significant numbers 

of black oaks dispersed over the lawn areas. This lent 

an aesthetic unity and overall character to the area. 

Vegetation, both natural and planted, was also used to 

emphasize the divisions between different zones within 

the Village and to screen the utility areas from public 

view. Today the condition of many individual oak trees 

in the residential area has been compromised by excess 

water, a result of maintaining lawns under trees that are 

accustomed to dry summers (NPS 2004h). 

California black oak (Quercus kelloggii)
 105

Y o s e m i t e V i l l a g e

L a n ds c a p e Us e s + St ru c t u r e s

L a n d U se + Spatial Or g a n i z atio n

The plan of Yosemite Village was based on segregating 

land-use areas into administrative, residential, and 

maintenance zones. These zones were arranged to be 

conveniently near one another but discreetly defined and 

separated by circulation patterns, topography, vegetation, and cluster siting. Spatial organization within 

the Village was largely a response to topography and 

vegetation.

The central administrative zone of Yosemite Village 

has always accommodated visitor uses of many types. 

Although there are no overnight accommodations in 

the Village, there are several restaurants, shops, the 

main park visitor center, photography studios, the park 

museum, the Village Post Office, and the park administration building. Central to the design of this area is the 

open civic plaza, defined by the facades of visitor service 

buildings and reinforced by foundation planting, as well 

as natural topography and vegetation (NPS 2004h). The 

Village plaza created a sense of arrival and place for the 

entire Yosemite Village. By design, the plaza was a civic 

zone in which the public administration of the park was 

symbolically expressed through the architectural facades 

of important government buildings. These included 

Oak Lane in Yosemite Village NPS historic residential area (2004) RF

Management of vegetation to preserve views from 

the Village was an important concern in the early years, 

because the views from the plaza were influential in the 

selection of the Village site. Today, however, much of 

the formerly open plaza has been revegetated. As these 

later plantings mature, they sometimes obscure historic 

views from the civic plaza area. Vegetation also obscures 

the early rustic buildings on the plaza, reducing the 

buildings’ ability to define the plaza and imbue it with 

the presence of the civic administration of the park. 

As in other parts of the Valley, pine and cedar are slowly 

crowding out stands of California black oak. Although 

some vegetation from the historic period survives in the 

Village (specifically the black oaks and some foundation 

plantings), much of the vegetation post-dates the period 

of historical significance (NPS 2004h).

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 Landscape designers should use a naturalistic design 

approach in developing planting plans, and should 

develop a plant palette in consultation with park 

resource staff.

•	Refer to “Setting—Vegetation” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter for additional guidelines.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

106 NP S

the administration building, the museum, and the post 

office, all important visitor service buildings. The plaza 

was used during the early years as the parking area for 

the Village center.

NPS and concessioner utility areas each have residential zones associated with them, including Upper, 

Middle, and Lower Tecoya and the historic NPS residential area. The residential areas are separated from the 

utility yards and the civic plaza but remain within 

walking distance of both. Although the open character 

of the plaza encourages views out toward landscape 

features, the residential areas feature narrow, curvilinear, 

tree-lined streets that encourage inward views. These 

more private, intimate spaces enhance the residential 

character of these zones.

The NPS maintenance area to the north of the 

civic plaza is located up in the rockfall zone at the base 

of the talus slope, at the north edge of the Village. The 

concessioner utility area to the east of the civic plaza 

was set apart from the central civic zone. This area has 

since become the main point of automobile arrival into 

the Village, dominated by a large parking area east of 

the Village Store that is visible from Glacier Point. This 

significantly alters the historic design and intent of the 

Village by routing visitors to a utility area that was 

not meant to be a primary public space.

In terms of broad patterns and relationships, the 

overall spatial organization of the Village remains true 

to the original design. The compactness of the overall 

plan allows the residential, public, and utility zones to 

be separate, but within walking distance of each other. 

The originally designated land-use areas remain the 

same. Conversion of the central civic plaza from a parking lot to a broad promenade and the modifications to 

the visitor arrival sequence are the most significant 

changes to the original concept.

Roadway in historic 

residential area (2004) GH

G U I D E L I N E S

•	The siting of new development should reinforce the historic organization of the Village and its land-use zones.

•	New development should be sited to reinforce the 

sense of a Village edge as well as the importance of a 

civic plaza for the arrival of visitors to the Valley.

•	Redesign of outdoor spaces should continue to provide 

visitors with opportunities to gather views of the surrounding Valley.

C i r culatio n

Circulation in Yosemite Village is characterized by a 

hierarchy of street and path types. Village Drive was a 

wide road that historically gave access to the open, wide 

space of the civic plaza. Today a road separates the plaza 

area from the cemetery and residential subdivision to the 

west. This road leads directly to the NPS maintenance 

area, offering direct access for service vehicles without 

requiring them to pass through the public or residential 

areas of the Village.

The approach to Yosemite Village was originally 

from the west, via what is now Village Drive. Currently, 

the most common approach is from the east. Arriving 

at the plaza area, visitors are greeted by the facade of 

the museum, flanked by the administration building to 

the left. Looking up, they see Yosemite Point and Upper 

Yosemite Fall directly in view.

Within the gently sloping plaza area, pedestrian 

zones transition from relatively narrow walkways to 

broad, irregularly shaped, asphalt areas that obscure a 

clear circulation hierarchy. The area has retained the feel 

of a roadway for vehicles rather than a pedestrian area.

In the historic NPS residential area, narrow, curbless streets typically follow a curvilinear grid that 

generally aligns along the topography. The fronts of 

houses face the streets, while the backs and garages face 

service alleys, which are narrower in width and are often 

cul-de-sacs. Some houses are sited on short cul-de-sacs 

that branch off main streets.
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Historic residences, 

Yosemite Village (2004) GH

Visitors in pedestrian mall in Yosemite Village with the Ansel Adams Gallery on 

right (2004) RF

In the Lower Tecoya area, the Ahwahnee Row 

houses face directly onto Ahwahnee Meadow. Between 

the houses and the meadow is a trail, formerly a narrow 

street. The houses have a wide alley behind them, which 

also services a group of larger, dormitory-style residences 

to the west. Some of these houses are screened by dogwoods and shrubs.

In the NPS maintenance area, and to a degree in 

the concessioner utility area, the arrangement of larger 

buildings creates rectangular yards and broad, straight 

streets with no sidewalks. This pattern is essentially a 

formalization of the utilitarian nature of early roads and 

circulation through these areas.

Overall, there is a high degree of integrity related 

to circulation in Yosemite Village. The elaborate hierarchy of street types is still intact in the residential and 

utility areas. Modifications to the main entrance to the 

Village and conversion of the plaza to a pedestrian area 

are the most significant changes from the historic period 

(NPS 2004h).

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New roads should be consistent with historic design 

patterns and should meet NPS Park Road Standards.

•	The arrival sequence and layout of approach roads 

should allow visitors to see key buildings, or an intermediate marker, from their car, before entering the 

day-visitor parking area.

•	Reinforce the use of a clear hierarchy of street types, 

including standard-width roads per NPS Park Road 

Standards, narrower residential streets and alleys, and 

pedestrian paths.

•	Retain the character of roads in the residential areas, 

using minimal road striping and curbless edge 

treatments.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Circulation—

Parking” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for more 

guidelines on circulation and parking.

Dev e l op ed A r e a s

For the purpose of these guidelines, Yosemite Village is 

divided into distinct use zones: the central Village 

administrative area; the residential areas; and the maintenance, service, and storage areas. This section provides 

guidelines for these groups of developed areas that share 

common architectural and landscape features.

The central Village administrative area incorporates NPS administration and visitor services buildings 

as well as commercial facilities for the public. It consists 

of the historic Village center, the Village Store, the 

concessioner garage facility, and the day-visitor parking 

area at Camp 6.

The residential areas consist of the Upper, Middle, 

and Lower Tecoya areas, as well as the historic NPS 

residential area. The Medical Clinic is discussed in the 

context of Upper and Middle Tecoya because it has 

relatively consistent geographical conditions. The Lower 

Tecoya area consists of distinctly different soil and 

forest conditions.

The maintenance, service, and storage areas consist of the maintenance yard area north of the central 

plaza and adjacent buildings.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

108 NP S

Pedestrian mall, Yosemite Village, looking towards Upper Yosemite Fall (2004) RF

C e n t r al V illa g e A dmi n ist r ative Ar ea

Setting

At the heart of the central Village administrative area 

is the civic plaza, with its mix of historic buildings and 

contemporary visitor facilities. These buildings are oriented along a pedestrian promenade that widens into 

gathering spaces at the entrances to buildings. The landscape of the area is characterized by a sense of enclosure, 

with a mix of tall pines and graceful black oaks.

In the Camp 6 area—currently day-visitor parking—the topography is generally flat and is sporadically 

covered with ponderosa pine, incense cedar, and black 

oak. The visitor information and service facilities to 

the northeast are on the slightly higher, gently sloping 

Indian Creek alluvial fan.

Several factors affect the prominence of the large 

mature black oaks, including soil differences toward the 

western end of the camp. Upslope toward the Indian 

Creek depositional fan, the oaks are smaller and ponderosa 

pine and incense cedar are dominant as one approaches the 

area around the Degnan’s complex. Farther to the east, 

the base-of-talus line angles from the northwest to the 

southeast. Remnants of a riparian vegetation corridor can 

be seen in the developed area along Indian Creek.

Ground and surface runoff affect this area in terms 

of vegetation, flooding, and pollution associated with the 

day-visitor parking lot in the area. A wet ground zone 

just west of the Village Store has caused pavement settlement, suggesting a zone of groundwater migration from 

the Indian Creek alluvial fan through Camp 6 toward the 

Merced River. Given the topography, soils, and vegetation, much of the southern portion of the area, under 

undeveloped conditions, acts as a sponge, slowing peak 

flows in times of flooding. There is potential for flooding 

in parts of the Yosemite Village main parking area.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Use of permeable paving (in lieu of impermeable 

surfaces) is encouraged.

•	 Layout and design should take into account the possibility of periodic flooding in the vicinity of the lower 

reaches of Indian Creek and nearby drainages. Avoid 

placing structures in—or covering over—existing 

drainages. Designs should address the hydrological and 

vegetative restoration of any drainage areas impacted 

by new designs.

•	 For the design of the new day-visitor parking area, 

where wet soil, high groundwater, or potential flooding areas exist, the roads and bays should be aligned 

roughly parallel to contour, allowing for continuous 

unpaved “green” swales protecting vegetation (especially oak trees and riparian vegetation) and allowing 

for groundwater recharge.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Circulation—

Parking” in the “Unifying Elements” for more guidelines 

on parking.
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Rangers’ Club, Yosemite Village

Siting and Building Orientation for the 

Central Village Administrative Area

In the center of Yosemite Village, the 1920s-era public 

buildings—the administration building, the post office, 

the Rangers’ Club, and the museum—form two sides of 

an open civic plaza, with generous open space between. 

The museum, the visitor center, the Ansel Adams Gallery, 

the Wilderness Center, and the post office define the 

north edge of the plaza, roughly parallel to the canyon 

walls. The administration building is oriented north–

south, closing the west end of the plaza. Later buildings 

such as the Degnan’s complex and the Village Store are 

sited at the eastern end of the plaza. The original plaza 

continues as a promenade to the Village Store, functioning 

today as the central spine of the Village center. Canyon 

walls to the north form the backdrop for buildings on the 

plaza. The central open space captures expansive views 

of the north canyon walls and Upper Yosemite Fall.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Design should take into account significant elements 

of the historic civic plaza, such as views of Upper 

Yosemite Fall. The spatial organization should be 

respected and reinforced. The edges of major outdoor 

spaces should be defined by buildings, major vegetation, and viewsheds that are framed within the central 

Village administrative area.

•	 Preserve and link the scale and spatial organization of 

the historic civic plaza area with new buildings that are 

compatible with the historic architectural elements.

Architectural Character in the 

Central Village Administrative Area

Yosemite Village is one of the largest and most significant 

collections of NPS Rustic-style buildings in the national 

park system. The basic principle of NPS Rustic style 

architecture—predominant in the national parks between 

1916 and 1942—is that buildings should blend with the 

landscape. Structures should emphasize a horizontal 

aspect. Vegetation should enhance the natural appearance 

of a building and unite it with the landscape. The use of 

oversized masonry and timbers assures that the image 

of the building fits and matches its natural setting.

The visual effects of natural materials and colors 

were fully exploited by early rustic buildings in the 

park. The upper walls were clad in shingles stained dark 

brown with special coursing patterns. The rough granite 

boulders and river-run stones used on walls, foundations, 

chimneys, steps, and porches harmonized with the towering granite cliffs surrounding the Valley. Stones varied 

in size and were laid in a rubble bond, weathered side 

exposed, with a raked mortar joint that emphasized the 

natural size and shape of individual stones. The use of 

timber in various forms—thick logs, rough-milled lumber, 

shingles, and shakes—much of it stained dark brown—

harmonized with the bark of ponderosa pine and other 

conifers of the Yosemite forests. From a distance, the 

effect is nearly one of camouflage. While it does not eliminate the intrusion of buildings on the natural scene, it 

measurably reduces the intrusion, which was the intent 

(NPS 2004h).

Variations in Rustic-style buildings in Yosemite 

Village include the Rangers’ Club, the administration 

building, the museum, the post office, NPS residential buildings, and a variety of utilitarian buildings 

and small offices (NPS 2004h). The Rangers’ Club is a 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

110 NP S

Entrance to Museum, Yosemite Village (2004) GH

Cornerstone of Museum, 

Yosemite Village (2004) GH

two-and-a-half-story wood-frame structure with a granite rubble foundation. Exterior walls are mainly finished 

with shingles. The building was designated a National 

Historic Landmark in 1987. The Ansel Adams Gallery 

(formerly Best’s Studio) has an entrance porch with 

a large masonry chimney and seating overlooking the 

promenade. Other structures in the Village center depart 

from the historical precedent and make little contribution to the continuity of historical character in the 

central space.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Consistent with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, 

new projects should be compatible with the massing, 

scale, architectural features, and overall character of 

the historic structures, yet be recognizable as contemporary developments. New development should respect 

the spirit of historic buildings, without replicating 

them.

•	Incorporate the palette of materials found on adjacent 

buildings in the historic center into the exterior finishes 

of new structures.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Architectural Character” 

in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for more guidelines.

Building Shape and Massing for the 

Central Village Administrative Area

The present-day Village center is a collection of buildings 

that are not consistent in shape and massing. However, 

the three original public buildings at the west end of the 

civic plaza were constructed in a similar rustic style and 

have consistent shape and massing, which creates a strong 

unified presence. The rectangular plan, two-story massing, horizontal emphasis, and robust scale are essential 

components of these buildings. The museum has an 

interesting variation at the west end, where the building’s mass steps down and is bolstered by a sculptural 

masonry chimney that flares out to the ground. This 

flaring motif was employed in early rustic buildings 

to make a strong connection to the ground.

Nonhistoric buildings built at various times after 

World War II, such as the Valley Visitor Center, the 

Degnan’s complex, and the Village Store, have little in common with the early rustic buildings or with each other.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Consistent with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards,

new projects should be compatible with the massing, 

scale, architectural features, and overall character of 

the historic structures, yet be recognizable as contemporary developments.

•	The height of new buildings should be limited to 

two-and-a-half stories, consistent with the historic 

structures.

•	Use porches and secondary massing elements to reduce 

the apparent height of a building and make a strong 

connection to the ground.

•	When programs for buildings exceed or are incompatible with the historic settings, reorganize the program 

so that the building can be broken down into smaller 

components. Use covered walkways to link functional 

relationships and emphasize horizontality. This will 

assist in making the complex subordinate to its setting.
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Roof Form and Materials for the 

Central Village Administrative Area

The simple gable roof of the administration building, the 

museum, and the post office is a key element of their character. The administration building has a large entry porch 

with a gable roof carried on stone piers. The steep roof 

pitch of the Rangers’ Club is a treatment that was not 

continued in later buildings, but it was used earlier at the 

LeConte Memorial Lodge. Later noncontributing buildings depart from the historic precedent, resulting in a lack 

of consistent roof forms throughout the Village center.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Use such historical precedents as the administration 

building, the museum, and the post office as the reference for roof form.

•	Designers should consider the use of clerestories and 

skylights, such as those found in the Mountain Shop at 

Curry Village and the Yosemite Lodge store, to allow 

natural light to enter large interior volumes. They can 

also capture upward views of surrounding landmarks.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Roof Form and Material” 

in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for more guidelines.

Building Exterior for the Central 

Village Administrative Area

A variety of exterior treatments are used in the Village 

center, including exposed-wood structural elements, 

wood siding with natural brown colors and rough textures, and a stone base or rusticated lower wall.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	The design of new projects should use such precedents 

as the administration building, the museum, the post 

office, and historic residential housing as the inspiration for facade design and use of materials.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Building Exterior” in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter for more guidelines.

Site Furnishings for the Central 

Village Administrative Area

The central Village administrative area is a major gathering point for visitors to the park. The character of site 

furnishings, therefore, should be consistent with the 

Rustic style and must reinforce the historic importance 

of this area. Signs and educational plaques vary in style 

and color and are found in various locations. These, as 

well as pedestrian bollard lights, are unrelated to the 

Rustic style.

Guideli n es

•	New design should emphasize the civic nature of this 

area by using natural materials that are found in the 

surrounding setting. These could include generously 

sized granite boulders, slabs, and cedar logs.

•	Bench design is especially important in conveying 

rustic character in the vicinity of the Valley Visitor 

Center. Backrests and armrests add comfort and should 

be included in the design.

•	Refer to the “Landscape Uses + Structures” section in 

the “Unifying Elements” chapter for more guidelines.

Reside n tial Ar eas

There are four residential areas for employees in Yosemite 

Village: Upper Tecoya, Middle Tecoya, Lower Tecoya, 

and the historic NPS residential housing area.

Upper, Middle, and Lower Tecoya

This area stretches from the eastern edge of the maintenance area to the medical clinic, forming an arc along 

the contour, across the depositional fan of Indian Creek, 

which divides Middle Tecoya from the medical clinic.

Forest vegetation in the Upper and Middle Tecoya 

areas consists primarily of black oak, although considerable conifer encroachment is evident. The trees here 

are more stunted than those on the Valley bottom, 

presumably due to the thin, rocky soils of the young 

colluvium formation.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

112 NP S

TOP Western end of Museum, Yosemite Village BOTTOM Plaza elevation of Post Office, Yosemite Village
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Y o s e m i t e V i l l a g e

Clerestory of Yosemite Lodge gift shop, oriented toward Yosemite Falls (2004) GH Post Office, Yosemite Village (1935) YRL

Conditions in the Lower Tecoya neighborhood are 

quite different. The Lower Tecoya area is almost totally 

dominated by tall pine and cedar groves. The southerly 

portions of this area on the nearly flat Valley floor could 

be subject to flooding from the Merced River and the 

lower reaches of Indian Creek.

Upper Tecoya

Upper Tecoya is a housing complex north and northeast 

of the administrative center. It contains small one-story 

and one-and-a-half-story detached, single-family, woodframe residences; wood dormitory buildings; storage 

facilities for heavy transportation equipment; and a 

small parking lot. In addition, an area along the northern 

boundary of Yosemite Village contains a cluster of singlefamily and duplex units arranged along a curvilinear 

roadway. The houses, which were built in the 1960s, have 

vertical wood siding painted grey, and composition shingle 

roofs. Most have attached garages.

Middle Tecoya

Middle Tecoya is situated between the medical complex and a large parking lot. Most of the residences are 

one-story and one-and-a-half-story wood-frame buildings, painted a tan color. They are smaller than other 

housing types, more closely spaced, and sited well with 

the topography. This area has an architectural character 

that is more contemporary and less formally Rustic than 

the earlier residential developments in the Village. The 

design character reflects many features of Bay Area residential design from the post-World War II period, such 

as rectangular forms, flat roofs, large, single-pane wood 

windows, and various patterns of wood siding combined 

in one building. The houses are virtually concealed from 

public view by skillful siting on the forest slope, which 

creates the feeling of a separate neighborhood. Several 

residences and their garages contribute to the historical 

significance of the Yosemite Valley Historic District.

Lower Tecoya

Most of the buildings in Lower Tecoya date from the historic period of significance and include the dormitories, 

apartments and related laundry room, the Ahwahnee 

Row houses, cottages, and cabins. A series of curvilinear 

roads connects the housing units.

The Ahwahnee Row houses are a group of structures built in the 1920s on the east side of Lower Tecoya. 

Many of these one- and two-story residences have enclosed 

patios and freestanding wood garages. Screen fencing is 

visually prominent because of the close spacing of the 

buildings and the narrowness of the street corridor. The 

row houses form a boundary between a densely developed and coniferous Lower Tecoya area and the open 

Ahwahnee Meadow.

To the west of the row houses are four dormitorytype, three-story wood buildings and an adjacent 

kitchen facility. These are more massive than the nearby 

Ahwahnee Row houses. Half of the dormitories in Lower 

Tecoya were constructed in the late 1920s and significantly altered in the 1930s, while the other half were 

constructed in the 1930s and remain unchanged.

The Lower Tecoya dormitories are long, rectangular, three-story volumes with medium-pitch roofs and 

small shed dormers that articulate the top story. These 

relatively large buildings 

are reduced in scale by their 

roof form and varied siding 

patterns. The main roof is a 

simple gable, with the ridge 

continuing over projecting bays at the ends of the 

buildings. Main entrances 

are placed under gables at Informal seating, log-round (2004) TP
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

114 NP S

TOP LEFT Ahwahnee Row Houses TOP RIGHT Apartment in historic NPS residential area middle RIGHT End view of apartment BOTTOM Houses in historic NPS residential area
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Y o s e m i t e V i l l a g e

TOP LEFT Covered entrance to dorm at Lower Tecoya, Yosemite Village (2004) JM TOP RIGHT Stepped-down massing on dorm at Lower Tecoya (2004) RF 

BOTTOM LEFT Roof with shed dormers on dorm at Lower Tecoya (2004) RF BOTTOM RIGHT Front porch at Medical Clinic, Yosemite Village (2004) RF

the ends of the buildings. The use of a corrugated metal 

roof is a unique element in the Village. The slate-green, 

board and batten exterior walls are a departure from 

the standard Wosky brown. These features help to unify 

the group while differentiating the housing area from the 

nearby maintenance and commercial facilities. The area 

includes two vehicle bridges and two pedestrian bridges 

over Indian Creek.

The Medical Clinic

At the east end of Yosemite Village is a medical and 

dental clinic with related support buildings. The original 

Rustic-style clinic building was constructed in 1930

as the Lewis Memorial Hospital. A dental facility was 

added in 1954. The complex contains the medical facility, 

a parking lot, a dormitory with a two-story garage 

beneath, and two large, wood-frame residences.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

116 NP S

Dentist’s Residence, Yosemite Village 

(1932) YRL

The dormitory and the residences were constructed 

at the same time as the clinic, in the same Rustic style. 

The original dentist’s residence is one of the finest examples in the Valley of a single-family dwelling designed with 

Rustic features and details. It is sited to take advantage of 

its topography and setting at the foot of the talus slope.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	The design of new projects in the Upper and Middle 

Tecoya areas should reflect the character of small homes 

sited among trees and talus blocks on a sloping plane.

•	Residential yards and fencing in Middle and Upper 

Tecoya should be placed behind houses and garages 

and in locations hidden from public view.

•	Trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses should be limited to 

species indigenous to Yosemite Valley and appropriate to the Indian Creek depositional fan. They should 

be allowed sufficient space to grow into their mature 

forms. See also Residential Yard Care Policy (NPS 2001b).

•	 Facilities such as bear-proof dumpsters and other trash 

storage, self-storage units, etc., should be clustered and 

screened behind structures that harmonize with the surrounding architectural character. See the March 2002

Cultural Landscape Treatment Recommendations Yosemite 

Village Historic District Housing Area (NPS 2002) for 

treatment of such items in historic residential areas.

•	New design in these residential areas should be compatible with the scale, massing, and architectural 

character of the existing structures.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures” and “Developed 

Areas—Architectural Character” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter for more guidelines on pedestrian 

bridges, fences, and lighting.

NPS Residential Area

The oldest housing development in Yosemite Village is 

the NPS Residential Area, which is part of the larger 

Yosemite Valley Historic District. Located northwest of 

the Village center, it has a neighborhood character, and 

comprises mainly single-family dwelling units arranged 

along a series of curvilinear roads. Historically significant 

elements in the historic district include many of the residences, as well as other structures, clusters of buildings, 

and circulation routes.

Lying just east of the Lower Yosemite Fall area, this 

development sits on the level plane of the Valley floor. 

Located on the warmer north side of the Valley and away 

from flood and rockfall zones, this site was optimal for 

residential use. The large, overarching California black 

oak dominates the landscape in this area, presumably taking advantage of deep soils. The trees impart a gracious, 

manicured, park-like feeling. Other vegetation in this 

area consists of understory native trees and shrubs, 

meadows, manicured lawns, ornamental trees planted 

in beds, shrubs, and ground covers.

All buildings and structures in the area date from 

the period of historical significance for Yosemite Valley 

(1851 to 1942), with the exception of seven residences 

and the elementary school, which were built in the 

1950s. Most of the residences, apartments, dormitories, 

garages, and woodsheds that contribute to the historic 

district were constructed during the 1920s and 1930s 

and have undergone few, if any, exterior alterations. The 

houses built between 1927 and 1940 reflect the development of Rustic architecture by the Landscape Division 

of the Western Field Office (based in San Francisco) of 

the National Park Service. Three army residences, built 

in 1911 and 1912, were relocated from Yosemite Lodge 

to this area in 1929. Their character is typical of rural 

houses of the period that predates the NPS Rustic era, 

but they are also historically significant.

The Rustic residences are one- and two-story, woodframe buildings clad with wood siding materials such as 

coursed shakes, shingles, or lapped boards. Many of the 

houses from the Rustic period have stone chimneys and 
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Y o s e m i t e V i l l a g e

stonemasonry cladding at the foundations and porches. 

Roofs were originally wood shingle, but some are now 

composition shingle. Most of the one-story residences 

have simple, rectangular plans and low-pitched gable roofs. 

Some two-story residences have steeper roofs with 

dormers. Typical Rustic details include wooden doublehung windows, wood panel doors, exposed roof rafters at 

eaves, decorative wood brackets, and porches and exterior 

stairs with wood railings. There are also two apartment 

buildings that share similar Rustic features and details. 

They both feature open porches in the center that incorporate recessed stairs.

G U I D E L I N E s

•	New design should preserve and reinforce the open, 

park-like setting of historic residences under large, 

spreading, mature black oaks.

•	 Limit or avoid gardens and lawn irrigation within the 

drip lines of black oaks. Refer to Residential Yard Care 

Policy (NPS 2001b) and Cultural Landscape Treatment 

Recommendations, Yosemite Village Historic District Housing 

Area (NPS 2002).

•	New landscape design should be compatible with the 

pattern established during the period of significance.

•	New landscape elements such as fences, screens, and 

retaining walls that are visible from public streets and 

pedestrian ways should be consistent with guidance 

provided in The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the 

Treatment of Historic Properties. New design should be 

carefully reviewed to sustain or restore the historically 

open, park-like character of the neighborhood. See also 

the Residential Yard Care Policy (NPS 2001b) for more 

detailed guidelines regarding:

Trash storage

Shrubs and herbaceous plants

Side and back yards

Self-storage units

Fencing at the schoolhouse

Northern drainage ditch

TOP NPS Operations Building (Fort Yosemite), Yosemite Village NPS

BOTTOM Historic house porch, residential area 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

118 NP S

M ai n te n a n ce , S e r vice 

+ S to r ag e Ar eas

The maintenance, service, and storage areas are found 

in a talus zone directly below Castle Cliffs, well within 

the rockfall zone. Although oaks still dominate the thin 

soils at the base of the cliffs, they are stunted and smaller 

than those of the deeper soils in the historic NPS residential area.

The park maintenance and concessioner facilities 

consist of a cluster of buildings with a north–south orientation. Development extends north to the base of the 

talus slope. More than half of the buildings in the area 

date from the 1920s and are contributing resources to the 

Yosemite Valley Historic District. Stable facilities and 

day corrals are located nearby, in the southwest corner 

of this area.

The focal point of the complex is a two-story utility building referred to as the NPS operations building 

(Fort Yosemite), constructed of patterned concrete with 

large garage bays on the first floor. The building also 

has a central tower adjacent to the entrance, industrial 

windows, and a composition shingle roof. The largest 

structure in the complex is the concessioner warehouse, 

a modern concrete building with a flat roof. The Village 

Garage is also an important building, reminiscent of 

an Arts and Crafts barn (NPS 2004i). Smaller buildings 

surround the maintenance building, including a stable, 

barn, warehouses, offices, and a garage. A federal magistrate courthouse is located on the eastern edge of 

the complex.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Consistent with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards 

for the Treatment of Historic Properties, new projects in 

this historic district should be compatible with the 

massing, scale, architectural features, and overall character of the surrounding historic structures.

•	 For new projects, architectural character in the maintenance area may reflect a more utilitarian design 

approach by making use of building materials and 

details that are suitable for industrial buildings. Metal 

roofing is appropriate if a muted grey color, and nonreflective finishes are specified.

•	New maintenance facilities should include the planting 

of trees to ensure visual screening, particularly from 

the vista points along the surrounding cliffs. Where 

temperature control is a factor in new design, consider the planting of trees that will provide for natural 

cooling.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” 

in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for guidelines on 

lighting design.

Apartment detail, Yosemite Village, NPS residential area
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D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r C u r r y V i l l a g e

...good beds, good meals and courteous treatment...my camps are designed for those 

who, whether from necessity or inclination, wish to make their money go as far as it 

will. camp curry promotional brochure • ca. 1900

cu r r y villa g e

Camp Curry was established in 1899 by David and Jennie Curry. With 

its tent cabins and communal dining hall, Camp Curry offered a more 

affordable lodging experience than other accommodations in Yosemite 

Valley. As its popularity grew, Camp Curry quickly expanded from a dozen 

tent cabins to hundreds in a matter of years. By 1905, roads connected 

Camp Curry to the Old Village to the west, and the Currys had constructed 

dozens of tent cabin platforms, permanent dining and registration buildings, bathrooms, and tennis and croquet facilities. In 1922 a group of 48

wooden bungalows was completed west of the core facility area, providing 

another level of accommodations separated from the main body of tents. 

By that time Camp Curry had telephones, evening movies, a pool hall and 

dance pavilion, a gas station and garage, a soda fountain, and numerous 

cottages and other residences for employees. The need for increased parking was met in 1927 by allowing parking between the rows of apple trees in 

the nearby orchard. After a slow period during the Depression and World 

War II, visitation to Camp Curry increased dramatically. By 1959, the camp 

operated almost 500 tents and 200 bungalow and cabin rooms. Various 

other changes occurred in the postwar period. The old dance hall was 

converted to the Stoneman House and used for lodging; the central dining 

facility, (1929), burned down and was rebuilt in 1975 at the same site; and a 

new pool, bathhouse, and skating rink were built. In 2007, employee dormitories were built adjacent to Curry Village’s western boundary, and in 2008

several Curry Village cabins were removed due to rockfall hazards..

S etti n g

 Natural Systems + Features 120

 Scenic Views 120

 Vegetation 123

la n dsca p e uses 

+ st r uctu r es 

Land Use + Spatial

 Organization 123

 Circulation 124

Grading + Drainage 125

 Barriers, Fences + Benches 125

 Lighting 126

D evelo p ed a r eas 

 Village Center 126

 Cabins 129

Employee Housing 133
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

120 NP S

Since the inception of the camp, the use of Rustic 

design has been consistent, which helps buildings blend 

with the natural environment and preserves the primitive 

character of the development. During the early 20th century, Camp Curry was one of a number of tent camps in 

the national park system. Today Curry Village, as it is now 

known, is the largest example of its kind. Because of these 

attributes, Curry Village was listed on the National 

Register of Historic Places in 1979 (NPS 1979). 

All work in Curry Village should meet compatibility guidance consistent with The Secretary of the Interior’s 

Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and should 

also be consistent with treatment recommendations in 

the Cultural Landscape Report Camp Curry Historic District

(NPS 2010b).

S e t t i n g

Natu r al S ystems  + Featu r es

Curry Village is south of the Merced River, at the east 

end of Yosemite Valley. It is located in a cool, shaded 

portion of the Valley, in the shadow of Glacier Point and 

the adjacent 4,000-foot-high cliffs. Although the shady 

climate offers relief from the summer heat, during the 

winter Curry Village gets little sun and is subject to 

freezing temperatures and fog. Snow also stays on the 

ground longer than at the north side of the Valley.

The center of Curry Village was established on 

the flat Valley floor at the toe of a talus slope. Over time, 

the camp has expanded to the east and west, along the 

base of the talus slope, with some structures located 

quite close to the base of the cliffs. Dozens of tent cabins and wood cabins are scattered among massive talus 

blocks and smaller boulders in an area now designated 

a hazardous rockfall zone. Today, the hazard of rockfall 

precludes any new construction in the delineated rockfall zone.

A seasonal drainage runs through the center of 

Curry Village. Runoff flows in a northerly direction from 

the cliffs and talus slope, through the Village’s central 

space, and across the meadow to the Merced River. The 

water deposits large quantities of rock, gravel, and sand in 

the Village center, a process that historically has created a 

variety of problems. Several seasonal tributary creeks and 

drainages also flow from south to north through developed 

areas of Curry Village to the Merced River.

The Merced River is too far removed to have a strong 

relationship to most of Curry Village. Views of the river 

are precluded by distance, vegetation, and Curry Village’s 

flat terrain.

Conifers make it difficult to see views of the waterfalls across the Valley toward the north and northwest 

when viewed from the central core area of Curry Village. 

Staircase Falls is seasonally visible to the west, descending from high up the cliffs.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Cluster new housing developments in groups around 

the edges of open spaces to take advantage of natural 

light and views. Specify deciduous trees in housing 

areas to increase daylight during the winter.

•	 Locate and design walkways, parking, pavement, and 

structures to avoid drainage problems such as ice 

during winter months and standing water throughout 

the rest of the year.

S ce n ic V iews

Views of surrounding Yosemite Valley natural landmarks 

inspired the original siting of Camp Curry and helped 

to determine the internal layout of the developed area. 

Camp Curry campfire (ca. 1903) YRL
 121

C u r r y V i l l a g e

Views from the Curry Village center of Half Dome, 

Glacier Point, Royal Arches, Washington Column, and 

North Dome are impressive.

Today, the encroachment of trees makes it difficult 

to see Yosemite Falls from the Village center. Historically 

significant views of the Valley’s natural landmarks are 

being encroached upon by naturally regenerating trees 

within the Curry Village area. Left unchecked, this will 

profoundly affect the character of Curry Village.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Design projects in Curry Village should give consideration to selective removal of trees, particularly those 

conifers that have seeded into historically open areas 

and have subsequently blocked views of the historic 

resources (e.g., the Camp Curry welcome sign and 

gateway) or the Valley’s natural landmarks.

•	Orient walkways and gathering areas to optimize 

views of Half Dome, Glacier Point, Royal Arches, 

Washington Column, and North Dome.

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1 Toboggan Run

2 Huff House

3 Wood Bungalows (48)

4 Stoneman Bridge

5 Ice Skating Rink

6 Stoneman Lodge

7 Registration Office

8 Southside Drive

9 Mother Curry’s Bungalow

10 Lounge (Historic Registration Office)

11 Amphitheater

12 Wood Cabins

13 

oster Curry Cabin (Tresidder Residence)

14 Bathhouse

15 Tent Cabins

16 Employee Tent Cabins

17 Curry Orchard

18 Swimming Pool

19 eConte Memorial Lodge 

(former site)

20 Dining/Retail Building

21 Mountain Shop

22 Merced River

23 Stoneman Meadow

24 Lower Pines Campground

c u r r y v i l l a g e ca. 2005
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

122 NP S

TOP LEFT North Dome and Washington Column from Camp Curry TOP RIGHT Early toboggan run at Camp Curry (since removed) BOTTOM Camp Curry entrance marker (1927) YRL
 123

C u r r y V i l l a g e

•	When designing parking for guest arrival do not 

obscure the view corridors to the north from the 

center of Curry Village.

•	Refer to “Setting—Scenic View” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter for more guidelines on views.

V e g etatio n

In the early years, the Curry family hired professional 

landscape architects to design and manage naturalistic 

planting arrangements. Over the years, these professionals removed trees and other vegetation they felt blocked 

important views, and preserved trees they felt were 

significant. They also planted shrubs and other vegetation around buildings. Since the 1970s, revegetation of 

formerly open areas of Curry Village has confused the 

historic spatial organization.

Vegetation at Curry Village is dominated by mature 

conifers, especially ponderosa pine and incense cedars. The 

understory vegetation consists of big leaf maple, California 

black oak, and dogwood—typical of the shady, moist, 

south side of Yosemite Valley. There have been historic 

trends at Curry—as in other areas of the Valley—of 

increased coniferous forest cover and the incremental 

destruction of riparian vegetation along annual drainages 

and creeks.

Stoneman Meadow lies on the flat river plain north 

of the center of Curry Village. Portions of the meadow 

lie in the 100-year floodplain of the Merced River. Curry 

Orchard, originally part of the meadow, was laid out by 

Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and planted with fruit trees 

(primarily apple) for the use of Valley visitors. Parking 

has subsequently been incorporated under the orchard 

trees, and many trees have been removed or have died.

G U I D E L I N E s

•	 Evaluate opportunities for selective removal of conifers 

to allow for additional sunlight and warmth during the 

winter months.

•	 Seek opportunities to restore historic views, such as 

those in and around Stoneman Meadow.

•	New design provides an opportunity to consider restoration of the broad swaths of meadow vegetation and 

California black oak woodlands that have historically 

defined the arrival experience to Curry Village.

•	New construction should attempt to minimize use of 

hard pavements, restore compacted soils, replace 

nonhistoric hardened drainage channels with vegetated bio-swales, and restore native vegetation in 

disturbed areas.

•	Native vegetation can be used to screen nonpublic 

functions from public use areas. For example, native vegetation could enhance screening of new employee housing 

or facility management structures from public view. This 

should be informal and based on black oak forest plant 

communities, as directed by park resources staff.

•	Refer to “Setting—Vegetation” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter for more guidelines.

L a n ds c a p e Us e s + St ru c t u r e s

L a n d U se + Spatial Or g a n i z atio n

The overall layout of Curry Village is linear, with 

buildings arranged on sloping ground along the base 

of the cliffs. The Curry Village center contains public 

gathering, dining, and recreational functions. Guest 

quarters—in the form of tent cabins and wood cabins—

are east and west of the Curry Village center. The cabins 

are arranged in tiers up to the talus zone at the base of 

Western dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

124 NP S

Glacier Point, with tent cabins and wood cabins located 

in separate clusters.

The Curry Village center is defined by commercial service facilities and structures surrounding a central 

open space, establishing the arrival and public gathering 

areas for Curry Village. The south edge of the central 

space is defined by a strong line of cabins with Glacier 

Point looming dramatically overhead.

The area east of Curry Village center includes hundreds of one-room tent cabins. The small scale of the 

individual tents, set close together in irregular rows, 

creates a unique spatial character. The sense of enclosure 

in this area has a marked contrast to the grandeur experienced in other areas of Yosemite Valley.

Wood cabins with and without baths are grouped 

together west of the Curry Village center. These cabins are larger than the tent cabins, set with more space 

between them, and laid out in rows that are straighter 

and more regular.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New construction in the Curry Village center should 

support and strengthen the spatial organization of the 

site and enhance opportunities for defining spaces for 

outdoor activities, socializing, and programs.

•	The addition of any new wood or tent cabins should be 

compatible with the historic spatial organization.

•	The selection of sites for new buildings should take 

advantage of locations with hazard/diseased/downed 

trees in lieu of locations that would require the 

removal of healthy mature trees. Refer to existing or 

ongoing NPS studies of plant community conditions 

for further guidance.

C i r culatio n

Curry Village was historically approached by two roads: 

one from the Old Yosemite Village to the west (aligned 

with the parking area between Huff House and the Curry 

Village bungalows), and the other from Stoneman Bridge 

to the northwest (Curry Village Drive). One parking area 

was outside the main gate in about the same location 

as the parking lot today. By 1927, as more visitors were 

arriving by car, the nearby Curry orchard was converted 

into a parking area (NPS 2004h).

Today vehicle access is limited mainly to the northwestern approach—Curry Village Drive. The western 

approach has been converted to a parking area. Circulation 

is primarily pedestrian in Curry Village, and is characterized by relatively unstructured movement on packed-earth 

trails. In heavier-use areas, paths of asphalt pavement have 

been used to delineate pedestrian circulation and to provide universally accessible travel routes.

Cabins at Curry Village
 125

C u r r y V i l l a g e

G U I D E L I N E s

•	Design and construction of trails within Curry Village 

should emulate the character of the compacted-earth 

paths/trails.

•	 Pedestrian paths should be designed to take advantage 

of prominent natural and scenic features and should be 

primitive in nature.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Entrance 

Markers” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for a discussion of the Camp Curry welcome sign and gateway.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures” in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter for more guidelines 

on circulation and parking.

G r adi ng + Dr ai n ag e

Nestled up against the cliffs, Curry Village lies on a sloping site, with an approximately five-foot drop from north 

to south across the area. The creek from Staircase Falls is 

the only significant year-round drainage, running from 

south to north through the Curry Village center. It crosses 

several major pedestrian routes and the sloping central 

open space, depositing sand and gravel wash.

Several smaller drainages impact the area as well. 

Although seasonal, they carry snowmelt and rainfall runoff from Moran and Glacier points, and they have been 

substantial enough to require stone-clad culvert crossings. 

They can also carry considerable loads in heavy winter 

storms. Rainstorms produce accumulations of sand and 

gravel wash, especially at the base of the cabins south of 

the Curry Village center. Additional studies are ongoing 

to determine the distribution, impact, and future morphological dynamics of these drainages.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 Planning for the central open space at the Curry Village 

center should take into account the effects of the slope 

from south to north on drainage across the area.

•	Design must meet accessibility standards on both level 

and sloping ground.

•	Curry Village presents a drainage challenge. New design 

should carefully evaluate natural drainage patterns and 

incorporate sufficient grading and drainage structures 

for mitigation.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Grading and 

Drainage” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for 

more guidelines.

B a rr ie r s , Fe n ces + B e n ches

Much of the fencing and structural screening in Curry 

Village is associated with historic buildings. Nevertheless, 

fencing in this shaded side of the Valley shows the wearing effects of longer winters and deeper snow fields.

Many planted areas and areas of natural vegetation 

are separated from walkways and are edged with barriers of small-diameter logs (and finished lumber in some 

areas) as well as post-and-rope barriers. Some appear 

permanent, and others provide temporary protection of 

planted areas.

Seating in the Curry Village center varies, from 

horizontal half-round logs and shaped stumps used as 

benches to the recycled plastic furniture on the deck.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	In addition to the seating options recommended in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter, use of nested flat-top 

boulders is appropriate within Curry Village and compatible with the talus-sloped nature of the site.

•	 Specify low, boulder-reinforced grade changes where 

barriers parallel to contours on sloping areas are needed.

•	Areas needing protection from public use should make 

use of large wooden branches or small-diameter logs. 

This treatment is unique to Curry Village and is a distinctive and visually appropriate system for the central 

Curry Village area.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Barriers, Fences 

+ Benches” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

126 NP S

L i g hti ng

Lighting of pedestrian ways and public gathering spaces 

at Curry Village is provided by a limited number of 

pedestrian standards and soffit lights mounted on the 

cabins and other buildings. Sparse lighting is particularly 

appropriate in the tent cabin area, where, because of 

the presence of large talus blocks and numerous trees, a 

primitive quality dominates.

Within the limitations of night-sky principles, the 

canvas tent cabins themselves become a source of light. At 

night, when lit from the interior, they glow like lanterns, 

creating an almost magical environment.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 Because of the primitive nature of the tent cabin area, 

lighting of pedestrian walks should be minimal while 

meeting mandated safety standards.

•	 For more guidance on lighting, refer to the Yosemite 

National Park Lighting Guidelines (NPS 2011g) and 

“Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter.

Dev e l op ed A r e a s

VILL AG E CE N TE R

The Entrance Marker

The “Welcome to Camp Curry” sign and gateway 

stands as the historic entry into the Curry Village 

center. Characterized by its use of native materials in 

their natural state, it acts as a wayfinding marker and 

announces the special, rustic character of the place. The 

use of unpeeled logs has a thematic link to the early 

buildings in Curry Village (NPS 1980a). Both the character of the entrance gateway itself and its original 

function as the gateway to Curry Village are historically 

significant features.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Any redesign of the Curry Village entrance should 

consider restoring its function as a major pedestrian 

entrance point. This can be accomplished through 

improvements to the arrival and circulation patterns 

at the Curry Village center.

Siting + Building Orientation

The Curry Village center is defined by freestanding 

buildings surrounding a central open space. The lounge 

and registration buildings sit to the west of the central 

open space, and visitor service buildings such as the 

store and cafeteria are located to the east. These buildings, 

and the spaces between them, provide Curry Village 

with outdoor gathering points for both organized and 

informal functions.

Today, the buildings on the east side of the Curry 

Village center—including the dining hall and the Mountain 

Shop—have been joined into one linear complex. The 

buildings on the west side of the center—the lounge and 

the registration building—are still freestanding. The 

outdoor amphitheater is connected to the south side of 

the lounge building by a small platform stage. Enclosing 

the Curry Village center to the south is a strong line of 

wood cabins, backed by the massive walls of Glacier Point.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New design at the Curry Village center should recognize and be compatible with the established siting and 

building orientation.

•	The Curry Village center is a key social and organizational component of Curry Village. New design and 

construction should protect the sense of enclosure and 

minimize infill that might diminish the character of 

this area.

•	Design of service areas should minimize both visual 

and acoustical impacts to nearby sleeping and public 

gathering areas.
 127

C u r r y V i l l a g e

Architectural Character

The founders of Camp Curry established a rustic camp 

with a distinctive atmosphere and primitive style of 

accommodation. The historically significant elements 

in this area are the entrance gateway, the lounge, and 

the registration building. The entrance gateway, with 

its unpeeled logs and old-fashioned filament light bulbs, 

is emblematic of the Rustic style of architecture. 

Especially when lit-up at night, the gateway announces 

that Curry Village is a special place. The lounge is a onestory wood-frame structure with a rectangular plan and 

a hipped roof. The roof is covered with wood shingles 

and has skylights that allow natural light into the interior. 

An intimately scaled verandah along the front of the 

building at one time incorporated a large ponderosa 

pine. The scale of the tree was in sharp contrast to the 

simple structure of the verandah. The tree’s stump has 

been preserved as a seat.

Buildings in the Curry Village center are one story 

in height. Those on the east side are contained in a 

stepped-plan arrangement that turns the corner to the 

east. This conceals the kitchen and service areas from 

the dining room. The buildings on the west side are 

freestanding and have simple plan forms and low profiles.

The Mountain Shop was reconstructed in 1975

following a fire. However, the new building incorporates some of the design characteristics of the original, 

including massing and spatial organization. The use of 

a generous clerestory that allows views of Glacier Point 

gives the space a lively character and brings in natural 

light. The interesting bay window to the east side had a 

view of Half Dome that is now obscured by trees.

Although the dining pavilion lacks the spirit of the 

original building by architect Eldridge T. Spencer, it establishes a compatible character. The decorative approach to 

detailing and the breaking down of the large facade with a 

patterning of wall treatments help link it to the older 

Rustic buildings at Curry Village. Arbors and pergolas 

used on the historic building were discontinued.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Design new projects to be compatible with, and reflect 

the massing, scale, and form of, existing structures, especially the lounge. Refer to The Secretary of the Interior’s 

Standards for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	Additions to the east side of the Curry Village center 

should not overwhelm the scale of the existing lounge.

Roof Form and Materials

The buildings in the Curry Village center have mediumpitched roofs with either gable or hip forms. The dining 

pavilion has a concentric hip roof. The Mountain Shop 

has gable roof with a clerestory that provides views up 

to Glacier Point. Eldridge T. Spencer, the architect of the 

Curry Village Entrance, Lounge, and Registration buildings
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

128 NP S

original cafeteria, employed a similar clerestory in the 

store at Yosemite Lodge. Skylights are also found in the 

lounge. Asphalt shingles have been used to replace wood 

shingles on most buildings in the Curry Village center.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	The design of new structures should reflect the 

massing, scale, and form of existing Curry Village 

center buildings and should include the use of 

medium-pitched roofs, either gable or hipped.

•	Use dormers, shed or gable, and skylights to bring 

light into interior spaces.

Building Exterior

The lounge is a significant example of the historic rustic 

character found at Curry Village. The exterior walls consist of an applied frame of unpeeled log posts and sawn 

beams. Strips of cedar bark are used as infill siding in 

a herringbone pattern. The porch roof is supported 

on unpeeled log columns. The typical wood casement 

window is divided into six lights (NPS 1979). 

The Mountain Shop is a contemporary building 

inspired by Rustic design principles. This building features horizontal wood siding, glazed wood doors with a 

predominant horizontal muntin pattern, and decorative 

details at rafter ends and wall corners.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New buildings should have a protected base of boardformed concrete, granite, or river-rock cladding. 

(Refer to “Developed Areas—Building Exteriors” in 

the “Unifying Elements” chapter.)

•	Continue the use of Wosky brown as a unifying 

external treatment.

Camp Curry Dining Hall (1929) YRL
 129

C u r r y V i l l a g e

•	The design details of the trim, roof overhangs, and 

porches should be compatible with the character of 

historic structures.

•	Generous porches or verandahs that wrap around the 

public sides of buildings are recommended and should 

be scaled for seating as well as circulation. Wood-plank 

floors typical of the early buildings are recommended.

•	Arbors and pergolas define outdoor spaces at Curry 

Village and create pleasant transitions between indoor 

and outdoor spaces. The scale and character of these 

structures should be compatible with other examples 

found in Curry Village.

CABI N S

The guest quarters at Curry Village consist of groups of 

tent cabins and wood cabins that have a primitive, spare 

quality. Visitor service buildings such as comfort stations 

and shower houses are intermingled with the cabins.

Siting and Building Orientation

Located east of the Curry Village center, the white-canvas, 

gable-form tent cabins are one of the most distinctive 

elements of Curry Village, recalling the original Camp 

Curry. Although they are arranged in rows, the placement of each individual unit responds to the immediate 

topography and natural features such as trees and boulders. The wood platforms allow the grade to continue 

around and under the tent cabins without undue grading.

West of the Curry Village center are several wood 

cabins with baths. These are slightly larger than the tent 

cabins, and they are laid out in straighter, more regular 

rows, with their long sides parallel to pathways. The orientation of individual cabins within this arrangement has 

been adjusted to accommodate trees and boulders. Cabin 

locations were not sensitive to natural drainage patterns.

The newer wood cabins without baths (known 

as WOBs) were built between the late 1920s and early 

1930s. Due in part to later modernization, these cabins 

lack the expressive detail and character of the earlier 

wood cabins (NPS 2004h). They are also grouped more 

densely and sometimes rotate their long sides perpendicular to the pathways.

G U I D E L I N E s

•	New cabins should continue the siting and character

of the historic cabins and be integrated with natural 

features like trees and boulders.

•	The layout of new pathways should be universally 

accessible while conforming to existing topography 

patterns.

TOP Historic view of dining hall at Camp Curry from photo by J.T. Boyston 

BOTTOM Clerestory of Mountain Shop, Curry Village
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

130 NP S

TOP LEFT Mountain Shop window detail TOP RIGHT Mountain Shop bay window BOTTOM Early view of Camp Curry cafeteria (now the Mountain Shop). The building was 

notched to accommodate the large conifers. Conifers have since been replaced with a deck. (date unknown) YRL
 131

C u r r y V i l l a g e

Architectural Character

The tent cabins exemplify the primitive character of 

Curry Village. Built on wood platforms and made of white 

canvas stretched over a wood frame, their geometry is 

simple, with a gable roof and wooden steps leading from 

the grade to the door. The screened door has a canvas 

roll-blind, as do the windows.

The original wood cabins, nestled within the forest 

setting, define the character of the western area of Curry 

Village. Built between 1918 and 1922, the cabins have a 

simple and natural character derived from their rectangular plan, gable forms, wood shingle roofs, applied 

half-log framing, tongue-and-groove diagonal wood siding 

between frame elements, wood casement windows, and 

wood paneled doors. Building shape and massing are 

important character-defining elements of the original 

wood cabins. These small buildings are one story and 

low in profile, and they have no projecting bays. Porches 

without roofs are either flush with the grade or elevated, 

depending on the slope of the ground. Some of the cabins 

have river-washed cobble stonemasonry foundations and 

chimneys. The cabins’ dark-brown color blends with the 

forest setting.

Two historic residences constructed by the Currys 

inspired the design of the wood cabins: the Foster Curry 

Cabin (1916) and Mother Curry’s Bungalow (1917). These 

buildings established a rustic theme for Curry Village. 

They are characterized by unpeeled log pilasters, which 

simulate a structural frame, and wall panels of unpeeled 

cedar bark (NPS 1979).

G U I D E L I N E S

•	The architectural character of new cabins should be 

compatible with the historic wood cabins without 

imitating them. Refer to The Secretary of the Interior’s 

Standards for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	 Provision for winter occupancy will influence the character of new buildings. This may cause them to differ 

from the historic buildings.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Building Shape and 

Massing” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for 

more guidelines on winter occupancy.

Roof Form and Materials

The original wood cabins have gable roofs with medium 

pitch in the range of 5:12. Their overhangs are well proportioned for the mass of the buildings. Asphalt shingles 

are typically used on new structures to meet current 

safety requirements.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New cabins should have a gable roof form with 

medium pitch to be compatible with the historic 

wood cabins.

•	Increased winter use and the need for snow management may influence the design of roofs at entrances. 

The addition of small gables over entrance doors 

has altered the original character of many cabins. 

Entrances on the eave side of the building require protection from rain and snow. Projections from the roof 

should have structural elements, such as posts and 

beam supports, that define the entrance and allow 

the shelter to stand. Alternatively, consider locating 

entrances to the gable side of the structure.

Stoneman Lodge, Curry Village (2004) RF
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

132 NP S

Building Exterior

The exterior walls of the original wood cabins consist of 

simulated half-log frames with infill sheathing of diagonal 

one-by-four, tongue-and-groove wood siding in a herringbone pattern. Other components include split-log gable 

ends, foundations of river-washed cobble, wood porches, 

paneled doors, and casement windows. Wood sash windows with true muntins are a salient characteristic of the 

building exterior. The cabins are unified by their painted 

brown color.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New cabins should have a base of form-board concrete 

or concrete with a cobble facing. If cobble is used, it 

is important to select stone that is of compatible color 

and size to that found on historic wood cabins.

TOP Wood cabins without baths, Curry Village BOTTOM Tent cabins, Curry Village (2004) JM
 133

C u r r y V i l l a g e

TOP Wood cabin with boulder (2004) RF 

BOTTOM Trail leading to tent cabins and boulders, Curry Village

•	 For one-story buildings, limit wall siding to one 

material and one pattern.

•	Cabin entries should be placed on the gable ends of 

buildings or under porches with column support as 

required. Provide protection from snow over the entries.

•	 Porch railings are optional unless required by code.

•	 Flush, painted, solid-core doors are recommended. 

Panel doors, if used, should be of compatible, simple 

design with a paint finish.

•	Use of divided lights in new cabins is not recommended. 

Window proportion and orientation should reflect those 

of the original cabins.

•	 Exposed roof framing of rough-sawn elements is 

recommended.

•	Attic vents of wood are recommended.

E m p loyee H ousi ng

Siting and Building Orientation

If supplemental housing is considered at Curry Village, 

it should be located within the existing employee housing area and should be of a character that is compatible 

with the historic development while blending with the 

existing, contemporary, employee housing.

The relationship between buildings and the landscape is one of the most distinctive characteristics of 

Curry Village.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Cluster new buildings around natural features.

•	 Site buildings at the edges of open spaces and into the 

trees, and use open spaces for natural light, views, and 

gathering areas. Pedestrian access from parking areas to 

buildings should weave through these open spaces.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

134 NP S

Architectural Character

A major issue for new buildings is their compatibility 

with the existing historic buildings. Curry Village has 

a distinct architectural character defined by a consistent use of Rustic design principles. It is important that 

Rustic design principles be observed to achieve harmony 

with the historic buildings, while blending with the contemporary housing design.

Guideli n es

•	New development should share characteristics inspired 

by and connected to Rustic design while blending with 

the existing, contemporary, employee housing.

•	New buildings should incorporate the shape, mass, 

and gable roof forms of the historic buildings. Other 

features and details should be used to distinguish the 

new buildings as contemporary, consistent with compatibility guidance outlined in The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Building Shape and Massing

The consistent use of rectangular shape and simple mass 

will help achieve unity between the employee housing 

and Curry Village. To provide a reasonable transition, 

buffering, such as vegetation, will be required between 

new and historic developments.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 Limit building height to two stories.

•	 Locate stairs and porches within the main building 

volume to protect them from the weather.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Building Shape and 

Massing” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for more 

guidelines.

Roof Form and Materials

The gable is the dominant roof form throughout the 

cabin areas.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	The roof form of new buildings should be a gable with 

the ridge parallel to the long side of the building.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Roof Form and 

Materials” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for 

more guidelines.

Building Exterior

A particular set of exterior features was used consistently in the historic cabins to achieve a rustic character. 

Key features include a protected base, pilasters to articulate facades, exposed roof framing details, wood sash 

windows, and a consistent color treatment. Many of 

Tent interior, Camp Curry (ca. 1917). Courtesy of the Huntington Library

Wood cabin with porch and rustic base, Curry Village (2004) RF
 135

C u r r y V i l l a g e

TOP Bungalow, Camp Curry (1926) YRL BOTTOM LEFT Mother Curry’s Bungalow BOTTOM RIGHT Foster Curry Cabin
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

136 NP S

these features remain relevant to the design of new 

buildings because their use is not limited to a historic 

time period.

With the advent of year-round use, new entrances 

and porches are important architectural additions that 

address snow management.

G U I D E L I N E s

•	Use board-formed concrete to form a protected base, 

consistent with recommendations in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

•	 For one-story buildings, limit wall siding to one pattern. 

For two-story buildings, use of one siding pattern is 

preferred, but no more than two patterns should be 

Back side of entrance sign, Curry Village

Exterior wall detail from historic wood cabin, Curry Village (2004) RF

used. The historic wood cabins serve as reference for 

use of wall materials.

•	 Board and batten siding is recommended for its superior weathering properties and because it would be 

recognizably different from historic treatments. Other 

types of wood siding or shingles of various patterns 

may also be used.

•	 Entrances should be placed at the gable ends or under 

porches for protection from the weather. Use of timber 

columns and beams at entrances and porches may be 

appropriate to announce the entrance. Service doors 

should be protected from snow with small roof extensions or porches.

•	Arrange windows in an orderly and uniform manner, 

reflecting the interior furniture layouts. Exterior doors 

should be sash or solid-core. Windows should be metalclad. Use windows without divided lights to distinguish 

new buildings from the historic ones.

•	Wood trim elements should be oversized in width and 

thickness to give character to openings.

•	Outlookers are recommended as a detail for supporting 

roof overhangs at the gable ends.

•	The material and texture of exposed framing at eaves 

should be the same as the exterior siding.

•	Use of new colors is acceptable, but the color and hue 

should be compatible with the traditional Wosky brown.
 137

it was derived from the beginning to make the ahwahnee environmental in its architecture, rather than to follow any definite period. from a lette r by Donald Tr esidDe r, 

P resident of the YP&CC , to F rederick L aw Olmsted J r., landscape architect • 1927

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r T h e A h w a h n e e

the ahwah n ee

Designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, The Ahwahnee is one of the 

most elaborate lodges ever built in a national park. In its discussion of the 

specific significance of The Ahwahnee, the 1976 National Register nomination calls the hotel “among the most significant park hotels in the country,” 

in the company of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park and 

the El Tovar at Grand Canyon National Park.

In spite of the difficulties encountered during the planning and construction of The Ahwahnee, most would agree that Underwood turned 

this challenging assignment into one of his greatest successes. Skillfully 

adopting a previously developed architectural vocabulary to a site where 

proportions had to be carefully considered, he succeeded in creating a new, 

monumental interpretation of Rustic-style architecture. By echoing the 

Valley’s massive boulders, craggy cliffs, and towering forests, he forged new 

paths “different from anything previously built in the park,” according to 

publicity bulletins periodically issued during construction by the Yosemite 

Park and Curry Company. The company called its style “environmental” 

to stress its departure from established forms of design (Zaitlin 1989).

A few naturalists, who believed that any building in the park should 

be secondary to the landscape, were critical of the hotel’s lavishness. Among 

them was Ansel Adams, who wrote that “the architect had tried to compete 

with the environment. He lost.” But for those who appreciate the structure’s 

compatibility with the scale of its surroundings, the hotel is a unique and 

successful blend of Rustic with Art Deco elements. Its design represents a 

highly individualized interpretation of Rustic architecture (Zaitlin 1989).

S etti n g 138

D evelo p ed A r ea 141
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

138 NP S

The Ahwahnee (1990) DNC-KW

Porte-cochère, The Ahwahnee (2004) RF

Completed in 1927, The Ahwahnee has continued in 

operation to this day. The one exception occured during 

World War II, when it was converted to a naval convalescent hospital. Despite this use, The Ahwahnee retains 

integrity to a period of historical significance ending in 

1942. The Ahwahnee was listed in the National Register 

in 1977, and it was designated a National Historic 

Landmark for its significant architecture in 1987.

S e t t i n g

The Ahwahnee has an optimal location in Yosemite Valley, 

with stunning views, river access, and a mild local climate. 

The milder climate is due in part to the hotel’s elevated 

location, giving it access to a higher angle of sunlight 

from the southwest. Attesting to the site’s popularity, 

previous use included an American Indian village, the 

Kenneyville Stables, J.C. Lamon’s homestead, and the 

Aaron Harris public camping facility.

Sitting as it does, at the northeastern edge of the 

relatively secluded Ahwahnee Meadow, The Ahwahnee 

has impressive views of Glacier Point, Royal Arch 

Cascade, Royal Arches, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. 

The Merced River winds in a distinctive oxbow 

bend on the southern edge of the hotel site, creating 

an effective buffer between the hotel and Curry Village 

and the maze of campgrounds that occupies the eastern end of the Valley. Elevated above the floodplain, The 

Ahwahnee was spared during the 1997 flood. While outside the area’s designated talus zone, the hotel is within 

the “shadow line,” defined as the probable furthest 

extent of individual rocks beyond the talus line. A 2009

rockfall damaged several cars in the parking lot north of 

the hotel, and a few small rocks reached the reflecting 

pond near the hotel’s porte cochère.
 139

T h e A h w a h n e e

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Pair of lanterns at The Ahwahnee 

Management of vegetation at The Ahwahnee has 

historically focused on attempts to present a natural 

meadow landscape and native woodlands, as well as to 

reinforce certain spatial sequences and impressions. To 

an impressive degree, the original landscape and overall site plan of the area has been maintained. Despite the 

encroachment of pines and cedars into black oak forests 

and meadows, vegetation management has successfully preserved most views—both from the building to 

natural landmarks and of the building in its meadow setting—while still maintaining the area’s sense of splendid 

1 The Ahwahnee

2 ntrance Gate at Entrance Drive

3 

mployee Dorm and Tent Cabins

4 Reflecting Pond

5 Eight Wood Bungalows

6 Ahwahnee Bridge

7 Sugar Pine Bridge

8 Merced River

9 Ahwahnee Meadow

10 Tennis Courts

t h e a h w a h n e e

isolation. These efforts were often based on intuition 

rather than in-depth horticultural or forestry knowledge, 

as is evident in the close planting of sequoias to screen 

buildings and tennis courts. In the 1920s, Frederick Law 

Olmsted Jr. added more vegetation to discourage deer 

and create a more varied and lush appearance. He also 

designed a reflecting pond in front of The Ahwahnee, 

landscaped with plantings representative of the various 

ecological zones in the park (Olmsted 1930). Much of 

this disappeared during World War II due to lack 

of maintenance.

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A S e n s e o f P l a c e

140 NP S

TOP The Ahwahnee with Upper Yosemite Fall (2003) GH 

BOTTOM Ahwahnee bungalow (2004) RF

The Ahwahnee is accessed by a two-lane entrance 

road from Village Drive. The road provides access to 

the parking lots on the north side of the hotel, the porte 

cochère, and the service entrance to the hotel.

From the parking lot, the hotel is screened by a 

porte cochère generous enough to accommodate four to 

six automobiles. Shrubs and trees (including sequoias) 

planted in the 1920s provide additional screening. The 

porte cochère connects to a covered walkway, which 

in turn leads into the registration lobby of the hotel. 

From this point, access continues to shops, the bar at 

the Ahwahnee, the elevator lobby, the dining room, the 

main lounge, and outdoor spaces on the south side of 

the hotel. The entrance is on the service side of the 

building, although the service areas and loading docks 

are completely hidden from view by a heavy board fence.

The entrance as originally conceived by Underwood 

was to have been on the end of the northeast wing. A 

portico was built to cover the entrance, but there was 

a concern that vehicles and arriving guests might create 

too much noise for the occupants of the guest rooms 

just above. The present porte cochère and 120-foot 

covered walkway was hastily built, and the original 

portico enclosed. Today, the ground floor of the east 

wing functions as the Ahwahnee Bar, located just off 

the registration lobby (Zaitlin 1989).

This modification of the entry created a different 

type of arrival from the one originally designed. 

Underwood’s own watercolor rendering of the hotel 

before its completion shows that it was his original 

 idea to provide more formal access to the building. A 

covered walkway made of logs and rough wood made 

arriving at the entrance lobby a more rustic experience 

(Zaitlin 1989).

From the south The Ahwahnee makes very different and surprising impressions. Hardly visible from the 

north side, it emerges as a massive, granite-clad structure 

that seems both to stand up to its surroundings and 

acquiesce to them. The building is set in an open meadow 

with background views of the Royal Arches, Glacier Point, 

Yosemite Point, and other major formations of the 
 141

T h e A h w a h n e e

Log seat with chevron pattern 

at The Ahwahnee (2004) RF

Roof overhang and balcony of concrete, made to simulate wood

Valley walls. The massive, stone-covered piers and projecting wings of the hotel give it a sculptural quality. 

The absence of an entrance and the associated traffic 

enhance this sculptural quality when viewed from the 

south, east, and west.

The Ahwahnee bungalows, separated from the 

hotel by Royal Arch Creek, was designed by architect 

Eldridge T. Spencer and completed in 1928. A unique 

wooden bridge with built-in Craftsman-style benches 

leads visitors across the creek to the eight small clapboard and shake buildings. The exclusion of vehicles 

from this wooded area gives it an intimate, semiprivate 

feeling distinct from that of the hotel. The bungalows 

are relatively close to one another, but dense vegetation 

and the meandering slate pathways prevent the feeling 

of crowding.

Dev e l op ed A r e a

The Ahwahnee is a significant example of Rustic-style 

architecture in Yosemite Valley. A response to the natural setting informs almost every aspect of the building’s 

design. While the oversized proportions of the building’s 

important elements seek to achieve a scale that relates 

to the Valley walls, the backdrop of massive granite 

walls of the Valley seems to diminish the building’s 

massive scale.

The architect of The Ahwahnee, Gilbert Stanley 

Underwood, created a building that combined contemporary building technology with the use of native 

materials. The six-story, steel-frame and reinforced concrete structure is clad with stained, textured concrete 

designed to look like wood, a veneer of weathered granite boulders, and real logs at the porte cochère. Although 

most of the building materials were far from rustic, their 

specific treatment and the forms into which they were 

molded resulted in a building that, despite its rational 

construction, massive scale, and modern techniques, 

demonstrates the Rustic-style architecture of roughhewn logs and rocks reserved for—and that Americans 

have come to expect of—essential buildings in park 

settings (Page & Turnbull 1997).

Understanding this sensitive expectation, 

Underwood created a building that is seemingly just 

that—logs and rocks. This success is remarkable, given 

the use of relatively spare amounts of actual rustic materials. The interior design is not Rustic, but rather is a 

skillful blending of the then-current Art Deco style with 

Native American decorative motifs. While Underwood 

was apparently the generator of the Art Deco theme, 

it was the design team of Ackerman and Pope—with 

the assistance of interior designer Jeanette Spencer—

who succeeded in integrating the Art Deco and Native 

American decorative arts into the hotel, and it is in fact 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

142 NP S

this form of decoration, present in all aspects of the interior, from the furnishings to the decorative paint stencils, 

fixtures, and fabrics, that is celebrated today (Page & 

Turnbull 1997).

The building’s massing is broken up, creating the 

sense of a rambling, organic structure that belies the 

sheer size of the facility. Large wings contain the massive great lounge and a dining room, both of which 

are extraordinary two-story spaces. The lounge has an 

ornate, concrete-beamed ceiling, and the dining room 

features high, exposed timber trusses.

Curry Company president Donald Tresidder and 

the board of the Yosemite Park and Curry Company 

instructed Underwood to design the 100-guest-room 

structure (along with consideration for space for the 

later cottages) to convey the impression of a large home 

rather than a hotel. He was told to place the essential 

commercial elements such as the cashier and telephone 

booths in an unobtrusive place, preferably in a separate 

wing. Upon entering the building, guests might take 

notice of these facilities, but once past them, they would 

feel they were in a “quiet, luxurious country home” 

(Zaitlin 1989).

The concept of a large hotel changed many times 

before the final drawings were completed. As late as 

January 1926, the plans for the hotel provided for a building no higher than three stories with stone construction 

on the first floor and wood framing above. Eventually it 

was decided to build a larger structure, providing 100

guest rooms and several very spacious public areas. The 

dining room, originally planned for 1,000, was scaled 

down to accommodate only 350 diners.

Other significant buildings in The Ahwahnee developed area include eight Ahwahnee bungalows and a 

storage building in the bungalow area. The Ahwahnee 

dormitory, built as a temporary storage building during 

the Naval hospital period and converted later to employee 

housing, is noncontributing.

Eleven significant structures in The Ahwahnee 

developed area include the entrance road (from gateway 

to parking lot), gateway piers, main parking lot (west), 

reflecting pond, bungalow paths, footbridge to bungalow area, footbridge near Merced River, bridle trail ford, 

drainage ways, tennis courts, and the flagstone terrace 

(NPS 2004h).

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Refer to the The Ahwahnee Historic Structures Report

(NPS 2011a) and the The Ahwahnee Cultural Landscape 

Report (NPS 2011b) for specific guidelines pertaining 

to the hotel and its grounds.

Large scale glazed opening between porch and lounge at The Ahwahnee
 143

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e L o d g e

yosemite lod g e

Yosemite Lodge is a 1950s motel-style complex characterized by modern 

structural forms and modern materials such as glass, concrete, and steel—

typical of Mission 66 design. The lodge is located along the base of the 

north Valley wall, southwest of Yosemite Village, north of the Merced 

River, and immediately west of Yosemite Creek. The original Yosemite 

Lodge building (no longer in existence) was constructed in 1915, in 

response to the advice of Stephen Mather and Franklin Lane. Both believed 

that there would be an influx of visitors to the park after the completion of 

the Panama Canal. Increased visitation to Yosemite did occur after World 

War II, making it necessary to expand the facility. Beginning in 1956, the 

lodge and associated developments were replaced with several new buildings 

designed by Eldridge Spencer. Yosemite Lodge today includes the main lodge 

(registration building), mid-scale motel units, a restaurant, a cafeteria, a 

bar, a gift and general merchandise store, a specialty gift shop, conference 

rooms, a bike rental shop, a post office, and a swimming pool. All guest 

lodging consists of multi-unit-style building construction (NPS 2004i).

In 1996 the visitor service facilities at the lodge were renovated with 

the extension of the Mountain Room Restaurant, a new Garden Court 

restaurant, an enlarged and renovated gift shop, and restrooms.

Although Yosemite Lodge is within the Yosemite Valley Historic 

District, the buildings post-date the period of significance and are 

noncontributing.

the great fall, the noblest display of falling water to be found in the valley, or 

perhaps in the world...this noble fall has by far the richest, as well as the most powerful, voice of all the falls of the valley, its tones varying from the sharp hiss and 

rustle of the wind in the glossy leaves of the live-oaks and the soft, sifting, hushing 

tones of the pines, to the loudest rush and roar of storm winds and thunder among 

the crags of the summit peaks. John M uir • The Yosemite • 1912

S etti n g

Natural Systems + Features 144

Scenic Views 145

Vegetation 145

la n dsca p e uses +

st r uctu r es 

Land Use + Spatial 

Organization 146

Circulation + Parking 146

Structures 147

D evelo p ed A r eas 

Visitor Service Buildings 

+ Courtyard 147

Guest Lodging 151
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

144 NP S

The Yosemite Lodge complex is set on the sunny, 

warmer side of the Valley. In the winter the lodge gets 

low-angle direct sunshine, resulting in strong solar radiation that penetrates into areas normally shaded from 

the summer sun. This effect is more pronounced in areas 

of deciduous black oaks.

The most dramatic natural feature at Yosemite 

Lodge is the remarkable tree-framed view of Yosemite 

Falls to the north. Each year, however, views of the 

Upper and Lower falls from the lodge are incrementally 

narrowed or obscured by these tall coniferous trees.

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S e t t i n g

Natu r al S ystems + Featu r es

The Yosemite Lodge complex is on the north side of 

Yosemite Valley between towering granite cliffs and the 

Merced River. Yosemite Lodge’s location on the edge 

of Leidig Meadow, just north of the Merced River, and 

close to Yosemite Falls, gives the complex a dramatic 

setting. The most prominent natural feature at the lodge 

is Yosemite Falls to the northeast. Farther up the Valley 

to the east is Half Dome.

1 Yosemite Lodge (meeting/bar/retail)

2 Yosemite Lodge Food Service 

(Commons Facility)

3 Registration

4 Amphitheater

5 Cedar Cottage

6 Swimming Pool

7 Post Office

8 Yosemite Creek Bridge

9 Guest Lodging

10 Northside Drive

11 Camp 4

12 Indian Cultural Center (proposed)

13 Upper Yosemite Fall Trail

14 Support Buildings

15 Lower Yosemite Fall Trail

16 Merced River

y o s e m i t e l o d g e
 145

 Y o s e m i t e L o d g e

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New design should enhance the character of black 

oak and meadow settings through the selection of 

appropriate plantings.

S ce n ic V iews

Yosemite Lodge is situated in one of the most spectacular scenic areas of the park. From Yosemite Lodge 

one can see a great variety of significant natural features, including Sentinel Rock, Union Point, Half Dome, 

Washington Column, Lost Arrow Spire, and Yosemite 

Falls. There are also important views to talus slopes and 

rock walls at the base of Columbia Rock, Eagle Tower, 

and Eagle Peak. Views vary seasonally; views that are 

obscured by spring growth become apparent when leaves 

are shed in the fall. Distant views become part of an 

overall composition, with close-up subjects such as trees, 

talus, and the base of cliffs.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New design should include the planting, trimming, or 

clearing of trees and shrubs as appropriate to frame, 

emphasize, or open-up views, as consistent with the 

Scenic Vista Management Plan for Yosemite National Park

(NPS 2011d).

•	Orient new walkways, gathering areas, balconies, and 

visitor service building windows to optimize views of 

natural features, such as Yosemite Falls, Lost Arrow 

Spire, Half Dome, Columbia Rock, Eagle Tower, Eagle 

Peak, Sentinel Rock, and meadows.

•	New design should make use of opportunities to 

simplify parking at the lodge entrance, enhance views, 

and restore the open character and view of Leidig 

Meadow from the Lodge.

Auto arrival at Yosemite Lodge (ca. 1960) YRL

V e g etatio n

The character of the vegetation at Yosemite Lodge changes 

based on location within the site and includes the talus 

slope, the developed area of the lodge, and the riparian 

meadow. The talus and developed areas are dominated by 

a scattered pattern of pines and cedars, with some black 

oak. Leidig Meadow, which is south of the lodge, is one 

of the major meadows in the Valley. The meadow and its 

extension to the west underlie much of the Merced River 

floodplain. There has been significant encroachment by 

conifers into some areas of the meadow.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Use of native plants for landscape purposes should 

blend with the natural surroundings in the immediate 

vicinity. Use of conifers should be carefully evaluated 

because of their impact on views of the surrounding 

cliffs and meadows adjacent to the lodge area.

•	 Specifications for vegetation types and planting should 

conform to the Comprehensive Landscape and Revegetation 

Plan (Bitterroot 1999).
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

146 NP S

•	Design planted areas in the core of the developed area, 

near visitor service buildings, to be large and separated 

from pedestrian areas by grade changes or low stone or 

timber barriers. This will prevent social trails and will 

enhance overall maintenance efficiency. Avoid designing 

planting areas that are too small to support large shrubs 

and trees or that encourage pedestrians to wander off 

the paths and into planted areas.

L a n ds c a p e Us e s + St ru c t u r e s

L a n d U se + Spatial Or g a n i z atio n

Yosemite Lodge consists of multiple building clusters set 

in groves of trees and open meadow areas. The clusters 

are organized by function, and are connected by a network of roads, trails, and parking lots. Visitor services and 

recreational facilities are grouped in the central core of 

the lodge complex and are flanked by large parking lots. 

The three primary visitor service buildings in the public 

core are connected by covered walkways and form an 

inner courtyard that includes an amphitheater and casual 

seating. These buildings house the registration office, a 

restaurant, cafeteria, bar, conference space, and shops. 

A secondary cluster adjacent to the central core focuses 

around a swimming pool. Clusters of guest lodging buildings are dispersed around the perimeter of the site and 

consist of one- and two-story mid-scale motel units.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New buildings should be located in disturbed sites 

outside the floodplain of the Merced River.

•	New buildings should be integrated into an existing 

cluster or should establish new clusters in similar proximity to the existing facilities.

C i r culatio n + Pa r k i ng

Vehicle traffic is concentrated along the paved road and 

associated parking areas bisecting the developed area. 

A central paved road runs through the development. 

Secondary roads connect the central road to parking and 

service areas. Several large, paved parking lots are located 

near the registration office and some of the lodging clusters. Less-formal, hard-packed earth roads and small 

asphalt service roads provide vehicle access to the more 

remote lodge facilities.

Concrete and asphalt walkways provide pedestrian 

circulation in the central core area. Hard-packed earthen 

paths connect the central core to the more remote parts 

of the lodge complex. Access via parking areas to lodging 

units is on paved walkways.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle pathways should be 

separated and clearly delineated for visitor safety.

•	Design should minimize the presence of the road as 

a visual and pedestrian barrier between the lodge and 

the river.

View of Washington Column and Half Dome, near Yosemite Lodge
 147

 Y o s e m i t e L o d g e

•	New roads in the lodge area should incorporate 

major natural features into the alignment of the 

road corridor.

•	 Parking areas should be designed so that they are 

screened from the road corridor.

•	 Locate parking areas out of view from guestrooms 

and walkways.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures” in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter for more guidelines 

on circulation.

S t r uctu r es

For guidelines on small buildings, masonry, footbridges, 

boardwalks, culvert crossings, retaining walls, fences, 

and benches, refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

Leidig Meadow (1938) YRL

Dev e l op ed A r e a s

VISITO R SE R VIC E BUILDI NG S

+ COU R T YA R D

Siting and Building Orientation

Guests arrive at Yosemite Lodge by way of Northside 

Drive, passing through or by the porte cochère in front 

of the 1956 registration building. Guests park their vehicles in one of several small parking lots and walk back to 

the registration building.

The visitor service buildings are organized around 

an informal courtyard and are linked by covered walkways. Yosemite Lodge is the only complex in the Valley 

where covered walkways connect visitor service buildings. In the center of the courtyard is an amphitheater 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

148 NP S

with views to Yosemite Falls and Sentinel Rock. The 

registration building faces south. The swimming pool 

is adjacent to and east of this central area.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New visitor service buildings should be sited to take 

advantage of important views and should have outdoor 

areas that provide interpretive opportunities. Visitors 

should be guided toward views of Yosemite Falls or the 

vistas across the meadow.

•	New visitor service facilities should not be placed 

within the courtyard, in order to preserve the concept 

of the courtyard space.

TOP Courtyard from Mountain Room porch, Yosemite Lodge (2004) GH 

BOTTOM Cafeteria dining terrace, Yosemite Lodge (2004) SA

•	New buildings should enhance the visitor experience 

of the area around Yosemite Lodge (taking advantage 

of views, etc.) while meeting the needs of the lodge 

operation.

•	 Site new visitor service buildings in and among 

trees in areas that have been previously developed 

or disturbed.

•	New design should ensure that guests have access to 

developed spaces adjacent to buildings where they can 

pause, linger, and enjoy natural surroundings.

Architectural Character

The architectural character of Yosemite Lodge’s 1956era buildings is the product of the Mission 66 movement, 

a dramatic departure from earlier NPS Rustic style. The 

one-story buildings employ a modern architectural vocabulary of exposed steel frames, large expanses of glass, and 

low-pitch roofs. Within Yosemite Valley, traditional rustic 

buildings are designed to make strong connections to the 

natural landscape through their use of natural materials. 

Although Yosemite Lodge lacks the type of rustic character of Curry Village or The Ahwahnee, the openness and 

transparency of the lodge buildings allow visitors to 

connect with the natural setting.

The 1996 rehabilitation and extension of the 

Mountain Room Restaurant employed contemporary 

expressions of rustic design—rough-sawn timbers, cedar 

paneling left in its natural state—combined with modern 

elements such as large expanses of glass. The success 

of this project was in its linkage of the Mission 66

style with a more traditional Rustic-style architectural 

vocabulary.
 149

 Y o s e m i t e L o d g e

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New construction at Yosemite Lodge should be similar 

in form and scale to the lodge facilities. New additions 

should build from the openness of the contemporary 

architectural style while incorporating the natural 

elements reflective of the site’s surroundings.

•	Use natural materials and subdued colors that are 

inspired by the natural setting.

Building Shape and Massing

The visitor service buildings are one-story structures 

with low-pitched gable roofs that do not compete with 

the natural setting. Each space within the complex 

provides generous interior spaces appropriate to their 

function. Within their low profile, these structures 

use roof forms that direct attention upwards toward 

the surrounding landmarks. For example, the roof of the 

Mountain Room Restaurant extends in shed elements, 

creating tall windows facing Yosemite Falls. Other retail 

spaces use generous clerestories and skylights.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New buildings should be based on simple building 

forms that harmonize with the natural setting as well 

as the human-made environment. They should not 

detract from the grandeur of the cliffs and the waterfalls that are the prime backdrop for the lodge.

•	 New communal gathering areas at the lodge should continue the pattern of spacious, one-story structures with 

generously glazed exterior walls and exposed structural 

framing. Variation of building height is recommended to 

create important interior spaces that make strong connections to the surrounding landscape elements.

•	 Future planning and design should employ methods that 

will continue to enhance and foster a sense of unity for 

the entire complex.

Roof Form and Materials

The public buildings at Yosemite Lodge have a roof pitch 

that is considerably lower than many structures in the 

Valley. This profile gives the buildings a horizontal aspect 

that does not compete with the landscape. Asphalt cap 

sheet and asphalt shingles are used as roof coverings 

throughout the lodge complex.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 For new buildings, continue the use of roof forms that 

are compatible with the Mission 66 era buildings at the 

lodge. However, for major public buildings, dramatic 

height for interior spaces may be desirable. New roof 

pitch should not be as steep as that of Cedar Cottage 

because smaller snow loads (as exist in the Valley) do 

not warrant steep pitches.

Courtyard, Yosemite Lodge (2004) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

150 NP S

•	 Provide eaves that shed snow and water away from 

the walls. Prevent snow and rain from dropping and 

accumulating on pedestrian walkways.

•	Use of slightly oversized structural members can 

be considered in creating a substantial character for 

important rooms.

•	Roof coverings should be nonreflective and darkcolored to harmonize with the natural surroundings. 

This will minimize reflection when viewed from the 

trails above the Valley floor. 

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Roof Form and 

Materials” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter 

for more guidelines.

Building Exteriors

The exterior treatments at Yosemite Lodge include wood 

siding, natural colors, large window-walls, over-scaled 

wood structural elements, covered walkways and porches, 

and a protected base. The original visitor service buildings are clad in wood siding that is stained brown. Steel 

columns and windows are painted the same color. 

The exterior walls of the Mountain Room addition 

are resawn cedar boards finished with a clear stain. This 

treatment recalls early Rustic-style buildings in the Valley 

that typically had redwood siding with a clear oil finish. 

Generous window-walls on the original steel-framed 

buildings allow a strong connection between indoors and 

outdoors. Glazed doors reinforce this indoor–outdoor 

connection. The exposed steel columns and beams recall 

the earlier tradition of exposed structural elements. 

Additions at the lodge reintroduced the use of overscaled, resawn timbers for the interior and exterior 

framing. A concrete base was incorporated into the 

design of the Mountain Room addition to create a 

weathering lower-wall treatment. 

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Wood siding with a resawn surface is recommended as 

the dominant cladding material.

•	Appropriate finishes for wood siding include paints 

or opaque stains in colors consistent with existing 

structures, semi-transparent stains, or natural weathering sealers.

•	 Porches and eaves should be of a scale suitable for 

public assembly. The south loggia at The Ahwahnee 

is a fine example.

•	 Moderately overscaled, resawn timbers are recommended 

for the main structural elements. Logs are not recommended. For reasons of sustainability, glue-laminated 

members are preferred; however, log framing members 

may be appropriate in some areas for their special 

visual or interpretive value.

TOP Lounge, Yosemite Lodge (2004) SA 

BOTTOM Mountain Room Restaurant, Yosemite Lodge (2004) SA
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 Y o s e m i t e L o d g e

•	 Exposed timber framing connectors should not be 

visually distracting. The color of the painted metal 

connector plates and brackets should be harmonious 

with the wood framing members.

•	Wood detail elements such as trim boards should be 

sized to have a sturdy character.

•	New visitor service buildings should have a defined 

base that resists deterioration and visually connects 

the building to the ground. The base should be made 

of concrete formed with rough-sawn boards. It may be 

appropriate to use a weathered granite base for important new structures. In this case the granite should be 

used for adjacent landscape walls to connect the building to the land.

G UEST LOD G I NG

Siting and Building Orientation

Traditionally, the setting for guest quarters is quiet and 

restful, providing guests the opportunity to experience 

and appreciate the natural surroundings. Guest quarters at Yosemite Lodge are located in clusters at some 

distance from the visitor service buildings. Approached 

by pathways from the central public core, the buildings 

are sited in and among the trees and near the edges of 

meadows.

Many of the guest quarter buildings are one and 

two stories in height, long and rectangular in shape, and 

arranged in an irregular layout, with a general tendency 

to align parallel with the Valley walls. This east–west 

orientation allows views of the Valley walls to the north 

and south.

These buildings have defined front and rear sides, 

stairs, balconies, entrance doors on the front, and patios 

and decks on the rear.

Guideli n es

•	The clustering of smaller guest quarters has greater 

flexibility in adapting to landscape elements such 

as trees and boulders. Informal groupings allow the 

buildings to fit more naturally into the landscape. It 

is important to determine the capacity of the site so 

as to not tax the natural setting.

•	New lodging units should avoid removal of mature 

healthy trees wherever possible.

•	 Site guest lodgings to take advantage of views, natural 

light, and solar access (in that order of priority).

View of Yosemite Falls from Mountain Room Restaurant Mountain Room Restaurant roof detail from courtyard, Yosemite Lodge

Porch of the Mountain Room 

Restaurant, Yosemite Lodge 

(2004) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

152 NP S

•	Continue the use of rectangular buildings with an 

east–west orientation as a unifying characteristic for 

site organization.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Siting and Building 

Orientation” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for 

more guidelines on building orientation and sound.

Architectural Character

The overall architectural character of the guest quarters 

at Yosemite Lodge reflects the Bay Area style of the 1940s 

to 1960s. This regional modern design style was widely 

used during the period of the construction of the guest 

quarters. Like Mission 66 visitor service buildings, the 

guest quarters departed from the traditional NPS Rustic 

style. The features that link these buildings to other 

developments in Yosemite Valley include the use of simple 

rectangular plan forms with gable roofs, wood siding in 

simple patterns, and paint and stain colors of dark umber.

New development presents the opportunity to use 

contemporary materials and techniques that embrace and 

capture the remarkable setting of the lodge.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	The architectural character of new guest quarters 

should be modest, restful, and welcoming to the visitor. The expression of shelter should be enhanced 

by generous roof overhangs, porches, verandahs, and 

private outdoor spaces.

•	New development should create a sense of identity 

for the guest quarter buildings by using design themes 

that are compatible with previous design efforts as well 

as the physical setting of the site.

•	Use of natural materials can contribute rustic character to new guest quarter buildings.

Building Shape and Massing

Guest quarters at Yosemite Lodge are simple one- and 

two-story buildings that maintain a consistent scale 

throughout the development. Most of the buildings have 

rectangular plans with gable roofs. Each guest room at 

the lodge provides access to the outdoors by way of a 

balcony or patio.

Balconies and patios require the proper degree of 

privacy to make guests comfortable. The Sentinel (since 

removed) and Wawona hotels provide historic examples 

of generous two-story balconies providing access to guest 

rooms, a place to enjoy the outdoors, and a buffer between 

visitor service and private spaces. Wide enough to accommodate sitting and socializing, the balconies’ proportions 

created a dignified character. 

The roof can control the massing of the building 

by extending beyond the plan, encompassing bays. For 

instance, the main roof of the Tecoya dorms extends 

View from Lounge toward Mountain Room Restaurant, Yosemite Lodge (2004) GH
 153

 Y o s e m i t e L o d g e

over the projecting bays at the gable ends and thus 

maintains the overall building form. A simple massing can 

also be preserved when stairs and elevators are recessed 

into the main volume and/or covered by the main roof.

The historic Cascades Cabins (since removed) are 

another reference for new guest-quarter buildings. They 

had a refined simplicity of shape and massing. Gable 

roofs defined the main volumes, and the roof slope was 

kept intact as it descended over the projecting bays.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 Larger, two-story buildings should use plan forms that 

generate simple building mass. Use extensions of the 

main roof to add extensions to the main rectangular 

plan form. Use sheds on the long sides and gabled bays 

at the entrances.

•	 Stairs and elevators should be recessed within the mass 

of the building to provide weather protection and to 

maintain the simple overall building mass.

•	Guest rooms should have outdoor seating areas such 

as covered porches, patios, or balconies.

•	 Where balconies are also used for access to guest rooms, 

they should be wide enough to accommodate seating 

as well.

•	 Edge treatments of patios and balconies should establish 

visual privacy for both guests in their rooms and passersby. Low walls, built-in benches, and balcony railings 

should be used to screen furniture and guest clutter. Tall 

screens should be avoided except where they can help 

reinforce desirable definition of open space.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Barriers, 

Fences + Benches” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter 

for more guidelines.

Roof Form and Materials

The guest quarter buildings have gable roofs of very low 

to medium pitch, similar to the roofs of the visitor service 

buildings in the visitor service core. The roof pitch of 

Cedar Cottage, however, is steeper and not consistent with 

the character of other buildings in the lodge complex.

Roof forms at entrances protect visitors from 

inclement weather. The gable is a traditional form that 

indicates the entrance to the building while affording 

protection.

Exposed roof framing is typical at the lodge and 

throughout the Valley. Roof covering of guest quarter 

buildings is typically asphalt shingles.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Use simple gables as the dominant element, with the 

ridge parallel to the long axis of the plan.

•	Continue use of medium roof pitches in the range 

of 5:12.

•	Gable roof porches over entrances are recommended.

•	 Shed dormers are recommended rather than gable 

dormers to minimize snow accumulation on sidewalls.

•	Allow at least four feet between the edge of the dormer 

and the edge of the roof to maintain the plane of 

a dominant roof.

•	Roofs should use relatively dark and nonreflective, 

colored coverings in order to harmonize with the 

surroundings, both when viewed from the adjacent 

ground and from trails above the Valley floor.

TOP Porch entry to the Mountain Room Restaurant, Yosemite Lodge (2004) RF 

BOTTOM Early U.S. Army structures with jerkinhead roofs (since removed) (1926) YRL
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

154 NP S

•	Refer to “Developed Areas–Roof Form and Materials” 

in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for more guidelines on generous roof overhangs, exposed roof framing 

and sheathing, and modestly overscaled elements.

Building Exteriors

Guest quarter buildings are generally more modest than 

visitor service buildings, serving as quiet backdrops for 

guests’ enjoyment of the park. At the lodge, guest quarters are clad with wood siding with varied patterns and 

rough textures. The color is predominately dark brown, 

consistent with colors used throughout the Valley. Cedar 

Cottage, adjacent to the public center, is an example of 

recommended treatment for new guest quarter exteriors. 

It has a simple combination of horizontal and vertical 

wood siding and is painted a dark raw umber.

Doors and windows are arranged in regular patterns 

on guest quarter buildings. Porches and balconies complement the facade when they are designed using the 

same materials and details. Partial screening is advised 

to obscure the visual clutter sometimes caused by patio 

furniture and personal effects.

G U I D E L I N E s

•	 Facades of new buildings should be restrained in 

character, blending with the background and not 

competing with the natural surroundings.

•	 Make use of Valley-wide unifying elements such as 

a protected base, wood siding, windows arranged in 

simple patterns, overscaled details, and use of color.

•	 Windows should be generous enough to provide enjoyment of views, let adequate natural light into the 

interior, and allow natural ventilation. Recessed, 

metal-clad wood windows are recommended.

•	 For one-story buildings, a single siding material is 

recommended. However, varying patterns may be 

used at gable ends for textural or visual interest.

•	 For two-story buildings, walls may be designed with 

different complementary siding patterns at each story. 

Where materials change, provide a slight offset or a 

water-table trim.

•	Colors and textures should be appropriate to the 

natural setting. In a large complex of dispersed buildings, color may be used to unify the development and 

provide a sense of identity. Groups of buildings may 

be given slight variations from a primary theme. The 

color scheme of new guest lodging should relate to 

other buildings in the complex. Refer to “Developed 

Areas—Building Exterior” in the “Unifying Elements” 

chapter for more guidelines on color.

TOP Cedar Cottage, built 1955, with Upper Yosemite Fall, Yosemite Lodge (2004) RF

BOTTOM View of Yosemite Lodge Lounge and Meeting Room (ca. 1960) YRL
 155

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r H o u s e k e e p i n g C a m p

all the merced streams are wonderful singers, and yosemite is the centre where 

the main tributaries meet. from a point about half a mile from our camp we can 

see into the lower end of the famous valley, with its wonderful cliffs and groves, 

a grand page of mountain manuscript that i would gladly give my life to be able 

to read. john muir • 1869

house k ee p i n g cam p

Housekeeping Camp was originally established as an automobile camp 

around 1920. It subsequently became Curry Housekeeping Camp and was 

reserved for housekeeping facilities and equipment rental for those who wished 

to have a camping experience without bringing all the required gear. The 

present housekeeping units were designed by Spencer, Lee, and Busse and 

were built in the early 1960s. Over the years this facility has become a popular 

visitor facility. Groups return on a yearly basis, vying for riverfront campsites.

Although Housekeeping Camp is within the Yosemite Valley Historic 

District, it has not been assessed to determine whether it is eligible for listing 

on the National Register of Historic Places.

S e t t i n g

Housekeeping Camp is the only remaining settlement in Yosemite Valley 

located on the river’s edge, thus offering a unique experience for campers. It 

lies adjacent to a reverse bend in the Merced River, within the river’s 100-year 

floodplain. The breakaway channels through the second bend in the river suggest that the course of the river will continue to change and will potentially 

affect the campsite.

Although there are dramatic views from riverbanks and the footbridge, 

there is dense tree cover in the campground. As in much of the Valley, incense 

cedar and pine are crowding and shading out the remaining California black 

oaks and blocking long views. Riparian vegetation along the riverbanks has 

been severely damaged and in some areas eliminated by the trampling of 

campers. Dramatic views from the riverbanks are an attraction as are views 

from Housekeeping Bridge.

S etti n g 155

D evelo p ed A r ea 156
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

156 NP S

Housekeeping Camp lies between the base of the 

talus line and the shadow line, which is the furthest 

extent of individual rocks beyond the talus line.

Southside Drive is adjacent to Housekeeping Camp 

and serves as the only vehicle access. LeConte Memorial 

Lodge is nearby, across Southside Drive to the south.

Dev e l op ed A r e a

The visitor service buildings in Housekeeping Camp 

are clustered at the entrance and are accessed by asphalt 

walkways. They include the general store, the laundry, 

the shower facility, and comfort stations. These buildings are all simple forms, varying in size, and finished in 

a muted brown color, making them relatively inconspicuous. Within the campground, the comfort stations are 

similar in character.

Cars arriving from Southside Drive park outside the camping area, next to the general store and 

adjacent to individual campsites. Circulation within 

Housekeeping Camp is informally defined by crushed 

granite walkways. The main pedestrian path passes 

through a small central outdoor space between the general store and the laundry. Housekeeping Bridge provides 

access to the opposite side of the river, now a restored 

natural area on the site of the former Lower River 

Campground.

Housekeeping Camp has a consistent character 

unified by a single type of structure for the campsites, 

which provide a unique form of accommodation. Neither 

tent nor cabin, the structures consist of duplex units 

built back-to-back. The dividing walls and side-walls are 

tilt-up concrete slabs that are textured using burlap fabric 

to line the concrete work. The ceiling, front walls, and 

side walls are made of canvas. Each unit has a sleeping 

area furnished with beds, chest of drawers, mirror, electric outlet, and light. The patio-kitchen is furnished with 

a permanently fixed round table, chairs, stove, cooler, cupboards, and workbench. Protected by a nylon fly ceiling 

and a fence made of saplings, the kitchen is out-of-doors 

but private. These innovative units were designed to provide more comfort, convenience, and privacy for guests 

than found in tents or tent cabins. They are also simpler 

to erect, dismantle, and maintain.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New development within Housekeeping Camp should 

continue the original design intent of providing a 

camping experience without visitors having to bring 

their own equipment.

•	Design of new visitor service buildings should be 

compatible with the existing architectural character 

of Housekeeping Camp.

•	Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for more 

guidelines on architectural character of visitor service 

buildings, vegetation, circulation, land use, views, 

bridges, culverts, boardwalks, grading and drainage, 

benches, fences, screens, barriers, and lighting. 

TOP Cabin on the river, Housekeeping Camp (2004) GH

BOTTOM Cabin with privacy screen, Housekeeping Camp (2004) GH

Cabins at Housekeeping Camp
W a w o n a
Overleaf Wawona Hotel (2011) RF

W A W ONA

S e t t i n g 160

D e v e l o p e d A r e a s 162

Wawona Hotel Complex 162

 Gas Station + Store 168

 Administration Area 169
 159

no testimony to california’s new england heritage is more convincing than the 

spread of white-painted, green-shuttered farm houses over the san francisco dunes 

and the sierra foothills. kirker • 1973

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

wawona

Wawona has a distinctive local character, far different from other areas 

of Yosemite. It preserves the relaxed atmosphere of a Victorian-era resort 

or a small mountain town, in sharp contrast to the bustle often found in 

Yosemite Valley. This is due in part to the pattern of development prior 

to acquisition by the National Park Service in 1932.

Wawona was a busy place in the 19th century because it was a natural 

stopping point for early visitors making their way to Yosemite Valley or the 

Mariposa Grove. Galen Clark, a man known more for his hospitality than his 

business acumen, established a homestead in 1856 at the point where the 

earliest trail to the Valley crossed the South Fork of the Merced River. 

Clark’s home became an inn, which was purchased by Henry Washburn in 

1874 as part of his plan for the Yosemite Stage & Turnpike Company— 

a toll-road and tour system from the San Joaquin Valley into Yosemite. 

Washburn’s first improvement to the inn was a hotel building called “Long 

White.” Completed in 1876, this building set the pattern for subsequent 

construction at the hotel and in much of the surrounding area. The whitepainted frame structure was meant to convey a sense of civility to visitors 

who had endured the rough stagecoach ride into the mountains. The main 

hotel building was completed in 1879, followed by additional lodging units 

and service buildings in the subsequent decades. During 1917–1918, the 

Washburn family built a nine-hole golf course at the northwest end of the 

Wawona Meadow in an attempt to increase the hotel’s appeal to visitors 

who now arrived by automobile. This altered the pastoral character of 

Wawona while enhancing the resort-like atmosphere. 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

160 NP S

After the Department of the Interior arranged for 

U.S. Army troops to patrol the new Yosemite National 

Park beginning in 1891, Captain A.E. Wood established 

the first camp a short distance north of the hotel, just 

inside park lines on the bank of the South Fork of the 

Merced River. It was a natural choice given the convenience of the location, and that precedent has been 

followed for other administrative developments in the 

years since. Two CCC camps were built in the area in 

the 1930s, one of which has been adapted for reuse as a 

park maintenance facility. The Mission 66 era saw the 

creation of the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, a collection of several historic buildings originally located 

throughout the park that were moved to a new location 

across the river from the hotel. This development was 

meant both as an educational opportunity and a means 

of drawing visitors away from the crowded Valley. 

A unique aspect of Wawona is Section 35, an area 

with a checkerboard of NPS and privately owned lots. 

In 1932, the Wawona Basin was purchased by matched federal and donated funds and incorporated into Yosemite 

National Park. At the time, private landowners in Section 

35 elected to retain their ownership. However, over the following decades the NPS purchased many of the lots within 

Section 35. Today, approximately 200 acres, or 30% of the 

land in Section 35, is privately owned, and the NPS and 

Mariposa County have jurisdiction over their respective 

areas. The primarily vacation residential development has 

generally evolved independent of NPS influence, resulting 

in a wide range of architectural styles (NPS 1988a). 

S e t t i n g

Wawona basin is set at an average elevation of 4,000 feet 

by the South Fork of the Merced River, on a relatively 

flat alluvial plain. Wawona Meadow, surrounded by cedar 

and fir, slopes up gently to the southeast of the river. 

Surrounded by mixed evergreen forests, the meadow—

more than one-and-a-quarter miles in length—roughly 

parallels the tributary of the South Fork. Its length and 

breadth were sufficient to accommodate a grassed landing field for early airplane travel. This meadow has also 

supported grazing and a nine-hole golf course.

The Wawona Hotel complex sits at the edge of a 

rising shoulder among widely scattered cedars, overlooking the junction of the river and the meadow, safely 

above the flood zone along the South Fork of the Merced 

River. The approach from the south parallels Wawona 

Meadow, which provides a verdant green foreground and 

The arrival at Wawona Hotel, circa 1876. From Sargent (1979) The arrival at Wawona Hotel (2008) GH
W a w o n a

 161

left U.S. Cavalry Camp A.E. Wood at Wawona Campground (date unknown) YRL

right Shutter detail, Comfort House, Wawona (2007) GH

context for the hotel. The approach from the north, however, is compromised by the undistinguished parking area 

surrounding the store and gas station.

Several different facilities are sited on both sides 

of the river, some close enough on the flat plain adjacent 

to the Merced River to be in the floodplain. These include 

the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, the maintenance 

yard, and an equestrian campground. Others, including 

the ranger station and residences, the store and gas 

station, community center and school, and water and 

wastewater treatment plants, are on slightly higher 

ground. The steep slopes north and east of the developed 

areas are cloaked in dense forest groves of pine and 

cedar. The Wawona campground, formerly the A.E. 

0 4

1 Wawona 

2 South Fo

3 Wawona 

4 Chowch

5 Ranger S

6 Wawona 

to South 

Entrance

to Yosemite Valley & 

Wawona Campground

to Section 35

15

to Section 35

1

2

3

3 3

4

5

6

7

8

2

9

10 11

12

13

14

1

Chilnualna Falls Road

1 Wawona Road

2 South Fork Merced River

3 Wawona Golf Course

4 Chowchilla Mountain Road

5 Ranger Residences

6 Wawona Law Enforcement Ranger Station

7 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants 

8 Wawona School 

9 Maintenance Yard

10 Pioneer Yosemite History Center

11 Equestrian Campground

12 Store and Gas Station

13 Wawona Hotel

14 Water Tank 

15 Comfort House

WAWONA

1 Wawona Road

2 South Fork Merced River

3 Wawona Golf Course

4 Chowchilla Mountain Road

5 Ranger Station and Residence

6 Wawona Law Enforcment Ranger Station

7 Water and Sewage Treatment Plants 

 8 Old Schoolhouse 

 9 Maintenance Yard

10 Pioneer History Center

11 Equestrian Camp

12 Store and Gas Station

13 Wawona Hotel

14 Water Tank 

15 Comfort House 

35

n 35

0 400 800 1200 1600 2400
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

162 NP S

Wood Army Encampment, is sited in a sloping forested 

strip roughly a mile northwest of the junction of 

Chilnualna Falls Road and the Wawona Road, between the 

South Fork of the Merced River and Wawona Road. Here 

the valley narrows and the steeper gradient of the river 

gives way to rapids surrounded by a forested mixture of 

pine, fir, and oak, especially south of the river, in sharp 

contrast to the openness of the flat valley just upstream.

The contemporary highway bridge over the South 

Fork (completed in 2006), is the latest of eight bridges, 

most no longer existing, that have been documented 

in connection with the Wawona area. This demonstrates 

Wawona’s significance in the development of the park and 

as an important way station. Of note was the Cavalry 

Footbridge across the South Fork rapids at Camp A.E. 

Wood, where African American troops of the 9th Cavalry 

were stationed at the turn of the 20th century. The footbridge provided access to a unique U.S. Army-initiated 

arboretum on the south side of the South Fork.

Section 35, the densely settled mixture of NPS 

and private inholding, is divided topographically into 

two zones of gently rolling terrain. Relatively small

single-family dwellings are distributed in a dark coniferous forest on either side of the South Fork of the 

Merced River.

De v e l op ed A r e a s

Wawona H ote l Co mple x

The Wawona Hotel complex was included in the NPS 

Wawona Basin land purchase of August 20, 1932. Thirty 

buildings, 2,664 acres, a water system, an ice pond, an 

airport, a truck garden, hay fields, riding stock, a store, 

40 milk cows, and a golf course were sold to the United 

States Government (Sargent 1979). The hotel complex 

was constructed on the homestead of one of Yosemite’s 

earliest settlers, Galen Clark, who was appointed the first 

official protector of Yosemite as a state park. 

Today the Wawona Hotel stands as a complex of 

seven structures built on the northern edge of Wawona 

Meadow at the intersections of Wawona Road and the 

South Fork of the Merced River. The hotel complex sits 

on a grassy rise above the historic road alignment and 

overlooks the meadow. A steep slope of tall, dark conifers 

parallels the approach, framing and providing contrast 

to the white building complex. The trees also serve to 

screen the adjacent gas station and store to the west of 

the hotel. The sloped driveway to the hotel is a civilized 

arrival in contrast to the undeveloped, forested Wawona 

Road. Scattered trees soften the formal arrangement of 

buildings to the southeast and rear of the hotel complex. 

This is in contrast to the manicured golf course greens 

and the sloping open lawns on the approach to the hotel.

The hotel complex buildings have a number of 

features in common: they are all of wood-frame construction, painted white, with grand verandahs or porches 

wide enough to allow both comfortable seating and 

ample space for guest passage. The columns on some of 

the verandahs are decorated with elaborate scrollwork. 

All buildings have undergone changes in recent years to 

improve the quality of the guest services and to make 

the structures safer for occupancy.

Many of the buildings are examples of balloonframe construction, which substituted nails for the 

traditional mortise and tenon joints and used light, The Annex, Wawona Hotel (2010) RF

Incense cedar 

(Calocedrus decurrens)
W a w o n a

 163

Wawona Hotel letterhead

wawona HOte l C o m p lex

Wawona Road

to South Entrance

10

11

15 16

17

14

12

19

5

4

2

1

3

6

3

19

21

22

18

20

8

9

7

20

13

0 

0 100 200 300 400 600

1 Pioneer Yosemite History Center

2 Wawona Covered Bridge

3 South Fork Merced River

4 Wagon Shelter

5 Grey Barn

6 Carriage Shop

7 General Store

8 Wawona Gas Station

9 Tennis Court

10 Thomas Hill Studio

11 Wawona Hotel

12 Wawona Hotel Fountain

13 Little Brown (Moore Cottage)

14 Swimming Pool

15 Long White (Clark Cottage)

16 Long Brown (Washburn Cottage)

17 Little White (Manager’s Cottage)

18 The Annex

19 Store Parking

20 Golf Course

21 Flagpole

22 Thomas Hill Fountain
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

164 NP S

TOP Verandah, Wawona Hotel (2008) GH MIDDLE LEFT Verandah column, Long White, 

Wawona Hotel (2008) GH MIDDLE RIGHT Flagpole base, Wawona Hotel (2009) GH 

BOTTOM Verandahs, Little White and Long White, Wawona Hotel (2009) GH

two-by-four-inch studs. The technique took its name 

from the scorn in which it was held by conventional 

builders, who insisted that such frames would blow 

away “like balloons in the wind.” The finished building, 

covered with clapboards and roofed with shingles, was 

similar to the historic New England colonial model. It was 

widely accepted in California, where a shortage of skilled 

labor encouraged any practical substitute for costly, 

heavy-frame, construction (Kirker 1973).

The Wawona Hotel was listed on the National 

Register in 1975, and it was designated a National Historic 

Landmark in 1986 for its importance to American architecture as the largest existing Victorian hotel complex within 

the boundaries of a national park, and one of the few 

remaining Victorian hotels in the United States with architectural integrity. Nearly all of the buildings’ exterior 

fabric pre-dates World War I. The simple structures and 

their specific details illustrate a broad spectrum of stylistic concerns present in American architecture from the 

1870s through World War I. In particular, there is a strong 

link to New England.

The Wawona Hotel continues to be popular with 

travelers seeking a quieter, more subdued atmosphere 

than that of Yosemite Valley. Arriving from Yosemite 

Valley to the north, or from the South Entrance and 

Mariposa Grove, visitors sense that they have entered a 

special place. The white buildings with their verandahs 

and white railings establish a serene quality that leaves 

the tiresome road behind. 

Long White (1876), also known as the Clark 

Cottage, is a balloon-framed structure. The one-and-ahalf-story building is rectangular in plan, clad with wood 

siding. The roof and dormers are finished with wood 

shakes. The verandah has a skirt roof supported by 

chamfered posts with curvilinear brackets. The railing 

and eaves are of a simplified Greek-revival style. 
W a w o n a

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top Little White and Long White, Wawona Hotel (2008) GH 

bottom Long White, Wawona Hotel (2008) GH

The Wawona Hotel (1879) is also a balloon-framed 

structure. The foundation is stone and wooden piers, 

screened by latticework covered with vines. Exterior walls 

are drop-channel siding. A two-story verandah encircles 

much of the building. The building has a hipped roof, and 

a secondary roof covers the verandah. 

Little White (1884), also known as the Manager’s 

Cottage, is finished with wood shakes. The railing around 

the verandah is simple and consists of two parallel boards 

connecting the chamfered posts. 

Thomas Hill Studio (circa 1883), to the northwest 

of the main hotel building, is a one-story building with 

a cruciform plan. Originally built as a painting studio 

and sales room for landscape painter Thomas Hill, the 

building has had a variety of uses since his death in 1908, 

including that of ice-cream parlor, dance hall, and recreation room. These uses resulted in changes to some of 

the original building fabric. 

The Little Brown (1896), also known as the Moore 

Cottage, is sited above the main hotel building on a little 

knoll. It is memorable, with its gingerbread style, cupola, 

weathervane, and elaborate scrollwork and dormers. 

Exterior walls are drop-channel siding. A skirting of 

beaded siding screens the building’s foundation. 

The Long Brown (1900), also known as the 

Washburn Cottage, is a large, wood-frame, two-and-a-halfstory, rectangular building. The second story and attic 

were added in 1914, and the hipped-roof addition at the 

south was built sometime between 1914 and 1932. The 

exterior is clad with drop-channel siding edged with 

corner boards. The foundation is screened by a vented 

skirting of horizontal siding. A staircase was added to the 

north end of the building in 1951 to act as a fire escape.

Dormer and cupola, Little Brown, 

Wawona Hotel (2008) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

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The Annex, constructed in 1917–18, is a two-anda-half-story building with a partial basement at the west 

end. The large, wood-frame structure is rectangular in 

plan and surrounded by a two-story verandah. The roof 

is finished with wood shakes. Exterior walls are finished 

with wood shingles painted white. The foundation is 

screened by a latticework on the north and central portions of the building. The large room at the west end 

is a communal space with a large stone fireplace, wood 

paneling, and decorative ceiling moldings. The building 

has changed little since its initial construction.

The Wawona Golf Course was built in 1918—the 

first mountain golf course in California. It was designed 

for the Wawona Hotel by San Francisco architect Walter 

G. Fovague and is located on the Wawona Meadow, south 

top Left Thomas Hill Studio, Wawona Hotel (2010) RF top right Little White, Wawona Hotel (2008) GH bottom far left Wawona Hotel (2009) RF 

bottom center LEF t Railing, Long Brown, Wawona Hotel (2008) GH bottom center Right Verandah, Long White, Wawona Hotel (2008) GH 

bottom far right Whitewashed shakes, the Annex verandah, Wawona Hotel (2009) GH

of Wawona Road. In 1924 the course was expanded with 

a back nine set of tees. The vintage course, an integral 

part of the Wawona Hotel complex, remains almost 

unchanged. The description that follows is taken from 

the June 1990 issue of Golf Journal (the official publication of the United States Golf Association before 2003):

“Its nine holes measure 3,017 yards from the back tees, 

and the par-35 course rambles along a meadow and deep 

into dense forest. Deer graze fearlessly on its fairways, 

and a bobcat may trot along minding its own business. 

Female black bears favor a secluded cedar and fir grove 

behind the sixth tee to birth their cubs, and a horse 

trail roams throughout the layout. Sun dappled brooks 

draped with willow, and golf ball carrying creeks add 

to challenges. The South Fork of the Merced River flows 
W a w o n a

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an english gentleman traveling the est in the early 1900’s told my 

grandmother, “your wawona is like a bright green emerald set between 

the sparkling diamonds of yosemite valley’s waterfalls and the red 

rubies of the sequoias in the mariposa grove.” Wawona Washburn Hart w ig • 1979

Long Brown, Wawona Hotel (2009) GH

around the eighth green, and the Chowchilla Mountain 

Road, the original stage road into Wawona, interrupts 

the third fairway....”

A slaughterhouse, built in 1929 at the end of the 

golf course and later turned into a tool shed, processed 

the hotel’s cattle, sheep, and hogs. The slaughterhouse 

still stands and is currently used as storage for the 

groundskeeper (NPS 1987b).

G U I D ELI N E S

•	 For new design within the Wawona Hotel Complex, 

designers should consult the Wawona Hotel Complex 

Historic Structures Report and Cultural Landscape 

Report (NPS 2011c). For National Historic Landmarks, 

the preferred treatment is “preservation,” in accordance with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the 

Treatment of Historic Properties.

•	 New projects should use wide verandahs for circulation 

and seating. Detailing exterior framing, porches, and balcony railings to reflect existing details and proportions. 

Avoid blocking views for seated guests with new porch 

or balcony railings.

•	The white exterior color should be used on new buildings, unless historic color schemes are restored based 

on paint analysis.

•	When designing universally accessible routes between 

the main building and neighboring outbuildings, lay 

out routes to avoid slopes greater than 4.75%, thus 

avoiding the need for visually disruptive curbs and 

handrails. Use stabilized granular paving, such as 

resin-based decomposed granite where snow clearance 

is not required. Where curbs and handrails are required, 

they should be detailed in a manner compatible with 

the detailing and design vocabulary of the surrounding 

historic structures.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Masonry 

Structures” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for 

guidelines on the use of river-washed cobbles.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” in 

the “Unifying Elements” chapter for exterior lighting.

The Annex from the verandah of Little White, Wawona Hotel (2008) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

168 NP S

above the porch provides identity in a direct and appropriate manner. Additions to the building can easily be 

made as part of its linear character. The simple shape of 

the gas station, placed adjacent to the store but related 

to the road, has a functional character that contemporary 

motorists find familiar. The gas pumps are the recognizable forms that identify the function of the structure. 

Large overhead doors to the repair shop complete the 

ensemble. This building recalls the gas station buildings 

at Tuolumne Meadows and Crane Flat. All functions are 

packed into a simple gable form reminiscent of nearby 

barns. Painted white, the structure identifies with the 

Wawona design character.

G U I D ELI N E S

•	New site-design projects should clarify and simplify 

vehicle circulation and minimize paving at entries 

and turnouts.

•	New buildings should employ a similar palette of 

materials consistent with the historic pattern and 

shape of windows, doors, and porches.

•	New structures should continue the white theme 

established by the adjacent hotel complex.

•	New signs should be designed for compatibility with 

the established scale of signs and graphic style.

Wawona Golf 

Course (1935) YRL

Gas station, Wawona (2008) GH General store, Wawona (2010) RF 

Gas Stati on + S to re

In 1923 the Shell Oil Company established the original 

service station at Wawona near the covered bridge. This 

gas station also included a garage and repair shop, which 

enabled the complex to better provide full service to the 

touring public.

Today the gas station and general store are sited at 

the intersection of Wawona Road and Forest Drive, surrounded on the approach side by broad asphalt parking 

areas. A dark band of coniferous forest backs the white 

structures on the slope behind the buildings. 

The general store at Wawona is in the tradition of 

rural roadside commercial buildings typical of the early 

development of foothill communities. The porch is the 

focus for the entrance and a gathering place for travelers. The low functional form of the store with a porch 

for shelter and for locating community notices, vending 

machines, benches, and the post office, make it a focus 

for local activities. The white picket fence, unique in this 

instance, is a clear demarcation of the porch and adjacent 

parking—an essential element similar to the hitching 

post of earlier days. This form, derived from local and 

regional influences, becomes a vernacular structure that 

is adaptable for many uses. The traditional sign located 
W a w o n a

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Rangers’ Residences

The rangers’ residences consist of four historic white 

buildings (originally two garages and two residences), 

set well back along the north edge of the alluvial plain 

on the slightly sloping ground parallel to Chilnualna 

Falls Road. Visible from the Wawona Road, they are 

excellent examples of buildings designed by the National 

Park Service to be compatible with the Wawona Hotel 

complex and the nearby Chinquapin ranger station. 

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1934

and 1939, they contain elements of early Californian 

and Colonial Revival styles. Painted white, they identify 

strongly with the Wawona Hotel community. 

Simple, narrow, unpretentious pathways flanked 

by plain grass areas lead directly from the road edge to 

the front porch steps of the 

buildings. Forest vegetation 

is concentrated largely on the 

slopes behind the buildings, 

giving the foreground area a 

feeling of generous openness. 

Garages are farther back with 

simple driveway approaches 

directly from the road. One 

ranger residence (formerly 

a CCC Mess Hall), set on 

•	All exterior lighting should be shielded, recognizing 

the nearby historic hotel complex. Conform to park 

standards, and observe night-sky recommendations. 

Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” 

in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	 Mechanical equipment (on roofs or adjacent to buildings) should be screened and/or painted to blend with 

immediate surroundings.

A d mi n i s tr ati on Are a

A number of National Park Service administrative facilities are accessed from the Chilnualna Falls Road, which 

runs parallel to the South Fork of the Merced River. 

This narrow road is in a natural setting, with Sierra 

mixed conifer forest bordering the northern edge and 

the South Fork of the Merced River just to the south. 

Development along the road is sparse for the first mile. 

The most prominent structures are the rangers’ residences, the district ranger offices and maintenance area, 

the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, the water treatment 

plant, the wastewater treatment plant, and the countyowned Wawona School. Beyond these facilities, the road 

enters the Section 35 area—a more densely configured 

mixture of privately owned cabins and National Park 

Service employee housing tucked within the forest.

Ranger residences, Wawona (2007) GH Wawona ranger station (2008) GH

Masonry detail, Wawona Ranger Office 

(2008) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

170 NP S

Ranger residences, Wawona (2008) GH 

steeper ground on the forested slope several hundred 

feet to the east, is not visible from the road and is 

reached by a curving driveway. The nearby modern telephone and pump house buildings do not reflect this 

historic siting pattern.

G U I D ELI N E S

•	 For new buildings in this area, refer to The Secretary 

of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic 

Properties for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	 Site new structures so that both the foreground and 

background spaces around existing buildings fronting 

on Chilnualna Falls Road are preserved.

•	New structures should retain the existing site pattern 

(i.e., parallel to and set back from the road), with spacing between buildings similar to the existing buildings.

•	 Landscape treatment of foreground and intervening 

space for new buildings should match the character at 

existing historic structures, including narrow, direct 

pathways to entries and mowed grasses as the dominant planting fronting the buildings. Any landscape 

improvements should be compatible with the simple 

design of CCC-era works.

•	New parking areas should be placed away from the foreground space and screened with existing or planted 

forest vegetation matching the surrounding indigenous 

species types and distribution.

•	New buildings should continue use of the white and 

green palette that is characteristic of this group of 

buildings.
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Pioneer Yosemite History Center

During the Mission 66 era of development in the park, 

Yosemite staff realized that a number of historic buildings 

would be lost unless they could be moved to a location 

where they would receive proper care. Several buildings 

stood in areas due to be restored to natural conditions; 

others, in isolated places that had become susceptible to 

vandalism. The park conceived of moving those buildings 

to Wawona, which already contained structures of historical interest such as the old covered bridge, an old wagon 

shop, and the hotel. At Wawona, the park developed 

an interpretive center concentrating on the history of 

the area with the intent of lessening visitor pressure on 

Yosemite Valley.

Workers brought in historic structures from various areas of the park and reassembled them. Each one 

represented a phase of Yosemite’s history: pioneering, 

homesteading, early transportation, visitor accommodations, army administration, ranger services, and pioneer 

artists. Machinery from the Tioga Mine illustrated the 

story of mining in the Sierra Nevada. Each structure was 

furnished to its period and in accordance with its original 

use, and interpreted to visitors (NPS 1987b).

The Pioneer Yosemite History Center buildings 

flank the South Fork of the Merced River and are connected by a historic covered bridge. On the south side, 

the old wagon shop, the grey barn, and the vernacular 

shed protecting various antique wagons and utilitarian 

machines sit among trees on the slightly elevated riverbank ridge. The main grouping of historic buildings is 

on the north side, approached via the covered bridge. 

These structures are located on lower ground with generous spacing, sometimes separated by clusters of mature 

conifers. The broad, unpaved areas of pedestrian and 

wagon circulation connect to a more open meadow area 

and a functioning corral and barn to the north. 

The Yosemite Transportation Company Office 

(Wells Fargo Building), located on the north side of 

the bridge, is an exceptional and rare example of rustic 

architecture as it first developed in the Yosemite region. 

Characteristic of the style is the use of cedar-bark strips 

applied in decorative patterns as exterior sheathing material on the wood-frame building. Structures 

that are similar in design include the Yosemite Valley 

Railroad Station at El Portal (destroyed by fire in 1949) 

and four still-standing Yosemite Valley buildings: the 

Porch detail, ranger residence, Wawona (2008) GH
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top Grey Barn, Pioneer Yosemite History Center (2008) GH

middle Wells Fargo Building, Pioneer Yosemite History Center (2007) GH 

BOTTOM Log structure, Pioneer Yosemite History Center (2007) GH

Curry Cabin, the Tresidder Cabin, the original Camp 

Curry Registration Office, and the Pohono Studio, all 

nominated on the National Register of Historic Places. 

These rustic structures represent an effort to design 

facilities that are not intrusive or incompatible with the 

natural environment (NPS 1977d). It is not anticipated 

that additional structures will be added to the Pioneer 

Yosemite History Center, but if additions are warranted, 

restraint should be exercised.

G U I D ELI N E S

•	 For new design in this area, refer to The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	Any new additions should retain the informal character 

and generous spacing between individual buildings 

that suggests the widely dispersed locations in the park 

where the buildings were originally found.

•	 Provide adequate space around new additions that will 

allow them to be viewed from all sides, or as many sides 

as were visible when they were located in their original 

setting.

•	New fences should continue to use split-log fencings 

(either double-post or zigzag) to define routes, protect 

vegetation, and retain a primitive, rural appearance.

•	New visitor parking should be kept distant from, and 

screened by appropriate forest vegetation from, the 

Pioneer Yosemite History Center, Chilnualna Falls 

Road, Forest Drive, and Wawona Road.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Circulation—

Parking” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.
W a w o n a

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TOP left Covered bridge, Pioneer Yosemite History Center (2009) GH bottom left Covered bridge detail, Pioneer Yosemite History Center (2007) GH 

top right Stable (2007) GH middle right Wells Fargo Building, Pioneer Yosemite History Center (2007) GH bottom Right Stable (2008) RF 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

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Maintenance Yard

All major maintenance and administrative functions for 

the south part of the park are based out of Wawona. The 

former repair garage for the Civilian Conservation Corps 

is the largest structure in the complex. This simple 

building forms one edge of the maintenance yard. Other 

structures are clustered around an informal quad in the 

yard. The exterior finishes are metal roofing and wood 

siding in various patterns, primarily board and batten.

G U I D ELI N E S

•	New buildings and developed areas should be located 

out of view from the main highway to maintain the 

rural character of the area.

•	New development should not impact historic views/

vistas from within the surrounding historic properties.

•	New development is not permitted in meadow areas; it 

should be integrated into previously disturbed forested 

areas, if available.

Maintenance yard, Wawona (2008) GH Section 35 cabins, Wawona (2011) RF

•	New construction should use simple, basic buildingplan shapes, with uncomplicated roofs of gable and 

shed porches that follow existing patterns.

•	New buildings should continue using the dark-brown 

color for structures that blend the complex into the 

landscape.

•	New communication structures, solar collectors, and 

satellite dishes should be in the darker ranges of color 

and be nonreflective.

•	 Site new material and equipment storage or temporary 

structures so they are not visible from Chilnualna Falls 

Road, the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, or other 

visitor areas. If siting alone is insufficient, screen with 

vegetation or fencing.

•	Retain the natural pattern of meadows or meadows/

pine groves that screen the maintenance yard.

Utility Buildings

The water treatment plant is a modest concrete structure composed of conventional architectural elements 

that achieve a calm image well-suited to the building’s 
W a w o n a

 175

purpose. Natural concrete walls with a darker-toned base 

and a simple roof form make the plant an appropriate 

structure for its remote location.

The wastewater treatment plant is a contemporary 

concrete structure that extends far into the uphill site. 

The treatment plant is broken down into functional elements that adapt to the hillside. Several large concrete 

tanks in the forest are well-screened from the access road. 

Concrete surface treatments of the structures vary, giving 

texture and scale to the walls.

These two contemporary NPS utility buildings are 

relatively hidden at the ends of long driveways off 

Chilnualna Falls Road adjacent to Section 35. They are 

located on south-facing slopes, surrounded by mixed 

coniferous vegetation.

Section 35

Section 35 contains a small, privately owned store, an 

elementary school, a church-owned summer camp for 

children, privately owned lodging for visitors, and 

low-density single family homes and cabins of various 

size, design, and age. The NPS owns approximately 70

of the more than 250 homes. Most of these NPS homes 

were originally built by private landowners to be used 

as vacation cabins; they were purchased by the NPS and 

are currently used as NPS, concessioner, and park partner housing.

In the Mariposa County General Plan, Section 35

is characterized as having “mountain residential character.” The county-owned roads are narrow and without 

sidewalks or curbing; they serve as circulation for both 

vehicles and pedestrians. Private and NPS-owned lots are 

approximately 6,000 square feet, and cabins are generally 

less than 2,000 square feet. These cabins are typically 

no more than two stories tall and have generous setbacks 

from roads. Most of Section 35 is covered in mature 

Sierra mixed conifer forest interspersed with small or 

modestly sized cabins.

top Water treatment plant, Wawona (2011) RF

bottom Cobblestone chimney, Section 35, Wawona (2008) GH
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Wawona School

The schoolhouse is sited in a clearing that captures sunlight in this heavily wooded site. The building’s color 

and proportions establish a welcome and cheerful character that is most appropriate for its use. The massing 

of the building is composed of a series of shed roofs oriented to the north to capture daylight for the classrooms. 

g u i d eli n e s FO R N P S-O W N E D FA C ILITIE S

•	New buildings should be compatible with the rural 

character and setting, terrain, and vegetation.

•	New buildings should be compatible with massing, 

height, scale, setbacks, and materials of existing, 

smaller scale cabins.

•	If new buildings are built on slopes, they should be 

designed to match the natural contours and topography in order to blend with the natural environment. 

The use of cut and fill should be avoided.

•	 Existing mature native vegetation should be retained.

•	New vegetation planted at new buildings should 

be native and reflect natural vegetation patterns in 

the area.

•	 Future utility buildings or additions to existing complexes should be sited at a distance from roads, and 

screened by topography or existing vegetation to avoid 

impacting the natural character along Chilnualna 

Falls Road.

Wawona School (2008) GH
T u o l u m n e 

M e a d o w s
Overleaf Lembert Dome, Tuolumne Meadows (2010) RF

T UOLUMNE MEADOWS

S e tt i n g 181

D e v e l o p e d A r e a s 184

 Ranger Camp 185

Bug Camp (Insect Research Station) 186

Tuolumne Meadows Store + Gas Station 187

Campground Contact + Comfort Stations 189

 Road Crew Camp 190

 Soda Springs + Parsons Memorial Lodge 192
 179

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that 

going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.... john muir • 1898

tuolumne meadows

One of the most easily accessible subalpine meadows in the Sierra Nevada, 

Tuolumne Meadows has supported a wide range of human use for centuries. 

While it serves visitors and backcountry adventurers today, its past is characterized by layers of history. For millennia it has served as a seasonal 

camping and trading site for American Indian groups from the western and 

eastern sides of the mountains.

Nonindigenous people were initially drawn to the Tuolumne region 

by the discovery of precious metals in the eastern Sierra. Although the first 

miners simply passed through the area, the discovery in 1860 of silver at 

Tioga Hill brought more attention to the meadows themselves. Greater 

access came through construction of the Great Sierra Wagon Road from 

the western side of the mountains in 1882. To supply the Tioga mining 

district, sheepherders brought their flocks to the high pastureland. Among 

the herders was John Muir, who spent his first summer in the Sierra tending 

sheep and pondering the mountains’ natural processes. The original route 

of the Great Sierra Wagon Road and the ruins of several log enclosures 

along the trail to Mono Pass remain from this era.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

180 NP S

John Baptiste Lembert established a homestead in 

1885 near Soda Springs in Tuolumne Meadows, which he 

surrounded with a log enclosure to keep out grazing animals. The McCauley family, who operated the Glacier 

Point Hotel, acquired the property in 1896 to graze their 

livestock and built a cabin that still stands. After the 

creation of Yosemite National Park in 1890, the United 

States Army maintained a patrol post at the same location 

until 1913. The Sierra Club acquired the McCauley property in 1912 and set about developing a lodge as a base 

of operations for its annual wilderness outings. Parsons 

Memorial Lodge, completed in 1915 and designed by the 

Maybeck and White office, was an important forerunner 

of the Rustic style later adopted by the National Park 

Service. During the same year, with the help of the Sierra 

Club, the old Great Sierra Wagon Road was opened to 

motorists as the Tioga Road.

The Tioga Road provided access to a new category of visitor—the auto-tourist—in ever-increasing 

numbers. To accommodate them, the precursor of the 

present Tuolumne Meadows Lodge opened in 1916. By 

1923 it also served as the base for Yosemite’s new High 

Sierra Camp loop. The area’s popularity prompted the 

NPS to begin construction of a rustic administrative 

center (Ranger Camp) in 1924 along the eastern edge of 

the meadow. A parkwide master plan, adopted in 1929, 

guided successive development. Central to this plan was 

a campground intended to minimize damage caused by 

unregulated camping, together with a water treatment 

and sewer system. Additional facilities included the 1934

Road Camp, the post-war Insect Research Station (Bug 

Camp), the Mission 66 era gas station and store complex, 

and Mission 66 era alterations to Tioga Road and the 

Tuolumne Meadows Campground.

Tuolumne Meadows (1915) YRL

Tuolumne Meadows map continues on page 181

1 Water Treatment Settling Ponds

2 Tioga Road

3 Visitor Center/Road Crew Camp

4 John Muir Trail

5 Trail to Soda Springs

6 Soda Springs

7 Pacific Crest Trail

8 Tuolumne River

9 Concessioner Stables 

 10 Store and Gas Station

11 Tuolumne Meadows Campground

12 Wilderness Permit Office

13 Ranger Camp

14 Bug Camp

15 Tuolumne Meadow

16 Lembert Dome

17 Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River

to Crane Flat

Tuolumne River

Tuolumne Meadows 

9

10

14

7

6

5

2

4

3

1

8
T u o l u m n e M e a d o w s

 181

ound

River

Lyell Fork

Dana Fork

to Tuolumne 

Meadows Lodge 

(High Sierra Camp)

Lembert Dome

to Tioga Pass

11

13

12

2

7

0 600 1200 1800 2400 3000

North elevation, Parsons Memorial Lodge (2010) RF

Map continues from page 180

In 2007 Tuolumne Meadows was determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic 

Places as a historic district. The district encompasses all 

of the developed areas including Tuolumne Meadows 

Lodge, Bug Camp, Ranger Camp, the Tuolumne Meadows 

Campground, the gas station and store area, Road Camp, 

Soda Springs, Parsons Memorial Lodge, Tioga Road, and 

the adjacent natural resources of the broad meadow flanking the river to the west of its junction with the Dana and 

Lyell forks. To the east it includes the drier, more broken 

terrain between the Dana Fork and the Tuolumne Lodge. 

The northern and southern limits are defined by the 

Yosemite Wilderness boundaries (NPS 2007f ). 

S e t t i n g

Tuolumne Meadows is one of the largest subalpine 

meadows in the Sierra Nevada. At an elevation of 8,600

feet and surrounded on all sides by stunning mountain 

peaks, Tuolumne Meadows offers visitors a unique highcountry experience vastly different from Yosemite Valley. 

It is an unparalleled landscape, dominated by natural 

scenery and soundscapes.

1 Water Treatment 

Settling Ponds

2 Tioga Road

3 CCC Mess Hall/Road 

Crew Camp

4 John Muir Trail

5 Trail to Soda Springs

6 Soda Springs/Parsons 

Memorial Lodge

7 Pacific Crest Trail

8 Concessioner Stable

9 Store, Grill, and Gas Station

10 Tuolumne Meadows Campground

11 Wilderness Permit Office

12 Ranger Camp

13 Bug Camp (Insect Research 

Station)

14 Campground Reservation Building

Tuolumne M eado w s

Water Treatment Settling Ponds

Tioga Road

Visitor Center/Road Crew Camp

John Muir Trail

Trail to Soda Springs

Soda Springs

Pacific Crest Trail

Tuolumne River

Concessioner Stables 

 10 Store and Gas Station

11 Tuolumne Meadows Campground

12 Wilderness Permit Office

13 Ranger Camp

14 Bug Camp

15 Tuolumne Meadow

16 Lembert Dome

17 Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River

Lyell Fork

Tuolumne River

Dana Fork

to Tuolumne 

Meadows Lodge 

(High Sierra Camp)

Tuolumne Meadows 

to Tioga Pass

9

10

14

7

6

5

2

4

11

13

12

2

7

0 600 1200 1800 2400 3000

Lyell Fork

Dana Fork

to Tuolumne 

Meadows Lodge 

(High Sierra Camp)

Lembert Dome

to Tioga Pass

11

13

12

2

7

0 600 1200 1800 2400 3000
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

182 NP S

The Tuolumne River flows through a string of 

meadows roughly half a mile wide and twelve miles long. 

In 1984 Congress designated the Tuolumne as a Wild and 

Scenic River because of its largely primitive condition, 

extensive undeveloped banks, and lack of impoundments 

or road access. The river is supplied by the Lyell and Dana 

forks, which stem from two of the three glaciers within 

the park. The Tuolumne and its tributaries are subject to 

periodic seasonal flooding in some areas, as well as active 

channel migration and riverbank erosion (NPS 2010c).

The Yosemite Wilderness surrounds Tuolumne 

Meadows, making Tuolumne a primary staging area 

for backpackers, day hikers, and “through-hikers”—those 

hardy visitors who are hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or 

the John Muir Trail. 

The meadows and riparian corridors are replete 

with a remarkable diversity of meadow and river species, 

both flora and fauna. The predominant vegetation communities are a subalpine meadow type of grassland 

composed of sedges and grasses, and willows in the riparian corridors. The depth of alluvial fill, high groundwater, 

and periodic flooding from the river give this subalpine 

meadow high ecological, scientific, and educational 

value. At the edge of the meadow, vegetation changes to a

top View of Tuolumne Meadows from Pothole Dome (2008) DV left River, Tuolumne Meadows (2009) RF right Tuolumne Meadows and Lembert Dome (2010) RF

john muir once described tuolumne meadows as the finest camp ground 

in the whole high sierra. sierra club resolution • december 16, 1911
 183

T u o l u m n e M e a d o w s

predominantly lodgepole pine forest, scattered with Jeffrey, 

western white, and white-bark pines. Above this forest 

rise the vast and often snow-covered granite peaks, ridges, 

and domes that ring the meadow. 

There are numerous breathtaking views from 

roads, trails, and developed areas in Tuolumne Meadows. 

This is due to the low topography of the expansive grasslands, the proximity of the river to viewpoints, and the 

clear meadow edges framed by the glacially carved domes 

and rugged mountain slopes. Views from Tioga Road are 

particularly important for the many visitors who drive 

through without stopping, as this is their only contact 

with a High Sierra meadow.

The surrounding peaks offer evidence of the complex 

geomorphologic processes that formed the meadows. These 

include upwelling, volcanism, subsidence, erosion, and glaciation. The area displays some of the country’s finest 

examples of glacial polish, glacial erratics, moraines, roche 

mountonnées, striations, and hanging valleys (NPS 2007f ).

Tuolumne River (2010) RF

The meadow’s flat topography, high elevation, 

and subdued artificial light allow for night-sky observation that is among the best in Yosemite’s frontcountry. 

Visitors need only walk a relatively short distance from 

the road and developed areas at night to experience an 

unimpaired celestial display with a natural soundscape.

Tuolumne Meadows is a jumping-off point for 

several important trails to wilderness destinations along 

the Sierra crest and the high country. These include the 

Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail, both of which 

cross the meadows. In the winter, Tioga Road is closed 

to cars, allowing Tuolumne Meadows to provide a solitary wilderness experience for cross-country skiers and 

snowshoers, including rangers and snow survey crews 

who access remote areas and cabins.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

184 NP S

De v e l op ed A r e a s

Despite the presence of a built environment, the stunning, expansive, and dramatic natural landscape at 

Tuolumne Meadows rightfully dominates the scene. Over 

the last several decades, permanent and semi-permanent 

structures arose in relatively small clusters tucked into 

the lodgepole forest at the edge of the meadows. Building 

character in the Tuolumne Meadows Historic District 

ranges from large, boulder-faced historic NPS Rustic 

architecture to seasonal, light, canvas-roofed structures. 

Relatively simple and understated wood-frame structures 

make up most of the buildings throughout the district. 

Most of these buildings are rustic and meant to blend 

unobtrusively into their natural settings, but they lack 

the careful craftsmanship and architectural detailing of 

the typical NPS Rustic style (NPS 2007f ).

A number of buildings in the Tuolumne Meadows 

Historic District are significant examples of the historic 

NPS Rustic style. Designed by NPS staff to minimize the 

visual impact of constructed development, these include 

the old visitor contact station, the three original campground comfort stations, and the original Road Crew 

Camp complex. Another example is Parsons Memorial 

Lodge—a National Historic Landmark—designed by the 

Maybeck and White office for the Sierra Club in 1915

(NPS 2007f ). All of these sites or structures are either 

individually listed on the National Register of Historic 

Places or are contributing features of the Tuolumne 

Meadows Historic District.

The Civilian Conservation Corps built some of the 

most distinctive and architecturally significant structures 

in Tuolumne Meadows, often using materials from the 

site. The Rustic style employed was perfectly suited for 

the patient handiwork of the corps and benefited from 

such labor being readily available during the Depression. 

Many of the finest examples of the NPS Rustic style in 

Tuolumne Meadows would be difficult to replicate under 

modern conditions. These buildings thus reflect a unique 

moment in time as much as they embody this distinctive 

architectural style.

Much of the early history of the meadows is related 

to pioneering conservation activism in the late 19th and 

early 20th centuries, including that of the Sierra Club. 

The predominance of the NPS Rustic style of architecture, the concentration of development in limited areas, 

and the absence of modern improvements attest to the 

intense concern for and love of the meadows maintained 

by the conservation community over the decades. 

G ENE R AL G U I DEL I NES

•	 For new development within the Tuolumne Meadows 

Historic District, designers should consult The Secretary 

of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic 

Properties for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	The character of new structures should be compatible 

with the architectural vocabulary of the rustic structures at Tuolumne Meadows. They should, in addition, 

be of a scale, form, massing, and color that blends with 

the immediate natural surroundings.

Pothole Dome, Tuolumne Meadows (2008) GH
T u o l u m n e M e a d o w s

 185

•	New development (including parking) should be 

located in adjacent forested areas or in areas that are 

naturally screened along the meadow perimeter. New 

development should avoid visual impacts to the setting 

from the broader meadow and from the peaks and domes 

that surround Tuolumne Meadows.

•	New roadside parking should use naturalistic barriers 

such as rocks, berms, granite curbing, and grading 

to delineate parking while blending with the natural 

environment.

•	 For guidelines on Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, refer to 

the “Huts, Cabins + High Sierra Camps” chapter.

•	 For guidelines on Tuolumne Meadows Campground, 

refer to the “Campgrounds” chapter.

R AN G E R C AM P ( ADM I N I ST R AT IV E A R EA )

Ranger Camp is between the Old Tioga Road and the 

modern Tioga Road at the eastern end of Tuolumne 

Meadows. Ranger Camp was constructed to provide maintenance and administrative services for the Tuolumne 

Meadows area. Historically known as the Government 

Administrative Area, or simply the Administrative Area, 

it has since become more commonly known as Ranger 

Camp (NPS 2007f ).

Cabins and hard-sided tent cabins sit in a randomly 

scattered pattern among sparse pine and occasional 

boulder and granite outcroppings. This results in a random, character reminiscent of the small-scale encamp -

ments found in the foothills and other parts of the Sierra. 

top left Stable, Ranger Camp (2008) GH top right Tuolumne Meadows Ranger Station, Ranger Camp (2007) GH 

bottom left Cabin, Ranger Camp (2008) GH bottom right Parsons Memorial Lodge (2007) GH

Lodgepole pine 

(Pinus contorta)
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

186 NP S

Each unit thus has a unique sense of location within the 

overall site that would seem to enhance long-term occupancy. Ranger Camp’s contributing structures to the 

Tuolumne Meadows Historic District include the five 

original buildings built in 1924: ranger station, naturalist 

cabin, patrol cabin, barn, and shower house. Over the 

years, other buildings and structures have been added, 

including tent cabins for park employee housing. The 

ranger station, NPS stable, and small, two-person, seasonally occupied cabins define the architectural character 

of the western end of the area.

The ranger station was erected in 1924 and served 

as the original park entrance and ranger station on the 

Tioga Road. The 525-square-foot, single-story building 

has an exposed peeled-log frame structure with vertical 

plank infilling and a gable roof with log framing and 

brackets. The roofing material is corrugated metal. The 

building is painted Wosky brown, a color named for 

landscape architect John Wosky in the 1930s and used 

widely throughout the park.

During the winter, three buildings are in use in 

Ranger Camp: the ranger’s cabin, the snow survey cabin, 

and the ranger station. The canvas for the tent cabins is 

removed at the end of the summer season, contributing 

to the camp’s seasonal character. 

The only other Tuolumne Meadows building that 

remains open in the winter is the campground reservation 

building, used by cross-country skiers as an overnight 

shelter. This building is west of Ranger Camp, at the 

entrance to the Tuolumne Meadows campground.

G U I DEL I NES

•	 New or replacement structures should maintain the general spacing, scale, and color of the existing structures.

•	New structures should be constructed of materials that 

are compatible with the temporary, seasonal, minimal 

style currently and historically found here.

•	New structures should be laid out in a way consistent 

with historic patterns, which were based on proximity 

to natural features such as boulders or tree groupings.

•	 Minimize visual impacts of new parking areas on 

the housing.

•	New design should include measures to ensure protection of existing vegetation. Use appropriate barriers to 

prevent trampling of such areas.

•	New design should not impact the current utilitarian 

character of the area.

•	Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for guidelines on circulation, parking, vegetative screening, 

barriers, and utility structures such as repeater towers.

B U G C AM P ( I NSE C T R ESEA RCH STAT I ON )

Bug Camp was constructed in response to a needle miner 

infestation that occurred during the 1950s. The camp is 

located to the east of Ranger Camp. Aside from a slightly 

steeper south-facing slope, the terrain and subalpine forest 

of the Bug Camp area is similar to that of Ranger Camp. 

Small, two-person, seasonally occupied tent cabins and 

other 1950s structures are tightly clustered among pines 

and boulders and are accessed through a paved parking 

lot off the Old Tioga Road. Of the original camp, the 

mess hall, comfort station, and research shed are considered historic and date back to the period of significance 

Residences at Bug Camp (2008) GH

Detail of masonry at CCC Mess 

Hall, Road Crew Camp (2008) 

GH
T u o l u m n e M e a d o w s

 187

(NPS 2007f ). During the winter, none of the buildings 

are used. Similar to Ranger Camp, the white canvas for 

the tent cabins is removed at the end of the summer season, contributing to the camp’s seasonal character.

The typical tent cabin (at Bug and Ranger Camps) 

measures 12 feet by 14 feet. It is constructed by stretching heavy duck canvas over an open framework of wood 

or metal to create a simple shelter with an entrance on 

the gable end. All of the cabins have small stoves that 

vent through the sidewall thimble to the metal flue.

G U I DEL I NES

•	 New or replacement structures should maintain the general spacing, scale, and color of the existing structures.

•	New structures should be constructed of materials that 

are compatible with the temporary, seasonal, minimal 

style currently and historically found here.

•	 Minimize visual impacts of new parking areas on the 

housing. Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for 

guidelines on parking and vegetative screening.

•	New design should include measures to ensure protection of existing vegetation. Use appropriate barriers to 

prevent trampling of such areas.

TUOLUMNE MEADOWS STO R E 

+ G AS STAT I ON

The Tuolumne Meadows Store and Gas Station are 

west of the historic campground reservation building. 

Surrounded by lodgepole pine forest, the buildings 

are accessed directly off the Tioga Road by way of adjacent asphalt parking areas. The southern portion of the 

store/grill area periodically floods during spring runoff. 

A cluster of employee tent cabins sits on an abrupt rise 

behind the store. Immediately to the north across the 

Tioga Road is a grand, uninterrupted view of the meadows. A narrow strip separates the gas station and store 

parking lot from the main road.

top Tuolumne Meadows Store and Grill (2008) GH middle Canvas roof removed 

for winter, Tuolumne Meadows Store and Grill (2010) RF bottom Tuolumne Meadows 

Gas Station (2008) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

188 NP S

The store is a wood-frame structure that measures 

approximately 50 feet by 80 feet, with a white canvas roof 

and plywood sidewalls covered with canvas. A simple 

canvas-roofed porch protects the doors to the general 

store, post office, and the Tuolumne Meadows Grill. The 

structural frame is painted white to match the canvas 

roof, in the same manner as for the Tuolumne Meadows 

Lodge. (Refer to the “Huts, Cabins + High Sierra 

Camps” chapter.) The translucent canvas roof provides 

a pleasant, warm, filtered light. At the end of the summer season—generally around mid-October, prior to the 

closing of Tioga Road—the canvas roofs are removed, 

allowing snow to fall into the structure. The following 

spring, when the winter snow melts, the canvas roof is 

reinstalled for the summer season.

The gas station, a compact structure at the rear 

of the site, faces Tioga Road. In contrast to the tent 

structures nearby, the building contains equipment and 

inventory that remain at the site at the close of the season. In addition to the attendant’s office, it contains a 

small repair shop, restrooms, and a sales area for sundries 

related to mountaineering. The fuel pumps are arranged 

in front of the station on the Tioga Road side. Stained a 

warm umber, in contrast to the white store to the east, 

the wood structure recedes visually into the wooded 

background. The wood shingle roof has a modest pitch 

with overhanging eaves. The hipped roof form has small 

louvered gables at each end for attic ventilation. The 

architectural character of the structure is similar to the 

Crane Flat and Wawona gas stations.

G U I DEL I NES

•	New parking areas should minimize negative visual 

impacts from Tioga Road, the meadow, and surrounding peaks and domes. See also the “Unifying Elements” 

chapter regarding parking areas.

•	 Where pedestrian barriers are needed in the open meadows, use low fencing, as described in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter, and low mounds planted with low 

subalpine vegetation that incorporate boulder clusters, 

so that vegetation is allowed to reestablish.

•	 Ensure that new picnic areas are buffered from parking 

areas with appropriate subalpine zone shrubs, grasses, 

boulder clusters, and planted berms, if compatible 

with the topography. Refer to “Landscape Uses +

Structures—Circulation—Parking” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

•	 For new buildings and structures: At an elevation 

of 8,600 feet, the gable roof form is appropriate in 

Tuolumne Meadows. It offers protected areas at the 

gable ends that are snow-free, allowing easier egress. 

The roof slope used at the CCC Mess Hall at Road 

Crew Camp, the bunk houses, and the historic comfort 

stations by Wosky are appropriate references for the 

Tuolumne Meadows area. If year-round buildings are 

to be added to this area, consider a traditional building 

shape with gable ends and a shed porch at the eave side 

to accommodate entrance, signs, and receptacles.

•	New food preparation facilities should have efficient 

air-exhaust systems to ensure a pleasant interior 

environment. In addition to mechanical ventilation, 

generous openings in exterior walls provide natural 

ventilation and allow good visual contact with the 

natural environment. Install openings that conform 

to good bear-aware practice.

•	When designing porches as architectural elements of 

structures such as stores, porch length should be sufficient to generously provide shelter for patrons of the 

store, bulletin boards, miscellaneous receptacles, and 

vending machines.
T u o l u m n e M e a d o w s

 189

Campground Reservation Building, Tuolumne Meadows (2008) GH 

Porch and chimney detail, Campground Reservation Building, 

Tuolumne Meadows (2008) GH 

•	Utility areas, such as receiving areas, should be screened 

from public view with rustic boards or quarter-round 

log segments, placed vertically, similar to what is found 

elsewhere in the area. The finish should be natural, 

with no stain, and allowed to weather.

•	The exteriors of new all-season buildings and structures 

should be wood and should recede into the background. 

New roofs should be black or brown, and of similar form 

and character to the adjacent structures. (For example, 

new structures in the gas station area should be the 

same material and color.)

•	 Minimize the addition of new commercial signs that 

distract from the natural environment. At the gas station garage, new commercial signs should be carefully 

controlled and not be visible from the road. The gas 

pumps are sufficient to identify the station. At the 

store, confine new signs to the porch area, similar to 

the Wawona store.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” in 

the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter and the “Huts, 

Cabins + High Sierra Camps” chapter for additional 

guidance on roof design.

C AM PGR OUND CONTA C T 

+ COM F O R T STAT I ONS

The campground reservation building, previously used 

as a visitor contact station, stands near the entrance to 

the Tuolumne Meadows Campground on the south side 

of the current Tioga Road. Built in 1936 as a replacement for the older ranger station in the administrative 

area, it remains open in the winter, providing accommodations for cross-country skiers. The manner in 

which the generous porch and chimney are joined lends 

a strength and sense of shelter to the overall image of 

the building. Masonry elements of a warm brown and 

rust color are an interesting contrast to the granite that 

emerges and surrounds Tuolumne Meadows. It is worth 

noting that the contact station and the nearby comfort 

stations were constructed during the same period as the 

Tioga Pass Entrance Station (1934). Designed by NPS 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

190 NP S

landscape architect John Wosky, they are classic examples 

of NPS Rustic architecture. The natural color and heavy 

texture of the native stone and wood used in their construction are in harmony with the surrounding natural 

landscape (NPS 2007f ).

“Responding to the alpine environment and to the nearby 

Tioga Pass station erected several years previously, Wosky 

chose a heavy masonry design for the facilities. Adapting 

a plan used two years earlier at another site in the park, 

Wosky gave maximum emphasis to the horizontal nature of 

the massive granite buildings. Jerkinhead roofs and battered 

walls added to the almost geological character of the structures. Viewed from a short distance, each comfort station 

appeared similar in color and shape to the alpine skyline of 

Sierra peaks.” nps 1977b

R OAD CR EW C AM P

Road Crew Camp is an enclave 400 feet south of Tioga 

Road at the western end of the Tuolumne Meadows 

Historic District. Built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps to provide maintenance and administrative 

facilities for the higher elevations of Yosemite, the development cluster still retains its six original structures. 

These include the CCC Mess Hall, the shower house, and 

four bunkhouses.

The CCC Mess Hall (currently the visitor center) 

is on a lightly forested ridge, surrounded by lodgepole 

pines. If not for the presence of parked cars, the slight 

incline of the parking area would provide a centered 

foreground for viewing the handsome rustic building. 

The CCC Mess Hall is an excellent example of 1930s 

NPS Rustic architecture. This wood-frame structure 

measures roughly 33 feet by 60 feet. The foundation, 

main fireplace chimney, and front porch floor and steps 

were constructed of rubble stonemasonry. The roof is 

8:12 pitch and is sheathed in wood shingles. The lower 

portion of the walls has horizontal bevel siding, and the 

upper portion has vertical redwood board siding, originally finished with a coat of clear linseed oil (NPS 2007f ).

The mess hall originally served as the kitchen, 

dining room, and social hub for the Road Crew Camp. It 

was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 

1978. In 1980 it was converted to a visitor center.

Comfort station, Tuolumne Meadows Campground (2008) GH

Bunkhouses, Road Crew Camp (2007) GH

John Wosky, NPS Landscape 

Architect (date unknown) YRL
T u o l u m n e M e a d o w s

 191

•	New design should include measures to ensure protection of existing vegetation. Use appropriate barriers 

to prevent trampling of such areas.

•	 Maintain the pattern and spacing of the CCC Mess 

Hall with the other buildings and structures on the 

moderate forested slope, regardless of future use. 

Do not allow temporary or permanent structures to 

encroach into the spaces 

surrounding the buildings, 

in particular the foreground when viewed from 

the parking lot and the 

pedestrian approach routes 

to the immediate north. 

Refer to the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter for 

guidelines on parking and 

vegetative screening.

CCC Mess Hall, Road Crew Camp (date unknown) YRL

top Eave detail at entrance, CCC Mess 

Hall, Road Crew Camp (2008) GH 

bottom Plaque at CCC Mess Hall 

(2008) GH

Entrance, CCC Mess Hall, Road Crew Camp (2008) GH

Four identical bunkhouses and a shower house are 

clustered in the trees to the east of the CCC Mess 

Hall. These were the first structures to be built in the 

Road Crew Camp area and are fine examples of NPS 

Rustic architecture. Built during the CCC era, all are 

wood-frame structures with rubble masonry foundations 

and redwood board and batten siding. A large rubble 

masonry chimney distinguishes the shower house. The 

bunkhouses are still in use as NPS housing and retain 

most of their original materials and details of workmanship. These structures were all listed on the National 

Register in 1978.

G U I DEL I NES

•	The character of new structures should be compatible 

with the architectural vocabulary of the rustic structures at Tuolumne Meadows. They should, in addition, 

be of a scale, form, massing, and color that blends with 

the immediate natural surroundings. 

•	Cluster new parking in small groups, screened with 

native vegetation.
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

192 NP S

SODA S PRI N G S + PA R SONS

MEMO RI AL LOD G E

Soda Springs is nested within the larger Tuolumne 

Meadows Historic District. It comprises 140 acres at 

the northern edge of Tuolumne Meadows (NPS 2007d). 

Soda Springs takes its name from a group of natural 

mineral carbonated springs on the site. The Soda Springs 

area comprises several distinct habitat types: riparian, 

open grassland, upland pine forest, and wetlands around 

the springs.

Development in this area was sited along the 

natural ecotone where subalpine meadow transitions into 

a coniferous forest. This location allowed Soda Springs’ 

early inhabitants to be near the meadow and mineral 

springs while enjoying privacy and protection from the 

wind and sun on the edge of the lodgepole pine forest 

(NPS 2007d). 

Adjacent to the springs, a sunny, south-facing, 

upland plateau presents an ideal location for camping 

and building. Four structures—Parsons Memorial Lodge, 

McCauley Cabin, Bruin Baffle, and the Soda Springs 

enclosure—are sited along natural contours on a granite 

Parsons Memorial Lodge and McCauley Cabin (2007) GH 

left Shower House, Road Crew Camp (2007) GH right CCC Mess Hall, 

Road Crew Camp (2008) GH

•	The openness of the approach to the CCC Mess Hall 

is a character-defining aspect of the site, and new 

construction should not occur within this area.

•	Any new construction, including alterations to the 

wastewater treatment buildings and surroundings, 

should be done in a manner that is obscured from trails, 

roads, and public view, and acoustically buffered. 

Lighting should be limited (refer to Yosemite Lighting 

Guidelines) to avoid polluting the dark night sky.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Building Shape +

Massing” and “Developed Areas—Architectural 

Character” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter. 
T u o l u m n e M e a d o w s

 193

of that campground still endured within the landscape 

(NPS 2007f ). This demonstrates the fragility of the vegetation and soil at this altitude.

Two of the buildings—Parsons Memorial Lodge 

and McCauley Cabin—are of national architectural 

significance and are individually listed on the National 

Register of Historic Places. Parsons Memorial Lodge 

has received further recognition and was designated a 

National Historic Landmark in 1987.

Parsons Memorial Lodge, built in 1915, is one of 

the earliest stone rustic buildings in a national park. It 

was built as a memorial to one of the early directors of 

the Sierra Club, Edward Taylor Parsons, and received 

contributions from the mountaineering community, 

including the famous British alpinist Edward Whymper. 

Situated at an elevation of 8,640 feet at the northern 

edge of Tuolumne Meadows, Parsons Memorial Lodge 

was designed by the office of renowned Berkeley architect Bernard Maybeck, who with Mark White produced 

a building with a thorough understanding of the harsh 

environmental conditions encountered at this altitude. 

It is a small but robust building of approximately 1,040

bench overlooking the Tuolumne River. The enclave is 

connected to the meadow by a footbridge. Their wide 

spacing permitted features such as trees and boulders 

to remain interspersed among the constructed elements. 

The impact of development was minimized by locating 

buildings outside the meadow within a grove of lodgepole pine. The buildings were designed in a manner 

that minimized their visibility by harmonizing their 

appearance with the surrounding natural environment 

(NPS 2007f ).

Although some portions of historic wagon routes 

and trails have been obliterated, the Soda Springs Trail, 

the road to Parsons Memorial Lodge, the Great Sierra 

Wagon Road, the Glen Aulin Trail, and the Pacific Crest 

Trail all traverse Tuolumne Meadows. This highlights 

Soda Springs’ important location as a natural crossroads 

through Tuolumne Meadows at Soda Springs (NPS 2007d).

Because of the compaction of roots and possible 

damage to the fragile subalpine vegetation, a campground 

initially established by the Sierra Club was discontinued 

after it was acquired by the National Park Service in 1976. 

By 2007, more than 30 years later, faint circulation routes 

Parsons Memorial Lodge (2007) GH Parsons Memorial Lodge (date unknown) YRL
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

194 NP S

square feet. The masonry walls are made with locally 

gathered pink feldspar and grey granite stones with 

a reinforced concrete core. Deeply raked mortar joints 

accentuate the stonework. Walls are battered, approximately three feet thick at the bottom and two feet thick 

at the top. A Roman arch frames the wood door at the 

south-facing entrance. The exterior of the door is covered 

with galvanized metal. The interior of the door reveals 

heavy plank construction with heavy wrought-iron strap 

hinges. The voussoirs and keystone are dressed, as are 

lintel and jamb stones throughout the building. The lowpitched gable roof is finished with galvanized corrugated 

metal. The building has undergone a few minor changes 

over the years, but none mars its integrity. 

The use of natural materials, a hallmark of the 

Rustic style, was indicative of the Bay Area tradition as 

developed in the work of Bernard Maybeck and others. 

In subsequent years, Rustic-style architecture became 

emblematic of the National Park Service. Parsons Memorial 

Lodge is a most important forerunner of that design 

ethic (NPS 1987a). 

In 1973, the National Park Service acquired the 

building from the Sierra Club. Parsons Memorial Lodge 

continues to function as a high-country nature center, 

open to the public.

McCauley Cabin is a one-story, one-room, log 

building measuring approximately 18 feet by 21 feet. 

The peeled logs that make up the walls of the structure 

are round on the exterior and hand-hewn to a flush 

surface on the interior. The original chinking of mud 

and grass has been replaced with mortar. The cabin 

was used by the Sierra Club as a caretaker’s residence. 

McCauley Cabin was listed in the National Register in 

1977 (NPS 1977a).

The Soda Springs enclosure, constructed between 

1885 and 1889, is a small, 12-foot-by-nine-foot log 

structure with V-notched corner details and no windows 

or floor. Several of the springs are located inside the 

enclosure walls. Originally, the log walls were erected 

for the purpose of protecting the springs from livestock. 

Although it once had a corrugated metal roof, the enclosure has been open on top for an unknown number of 

years. The structure was listed on the National Register 

in 1979 (NPS 2007d).

Bruin Baffle is a two-story, stand-alone structure 

built by the Sierra Club in 1937. As its name suggests, the 

building was designed to prevent bears from accessing 

stored food. The exterior walls are clad with corrugated 

galvanized steel. The east facade has a small porch, and a 

ladder provides access to the upper floor, known by local 

campers as the Coo-coo’s Loft (NPS 2007d). 

A footbridge crosses the Tuolumne River on the 

meadow floor directly south of Parsons Memorial Lodge. 

The original footbridge, built in the summer of 1915 at 

the same time as the lodge, had a simple triangular truss 

structure with a center pier and masonry abutments of 

recessed mortar joints, similar to the masonry of the 

lodge. Log girders have been replaced with steel, with 

thick wood-plank decking. The center pier continues to 

rest on a large boulder mid-stream. The abutments and 

pier are historic (NPS 2007d).

right Bruin Baffle (2008) GH left Log enclosure, Soda Springs (date unknown) YRL
T u o l u m n e M e a d o w s

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top left Eave with rafter brackets, McCauley Cabin (2008) GH top right Corner detail, McCauley Cabin (2008) GH bottom Section of Parsons Memorial Lodge, Tuolumne 

Meadows,Yosemite National Park, Bernard Maybeck Collection, 1956-1, Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley. (Note to the right of fireplace reads, 

“Scratched into wet concrete.” Inscription above fireplace says “For winters–snow + frost brace v roof with pillar + post” dated 1915.)
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

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Small-scale features such as cooking grills, a trash 

vault, stone retaining walls, interpretive signs, and a 

picnic table were constructed from locally found materials 

that blend with the landscape.

G U I DEL I NES

•	Any new construction in the Soda Springs, Parsons 

Memorial Lodge and adjacent wastewater ponds area 

should be done in a manner that is ecologically compatible

and hidden from public view along the road and trails.

Mount Lyell, California Sierra, William Keith, oil on canvas, 1874. Courtesy Hearst Art 

Gallery, Saint Mary’s College of California

Footbridge over Tuolumne River, near Soda Springs (2008) GH 

Life in the meadows was not all sheepmen-and-soldiers or surveyors-and-peaks. Artists came also, to add their visual images 

to the words of writers extolling and protecting high places. 

One of these was William Keith....

In the autumn of 1872 while John Muir was working 

in Yosemite Valley, Keith arrived with two artist friends and a 

letter of introduction.... 

Keith was looking for a scene to paint, something which 

would seem to him more of a picture than the massive undifferentiated Sierra he had seen so far.

‘Yes,’ said Muir, ‘I saw it only yesterday. The crown 

of the Sierra is a picture hung on the sky, and mind you, it 

needs none of your selection or composition. I’ll take you there 

tomorrow.’

...They rode up the Lyell Fork to the point where they 

could see the glacier-hung presence of Mount Lyell rising 

majestically above them. Dismounting, they enjoyed a moment 

of silent awe, and then Keith dashed forward waving his arms 

and shouting.

‘It was the grandest thing I ever saw,’ [Keith] wrote.

—From O’Neill, Meadow in the Sky, 69 (1993)
H u t s , C a b i n s +

H i g h S i e r r a c a m p s
Overleaf Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (2007) RF

H u t s , C a b i n s + h i g h S i e r r a C a m p s

H u t s + C a b i n s 201

 Snow Creek Ski Hut 201

 Snow Flat Cabin 203

Frog Creek Cabin 203

 Merced Lake Ranger Station 204

 Buck Camp Cabin 204

Ostrander Ski Hut 205

H i g h S i e r r a C a m p s 206

 Setting 206

White Wolf Lodge and High Sierra Camp 209

 Tuolumne Meadows High Sierra Camp 211

Vogelsang High Sierra Camp 214

 Merced Lake High Sierra Camp 216

 Sunrise High Sierra Camp 217

 May Lake High Sierra Camp 218

 Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp 219
 199

nature’s peace will flow into you as the sunshine into trees. the winds will blow 

their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off you 

as autumn leaves....in god’s wildness lies the hope of the world—the great fresh, 

unblighted, unredeemed wilderness. john muir • 1890

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

Huts, Cabins + Hig h S ierra Camps

From recreational, educational, and experiential perspectives, 

one of the greatest assets offered by Yosemite National Park is its vast 

undeveloped wilderness. At 1,100 square miles, with thousands of lakes 

and 1,600 miles of streams and rivers, Yosemite Wilderness is, ecologically speaking, one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in 

the Sierra Nevada. The vast majority of lands in Yosemite—over 95% of 

the park’s 747,956 acres—are designated wilderness and protected from 

development. 

The protection and perpetuation of use of Yosemite Wilderness is 

a primary goal of the National Park Service. The sense of remoteness 

is conveyed by the absence of obvious development, distance from other 

individuals, views of vast, 

rugged landscapes, and the 

near-absence of humangenerated sound. 

Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (2009) LH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

200 NPS

The construction of the first “mountain chalet” 

camps in 1916 marked a significant change in the use of 

Yosemite’s backcountry areas. In earlier decades, travel 

in such areas required either an expensive pack outfit or 

long days of hiking with heavy gear. Forerunners of the 

present High Sierra Camps, the mountain chalet camps 

made it possible for people of more modest means and 

ability to venture out of the developed areas of the park 

and experience first-hand the grandeur of the backcountry. This was an idea dear to Stephen Mather, the first 

director of the National Park Service, who believed it 

was essential to build public support for the national 

parks through improved access and education. The camps 

also served as a way to draw visitors out of Yosemite 

Valley and thus reduce impact to its increasingly popular 

natural resources.

The earliest of the current High Sierra Camps were 

established in 1916 on sites identified by park naturalist 

Carl P. Russell for their scenic beauty and availability of 

water, as well as the park’s desire to have the camps be one 

day’s hike apart. High Sierra Camps located in the backcountry include Merced Lake, Vogelsang, Glen Aulin, May 

Lake, and Sunrise. Two camps—Tuolumne Meadows Lodge 

and White Wolf Lodge—are sited in the frontcountry.

White Wolf Lodge was added to the camp system 

in 1953, but has a unique history. It was established as 

a homestead by John Meyer in 1884 and converted to a 

lodge by his son and daughter-in-law in 1927. The family operated it as a private inholding until 1951, when 

Meyer’s grandson sold the property to the National Park 

Service. Where the other camps employ the Rustic style 

for their permanent structures, White Wolf has white, 

wood-frame buildings similar to those seen at Wawona 

and Chinquapin. 

In addition to the High Sierra Camps, there are a 

number of individual cabins scattered throughout the 

Yosemite Wilderness. Some were built for visitor use, 

while others were intended for administrative or scientific duties. Lake Vernon, Miguel Meadow, Snow Flat, 

and Buck Camp cabins were constructed near areas of 

prior pioneer settlement. About half of the wilderness 

cabins have associated corrals and fenced pasture meadows 

(fences are taken down in the winter) for stock support 

for park staff who use the cabins. The historic Miguel 

Meadow Cabin has a late-1800s crib barn that contributes to its historic character. Ostrander Ski Hut (1940) 

and Snow Creek Ski Hut (1928–1930) were developed as 

part of an unfulfilled effort to establish a European-style 

Ostrander Ski Hut (date unknown) YRL Pack train (2008) DV
H u t s , C a b i n s + S i e r r a H i g h C a m p s

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Snow Creek Ski Hut (Frame Structure)

The Snow Creek Ski Hut was constructed in 1929 as the 

initial phase of a proposed system of ski and mountaineering huts in the Yosemite high country. The plan was 

devised by Donald Tresidder of the Yosemite Park and 

Curry Company, and would be the first implementation 

of organized backcountry ski-touring with overnight 

accommodations offered in the United States. The trail 

system included the construction of Snow Creek Ski 

ski touring circuit. Cabins at Lake Vernon, Sachse Springs, 

Snow Flat, and Merced Lake were all constructed through 

agreements with the state of California and the city 

of San Francisco to provide shelters for winter snow 

survey crews. In the summer, some function as patrol 

cabins for wilderness rangers. Frog Creek cabin was used 

for patrols, but originally housed workers collecting 

trout eggs for the former fish hatchery at Happy Isles. 

Most of these cabins are variations on the vernacular log 

cabin, but the Ostrander Ski Hut, constructed of native 

granite, was one of the last structures built in Yosemite 

during the NPS Rustic period of design. 

H UTS + C ABINS

Located in isolated areas, the wilderness cabins are 

important historic resources for the park. Equally 

important, they have a long and continuing history of 

functioning as shelters for snow surveyors and NPS 

rangers in both summer and winter—aiding in wilderness patrol, trail crew operations, visitor assistance, 

and search-and-rescue activities.

The cabins are maintained with as little intrusion 

on natural resources as possible. Their simple Rustic 

architectural style enables them to blend in with their 

surroundings and remain unobtrusive.

Since these backcountry huts and cabins were 

constructed, the vast area in which they reside was officially designated as wilderness, forever restricting new 

construction. These historic wilderness structures are 

eligible or are in the process of being evaluated for listing 

on the National Register of Historic Places and are 

subject to The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the 

Treatment of Historic Properties. There are three distinct 

types of backcountry cabins: log structures, frame 

structures, and masonry structures. The following are 

descriptions of some of the cabins in Yosemite Wilderness.

top Log framing details bottom Snow Creek Ski Hut
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

202 NPS

Hut, temporary winter usage of several Park Service 

ranger stations Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows, 

and the rehabilitation of Glacier Point Mountain House 

for winter use.

Architectural plans for the hut were prepared by 

Eldridge T. Spencer of San Francisco, with Tresidder 

making suggestions inspired by a book of illustrations 

and plans of Swiss mountain huts. The hut is a hybrid of 

NPS Rustic style, with elements of the architecture of 

the Swiss Alps. The Swiss influence complemented the 

NPS Rustic style by emphasizing the use of natural wood 

materials for both structural and decorative elements. 

Years later in 1935 at the Badger Pass Ski Lodge, Spencer 

continued the tradition of the distinctive NPS Rustic 

style with elements of Swiss and Austrian Tyrol architecture. The Snow Creek Ski Hut was completed 

in 1929 and received some modifications the following 

year (NPS 2004d).

The hut is a two-story building constructed predominately with local, natural materials. The overall 

massing of the building is a gable roof with extended 

porches. Exterior walls are finished with double-course 

shakes and peeled logs. The windows have shutters 

that are painted in a green and white chevron pattern, 

attesting to the influence of the Swiss Alps. The modest 

foundation is comprised of local granite rubble with a 

recessed mortar bed. The building consists of a living 

room, kitchen, small bedroom, mudroom, storage area, 

and two loft bedrooms. The use of materials within the 

interior spaces—exposed log beams, wallboard panels 

with battens, naturally finished tongue-and-groove flooring, quarter-round log stairs—continues the rustic 

character that harmonizes with the exterior treatment.

The Yosemite Winter Club, established in 1928 

to promote winter use in Yosemite, used the Snow Creek 

Ski Hut frequently throughout the winters of 1930–1934

as the first layover during instructed ski-touring expeditions. Famed photographer Ansel Adams also frequented 

the ski hut along his route to the high country to photograph skiers and the winter landscape. Although Tresidder 

had grand plans of promoting ski-touring throughout 

Yosemite, his dream never gained the momentum it 

needed and was not carried forward.

From 1939–1947, the ski hut was used by NPS personnel during snow survey trips to Gin Flat and Tioga 

Pass. The building went into disrepair and was only 

minimally used until extensive restoration work was 

completed in 2003 and 2006. The Snow Creek Ski Hut 

continues to serve its historic function as a backcountry 

accommodation during summer and winter months with 

public access. 

Snow Creek Ski Hut (date unknown) CW Dossen Hut, Swiss Alps (ca. 1931), from Club Alpin Suisse Cabanes
H u t s , C a b i n s + S i e r r a H i g h C a m p s

 203

Snow Flat Cabin 

The Snow Flat cabin was built in 1947 by the California 

Division of Water Resources to be used for snow surveyors. 

Originally constructed for winter service in connection 

with the acquisition of hydrologic data along the Tuolumne 

and Merced River’s watersheds within Yosemite National 

Park, these cabins served as shelters for personnel and as 

bases of operation for employees patrolling snow courses 

and for equipment maintenance. Today, the cabin continues to be used by rangers and snow surveyors in the winter. 

Its basic shape is a simple rectangle of approximately 22

feet by 14 feet, with a gable roof that includes a generous 

two-story, south-facing porch. The attic access in the 

upper part of the porch serves as the winter entrance. 

The interior contains a cook stove, three double-deck 

bunks, a table, and chairs. The original roofing material 

was probably shakes (NPS 2004e). The roof was recently 

stabilized and rehabilitated.

Frog Creek Cabin (Frame Structure) 

The Frog Creek Cabin was constructed in 1936 by the 

Civilian Conservation Corps. The building housed seasonal workers at the nearby Frog Creek Egg-Collecting 

Station who harvested rainbow trout eggs for the Happy 

Isles Hatchery in Yosemite Valley. The Frog Creek EggCollecting Station was in full operation between 1934 and 

1956. In 1956, the park began using aerial drops for fish 

stocking, making the Happy Isles Hatchery and facilities 

at Frog Creek obsolete. Today the cabin is maintained by 

the National Park Service as an outlying patrol post.

Building plans for the operation were produced by 

the regional National Park Service Branch of Plans in the 

NPS Rustic style that emphasized function and soon 

became vernacular for backcountry buildings. At the 

time of construction, the surrounding areas of Lake 

Eleanor and Miguel Meadow had already become a hub 

for development in conjunction with the building of the 

O’Shaughnessy Dam in Hetch Hetchy Valley and structures relating to other natural resource management 

activities.

The Frog Creek Cabin is a vernacular, single-story 

frame cabin intended for utilitarian purposes. The plan 

of the cabin is rectangular, approximately 14 feet by 28

feet, with a small screened porch extending from the 

west facade. The main portion of the building is clad 

in stained lap-board siding, while the porch has stained 

board and batten half-walls and upper screened panels. A 

wide, overhanging gable roof and a rubble granite foundation wall serve to visually anchor the cabin to the 

surrounding landscape. The roof is clad in sugar pine 

shingles and has a rubble granite chimney on the west 

slope. The floor plan consists of a single bunk room, 

kitchen, and enclosed screened porch. The cabin is in 

good condition and has had very minimal alteration since 

its construction.

Snow Flat Cabin 

(date unknown) YRL

Frog Creek Cabin
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

204 NPS

Merced Lake Ranger Station (Log Structure) 

The three-room Merced Lake Ranger Station, constructed 

in 1927, is nestled in a forested area three quarters of 

a mile east of Merced Lake, at the junction of the trail 

from Yosemite Valley and trails leading to the Clark 

Range and Tuolumne Meadows. This is one of the first 

structures built by the NPS in Yosemite’s backcountry. 

The cabin was funded by the Merced Irrigation District 

and was designed in the NPS Rustic style, which served 

as a model for other Yosemite backcountry cabins. The 

cabin is used primarily in the summer by wilderness 

patrol rangers.

With an irregular floor plan of 21 feet by 25 feet, the 

building is constructed of lodgepole pine logs chinked 

with jute and cement grout over nails to make the 

structure weatherproof. Granite rubble is used for the 

foundation and the fireplace chimney. The shallow pitched 

roof has a generous gable form to shelter the entrance, 

which is covered with sugar pine shakes (NPS 1986b).

Buck Camp Cabin

Buck Camp Cabin (Log Structure)

The Buck Camp Cabin was originally constructed in 1931

as a snow survey shelter. Today it is used by wilderness 

patrol rangers in the summer. The cabin was planned for 

and built under a cooperative agreement between the 

NPS and the Merced Irrigation District. The Irrigation 

District funded this cabin, along with the construction of 

the Merced Lake Ranger Station in 1927 and the rehabilitation of the Deer Camp Cabin in 1931 (since destroyed).

The Buck Camp Cabin, designed by John Wosky, 

landscape architect for the National Park Service, was 

constructed in the Rustic style to harmonize with its 

surrounding environment and relate to the log structures built in the Yosemite region by homesteaders in 

the 1800s. The cabin is a log structure constructed of 

vertical logs (rather than the traditional horizontal construction technique) resting on a stone and wood pier 

foundation. The vertical logs are load-bearing, supporting the roof structure. The inside surface is sheathed 

with one-by-six-inch rough-cut boards, and the roof is 

covered with sugar pine shake. Overall dimensions are 

14 feet by 29 feet, with the major axis running north–

south (NPS 2004a).

Merced Lake Ranger Station (2009) LH
H u t s , C a b i n s + S i e r r a H i g h C a m p s

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Ostrander Ski Hut (Masonry Structure) 

The gable roof of Ostrander Ski Hut is a welcome sight for 

cross-country skiers who have just traversed the 10 miles 

from the Badger Pass Ski Lodge. The hut was designed as a 

ski-touring shelter and built in seven weeks by the Civilian 

Conservation Corps in 1940. It was the last building the 

CCC built in Yosemite and is considered one of the finest 

examples of late NPS Rustic architecture.

Ostrander Ski Hut was no doubt influenced by the 

mountain huts and refuges of the Swiss and Austrian 

Alps that Donald and Mary Curry Tresidder had seen 

when they were sent abroad by the directors of the 

Yosemite Park and Curry Company in 1936 to study 

winter alpine resorts. Ostrander Ski Hut was intended 

to be part of a network for winter sports starting at the 

Badger Pass Ski Lodge. Like its European counterparts, 

Ostrander was intended to have accommodations more 

austere and communal than those at Yosemite’s High 

Sierra Camps. Today, Ostrander continues to provide 

accommodations that are spare, providing bunks downstairs and bedframes attached to the roof framing 

upstairs. A long table and wood stove continue to be the 

center for communal dining in the evening after the day’s 

events. There are separate quarters for the winter caretaker. The floor plan of 20 feet by 50 feet has a north–

south alignment for the major axis, sited on a downslope 

toward Ostrander Lake. The ground falls 6–10 feet below 

the entrance on the south end. When snowfall overcomes 

the entrance level, the balcony, overlooking the lake, 

serves as the alternate access for the hut.

The use of local rock, timber, and a weathered grey 

metal roof enable Ostrander hut to be compatible with 

its surroundings regardless of season. “Unlike the use of 

stone for facades in many Valley buildings of the Rustic 

architecture period, the use of stone in the Ostrander 

Hut was structural, clearly affecting the building’s character” (NPS 2004c).

GUI D E L INES

•	 For historic huts and cabins, follow The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

•	New structures intended only for park administrative 

functions should be sited as discreetly as possible to 

minimize visibility from trails and to discourage unauthorized entry.

•	New backcountry buildings should be visually nonintrusive and should harmonize with the surrounding 

landscape. The NPS Rustic style achieved this by the 

use of local materials, battered masonry foundations 

and chimneys, horizontal emphasis, exposed structural 

members, and wide, overhanging eaves.

•	Any new structures should also be sensitive to existing 

structures in the vicinity. New structures should be 

Views of Ostrander Ski Hut, winter (left) and summer (right) (dates unknown) YRL
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

206 NPS

influenced by, but not mimic, the historic structures in 

order to create a cohesive built environment. 

•	The simple gable and shed roof shapes are well-suited 

for alpine settings where snowfall reaches extreme 

depths, because they can shed snow and protect the 

entrance. Metal roofing with a steep roof pitch allows 

free fall of snow clear of sidewalls and has historic 

precedent. Wood shingled roofing blends well with 

the natural environment.

•	 Masonry walls are appropriate for remote areas because 

they are fire resistant and low maintenance, and visually 

relate the structures to their settings. 

•	Upper-level entrances should be included because 

ground-level exits can become blocked by snow.

•	Use nonreflective exterior materials such as metal, 

wood, and stone to match the existing structure. Select 

colors and stains to blend into the site conditions.

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for High Sierra Camps” 

in this chapter.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Architectural Character” 

in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

H IG H SIERRA C AMPS

S e t t i n g

Appropriately, all seven High Sierra Camps are found 

at elevations exceeding 7,000 feet. The lower camps—

Merced at 7,150 feet, White Wolf at 8,000 feet, and 

Glen Aulin at 8,300 feet—are set in the red fir or upper 

montane belt. The highest is Vogelsang at 10,300 feet, 

followed by May Lake at 9,300 feet, Sunrise at 9,200 feet, 

and Tuolumne Meadows at 8,600 feet. These camps are 

in the subalpine belt dominated by mountain hemlock, 

whitebark pine, and lodgepole pine. There is less vegetation at the higher levels because of a significantly harsher 

climate, thinner soils, and shorter growing season. These 

factors make it difficult to restore vegetation once it is 

damaged or removed. These camps have been located in 

fragile landscapes. All of the backcountry High Sierra 

Camps are in officially designated “Potential Wilderness 

Additions” that are tightly and permanently confined by 

the surrounding Yosemite Wilderness boundaries—and 

therefore cannot spread beyond their current footprints.

The arrangement of tent cabins and service buildings varies from camp to camp. Some tent cabins are 

scattered at the forest-meadow interface, laid out in 

a dispersed, uneven fashion near major boulders or clusters of mature trees, such as at Vogelsang, May Lake, 

and Sunrise. Others are laid out in regimented linear 

patterns, such as at Merced Lake and, to a lesser extent, 

at Glen Aulin (NPS 1965). At Merced Lake the evenly 

spaced tents create three sides of a central rectangular 

space, resembling a military layout.

The concept of building separated masonry structures in the backcountry to protect against the threat of 

fire has roots in Bernard Maybeck’s 1921 resort at Glen 

Alpine Springs, near Fallen Leaf Lake in the Lake Tahoe 

basin. Large-scale structures were destroyed by fire the 

year before, and Maybeck replaced them with a connected 

group of small, separate, low-lying pavilions. This project 

broke new ground in Rustic design through its use of 

Ostrander Ski Hut (date unknown) YRL
H u t s , C a b i n s + S i e r r a H i g h C a m p s

 207

contemporary building materials and its advances in the 

use of stone. Maybeck’s use of natural materials produced an efficient, fire-resistant structure that blended 

with its setting in the High Sierra. His design incorporated battered piers and walls of heavy stonemasonry, 

heavy timber roof framing, industrial steel sash, and 

corrugated iron roofing. The concept of separation and 

masonry construction is found today at many High 

Sierra Camps (McClelland 1998).

GENERA L GUI D E L INES

•	 For new development within the High Sierra Camps 

(all of which have been determined eligible for listing 

in the National Register of Historic Places), designers 

should consult The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for 

the Treatment of Historic Properties for guidance to ensure 

compatibility.

•	New stonemasonry should be compatible with existing examples in terms of stone size and color, mortar 

joints, and raking.

•	 Because most of the camps are located in “Potential 

Wilderness Additions,” renovations and new construction must comply with Yosemite Wilderness policies.

•	The sense of remoteness and the qualities of 

undeveloped and apparent unspoiled wilderness 

should underlie the location, siting, and design 

of built structures in the 

backcountry. Continue the 

tradition of the seasonal 

character of tent cabins.

•	The landscape character 

of the High Sierra Camps derives largely from the scale 

and spacing of tents, cook houses, and other structures 

in relation to each other and to the natural features of 

the site and its surroundings. In the case of replacements or additions, every effort should be made to 

preserve the unique character of each camp.

•	In backcountry settings, the siting of new buildings 

should not negatively impact historic views or vistas.

•	High Sierra Camps should have a healthy and natural 

mix of vegetation, from ground-cover to overstory. 

Delineate pathways to protect vegetation. Refer 

to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Barriers, Fences 

+ Benches” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

Storage shed, Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp (2004) RF Dining tent, Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (2009) LH

Glen Alpine Springs Resort, B. Maybeck, 

Fallen Leaf Lake, near Lake Tahoe 

(2007) GH

Red fir (Abies magnifica)
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

208 NPS

•	New paths should fit within the existing site hierarchy 

and retain traditional edging of cobbles of local rock. 

Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for guidelines on circulation.

•	New tent cabins and structures should be designed 

with material and siting similar to existing historic 

structures.

•	 For frontcountry High Sierra Camps, provide vegetative screening for parking areas to protect views from 

tent cabins.

•	In case of repair, replacement, or fabrication of smallscale features such as fences, signs, and retaining walls, 

maintain a sense of the wilderness by using materials 

and designs that are rustic and unfinished in character 

and that would appear consistent with materials found 

on-site.

•	New utility structures—including toilet structures—

should be modest in size, unobtrusive, constructed of 

materials and colors that blend with the immediate 

surroundings, and compatible with the historic character of the buildings at each camp.

•	 Provide vegetative or rustic fence-screening for outdoor 

dumpsters and storage units and/or locate them so that 

they are screened from visitor use areas and trails.

•	 If service areas cannot be screened using natural topography or vegetation, use rough boards or quarter-log 

sections with bark, set vertically on foundations of 

stone or concrete to avoid direct contact with the soil.

•	 New tent cabin entrances with more than three risers 

require handrails that withstand heavy snow loads. 

Consider masonry steps with removable pipe railings 

set in sleeves.

•	Wood left in its natural state is subject to accelerated decomposition and weathering at most elevations. 

In the high country, such weathering is severe; preserve exterior wood with clear or semitransparent 

stain to allow natural weathering to proceed without the uneven shedding of surface pigments found 

on weathered painted surfaces. Use stains and paints 

that have additives to reduce the effects of ultraviolet 

degradation.

•	The use of color on buildings in backcountry or wilderness areas should be considered carefully. Wosky 

brown or dark green should be the first choices. Most 

colors, when exposed to the ultraviolet light of direct 

sunshine, will fade in intensity. For painted finish, use 

exterior sash and trim paint in gloss finish, which can 

provide additional protection. The sheen will diminish 

quickly when exposed to the weather. 

•	The color of metal should be restricted to natural 

weathering material, dark grey or prefinished in dark 

green or Wosky brown.

•	Use of log-plank sections for 

the roof covering, such as 

at Vogelsang and May Lake 

High Sierra Camps, is recommended. However, if metal 

roofing is used, the metal 

should be restricted to natural weathering material or 

prefinished in dark grey, or Wosky brown. 

•	 Exterior wall cladding for wood structures should be 

natural weathering material—rough-sawn boards, cedar, 

or redwood—with a minimal thickness of 7⁄8-inch.

•	 Locate vent piping below the ridgeline of the roof so it 

will not be seen in profile. Paint using approved colors, 

or use natural weathering metals.

•	 Solar collectors should be in frames of dark, nonreflective metals and should be integrated with the 

structure.

•	To be compatible with backcountry design character, 

if prefabricated buildings are used, they should sit on 

foundations with continuous skirting to enclose subfloor space. Use the same guidelines for roof and walls 

as stated above, or screen structures as called for in 

service areas.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Small 

Buildings” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter. 

McCauley Cabin, Tuolumne 

Meadows (2008) GH 

Dry-stack masonry, Vogelsang High 

Sierra Camp (2007) RF
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1 Employee Tent Cabins

to White Wolf 

Campground

to Tioga Road

to Harden Lake

7

3

1

2

3

3

3

4

5

6 9

8

10

11

12

0 25 50 75 100 200

1 Employee Tent Cabins

2 Stables

3 Guest Tent Cabins

4 Bath House

5 Storage

6 Guest Cabins

 7 Rock Outcropping

 8 White Wolf Lodge 

 9 Parking Area

10 Road to White Wolf Campground

11 Road to Tioga Road

12 Service Station (razed)

to Tioga Road

to Ha

Lak

7

3

1

2

3

3

3

4

5

6 9

8

11

12

0 25 50 75 100 200

BC027

White Wolf Lodge and gas station

White Wolf Lodge and High Sierra Camp

White Wolf Lodge is located on a segment of the Old 

Tioga Road approximately one mile north of the current 

alignment of the Tioga Road, near McSwain Meadows. 

A small parking area fronts the lodge. The lodge/dining 

building is the organizing element for circulation at the 

center of two loops of white tent cabins that are linked 

by the bathhouse. The loop directly behind the lodge is 

arranged in a rough semicircle around a low, broad granitic outcrop and knoll, in a sunny open space at the edge 

of a lodgepole pine forest. The second loop to the north 

is immersed in a shaded forest on an incline that slopes 

down and away from the open space. The tent camp and 

nearby campground are adjacent to the wilderness 

boundary, precluding any expansion. Trail connections 

include Harden Lake and the Grand Canyon of the 

Tuolumne River. Across the road is the White Wolf 

Campground.

Though originally a homestead founded in 1884, 

White Wolf was converted to a lodge in 1927, when 

improvement to the Old Tioga Road brought increased 

traffic to the park. The owners added cabins and tent 

cabins, a power plant, and a small gas pump and soda 

fountain across the road. When it was acquired by the 

National Park Service in 1953, White Wolf was added 

to the High Sierra Camp system, becoming the second 

frontcountry High Sierra Camp.

1 Employee Tent Cabins

2 Stables

3 Guest Tent Cabins

4 Bathhouse

5 Storage

6 Guest Cabins

7 Rock Outcropping

8 White Wolf Lodge 

9 Parking Area

10 Road to White Wolf Campground

11 Road to Tioga Road

12 Service Station (razed)

White Wolf L oDG E An d

H i g h Si err a C a m p
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

210 NPS

During the harsh winter of 1968–69, heavy snow 

caused the collapse of the lodge and cabin roof-structures, leading to their removal. Because plans to update 

the lodge structure had not been approved, the lodge 

was rebuilt without any changes to the earlier design. 

Architecturally, White Wolf Lodge stands apart from 

the other High Sierra Camps. While the other camps are 

rustic in their design, with dry-stacked masonry and 

weathered wood, White Wolf Lodge relates more to the 

white-painted buildings at Chinquapin and Wawona. 

The lodge drew inspiration from the early California 

Territorial style found at the former Sentinel Hotel in 

Yosemite Valley (1876) and at the Wawona Hotel (1879).

The structures at White Wolf have wood shingle 

roofs, light wood-frame construction, and vertical board 

and batten siding. All the buildings are painted white, 

with windows and doors painted dark green. The lodge 

porch has a light timber framework that is covered with 

canvas during the summer season. The porch has a light 

picket railing and lattice enclosing the underfloor spaces, 

painted dark green similar to that of the Wawona Hotel 

buildings. 

At the end of the summer season, the canvas of 

the tent cabins is removed and stored. The framework 

is taken down and stacked on the concrete floor for the 

winter season, awaiting reassembly the following spring. 

GUI D E L INES

•	 For new development 

within White Wolf, 

designers should consult 

The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the 

Treatment of Historic 

Properties for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	Refer to the White Wolf Lodge Main Building and Duplex 

Cabins Historic Structures Report (NPS 2011e).

•	New utility, storage, and service areas should be minimally visible from public use areas. If needed, screen 

with native vegetation or use fencing that matches the 

color and detailing of the lodge.

•	New structures and additions should continue the 

treatment of board and batten siding, painted white.

•	New porches should use materials that match existing 

in size and profile.

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for High Sierra Camps” 

in this chapter.

Framing for tent cabins, White Wolf Lodge (2008) GH 

Porch detail, White Wolf Lodge (2008) GH

White Wolf Lodge (2008) RF
H u t s , C a b i n s + S i e r r a H i g h C a m p s

 211

1 Tuolumne Lodge Road

2 Guest Parking Area

3 Storage Shed

4 Employee Parking Area

5 Employee Tent Cabin

6 Dana Fork of the Tuolumne

 

 7 Tuolumne Meadows Lodge 

 8 Fire Pit

 9 Shower House

10 Guest Tent Cabins

11 Miller Rapids

12 Flagpole

10

11

12

5

3

2

1

4 6

7 8

9

0 50 100 150 200 300

Tuolumne Meadows High Sierra Camp 

(Tuolumne Meadows Lodge)

Tuolumne Meadows High Sierra Camp (1916) is at an elevation of 8,600 feet on the north bank of Miller Rapids 

on the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River. It consists of a 

tent reception/dining room, kitchen, bathhouse, storage 

buildings, and tent cabins.

Tuolumne Meadows is one of two High Sierra 

Camps accessible by auto (the other being White Wolf ). 

The narrow drive passes through a dense lodgepole pine 

forest. The natural landscape sets a peaceful tone, allowing visitors to decompress from the long drive as they 

approach the lodge. This is an important component of 

the sense of arrival.

The large paved parking area west of the dining 

hall and downslope of the tent cabin area is expansive 

and highly visible from the tent cabins: its size overwhelms the setting and the arrival experience. To the 

east, tent cabins are dispersed on an uneven upslope 

among boulders, granite outcrops, and lodgepole pines. 

A group of exposed, highly visible propane tanks, along 

with other supplies, is clustered adjacent to the bathhouse. 

Intensive foot traffic has obliterated most pathways, 

leaving extensive areas of unvegetated and, in some 

areas, eroding, barren soils.

1 Tuolumne Lodge Road

2 Guest Parking Area

3 Storage Shed

4 Employee Parking Area

5 Employee Tent Cabin

6 Dana Fork of the Tuolumne

 

 7 Tuolumne Meadows Lodge 

 8 Fire Pit

 9 Shower House

10 Guest Tent Cabins

11 Miller Rapids

12 Flagpole

10

11

12

5

3

2

1

4 6

7 8

9

0 50 100 150 200 300

1 Tuolumne Meadows 

Lodge Road

2 Guest Parking Area

3 Storage Shed

4 Employee Parking Area

5 Employee Tent Cabins

6 Dana Fork of the 

 Tuolumne River

7 Tuolumne Meadows Lodge 

8 Fire Pit

9 Bathhouse

10 Guest Tent Cabins

11 Miller Rapids

12 Flagpole

tuolumne M e ad o ws H i g h Sie r r a C a m p
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

212 NPS

Employee tent cabins, permanent service buildings, 

and the canvas-roofed reception and dining hall are aligned 

in a row facing the river. Beyond these buildings to the 

south is a popular view of Miller Rapids, where intensive 

foot traffic has all but eliminated riparian bank vegetation. 

Buildings and structures are simple, in the tradition 

of the High Sierra Camps. Except for kitchen, storage, and 

bathhouse structures, most are roofed with white canvas 

stretched over permanent wood or metal frames.

The reception/dining room structure has a timber 

frame with canvas walls and roof, set upon a slightly elevated concrete slab. The framing members are painted 

white to blend with the canvas. Double-hung windows 

provide ventilation. On the east side, a canvas awning 

extends from the structure to provide a protected seating area adjacent to a fire pit. At the end of the summer 

season, canvas roofs, walls, and windows are removed, 

leaving the concrete floor and framing exposed to the 

elements in winter, when the camp is closed.

Adjacent to the tent dining area, permanent 

kitchen and storage structures are built of conventional 

wood-frame construction. The exterior of the kitchen is 

sheathed in board and batten siding and painted brown.

The typical tent cabin measures 12 feet by 14

feet, constructed by stretching heavy duck canvas over 

an open framework of wood or metal to create a simple 

left Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (2008) DV top right Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (2008) GH bottom right Interior, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (date unknown) YRL
H u t s , C a b i n s + S i e r r a H i g h C a m p s

 213

BC014

top Tent cabins, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (2006) GH bottom Dana Fork, Tuolumne 

River (2008) DV

shelter with an entrance on the gable end. All of the cabins have small iron stoves that vent through the sidewall 

thimble with a metal flue. Tent cabins are for seasonal 

occupancy and are disassembled at the end of summer. 

GUI D E L INES

•	 For new development at the Tuolumne Meadows 

Lodge, designers should consult The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	New structures should be sited and spaced in a manner 

consistent with historic patterns, which were based on 

proximity to natural features such as boulders or tree 

groupings.

•	New structures along the arrival road should maintain 

the general spacing, scale, and color of the existing 

tent cabins at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. 

•	New structures in this location should enhance the 

sense of arrival to this historic lodge, not detract.

•	New structures should be constructed of materials 

that are compatible with the temporary, seasonal, and 

minimal style of the tent cabins currently and historically found here.

•	In the new employee housing area, the pedestrian pathway network should be well-delineated to protect 

vegetation. Use appropriate naturalistic barriers, such 

as partially buried boulders or lodgepole pine logs, to 

prevent trampling of such areas.

•	New parking should be clustered in small groups and 

screened with native vegetation or natural features. 

•	New exterior storage areas, service areas, and equipment should be out of public view. If this is not 

feasible, then these areas should be screened with 

vegetation and/or fencing to ensure that the historic 

and natural scenes are minimally impacted. This guideline applies to the arrival experience along the road 

leading up to the lodge as well as within the lodge 

area itself. Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—

Barriers, Fences + Benches” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for High Sierra Camps” 

in this chapter.

Pack mule (2008) DV
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

214 NPS

1 Corral

2 Tack Shed???

 7 Dining Tent and Cook House

8 Store House 

3

8

6

5

7

12 

2

1 4

0 50 100 150 200 300

1 Corral

2 Tack Shed???

 7 Dining Tent and Cook House

 8 Store House 

3

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6

5

7

10

12 11

2

1 4

0 50 100 150 200 300

Vogelsang High Sierra Camp

At 10,100 feet, Vogelsang (1940) is the highest High 

Sierra Camp in the park, accessible only by foot or 

on horseback. More than seven miles from Tuolumne 

Meadows Lodge via the Rafferty Creek Trail, Vogelsang 

embodies the essential character of a remote High Sierra 

wilderness retreat. The camp is set at the base of Fletcher 

Peak, near Fletcher Lake, at the end of a windswept, treeless, boulder-strewn plateau. The site is starkly open and 

typical of the subalpine vegetation zone, with alternating rock outcrops and areas of sandy, decomposed granite. 

Tent cabins are scattered along a central main pathway at 

a bend in Fletcher Creek. The dining tent, stonemasonry 

cookhouse, and a variety of small wood-and-metal-clad 

structures are clustered on the gently sloping rock exposure. Severe weather conditions and prolonged use have 

resulted in the need for increased maintenance and, in 

some cases, replacement of utilities.

The core buildings have walls of dry-stacked 

masonry and natural shingles. Log slabs over corrugated 

metal and wood shingles form the roof coverings. These 

natural roof materials allow the structures to be visually 

compatible within their setting. Prefabricated metal 

structures, some painted with warm tones, are less visually compatible, standing as objects apart from the 

landscape. The roof of the central bathhouse–storage 

structure has flat solar collectors and vent pipes at the 

roof ridge. Nearby, a two-level bath structure, standing 

at the edge of the treeline, disturbs the sweeping vista 

of the surrounding basin. In the center of the compound, 

the masonry chimney and weathered cast-iron fire-box 

and door add a rustic charm. 

right Incinerator, Vogelsang 

High Sierra Camp (2007) RF 

far RIGHT Roof detail, Vogelsang 

High Sierra Camp (2007) RF

1 Corral

2 Tack Shed

3 Trail

4 Employee Tent Cabins

5 Bathhouse

6 Composting Toilet

7 Dining Tent and Cookhouse

8 Store House 

9 Guest Tent Cabins

10 Fletcher Creek

11 Fire Ring 

V o g e l sa n g H i g h 

S i err a C a m p
H u t s , C a b i n s + S i e r r a H i g h C a m p s

 215

TOP LEFT Kitchen, dining tent, tent cabins, Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (2007) RF TOP RIGHT Dining tent, Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (2004) RF BOTTOM Kitchen and showerhouse, 

Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (2007) RF 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

216 NPS

to Moraine Dome

to Vogelsang

3

8

9

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5

10

11

2

2

2

1

4

0 40 80 120 160 240

7

Merced Lake High Sierra Camp 

Backed up against a massive north-facing slope, the 

Merced Lake High Sierra Camp (1916) is the most remote 

in the High Sierra Camp loop, being the farthest in distance from the nearest road. A strenuous 12.9 miles from 

Tenaya Lake and 13 miles from Happy Isles, it is accessed 

only by foot or on horseback. Set back from the lake but 

adjacent to the river, Merced Lake Camp offers 19 tent 

cabins arranged in three rows, defining a large central rectangular meadow with neat, cobble-lined pathways. At 

7,200 feet, the lake and dense surrounding mixed-conifer 

forest form a more serene and placid environment than is 

associated with the harsh climatic conditions of the 

higher camps. The cookhouse, dining room, baths, and 

storerooms, along with the log cabin, corral, and barn, 

suggest a ranchlike setting.

Merced Lake High Sierra Camp (date unknown) HJ

1 Comfort Stations

2 Guest Tent Cabins 

3 Fire Ring

4 Comfort Station

5 Bathhouses

6 Ice House

7 Dining Room and Cookhouse

8 High Sierra Camp Trail 

9 Barn

10 Merced River

11 Merced Lake

M e r c e d La k e

H i g h Si err a C a m p

1 Comfort Stations

2 Guest Tents

3 Fire Ring

4 Comfort Station

5 Bath Houses

6 Ice House

 7 Dining Room and Cook House

 8 High Sierra Camp Trail 

 9 Barn

10 Merced River

11 Merced Lake

 7 Dining Room and Cook House

 8 High Sierra Camp Trail 

 9 Barn

10 Merced River

11 Merced Lake

11

0 40 80 120 160 240
H u t s , C a b i n s + S i e r r a H i g h C a m p s

 217

1 Employee Tent Cabin

2 Linen Shed

3 Cook House

4 Dining Room

5 Shower and Toilet House

 6 John Muir Trail

 7 Guest Tent Cabins

 8 Perrenial Stream

 9 Corral

3

8

9

6

5

7

7

2

1

4

0 40 80 120 160 240

1 Employee Tent Cabins

2 Linen Shed

3 Cookhouse

4 Dining Room

5 Shower and Comfort Station

6 John Muir Trail

7 Guest Tent Cabins

8 Perennial Stream

9 Corral

Sunri s e

H i g h Si err a C a m p

Sunrise High Sierra Camp

Sunrise High Sierra Camp (1961) is near the southern 

end of Long Meadow at an elevation of 9,400 feet. It 

sits in a zone of sparse subalpine vegetation just west of 

the John Muir Trail. With only a dozen tent cabins, it 

is among the smallest of the High Sierra Camps, along 

with May Lake and Glen Aulin. A stonemasonry building 

houses the kitchen and pantry functions. Dining takes 

place in a canvas tent. The building and the tent platforms are tucked in an irregular pattern among conifers 

and boulders that surround most of the camp. This was 

a favorite place of Mary Curry Tresidder. “The Sunrise 

Camp,” she wrote, “was a long time dream of mine, as I 

felt that the Sunrise Trail ran through such a beautiful 

region that it should be made more accessible to people” 

(Sargent 1997). A plaque, embedded in granite, explains 

Tresidder’s role in the camp’s founding.

Sunrise High Sierra Camp (date unknown). From Sargent, Yosemite and Its Innkeepers

1 Comfort Stations

2 Guest Tents

3 Fire Ring

4 Comfort Station

5 Bath Houses

6 Ice House

 7 Dining Room and Cook House

 8 High Sierra Camp Trail 

 9 Barn

10 Merced River

11 Merced Lake

 7 Dining Room and Cook House

 8 High Sierra Camp Trail 

 9 Barn

10 Merced River

11 Merced Lake

11

0 40 80 120 160 240
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

218 NPS 1 Employee Tent Cabins

2 Guest Tent Cabins

3 Bath House

4 Dry Storage

5 Stone Cook House

6 Dining Room

7 Fire Ring

8 May Lake 

 6 Dining Room

 7 Fire Ring

 8 May Lake 

 9 High Sierra Camp Trail

10 Corral 

3

8

9

6 5

7

10

10

2

1

4

0 8040 120 160 240

May Lake High Sierra Camp 

One of the smaller camps, May Lake High Sierra Camp 

(1938) is located a short distance north of the end of May 

Lake service road at an elevation of 9,300 feet. Because it 

is only 1.3 miles from the trailhead, it is easily accessible 

to dayhikers. The flanks of Mount Hoffman (elevation 

10,850) loom directly to the west of the camp—an added 

draw for dayhikers. May Lake’s tent cabins are scattered 

in an irregular pattern in an open, subalpine, lodgepole 

pine forest between the east shore of the lake and the 

trail connecting Glen Aulin with Yosemite Valley. Several 

of the tent cabins are located on the lake’s sloping shore, 

a short distance from the water. The stonemasonry 

cookhouse and tent dining structure are at the south end 

of the cluster. A corral is located nearby along the trail 

to the south.

top May Lake and Mount Hoffman (2008) RF Center Dining room tent, May Lake

High Sierra Camp (2008) RF bottom View of May Lake from dining room (2008) RF

1 Employee Tent Cabins

2 Guest Tent Cabins

3 Bathhouse

4 Dry Storage

5 Stone Cookhouse

6 Dining Room

7 Fire Ring

8 May Lake 

9 High Sierra Camp Trail

10 Corral

M AY L A KE H i g h Sie r r a C a m p

to Moraine Dome

to Vogelsang

3

8

9

6

5

10

11

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2

2

1

4

0 40 80 120 160 240

7
H u t s , C a b i n s + S i e r r a H i g h C a m p s

 219

1 Alkali Creek

2 Tuolumne River

3 Corral

4 Tack Shed???

5 Dining Room

6 Bath House

7 Comfort Station 

8 Campfire Ring

9 Guest Tent Cabins 

10 Footbridge

11 High Sierra Camp Trail

 

1

To Tuolumne

Meadow

3

8

9

6

5

7

10

11

11

11

11

2

1

4

0 50 100 150 200 300

1 Alkali Creek

2 Tuolumne River

3 Corral

4 Tack Shed

5 Dining Room

6 Bathhouse

7 Comfort Station 

8 Campfire Ring

9 Guest Tent Cabins

10 Footbridge

11 High Sierra Camp Trail 

1 Alkali Creek

2 Tuolumne River

3 Corral

4 Tack Shed???

5 Dining Room

6 Bath House

7 Comfort Station 

8 Campfire Ring

9 Guest Tent Cabins 

10 Footbridge

11 High Sierra Camp Trail

 

1

To Tuolumne

Meadow

3

8

9

6

5

7

10

11

11

11

11

2

1

4

0 50 100 150 200 300

Guest tent cabins, Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp (2004) RF

Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp

Sited along the banks of the Tuolumne River at the confluence of Alkali Creek, Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp (1927) 

is at an elevation of 7,800 feet. The camp is immediately 

adjacent to the base of the spectacular White Cascade on

the Tuolumne River. It can be reached relatively easily 

by foot and by pack train from Tuolumne Meadows. Tent

cabins, bathhouse, and dining room are all neatly aligned 

in an arc, facing southwest and focused on the juncture of 

Alkali Creek with the Tuolumne River. A corral is sited 

on a gentle slope a short distance from Conness Creek. 

Despite heavy traffic on the Glen Aulin and Pacific Crest 

trails, the rushing water, massive granite slopes, bald sunny

g len a uli n H i g h Sie r r a C a m p
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

220 NPS

shoulders, and ridges interspersed with dark, forested 

ravines make a stay at this camp a special backcountry

experience, both visually and audibly. Glen Aulin also

provides access to a series of cascades and falls along the

Tuolumne River, including the famous Waterwheel Falls.

GUI D E L INES

•	 For new development at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp, 

designers should consult The Secretary of the Interior’s 

Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp falls within the boundaries of the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River corridor. 

Buildings, structures, use policies, preservation/restoration of historic vistas, vegetation, and trails will 

be governed by the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River 

Comprehensive Management Plan.

•	If the replacement of historic structures is necessary, 

maintain their distribution pattern and relation to the 

open space at the junction of the creek and river. 

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for High Sierra Camps” 

in this chapter.

TOP White Cascades on the Tuolumne River at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp (date 

unknown) YRL BOTTOM Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp (2004) RF
c a m p g r o u n d s
Overleaf Camping in Yosemite Valley (1946) YRL-RA

CAMPGROUNDS

S e t t i n g 225

D e v e l o p e d A r e a s 226
 223

(it was) bully! i’ve had the time of my life...just think of where i was last night. 

up there amid the pines and silver firs, in the sierran solitude, and without a tent, 

i passed one of the most pleasant nights of my life. Theodore roosevelt on his experience in 

Yosemite with John M uir • 1903

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

C ampgrounds

Yosemite campgrounds provide visitors with opportunities for a 

more rustic outdoor experience than other types of lodging. These relatively less-expensive accommodations are generally located in quiet, 

forested settings, and some are close to rivers or streams. Campsites in the 

park are among the most popular in the entire national park system, with 

reservations for sites filling up months in advance for the warmer season. 

Many families return year after year to the same campground, perpetuating 

a cherished tradition. The enactment of typical camping activities produces 

fond memories such as learning how to start a wood fire, cooking a meal outdoors, swimming or wading in the nearby river, toasting marshmallows and 

telling stories over the campfire, making new friends with campground neighbors, attending an evening campfire program, and stargazing.

Campsite types can vary from simple walk-in sites for tents to larger, 

pull-through sites that accommodate long recreational vehicles. Campsite 

occupants represent a range of users and might include backpackers sleeping for one night before the start of a long hike, rock climbers using the site 

Tuolumne Meadows Campground (2008) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

224 NPS

National Park Service hired the eminent plant pathologist Emilio P. Meinecke, who had advised on many 

problems in Yosemite and other national parks. He formulated a theory of camp planning and reconstruction 

that has continued to influence the design of picnic 

areas, campgrounds, and waysides in national parks, state 

parks, and forests (McClelland 1997). Among the ideas 

he recommended were “revolutionary changes” such 

as the selection of new campsite locations based on soil 

type, length of seasonal use, type of vegetation, and 

type of camper. One of his important innovations was 

the “garage spur,” an open space for vehicle parking adjacent to the campsite, cleared of vegetation and marked 

by heavy rocks or posts. Neutral zones provided privacy 

between campsites and protected the sites from road 

dust and noise (McClelland 1997). He recommended a 

as a base camp for daily climbs, or an extended family in 

a trailer or motorhome staying in one site for an entire 

week to relax and enjoy a leisurely respite in Yosemite.

Vehicle traffic, parking, and heavy pedestrian use 

in camp areas have resulted in a notable loss of grass and 

shrubs and a ground plane barren of duff, branches, and 

twigs. Parking is allowed at most individual campsites, 

which means that vehicles—both small and large, and 

many with trailers—have access over unpaved ground.

Yosemite’s standard for closely spaced campsites 

was initiated in the 1920s, when planners for Tuolumne 

Meadows decided to concentrate impacts rather than 

allow them to spread over a wider, less manageable area 

(NPS 2007f ). Nevertheless, in the early 1930s, as the 

overall condition of camping areas in public forests 

and parks had deteriorated because of overuse, the 

Lower Pines Campground (2004) RF
 225

C a m p g r o u n d s

system of campsite rotation whereby new grounds were 

opened and older ones closed until affected vegetation 

could recover by natural processes or planting. He also 

assumed that proper campground design involved an 

intensive knowledge of the area to be developed as well 

as detailed planning, pointing out that “no two camping areas are alike. Each has to be planned and arranged 

on its own merits” (McClelland 1997). Meinecke’s ideas 

and recommendations completely changed camping in 

the national parks and influenced the design of the many 

campgrounds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps 

in the 1930s.

Several building types support visitor functions in 

campgrounds. These include entrance kiosks, comfort 

stations, shower houses, and sheds for storage, lockers, 

vending, and other uses. Site elements include a vehicle 

access road, parking areas, pathways, individual campsites, and site equipment such as picnic tables, bear-proof 

food lockers, fire pits, grills, and trash receptacles.

S e t t i n g

Campgrounds in Yosemite Valley provide the basic level 

of overnight accommodation for visitors. These campgrounds are also convenient to scenic landmarks and are 

linked by shuttle bus and walkways to day-use destinations and visitor services. Sites include Lower Pines, 

Upper Pines, and North Pines and its adjacent Backpackers 

Campground. Camp 4 is treated separately in this chapter.

In Yosemite Valley, the Upper, Lower, and North 

Pines campgrounds all lie on the flat, forested Valley floor 

north of Curry Village and Glacier Point. Although there 

are views of some surrounding walls and peaks from 

Upper Pines (e.g., to Half Dome), those from other campgrounds (many of them documented in the past by artists 

and photographers) may be limited or obscured by forest 

vegetation. Portions of Lower and North Pines are within 

the Merced River’s 100-year flood zone, and some parts of 

Upper and Lower Pines were inundated by flood waters in 

1997. Local views to the Merced River from sections of 

the Lower and North Pines campgrounds are very attractive, drawing significant numbers of campers to the water’s 

edge. This has resulted in the damage or elimination of 

substantial reaches of riparian vegetation.

Camp 4 is a historic site listed on the National 

Register of Historic Places for its significant association 

with the growth of rock climbing in Yosemite Valley 

during the golden years of pioneer mountaineering, 

(1947–1970). Campgrounds and base camps at important 

climbing locations provide more than just the provision 

of overnight accommodation. They serve as a vital meeting ground for climbers to train, plan ascents, and share 

information and equipment. Camp 4 provides a place where 

the camaraderie and sense of community that defined the 

early days and history of the mountaineering movement 

carries on into the present (NPS 2001a).

Camp 4 is located at the base of a talus slope on 

the sunny north side of Yosemite Valley near Yosemite 

Falls. Located at the base of Eagle Peak, the site lies on 

young colluvium between the vertical cliffs to the north 

and Northside Drive to the south.

Wawona Campground (2008) GH

Wawona Campground, South 

Fork of the Merced River 

(2010) RF 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

226 NPS

Because of thin soils, 

Camp 4 is only sparsely 

vegetated, and many trees 

are stunted compared to 

those on the rest of the 

Valley floor. To the south, 

one looks out toward a thin 

cover of scattered pines and 

cedars, with some black oak. 

Prominent natural features 

on-site include large talus 

boulders and significant seasonal drainages currently denuded of riparian vegetation. 

Views across the Valley to Sentinel Rock provide a connection to the majesty of the Valley walls.

As a walk-in campground, Camp 4 is different from 

vehicle-accessed sites. Camp 4 campsites have an austere, 

natural setting, and the parking area has visual impact 

when viewed from Northside Drive, Camp 4, and other 

visitor-use areas such as the Valley Loop Trail.

Within and at the north edge of Camp 4, large 

scattered talus blocks and boulders—providing ready 

access for climbers—are evidence of the rockfall hazard. Some of these blocks are associated with the historic 

significance of the site, because they were named and 

used for “bouldering” during the growth of the sport 

of climbing in the United States. These natural features 

have an integral relationship with the site and with the 

climbing community.

Outside Yosemite Valley there are more than 1,000

individual campsites distributed throughout the park 

in 10 variously sized campgrounds. Most are within a 

short distance of one of the park’s main roads and are 

accessible by vehicle or shuttle bus. These campsites 

are a mix of vehicle-accessed and walk-in sites. The largest campgrounds are at Tuolumne Meadows (304 sites), 

Crane Flat (166 sites), Bridalveil Creek (110 sites), 

Hodgdon Meadow (105 sites), and Wawona (93 sites). 

The campsites are at widely varying elevations. The 

lowest is Wawona (4,000 feet), which sits in a mixture 

of riverbank riparian and sparse coniferous vegetation. 

The highest is Tuolumne Meadows (8,600 feet), set 

within a subalpine lodgepole forest at the edge of the 

meadow. The smallest is the Backpackers’ Campground 

(19 sites), overlooking the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, the 

O’Shaughnessy Dam, and the pines and oaks of the rugged 

Tuolumne River Canyon. Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, 

Yosemite Creek, and Porcupine Flat campgrounds range 

from 52 to more than 80 campsites.

De v e l op ed A r e a s

Small buildings and support structures collectively define 

the architectural character of a campground. Entrance 

kiosks, comfort stations, shelters, and other structures 

can share a set of typical features and details, presenting 

a consistent character. They are traditionally designed 

to blend with their surroundings and embody a rustic 

character.

The entrance kiosk is the first building a visitor 

sees upon entering a campground. It serves as a symbolic 

marker, welcoming the visitor. The kiosk also serves as a 

contact point for guests by providing camping and park 

information.

Several comfort stations were constructed in campgrounds in Yosemite during the 1920s and 1930s. These 

are simple, rustic, wood-frame buildings with shakecovered gable roofs. In the Valley these comfort stations 

are the only campground structures that contribute to 

the Yosemite Valley Historic District (NPS 2004i).

Albert Good’s Park and Recreation Structures provides 

relevant historical examples of small buildings such as 

shelters, as well as landscape structures such as picnic 

tables, that may serve as references for campground design 

(Good 1938). It is recommended that new construction 

has a contemporary character that makes use of NPS 

Rustic design principles.

Bedrock milling feature at a campground 

(2008) DV
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The relationship of campground elements to the 

natural setting is a primary factor in establishing a sense 

of place. Special care must be taken when organizing the 

various elements: entrance road, entrance kiosk, parking, 

access roads, campsites, pathways, and common facilities. 

Small buildings, such as entrance kiosks, comfort stations, 

shower houses, shelters, vending machine structures, and 

storage sheds, should be rustic in character. Individual 

campsites should be arranged to provide for both privacy 

and views where possible.

In many Yosemite campgrounds, heavy use has eliminated all but a few fragments of shrub and ground-cover 

vegetation. Considerable damage to bankside riparian vegetation has occurred as well. There is virtually no screening 

vegetation between campsites in many of Yosemite’s 

campgrounds. In some campgrounds, pedestrian zones and 

pathways are largely indistinguishable from vehicle circulation routes.

Desirable conditions within and surrounding the 

campgrounds include: the design and siting of humanmade features so that natural sounds, vegetation, and 

scenery predominate; a hierarchy of roads and trails that 

is easily understood by users and distinguishes those 

areas where the public is allowed to drive and park; the 

concentration of uses within well-delineated campsites 

and pedestrian paths; and visual separation between 

campsites, provided by natural vegetation, topography, 

boulders, etc.GUIDELINES

gui delines

Siting and Building Orientation

•	 Locate and orient buildings, gathering spaces, and 

interpretive points to benefit from views of the park’s 

natural features.

•	 Service/storage facilities, trash bins, and telephone 

booths should be consolidated and located in screened 

areas adjacent to other structures or in integral small 

buildings such as bathhouses and comfort stations. Refer 

to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Small Buildings” 

in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	 At walk-in campgrounds, take advantage of site topography and existing vegetation to provide a natural 

screen from parking areas. If additional screening is 

necessary, plant native vegetation in such a way that 

plantings blend into the surroundings and their overall 

appearance does not appear designed.

Tuolumne Meadows Campground sign (2008) GH Wawona Campground sign (2008) GH
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Comfort Stations

•	Campground comfort stations should be designed to be 

rustic in appearance. 

•	Use NPS Rustic-era comfort stations, located throughout Yosemite’s campgrounds, as inspiration for layout, 

design, and character. The Yosemite Falls comfort 

station is a good contemporary example, designed with 

a rusticated base and side walls of board and batten.

•	Roof coverings for new comfort stations should be 

noncombustible.

•	Design of new structures should ensure that long-term 

maintenance needs are addressed, such as the use of a 

plumbing chase and space for storage of equipment and 

supplies.

Cooking Shelters

•	Cooking shelters should be open, rectangular, timber 

structures, with log columns, roof framing members of 

saw-sized lumber, and low masonry walls.

•	 Light fixtures should be shielded with a sharp cut-off 

to confine the light within the structure. Electrical 

conduit should be concealed in the roof assembly 

to the extent possible. Refer to “Landscape Uses +

Structures—Lighting” in the “Unifying Elements” 

chapter.

•	 Fireplaces should be constructed with masonry facing. 

Grill and sink areas should have concrete countertops 

with masonry sidewalls. The shelter floor should be 

concrete. Concrete colorants should be used to ensure 

that the flooring blends with the natural surroundings.

Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River near Tuolumne Meadows Campground (2008) GH
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Picnic Tables

•	Use stoutly constructed, timber picnic tables that can 

withstand snow loads and are in keeping with classic 

NPS Rustic style.

Vegetation

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Circulation,” 

“Setting—Vegetation,” and “Landscape Uses +

Structures—Barriers, Fences + Benches” in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter.

Campsites

•	Campsites should be located on sites sloping less than 

10%, or where vegetation and soil conditions plus 

foot traffic will not lead to erosion and permanent 

vegetation loss.

•	Campsites near creeks, rivers, or other bodies of water 

need to include design setbacks based on potential 

water-quality impacts. Bioswales and/or oil/water 

separators may be needed to collect and filter runoff 

from roads, spurs, and other developed areas. 

•	Campsite design should take advantage of natural 

topography and other features, such as vegetation, 

to screen campsites from one another. If screening is 

needed, consider using vegetation to ensure privacy 

and visually buffer large RVs and trailers from adjacent 

campsites. Vegetation should be planted, maintained, 

or restored as necessary to provide adequate screening. 

When possible, campgrounds should be screened from 

roads and trails. 

•	Define edges of individual campsites with natural 

materials such as logs and granite boulders. A clear 

definition of use areas helps to reduce uncontrolled 

expansion of the site, reduces soil impacts, and encourages growth of screening vegetation, providing a 

greater sense of privacy between campsites.

•	Use of materials like native vegetation and granite 

boulders should integrate with the surrounding 

natural patterns.

top Detail, comfort station, Tuolumne Meadows Campground (2008) GH 

bottom U.S. Calvary Camp A.E. Wood, which became Wawona Campground (ca. late 

1800s) YRL 
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•	Tent pads should be designed to blend with the natural 

environment in texture and color.

•	New campgrounds should be located on previously 

impacted areas whenever possible.

•	 Establishment of walk-in and/or “tent only” camping areas, separate from RV and car camping areas, is 

appropriate for a more rustic camping experience (in 

lieu of all mixed-use camping).

•	 Bear boxes should be accessible but sited to not dominate 

natural settings, and should be kept out of identified 

view corridors or vistas. Refer to “Landscape Uses 

+ Structures—Small Buildings” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

Left Typical campsite at Tuolumne Meadows Campground (2008) GH Right Typical firepit with grill, Yosemite Creek Campground (2010) GS

Campground Roads

•	New roads in campgrounds (both primary and secondary) should have widths, crowns, and paving similar to 

historic campground roads while allowing for large vehicles (such as RVs) and two-way circulation (designed 

for low-speed travel) where appropriate. See NPS Park 

Road Standards (1984) for guidance.

•	New roads should have a curvilinear alignment 

designed to lay lightly upon the topography, and 

should avoid crossing unstable or steep slopes.

•	Where the control of parking along roads is needed, 

define the road shoulder edge using natural features 

such as partially buried granite boulders or logs to 

discourage parking.
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Overleaf Mariposa Grove Museum and giant sequoias (2011) RF

DAY - USE AREAS

S e t t i n g + D e v e l o p e d A r e a s 233

H a p p y I s l e s 235

L e C o n t e M e m o r i a l L o d g e 239

I n d i a n C u lt u r a l C e n t e r a t w a hh o g a 242

S e q u o i a G r o v e s 244

C h i n q u a p i n 250

B a d g e r P a s s 254

G l a c i e r P o i n t 258

C r a n e F l a t 263

H o d g d o n M e a d o w 267

H e t ch H e t ch y 269

P i c n i c A r e a s 275
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 D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

day-use areas

Day-use areas serve the largest numbers of visitors to Yosemite. During 

peak visitation, the majority (approximately two-thirds) of visitors to 

Yosemite National Park are day users, compared to the approximately 

one-third of visitors staying overnight. These visitors spend the day hiking, 

sightseeing, picnicking, swimming, skiing, and auto-touring—arriving in the 

morning and leaving in the evening. Large numbers of these visitors make 

their way to several popular day-use destinations.

Day use occurs in a variety of places such as scenic viewpoints, picnic 

areas, beaches, sequoia groves, and trailheads. These areas support short-term 

or occasional-visitor use with small buildings and landscape structures such 

as picnic tables, benches, trails, boardwalks, or interpretive wayside exhibits.

The following is a list of day-use areas addressed in this chapter:

Badger Pass Hodgdon Meadow

Chinquapin Indian Cultural Center at Wahhoga

Crane Flat LeConte Memorial Lodge

Glacier Point The Mariposa, Tuolumne, and 

Happy Isles Merced Groves of Giant Sequoias

Hetch Hetchy

S e t t i n g + De v e l op ed A r e a s

Day-use areas are typically located in or near a natural setting such as a 

meadow, riverbank, or scenic view where visitors are tempted to explore 

the immediate surroundings. This can have an impact on vegetation and 

other natural elements where pathways are not provided. In many locations, some form of barrier is needed to define or limit the extent of the 

pathways and activity spaces within the day-use area.

talk of immortality after a whole day in the woods, we are already immortal. 

when is the end of such a day? john muir • 1875

Picnic Areas
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Because day-use areas are often at the edge of 

undeveloped areas, it is particularly important that 

human-made structures blend with the landscape. This 

can be achieved through sensitive site design and by minimizing interventions. Overall consistency of character is 

also desirable.

Many day-use areas provide parking. These parking 

areas are adjacent to main roads and are therefore highly 

visible. In some cases, the parking area is immediately 

adjacent to the point of interest, creating a distraction 

with its expanse of paving and road noise. In others, a 

pathway leads to a more remote location and may help 

establish character for a site.

Facilities such as picnic areas often offer visitors an 

opportunity to enjoy scenic vistas. The specific character 

of the day-use site and the accommodations provided 

affect the visitor’s decision to stop and use the site. Some 

visitors seek picnic sites with conveniently located restrooms and tables, while others prefer a quiet retreat in 

natural surroundings.

Many day-use areas in Yosemite Valley—including picnic areas at Sentinel and Cathedral beaches— 

are on the flat Valley floor, well within the 100-year 

floodplain. Often dominated by conifers, these sites 

are close to meadows that provide views of the Valley 

walls and waterfalls. Other areas—including the base 

of Lower Yosemite Fall or trailheads leading to the 

high country—sit at the edges of the Valley floor, at 

the toe of rockslides or stream depositions. Many of 

these are within the talus and shadow lines. Large boulders, talus blocks, and adjacent Valley walls provide 

evidence of the dynamic geologic processes at work 

in Yosemite Valley. The vegetation mosaic is patchier 

in these areas.

Vernal Fall Yosemite Valley Chapel
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At the Lower Yosemite Fall day-use area, great care 

was taken to design a natural visitor experience around 

features such as the waterfall, large boulders, trees, and 

drainages. The area was designed to separate pedestrians 

from vehicle traffic, disperse visitors throughout the site, 

and provide adequate viewing space at popular areas. 

Special attention was paid to wayfinding, interpretive 

displays, and seating areas.

The character and settings of day-use areas outside 

the Valley vary considerably from site to site, reflecting 

wide-ranging differences in elevation, forest type, and 

topography. Varied experiences include picnicking on 

Tenaya Lake’s broad, sandy beaches, hiking through the 

cool shelter of sequoia groves, or experiencing breathtaking views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley from 

Glacier Point.

g e n eral GU I DEL I N ES

•	Design should ensure minimal impacts to the natural 

setting to the fullest extent possible.

•	Use consistent, rustic-style elements throughout the 

park’s day-use areas to minimize visual impacts and 

unify character.

•	Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for guidelines 

on vegetation, circulation, parking, views, entrance 

markers, small buildings, bridges, culvert crossings, 

boardwalks, retaining walls, grading and drainage, 

benches, fences and screens, barriers, pathways, and 

lighting.

H A P P Y I SLES

Happy Isles is southeast of Curry Village on a braided 

and dynamic portion of the Merced River in an ecologically diverse community. The Nature Center at Happy 

Isles is a kid-friendly facility that features natural 

history exhibits with an emphasis on wildlife, interactive 

displays, and a bookstore. Nearby are short trails focusing on the area’s four different environments: forest, river, 

talus, and fen. There is also substantial evidence of the 

July 1996 rockfall from the Glacier Point cliff far above 

the Nature Center. This catastrophic rockfall caused 

a great air-blast that leveled hundreds of trees and damaged buildings.

Merced River at Happy Isles, Yosemite Valley (2004) GH
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A power station was built by the state of California 

in 1902 in the Happy Isles area. It was removed in 1919, 

the same year that the California Fish and Game Commission installed a fish hatchery. A permanent hatchery 

building and two residences were subsequently built in 

1927. The new hatchery made an important connection 

with the educational work carried out by the National 

Park Service. At that time, the park instituted natureguide, or interpretive, services at Happy Isles.

The hatchery building, built of local rock and 

heavy timber, contained dozens of troughs for hatching 

and rearing trout. A smaller room held four 250-gallon 

aquariums. The structure also held displays explaining 

the fishery program in Yosemite.

In 1956 the state abandoned the hatchery and ceded 

the facilities to the National Park Service. The fish hatchery was converted to the Nature Center at Happy Isles in 

1957. While the building’s use changed substantially, its 

appearance did not, as renovations to the structure were 

primarily to the interior.

The Nature Center at Happy Isles is a contributing 

building within the Yosemite Valley Historic District.

S e t t i n g

Distinct from the Valley floor, Happy Isles is sited in a narrow, geologically and hydrologically active area. Here the 

turbulent Merced River, joined by waters from Illilouette 

Creek, enters the flat Valley floor. It descends noisily and 

rapidly on a sloping plane from the south, bringing rock 

and sand debris and creating deposition areas such as the 

south and north islands—the Happy Isles.

Happy Isles provides one of the best opportunities to observe the dynamic geology of Yosemite Valley. 

Stream deposition provides evidence of periodic flash 

flooding in the area. Downed trees and scree resulted 

from the catastrophic rockfall in 1996. The air blast from 

the rockfall flattened 11 acres of forest in its path. The 

damaged forest, the light-colored scar on the nearby 

granite wall, and the scree cone at its base are evidence 

of the power of the event. The concrete footbridge at 

Happy Isles was damaged by the 1997 flood and was subsequently removed.

The fen, a unique wetland just west of the Nature 

Center (fed by high groundwater from the river), is part 

of the setting. Pines and cedar dominate the forest area 

not damaged by the rockslide. Riparian communities 

exist along the braided channels of the river.

There are three pedestrian routes from the shuttle 

bus stop to the Nature Center: a service road, the primary 

trail, and a paved but deteriorating asphalt trail parallel 

to the river. A variety of paving treatments are used, 

including asphalt, packed decomposed granite, and a 

boardwalk through the fen. The Happy Isles Bridge (the 

road bridge, not to be confused with the former footbridge mentioned above) is a historic structure.

Happy Isles contains one of the park’s major trailheads in Yosemite Valley: the famous 211-mile John Muir 

Trail begins here. Visitors embark from here, both for 

short day hikes to Vernal and Nevada falls and for longer 

treks to Half Dome, Merced Lake High Sierra Camp, and 

other destinations in the park’s extensive wilderness.

De v e l op ed A r e a s

The natural landscape is the primary character-defining 

element at Happy Isles. Structures are disbursed around 

the site and include the 1927 Nature Center, a comfort 

station, a small snack stand, a shuttle bus stop shelter, and 

a system of pedestrian bridges providing access to islands 

set in the rushing river. A historic stream-flow gauging 

station sits on the opposite side of the river from the 

Nature Center. It is the oldest continuously operating U.S. 

Geological Survey station in the western United States.

Trails and walkways run parallel to the river from 

the shuttle bus stop to the Nature Center. At the end of 

i have named them happy isles for no one can visit them without for 

a while forgetting the grinding strife of his world and being happy. 

Walter Dennison, Guardian of Yosemite • October 1885
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a pathway lies the Nature Center, close to the riverbank 

and set against the backdrop of a narrowing canyon.

The former fish hatchery, with its high ceiling 

and masonry walls, provides good adaptable space for 

the exhibition and education functions of the Nature 

Center. The exterior of the building, with a 12:12 roof 

slope, clipped eaves, and rake, is starker in appearance 

than the rustic character of nearby buildings. However, 

the log entry porches give some contrast to this severity. Here, the use of local rock for walls, the warm color 

of the shingle roof, nearby tree massing, and the dynamic 

Merced River all contribute to the success of this facility.

GU I DEL I N ES

•	New designs should be compatible with the architectural character of the historic Nature Center. Scale 

and massing of any new structures should be subservient to the Nature Center. Refer to The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	The layout and design of all structures (buildings, 

bridges, kiosks, pedestrian routes, etc.) need to recognize the location and the structural implications of 

building in this narrow, geologically active, flood-prone 

canyon.

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5 Mist Trail

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10 Shuttle Bus Stop

11 Restrooms

12 North Island

happy isles

Historic stream gauging station and bridge 

abutment, Happy Isles (2004) JM
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top left Happy Isles Nature Center (2004) GH top right Evidence of 1996 rockslide at Happy Isles (2004) GH bottom Happy Isles Nature Center (2004) GH
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•	Trails and walkways should be sufficiently spread-out, 

screened, and aligned to sustain the sense of isolation 

and maintain the visitor’s connection to the landscape.

•	 Pathway paving should reflect the strong backcountry 

character of this area, making use of compacted, 

stabilized, decomposed granite paving where feasible 

and integrated sand-topped asphalt paving where 

necessary. Use boardwalk construction within the fen 

to minimize impacts to natural hydrology.

•	 Because of the backcountry character, lighting should 

be limited to the shuttle stop and the comfort station.

•	New buildings and structures should be designed in 

a way that helps to sustain the sense of isolation at 

Happy Isles.

•	Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for guidelines on vegetation, entrance markers, small buildings, 

bridges, culvert crossings, boardwalks, retaining walls, 

grading and drainage, benches, fences and screens, 

barriers, and lighting.

L e CONTE MEMORIAL LO D G E

LeConte Memorial Lodge was built in 1903 in memory of Joseph LeConte, co-founder of the Sierra Club, 

original member of the University of California faculty, 

and noted geologist. The lodge also served as a historical and scientific museum. Today, LeConte Memorial 

Lodge, the oldest of the Sierra Club lodges, is open to 

the general public, which finds in its quiet atmosphere 

a small mountaineering library, historic and educational 

collections of pictures, and a source of information on 

conservation, the national parks, and the High Sierra. 

At one point in time, LeConte Memorial Lodge was the 

northern terminus of the John Muir Trail (Gill 1967).

The Sierra Club originally constructed the building at the base of Glacier Point, adjacent to Camp Curry. 

About 15 years later, Mary Curry moved the structure, 

at her own expense, so that she could expand her camp 

operation. Gutleben Brothers Construction Company, 

hired to move the building, dismantled the roof and as 

much of the original stonework as they could. The lodge 

was rebuilt according to the original plans on a new site a 

short distance west of its original location. The building 

reopened in 1919.

In 1987 the LeConte 

Memorial Lodge was designated a National Historic 

Landmark. The lodge is 

“a unique building for a 

national park. It is a transitional structure of strong 

European roots combined 

with the revolutionary way 

that Bay Area environmental designers used building 

materials” (NPS 1985). LeConte Memorial Lodge (2004) GH

Traditional wood sign for the John Muir Trailhead, Happy Isles (2004) RF
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S e t t i n g

LeConte Memorial Lodge is located on the cooler, forested side of Yosemite Valley, within the shadow line of 

the steep southern cliffs. The lodge is directly south 

of Housekeeping Camp, across Southside Drive. At the 

northern edge of the talus line and surrounded by large, 

dispersed boulders, the stone building fits well into the 

sloping terrain. The scale and spacing of trees, allowing 

for dappled sunlight, and the lack of substantial understory give the setting the sense of a managed, parklike 

estate. The building’s generous distance from Southside 

Drive and the multiuse path also contributes to the 

serene setting of this memorial structure.

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De v e l op ed A r e a s

LeConte Memorial Lodge is an example of the Tudor 

Revival style of architecture that has been slightly 

modified to make it appear more rustic and thereby 

appropriate to its Valley setting. Built of granite 

masonry with a high timber roof, the building is attributed to John White, brother-in-law and business partner 

of architect Bernard Maybeck.

The timber roof, exposed in the interior, is a structural expression characteristic of many San Francisco 

Bay Area buildings of the period. Extreme verticality 

and multiple members create a rich layering of structure 

that gives the interior space a mood of lofty serenity. 

The tall fireplace, set on the main axis and kept well 

within the central area, dominates the space, allowing 

the chimney to be an important element for the interior.

The Sierra Club currently operates LeConte 

Memorial Lodge as a visitor center, a reference library for 

conservation affairs, and a site for interpretive programs. 

The lodge provides a space that can be used for quiet 

research or the exchange of ideas in a setting evocative 

of rustic character.

Entrance to LeConte Memorial Lodge (2004) GH

LeConte Memorial Lodge with North Dome (2004) GH
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GU I DEL I N ES

•	LeConte Memorial Lodge is a National Historic 

Landmark and contributing resource within the 

Yosemite Valley Historic District. Refer to The 

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of 

Historic Properties for guidance to ensure compatibility.

•	Changes should not significantly alter any historically 

character-defining features of the site or building.

•	Ongoing changes such as forest succession should be 

managed in accordance with park resource guidelines 

for management of the building’s historic setting.

•	 Because the LeConte Memorial Lodge is a freestanding 

building on a relatively undeveloped site, any new 

structures will have a significant impact on the setting. 

New buildings or structures should be located a sufficient distance away from the lodge so that the historical 

relationship between the lodge and the landscape is 

preserved.

IN D IAN CULTURAL CENTER at w ahh o g a

The park’s Indian Cultural Center was being established 

at the time of publication at the site of the last occupied Indian village in Yosemite Valley. The center, west 

of Camp 4, will provide a location for culturally associated Indian people to conduct traditional ceremonies and 

to practice and teach techniques of traditional lifeways. 

Although the center will be open to the public, access 

may be limited during special ceremonies. Some public 

interpretation will occur, but this cultural center will not 

replace the primary educational function of the current 

Indian Village of Ahwahnee at Yosemite Village.

S e t t i n g

The Indian Cultural Center sits at the base of a talus slope 

below Middle Brother Peak on the north side of Yosemite 

Valley. Leidig Meadow is nearby, to the south across 

Northside Drive. Part of the area is within the rockfall 

zone, and several of the center’s important components 

(roundhouse, sweat lodge, and bark houses) will be sited 

in relation to massive boulders (Royston et. al. 2002).

The gently sloping site supports an open forest of 

relatively even-aged pines and cedars that appear to be 

shading out the site’s few remaining California black oak 

trees. Although undergrowth is very limited, there are 

no views to prominent scenic features. A significant 

swale at the east edge of the area, separating it from 

the cluster of search-and-rescue tent cabins in Camp 4, 

suggests significant seasonal drainage. The cluster of 

search-and-rescue tent cabins in Camp 4 is being relocated farther east to provide a wider buffer zone.

East facade of LeConte Memorial Lodge (2004) GH
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De v e l op ed A r e a s

Facilities at the Indian Cultural Center are clustered into 

two groups: traditional village structures and modern 

facilities. The traditional structures, which are being built 

by tribal members, include a large, partly subterranean 

ceremonial roundhouse, a smaller sweat lodge, and approximately 15 cedar bark umachas (conical shelters). Plants 

important for food, basketry, and medicinal uses may be 

grown in the vicinity of the traditional structures. 

Additional facilities will include the Wilson cabin, 

a community center, and three shade structures. The 

Wilson Cabin, formerly the home of Westly and Alice 

Wilson, is the last remaining structure from the original 

Indian village. It is currently located in Yosemite Village 

and is being used as an NPS office. It will be moved back to

the Indian Cultural Center site and adaptively reused. The

community center will be a new structure, with a large 

meeting room for community events. A large kitchen will 

provide a working area for food preparation and scullery 

functions. Extensive bathrooms and dressing rooms will 

serve both for ceremonial functions and for visitors. A 

manager’s office and storage structure will complete the 

building program. Utilities, including water, sewer, propane, unimproved road access, and electrical service, will 

be provided to the site. Screening will be established 

where necessary to visually separate the cultural center 

and Northside Drive, Yosemite Lodge, Camp 4, and the 

Valley Loop Trail. Only limited parking will be available 

at this location.

GU I DEL I N ES

Site Design

•	 Locate new structures on the relatively flat site locations, away from the drainage swale, to minimize the 

amount of grading and ground disturbance.

•	The health and remaining lifespan of oaks in the area 

should be assessed when making site decisions.

•	Utilitarian structures such as trash enclosures and propane tanks, while accessible by service vehicles, should 

be screened from the arrival sequence, the Valley Loop 

Trail, and public gathering areas.

•	Roads within this area should meander, should not 

dominate the space, and should relate to topography, 

trees, and boulders.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Parking” in 

the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

 Landscape Elements

•	Use evergreen scrub oaks to create year-round screens 

of roads and utilitarian structures and to visually separate adjacent areas such as Camp 4.

•	Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for more 

guidelines on vegetation, views, grading, and drainage.

Umachas
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Buildings

•	 Because of the history, association, and close proximity of the Wilson Cabin to the Indian Cultural Center, 

new buildings and structures should be compatible 

with the design and character of that historic building. 

Character-defining features include its roof and rustic 

base/foundation. Refer to “Developed Areas—Building 

Exteriors” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	 Exterior lighting should be minimal and shielded. 

Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” in 

the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

SE Q U O I A GR O V ES

Three distinct sequoia groves are located within the 

park. The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias provided 

one of the earliest motivations for the protection of natural wonders in the Yosemite region. Since the creation 

of the Yosemite Grant in 1864, the Mariposa Grove, 

together with the Merced and Tuolumne Groves, has 

remained among the park’s most popular sites and 

has driven new policies for resource protection.

Local American Indian groups had long been aware 

of the giant trees, and early American explorers made 

passing references to them in the 1830s. The first definitive written account of the Mariposa Grove, however, 

came from prospectors in 1852. Within five years it was 

being promoted as a tourist destination, giving rise to 

fears of overexploitation that led to the grove being 

included in the Yosemite Grant—the federal action to 

preserve the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley. The 

less-accessible Tuolumne Grove was encountered by a 

group of sightseers in 1858, and the Merced Grove came 

to the attention of surveyors laying out the Coulterville 

Road in 1872.

TOP Lucy Telles with basket (1933) YRL BOTTOM Wilson Cabin, proposed for adaptive 

use at Indian Cultural Center
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Early development in the groves was primarily 

limited to roads and the creation of tunnel trees. Between 

1878 and 1895, tour promoters had fire scars enlarged in 

the Dead Giant of the Tuolumne Grove and the Wawona 

and California trees in the Mariposa Grove to create 

stagecoach-sized tunnels as novelties for visitors. The 

Old Coulterville Road was specifically routed through 

the Merced Grove to take advantage of the scenery, leading to the establishment of a ranger/patrol cabin in 1915, 

which was replaced by the current building in 1934.

The Mariposa Grove’s proximity to the Wawona 

Hotel made it the focus for both development and protection. Galen Clark, the first guardian of the Yosemite 

Grant, built a small cabin in the grove by 1864, which 

the state of California either modified or replaced in 

1881. After visiting the Mariposa Grove with John Muir, 

President Theodore Roosevelt wrote, “We lay in the 

open, the enormous cinnamon-colored trunks rising above 

us like columns of a vaster and more beautiful cathedral 

than was ever conceived by any human architect” 

(Fox 1986). The small cabin, in turn, was replaced by 

the present Mariposa Grove Museum in 1930, with the 

nearby comfort station added in 1931. In 1932 the park 

completed Wawona Point, a scenic overlook above the 

grove. Additional work in 1932 produced the Big Trees 

Lodge, a 12-room hotel in the upper grove designed by 

Eldridge T. Spencer. This replaced an earlier tent cabin 

complex that featured a cafeteria built around the base 

of the Montana Tree. The Big Trees Lodge closed in 

1972 and was ultimately demolished. 

As early as 1911 it was apparent that visitor traffic 

posed a threat to the health of the giant sequoias. At various times roads were relocated away from the trees, but 

studies showed that vehicles still caused excessive soil 

compaction. Soil compaction is an issue because Sequoia 

have a shallow root system that can spread to an acre. As 

a result, the present tram system was introduced at the 

Mariposa Grove in 1970, and the Merced and Tuolumne 

Groves are open to pedestrian use only. Efforts continue 

to further reduce human impacts by concentrating visitor 

facilities on the periphery.

Museum and historic log comfort station, Mariposa Grove (2007) GH

Ranger station, Merced Grove (date unknown) YRL
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nect this area to the upper grove, where visitors find 

a self-guided nature trail, historic museum, and comfort 

station. The road extends to Wawona Point but is closed 

to private vehicles except for those displaying NPS disabled placards following the tram. Several pedestrian 

pathways to many famous, named giant sequoias crisscross the slopes and connect to trails leading to the more 

distant Wawona and Mount Raymond areas.

Because of its distance from the lower-grove parking 

area, the upper grove is quieter, except for the occasional 

noise associated with the tram. Attentive visitors can 

hear the whispering branches as breezes blow through 

the exceptionally tall conifers. They can also hear birdsong, including that of owls whose call, according to one 

version, inspired the American Indian name for Wawona.

In 1863 Frederick Law Olmsted visited the Mariposa 

Grove. The immense sequoias seemed like “distinguished 

strangers” that “have come down to us from another 

world,” he wrote his wife, who was preparing to join him 

in California. His fascination with the Yosemite region 

had begun. “One or two annual trips to it,” he told her, 

“are the highest gratifications peculiar to the country 

that you have to look forward to” (Olmsted 1865).

S e t t i n g

The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias 

The giant sequoias of the well-known and popular 

Mariposa Grove near the southernmost boundary of the 

park are distributed over a wide area, between 6,000 feet 

and 6,500 feet in elevation. A west-facing slope divides 

the area into upper and lower groves. The upper grove lies 

in a gentle, broad bowl and the lower grove is in a smaller, 

somewhat more linear depression. In spite of a limited 

understory of pines and fir, the giant sequoias are the 

overwhelmingly dominant landscape feature. Their massive, deeply furrowed, cinnamon-colored trunks contrast 

with the dull grey trunks of intermixed pine and fir. Wet 

soils, seepages, and seasonal drainages through the center 

of each bowl are the reasons for the survival of the grove 

at this location. These water sources also support small, 

grassy wetlands that provide bright-green color-contrast 

in pockets of sun (Thomas 1991).

At the lower grove, visitors arrive at a large 

parking area with multiple vault toilets, a cluster of 

photovoltaic panels, a snack shop, and several footpaths 

or tram options. A paved tram route and footpaths conLEFT Chimney detail, Mariposa Grove Museum (2008) DV middle Mariposa Grove Museum (2007) GH Right Mariposa Grove and Museum (2004) RF

Detail, Mariposa Grove 

Museum (2011) RF
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96% of Schaible original

 1 Area Trails

 2 Wawona Point

 3 Loop Road

 4 Museum

 5 Grizzly Giant

 6 Grizzly Giant Parking and Toilet

 7 Parking Area 

 8 Vault toilets

 9 Gift Shop 

10 Fallen Monarch 

 

11 Bachelor and Three Graces

12 Faithful Couple 

13 Clothespin Tree

14 Mariposa Tree

15 Columbia Tree

16 Telescope Tree

17 Galen Clark Tree

18 Historic Log Comfort Station

19 Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree

1

17

19 

18 

15

3

4

14

16

1

1

5

6

7

8

9

11 

12

13

10 

2

Wawona

Point View

to South Entrance

500 1,000 1,500 2,000 3,000

96% of Schaible original

 1 Area Trails

 2 Wawona Point

 3 Loop Road

 4 Museum

 5 Grizzly Giant

 6 Grizzly Giant Parking and Toilet

 7 Parking Area 

 8 Vault toilets

 9 Gift Shop 

10 Fallen Monarch 

 

11 Bachelor and Three Graces

12 Faithful Couple 

13 Clothespin Tree

14 Mariposa Tree

15 Columbia Tree

16 Telescope Tree

17 Galen Clark Tree

18 Historic Log Comfort Station

19 Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree

1

17

19 

18 

15

3

4

14

16

1

1

5

6

7

8

9

11 

12

13

10 

2

Wawona

Point View

to South Entrance

500 1,000 1,500 2,000 3,000

MARIPOSA GRO V E

1 Trails

2 Wawona Point

3 Loop Road

4 Museum

5 Grizzly Giant

6 Grizzly Giant Parking and Toilet

7 Parking Area 

8 Vault Toilets

9 Gift Shop 

10 Fallen Monarch 

11 Bachelor and Three Graces

12 Clothespin Tree 

13 Faithful Couple 

14 Mariposa Tree

15 Columbia Tree

16 Telescope Tree

17 Galen Clark Tree

18 Historic Log Comfort Station

19 Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree

Giant sequoia 

(Sequoiadendron giganteum)

Historic log comfort station, Mariposa Grove (2007) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

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logged in the early 20th century and has fewer trees than 

the forest surrounding the Tuolumne Grove. The spacing of the sequoias, the surrounding conifers, and the 

contrasting patterns of shade and sun are similar to that 

of the Mariposa Grove. Trail connections in the Merced 

Grove lead south to the Stanislaus National Forest. The 

Merced Grove Ranger Station, built in 1934, is listed on 

the National Register of Historic Places.

GU I DEL I N ES

•	New buildings in the vicinity should be compatible 

with the Rustic style, consistent with guidance in The 

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of 

Historic Properties. 

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Small 

Buildings” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	 Ensure clarity of wayfinding by providing a hierarchy 

of circulation and an adequate amount of trail delineation that relates to the design character at the grove. 

Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for further 

guidance on circulation. 

•	Any new design in the Mariposa Grove should be sited 

away from the core of historic trees in both the lower 

and upper groves.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Masonry 

Structures” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	Design for new uses within all of the sequoia groves 

should consider protection of the subtle natural 

acoustical environment.

•	 Split-timber, double-post and zigzag barriers are the 

standard within the grove for directing pedestrian 

traffic and protecting sensitive soils, vegetation, and 

wetlands. Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—

Barriers, Fences, and Benches” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

The Tuolumne and Merced Groves 

of Giant Sequoias

Because they are near the northern limits of the range for 

giant sequoias, the trees of the Tuolumne and Merced 

Groves are relatively small compared to trees in the 

Mariposa Grove. Both are far from busy roads, and neither 

grove is open to unofficial vehicles or trams. This makes 

the natural range of forest sounds a valuable addition to 

the historic, visual, and educational values afforded those 

willing and able to reach these groves on foot. Neither is 

very developed—there are no significant manmade structures in the Tuolumne Grove, for example—which 

significantly enhances the sense of remoteness.

The entrance to the Tuolumne Grove, with its 

large parking area, is adjacent to Tioga Road at an elevation of 6,200 feet. At the head of the trail leading to the 

grove is an educational interpretive exhibit and a comfort 

station. A CCC-era ranger station is located nearby. The 

grove is accessed by a tree-shaded, one-mile downhill 

walk along the historic Old Big Oak Flat Road through 

an extensive old-growth forest. Trail connections in the 

grove provide access to the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station 

and Hodgdon Meadow.

The Merced Grove, 

at 5,300 feet, is two miles 

from the Big Oak Flat Road. 

In comparison with the 

Tuolumne Grove, this grove 

provides a greater sense of 

solitude and remoteness, 

where the sequoias “convey the silent majesty that 

has characterized them for 

thousands of years” (Medley 

2002). The 20-acre area surGiant sequoia (2008) DV rounding the grove was 

Mariposa Grove in 

winter (2008) RF
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•	 Signs and associated structures should be uniform 

throughout the giant sequoia groves, and should blend 

with the surrounding landscape. Refer to “Landscape 

Uses + Structures—Sign Character” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

•	Grading, runoff diversion, and impervious pavements 

in the vicinity of the sequoia groves should be minimized to prevent concentrations of surface runoff. 

Natural hydrology should be restored where feasible. 

Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Grading and 

Drainage” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

top left Ranger station, Merced Grove (date unknown) YRL right Tuolumne Grove, Dead Giant (2011) ML bottom LEFT Sequoia cone on forest floor (2008) DV 

•	 Protect the shallow root zone in the groves by minimizing disruption to the greatest extent possible.

•	The colors of painted or stained structures and signs 

should be compatible with, but not mimic, the ambient color of the natural grove landscape, dominated as 

it is by the cinnamon-colored trunks of the sequoias. 

Complementary earth tones of a darker hue such as 

Wosky brown should be considered. 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

250 NP S

also included details of road construction, curbing, 

walkways, and a complete vegetation scheme for landscape naturalization. Together with erosion control 

work directed by ecologist Frederic E. Clements of the 

Carnegie Institution, this project made the Wawona 

Road the most closely studied development in the park 

system to that point (McClelland 1998).

The use of frame structures with white-painted 

lap siding represented a deliberate and unique departure from the NPS Rustic style of architecture. Rather 

than following the Rustic ethic of blending with the 

natural landscape, the development was meant to blend 

with Yosemite’s historic past. The park had acquired 

the Wawona basin and its historic hotel in 1932, one year 

before work was completed at Chinquapin. 

CHIN Q UA P IN

Chinquapin, at the intersection of the Wawona and 

Glacier Point roads, is an example of NPS design projects 

constructed during the New Deal era of the 1930s that 

coordinated road construction, building construction, 

and landscape architecture. The Chinquapin Historic 

District was determined eligible for listing on the 

National Register of Historic Places in 2004. Park 

officials had decided to place an administrative unit at 

the intersection—previously a stage stop on the Old 

Wawona Road—to address increasing visitor traffic in 

the area. Plans called for a ranger station, comfort station, and a gas station with refreshment stand, all built 

in a style that would echo buildings in both Yosemite 

Valley and the Wawona area. The comprehensive design 

1 Barn

2 Garage

3 Pump House

4 Historic Ranger Station

5 Gas and Oil House

6 Wawona Road

7 Gas Station/Cafe (Razed) 

 8 Staging and NPS Parking Area

 9 Glacier Point Road

10 Water Tank Building

11 Water Tank

12 Historic Comfort Station

13 Visitor Parking Area

to Glacier Point

to Yosemite 

Valley

to Wawona

9

6

3

4

5

6

8

7

2 1

10

11

0 50 100 150 200 300

1 Barn

2 Garage

3 Pump House

4 Historic Ranger Station

5 Gas and Oil House

6 Wawona Road

7 Gas Station/Cafe (Razed) 

 8 Staging and NPS Parking Area

 9 Glacier Point Road

10 Water Tank Building

11 Water Tank

12 Historic Comfort Station

13 Visitor Parking Area

103% of Schaible original

to Glacier Point

emite 

ley

to Wawona

9

0 50 100 150 200 300

C hinquapin

1 Barn

2 Garage

3 Pump House

4 Ranger Residence

5 Gas and Oil House

6 Wawona Road

7 Gas Station/Lunchroom (Razed)

8 Staging and NPS Parking Area

9 Glacier Point Road

10 Comfort Station

11 Visitor Parking Area

Comfort station, Chinquapin (2008) GH 

unlike most practitioners today, [architects] had a good fund of 

general culture, and were broadly educated in literature and 

history as well as the arts. they created buildings carefully. scale 

and proportion, massing and texture, symbolic form and nobility 

all were ingredients of their work. temko 1987
d a y - u s e a r e a s

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The former ranger station has been converted 

into park employee housing, restricting visitor 

use at Chinquapin to just 

the comfort station. In 

2009–2010, the Glacier 

Point Road and Wawona 

Road rehabilitation projects altered portions of 

the intersection alignment 

and turnouts. Stone-faced guard walls and granite curbing were installed, and the water fountain and comfort 

station were rehabilitated. 

The wood-framed Wawona Hotel, a relatively short 

drive away from Chinquapin, represented a style of architecture common in 19th century California. This building 

style recalled a more adventurous era of travel at the park. 

By adapting this style to contemporary uses, NPS designers hoped to emphasize the cultural link between the 

oldest and newest sections of Yosemite, while providing 

visitors with needed services along the way (NPS 1991b).

Changes to Chinquapin since 1933 have eliminated 

much of the visual cohesiveness that once distinguished 

the intersection. The most notable changes have been 

the demolition of the gas station and lunchroom due to 

a leaking fuel tank, together with the associated traffic 

islands that defined the northern end of the complex. 

Verandahs, Wawona Hotel Complex 

(2009) GH

Chinquapin intersection at Wawona and Glacier Point Roads (lunchroom and gas station in foreground, since removed, ranger residence in background) (date unknown) YRL
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

252 NP S

Wawona and Yosemite Valley. It sits at the alignment of 

the historic wagon road. The complex originally included 

a plaza surrounded by landscaped areas connecting the 

Glacier Point and Wawona roads.

De v e l op ed A r e a s

The simple, white-painted frame buildings with gable 

roofs, verandahs, and bevel siding are typical of the 

architectural style of many buildings in 19th century 

California, particularly hotel structures. The white 

cottage form had its origins in the East, but locally 

became a generic form with regional variations.

The significance of this complex was noted by 

Allan Temko, San Francisco Chronicle architecture 

critic, who in 1987 stated that the two gas stations 

at Yosemite (one in Yosemite Valley, the other at 

Chinquapin) prepared in the office of Eldridge T. 

Spencer reveal the “forward movement”: a period when 

designers had more freedom to be imaginative when 

confronted by perplexing architectural problems. The 

buildings at Chinquapin, Temko said, are important 

because they were executed at a time when architects 

S e t t i n g

Chinquapin is at the intersection of the Wawona and 

Glacier Point Roads at an elevation of 6,040 feet. It is 

surrounded by a landscape of dense, mixed-conifer 

forest. Against this background of dark green, the palegreen leaf masses of bush chinquapin, after which the 

site is named, stand out in nearby open areas. The white 

ranger station, garage, and comfort station provide a 

bright contrast to the dark conifer background.

A broad curving swath of roadway paving at the 

center of the district accommodates winter chain-up 

activities. The geometry of the intersection—the sweeping curve of the Wawona Road and the beginning curve 

of the Glacier Point Road—is notable. The latter road 

wraps around the back, uphill side of the former gas 

station site. The visual cohesiveness of the original 

intersection of interlocking curves, reinforced and 

triangulated by three pristine white buildings of the 

same architectural vocabulary, should serve as a model 

for future improvements to this historic property.

The site has always been an important wayside 

rest area for visitors traveling the long route between 

Chinquapin ranger residence (date unknown) YRL Santa Cruz residence ca. 1928. Designed by William Wurster (2008) GH 

Chinquapin

(Chrysolepis sempervirens)
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topography. Use color that will allow the structures to 

blend and recede with their setting. Reserve white only 

for the original structures at the intersection. 

•	New buildings should not be located in front of the 

comfort and ranger stations to maintain the historically 

open character of this area.

•	 Pathways and parking areas 

should be designed to prevent 

encroachment on vegetation. 

Refer to “Landscape Uses +

Structures—Barriers, Fences 

+ Benches” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

•	 Locate trash, recycle bins, 

and bear boxes so they do not 

impact views from roads or 

public/residential areas.

could still practice their “high calling” and were not 

yet “reduced to servitude to fast-buck promoters and 

prepackaged structures.”

During the same period, other examples of this style 

were designed by William Wurster in California during 

the first half of the 1930s. The architectural idiom that 

evolved was unostentatious in style; simple in construction technique, color (white), and materials; respondent 

to climate; ideally suited to California living; and reflective of client taste (Treib 1996).

The principal building at the Chinquapin intersection is the ranger residence, on the west side of Wawona 

Road. Facing the road is a generous porch that runs the 

full length of the structure. Its essential character is 

defined by the roof shape, white-painted bevel siding, 

and masonry foundation. To the rear on a gentle downslope is the garage, whose simple plan shape forms a 

service yard with the ranger station. This site plan screens 

the maintenance activity from the road and from motorists at the intersection.

Across the road to the east stands the comfort 

station. Set into the hillside, it is of the same construction and finish as the ranger station. A handsome dressed 

stone wall retains the slope to allow for end entrances 

into the building. A small plaza in front of the comfort 

station contains a rustic cobblestone drinking fountain. 

GU I DEL I N ES

•	New design should consider the character of the original buildings at this important intersection and would 

need to meet compatibility guidelines in The Secretary 

of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic 

Properties. 

•	If new structures are added to the site, they should be 

inconspicuously located well back from the intersection behind mature trees and should take advantage of 

Comfort station, Chinquapin 

(2008) GH 

Comfort station, Chinquapin (2007) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

254 NP S

1 Glacier Point Road

2 Badger Pass Road

3 Parking Loop

4 Maintenance Garage

5 Historic Ranger Station

6 Badger Pass Ski Lodge

7 Monroe Meadow

 8 Bruin Ski Lift

 9 Badger Ski Lift

10 Eagle Ski Lift

11 Red Fox Ski Lift

12 Turtle Rope Tow

13 Cross Country Ski Rental

93% of Schaible original

to Glacier Point

Old Glacier 

Point Road to Chinquapin

9

3

3

4

5

6

8

7

2

1

12

13

10

11

0 250 500 750 1000 1500

1 Glacier Point Road

2 Badger Pass Road

3 Parking Loop

4 Maintenance Garage

5 Historic Ranger Station

6 Badger Pass Ski Lodge

7 Monroe Meadow

 8 Bruin Ski Lift

 9 Badger Ski Lift

10 Eagle Ski Lift

11 Red Fox Ski Lift

12 Turtle Rope Tow

13 Cross Country Ski Rental

93% of Schaible original

to Glacier Point

to Chinquapin

9

3

3

4

5

6

8

7

2

1

12

13

10

11

400 800 1200 1600 2400

0 250 500 750 1000 1500

ot use

BA D G ER P ASS

The Badger Pass ski area was developed largely at the 

instigation of Donald Tresidder, president of the 

Yosemite Park and Curry Company. In cooperation with 

NPS managers, Tresidder sought to develop winter 

sports in Yosemite in hopes of making the park more of 

a year-round destination. Early efforts had focused on 

sites in and around Yosemite Valley, including the glacial 

medial moraine between the Merced River and Tenaya 

Creek. After the completion of the Wawona Road and 

tunnel in 1933, skiers increasingly made use of better 

slopes near Chinquapin and especially at Badger Pass, 

known earlier as Monroe Meadows (NPS 1987b).

The park and the concessioner responded to visitor demand. The lodge, or Badger Pass Ski Lodge, was 

designed in a Tyrol style by San Francisco architect 

Eldridge T. Spencer. It opened in the middle of the 1935

season to immediate success. Among the growing ranks 

of skiers was Walt Disney, who saw enough potential in 

Badger Pass Lodge and “Queen Mary” sledge

Badger pass

1 Glacier Point Road

2 Badger Pass Road

3 Parking Loop

4 Maintenance Garage

5 Historic Ranger Station

6 Badger Pass Ski Lodge

7 Monroe Meadow

8 Bruin Ski Lift

9 Badger Ski Lift

10 Eagle Ski Lift

11 Red Fox Ski Lift

12 Turtle Rope Tow

13 Cross Country Ski Rental
d a y - u s e a r e a s

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the sport to help establish a new resort—Sugar Bowl—

near Lake Tahoe in 1938 (McHugh 2003). During this 

same period the Civilian Conservation Corps built several ranger cabins at Badger Pass for winter use. The ski 

lodge was significantly expanded in 1954 with a large, 

modernistic extension that housed ski rentals, repair 

facilities, and employee quarters. Since then, modest 

additions have occurred.

Badger Pass (determined eligible for listing on the 

National Register of Historic Places in 2009) is one of the 

first downhill ski areas in the West, and it was the first to 

be developed within a national park. Because of its small 

scale and proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area, Badger 

Pass has become a largely family-oriented resort. Increasing 

winter visitation to the park has ensured its popularity.

S e t t i n g

The gently sloping bowl and wetland meadow of the 

Badger Pass ski area sit at an elevation of approximately 

7,400 feet. Upper montane coniferous trees—red fir, 

lodgepole and western white pine, western juniper, and 

quaking aspen—form a deep green belt surrounding and 

interspersed with the ski runs. The soils are relatively 

deep, as evidenced by their dark color, the consistent vegetated cover, and the lack of major rock clusters or ridges. 

The Clark Range and Quartzite Peak can be seen from the 

top of Eagle Run—the highest point at the ski area.

The lodge and the ranger station sit at the north 

edge of the meadow. The meadow’s grassy wetland 

Badger Pass Lodge (2008) GH

View from parking area, 

Badger Pass Lodge (date 

unknown) YRL
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

256 NP S

and saturated soils abut the south-facing lodge deck, 

although the meadow is obscured and protected from 

skiers by winter snows.

After pulling off Glacier Point Road, drivers turn 

north of the lodge where parking is accommodated in a 

series of large terraces. Between this parking area and 

the lodge entrance is a broad, undefined, paved area used 

for service, drop-off, and parking. This paved area is on 

the historic alignment of the Glacier Point Wagon Road, 

reconstructed from a saddle trail by the Washburn family 

in 1882 (NPS 2007a). 

De v e l op ed A r e a s

In the early 1930s the National Park Service approved 

Eldridge T. Spencer’s plans for the Badger Pass Ski 

Lodge, noting that the project was “not overly injurious 

to the scenic values of the area” (ARG 1995). Spencer 

and his wife, Jeanette Dyer Spencer, were active in the 

design of many Yosemite buildings, including the “new” 

cafeteria and dining room at Camp Curry (1928–29), 

Yosemite Lodge (1956), Big Trees Lodge in Mariposa 

top left South elevation, Badger Pass Lodge; from Park and Recreation Structures (1938) top right South facade before addition, ranger station, Badger Pass (date unknown) YRL 

bottom left Early photograph of Badger Pass Lodge with bark roof and wall treatment (date unknown) YRL bottom right Badger Pass Lodge (2009) RF
d a y - u s e a r e a s

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Grove (since removed), the cottages at The Ahwahnee, 

and Housekeeping Camp in the Valley. Jeanette Spencer 

also designed the leaded glass windows in the lounge at 

The Ahwahnee. The Badger Pass Ski Lodge was dedicated in January 1936.

Badger Pass Ski Lodge derives much of its character 

from the ridgeline of the roof, which is placed off-center 

of the axis of the main facade. The long roof-slope to the 

east, with a pitch of 4:12, ties the structure down to the 

ground and lends a strong sense of shelter. This alpine 

motif has roots in the Austrian Tyrol. It establishes a 

strong character for the lodge and, perhaps more importantly, provides a snow-free assembly area on the south 

side of the building, where guests may bask in the sun in 

full view of the ski slopes. 

The original structure was clad in a unique pattern 

of log planks with bark, recalling early Rustic buildings 

in the Valley. Rustic in appearance, this treatment was 

used not only for the sidewalls but also for the roof. The 

same treatment can be found at Vogelsang High Sierra 

Camp. The unique roof was eventually replaced with 

asphalt shingles. 

Much of the original interior of the lodge was finished with knotty sugar-pine paneling. The ceiling of the 

lounge retains elements of the structural truss system 

for the roof. The fireplace has been removed. The handsome cast-iron bas-relief of skiers now resides on the 

lounge fireplace at the Yosemite Lodge in the Valley. 

Spencer endowed the lodge with a special and 

appropriate architectural character. Over the years this 

character has all but disappeared as a result of many 

awkward alterations to its original form. Every effort 

should be taken to restore the character-defining 

elements of the original building.

GU I DEL I N ES

•	 For new development at Badger Pass, designers 

should consult The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards 

for the Treatment of Historic Properties for guidance on 

compatibility.

•	Refer to the Badger Pass Historic Structures Report and 

the Badger Pass Cultural Landscape Report (NPS 2010a) 

for treatment recommendations concerning buildings 

and the setting.

•	The design of small-scale landscape features such as 

barriers, fences, bear boxes, trash containers, lighting fixtures, etc., should be based on and integrated 

with the design of the historic ski lodge. Refer to 

“Landscape Uses + Structures—Small Buildings” in 

the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

Detail of wood carving by Robert 

Boardman Howard, originally on Badger 

Pass Lodge, south facade (see lodge 

photo on p. 256); from Park and 

Recreation Structures (1938)

Fireplace treatment with bas-relief, since removed, lounge, Badger Pass Lodge; 

from Park and Recreation Structures (1938) 
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G LACIER P OINT

Glacier Point is one of Yosemite’s iconic destinations, and 

it was a focal point of early park development. Visitors 

originally had to approach it from above the Valley, until 

local entrepreneur James McCauley commissioned John 

Conway in 1871 to build the Four-Mile Trail from the 

floor of Yosemite Valley. Shortly after the trail was completed, McCauley, either by design or by accident, created 

the first firefall—a spectacular cascade of glowing embers 

pushed over the edge of the cliff to entertain visitors in 

the Valley below. The memory of the firefall remains 

linked with Glacier Point long after the National Park 

Service discontinued the practice in 1968.

McCauley charged a toll for the use of his trail, and 

he eventually concluded he could increase his business by 

providing food and lodging at the upper end. The Glacier 

Point Mountain House (1878) was a modest, wood-framed 

hotel that made up for its lack of size by offering expansive views of Half Dome and Little Yosemite Valley. 

Direct road access became possible after John Conway 

built a stage route from Chinquapin Station in 1882, the 

same year the state of California purchased the Four-Mile 

Trail and eliminated the toll.

Ever-increasing visitation at Glacier Point prompted 

park managers to authorize the construction of a new 

hotel by the Desmond Park Service Company. Opened in 

Pohono Trail 

to the 

Wawona 

Tunnel

to Chinquapin

Panorama Trail 

to Yosemite Valley

Four-Mile Trail

to Yosemite Valley

6

3

4

5

8

7

2

1

1

0 80 160 240 320 480

1 Glacier Point Parking Area

2 Glacier Point Road

3 Glacier Point Comfort Station

4 Four Mile Trail 

 5 Glacier Point Gift Shop

 6 Amphitheater

 7 Geology Lookout 

 8 Yosemite Valley Overlook

66% of Schaible original

Panorama Trail 

to Yosemite Valley

Four-Mile Trail

to Yosemite Valley

6

3

4

5

8

7

0 80 160 240 320 480

G lacier P oin t

1 Parking Area

2 Glacier Point Road

3 Comfort Station

4 Four-Mile Trail 

5 Gift Shop

6 Amphitheater

7 Geology Hut 

8 Yosemite Valley Overlook
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TOP left Overlook, Glacier Point (2004) RF TOP Right Geology Hut, Glacier Point (date unknown) BOTTOM Left Arrival, Glacier Point (2004) RF 

Bottom Right Glacier Point Hotel, since destroyed; from Yosemite’s Yesterdays, by Hank Johnston (1878) 

1917, the Glacier Point Hotel was an elaborate, shinglecovered building featuring a long verandah facing east 

toward Half Dome. The Mountain House was remodeled 

to serve as the hotel’s cafeteria. A stable was maintained 

for guest use, and there was also a small campground 

south of the complex.

The views available from Glacier Point made it a 

natural point of interest when the National Park Service 

began to develop an organized interpretive program. The 

first trailside museum (referred to as the Geology Hut) 

was created under this effort. This lookout was designed 

in 1924 by architect Herbert Maier and NPS chief naturalist Ansel Hall, and was sited on a prominent granite 

high-point with stunning views toward Half Dome, Little 

Yosemite Valley, and Tenaya Canyon. The rustic granite 

structure appeared to have grown out of the surrounding 

rock, and it provided a location for ranger–naturalists 

to explain the park’s geology. Construction in the subsequent decade added comfort stations, an expanded 

parking lot, and two ranger cabins that were designed 

to be easily relocated if needed.

In 1968 fire destroyed the entire Glacier Point Hotel 

complex. The hotel was not rebuilt but was replaced by 

temporary concession buildings and a comfort station. 

In 1997 the Glacier Point complex underwent redesign. 

The temporary buildings were replaced by permanent 

buildings, an outdoor amphitheater was constructed, 

new viewing areas were added, and the site underwent 

extensive ecological restoration. The area now largely 

represents a contemporary interpretation of traditional 

Rustic design principles.
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260 NP S

S e t t i n g

Glacier Point, at an elevation of 7,214 feet, is one of the 

most spectacular overlooks in the park and one of the 

most frequently visited. The Glacier Point Road from 

Chinquapin winds for 15.5 miles through red fir forest 

and then breaks into a vast open and stunning view 

of Yosemite Valley and the Sierra crest. The Pohono, 

Panorama, and Four-Mile trails converge on this point. 

The developed area is strung along a rim of cliffs 

3,200 feet above Yosemite Valley and is configured in 

two loops. The southern loop is devoted largely to a twolevel parking area divided by a stone-clad retaining wall. 

In a partially forested setting of red fir, it accommodates 

close to 200 private autos and at least five buses. The 

northern loop is dedicated to pedestrian use. Trails and 

stairs wind through huge boulders and granite shoulders 

to breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley over the 

edge of the granite walls. The viewing areas are welldistributed in a linear fashion, accommodating substantial numbers of people at one time. 

Located prominently along a trail, the Geology 

Hut is nested atop a rounded granite outcrop. The small 

stone structure, with battered walls of rough-dressed 

granite and approach steps carved into the granite slope, 

is a fine example of the skillful blending of handcrafted 

masonry with the natural setting. The materials were 

most likely found or quarried in the immediate vicinity 

(NPS 1976b). It is one of the best sites in the park for a 

self-guided introduction to the impressive geology and 

geomorphology of Yosemite Valley. The amphitheater, 

composed of granite blocks, serves a variety of more 

passive uses when not in use for ranger talks, including resting, picnicking, and scenery viewing, all possible 

because it is set back from the active viewing areas at the 

rim. Structures such as the gift shop and restroom buildings are set sufficiently back from the rim’s edge so that 

they are hidden from lower trails and the Valley.

Low-pierced post timber rails define some pathways, 

while galvanized and elaborate pre-rusted steel handrails 

flank modern concrete stairways. In some places adjacent 

to the Geology Hut and elsewhere, simple CCC-era iron 

handrails, sagging at some points from decades of heavy 

winters, have been polished to a satin sheen by thousands 

of hands over the years. Heavy pedestrian use requires 

clear delineation of boundaries to ensure the survival of 

understory vegetation. The style of small-scale landscape 

features varies throughout the site.

Portion of Bedrock Geology Map of Yosemite Valley,1949 USGS
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GU I DEL I N ES

•	Any redesign of the pedestrian circulation and viewing 

areas at Glacier Point should encourage an even distribution of visitors. 

•	New stonemasonry projects should specify stone that 

matches as closely as possible the color and grain of 

boulders and outcrops of the site. Stone coursing 

should start below settled ground-level and should be 

installed horizontally if the face stones are of uneven 

or random dimension. The rough-worked, rectangular 

granite members of the Glacier Point Road guard walls 

(built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps) provide a good model to follow. Refer to “Landscape Uses 

+ Structures—Masonry Structures” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

•	The finish of new handrails should be patterned after 

the existing handrails at the Geology Hut.

De v e l op ed A r e a s

Three small wood structures dating to 1931 remain from 

the early development at Glacier Point. Modest and in 

the Rustic tradition, with exposed timber wall framing, 

horizontal siding and shake infill, and exposed roof 

construction, they are quiet reminders of the earlier 

structures at this important site, overlooking the Valley 

and the imposing Sierra crest beyond. 

The Geology Hut, skillfully sited on the trail to the 

popular Valley overlook, was constructed in 1924 and 

can be described as one of the high achievements of the 

Rustic period in Yosemite. It was listed on the National 

Register of Historic Places in 1978. True masonry construction, with segmented arch openings, exposed on 

the interior as well, give this modest building its extraordinary character. Exposed roof framing, with its direct 

Geology Hut, with masonry showing incised steps into granite, Glacier Point (2008) RF

Masonry wall of viewing 

terrace, Geology Hut, 

Glacier Point (2007) GH
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262 NP S

are pre-cast concrete comfort stations, cast in wood 

forms, with a painted finish.

GU I DEL I N ES

•	 For new development at Glacier Point, designers 

should consult The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards 

for the Treatment of Historic Properties for guidance on 

compatibility.

•	New structures should conform to the setbacks established by the 1997 buildings. New buildings should 

be sited away from the viewing edge as defined by the 

network of trails and the edge of the tree line.

•	 Limit building heights to the adjacent tree mass immediately adjacent to the specific site.

and honest presentation of construction, adds to the 

rustic charm of this shelter. The combination of wood 

shingles and granite are in the true Rustic tradition. The 

engagement of the granite forms into the terrace walls 

demonstrates architect Herbert Maier’s skill in joining 

the pavilion to its site. 

The newer buildings at Glacier Point were added 

in 1997 as part of the Glacier Point Restoration Project. 

They are clad with vertical board siding, with stone 

veneer at the lower wall as the rustic base. Heavy log 

framing supports the roof, which has a weathering metal 

covering with a strong rust hue. The buildings are set 

well back from the viewing edge, and lower floors are 

adjusted downslope so the building appears to be one 

story at the plaza level. To the rear of the parking area 

Left View to the southeast from Geology Hut, Glacier Point (2007) GH top right Amphitheater, Glacier Point (2008) DN bottom right Looking north from amphitheater, 

Glacier Point (2011) RF

Glacier Point Naturalist 

Cabin. From Greene, 

Historic Resource Study 

Vol. 2 (1984). Photograph 

by Trovert C. Pavlik
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CRANE FLAT

According to archeological investigations, Crane Flat has 

seen thousands of years of American Indian occupation. In 

the modern era, it primarily served as an administrative 

post and a place for a brief pause on a longer journey. The 

area received its present name in 1856, when Lafayette 

Bunnell and George Coulter observed a large flock of 

“cranes” (possibly great blue herons) there while laying 

out the Coulterville Free Trail. This route, together with 

the Old Big Oak Flat Road, established Crane Flat as a 

natural stopping point on the way to Yosemite Valley from 

the west. By the 1870s Louis Gobin’s summer ranch developed into an important stage stop and hotel, while Billy 

Hurst’s saloon catered to the additional needs of visitors 

and local residents. Both ceased operation during the 1890s. 

Crane Flat’s administrative role began in 1905

when Captain Harry Benson selected it as the location of 

a patrol outpost for cavalry troops guarding the park. 

The army’s tents were replaced by a permanent log cabin 

in 1915, after the Department of the Interior began 

direct management of the park. Yosemite’s first fire 

lookout tower was built on a height above Crane Flat in 

1931, as an element of a new fire management plan. It 

was designed in the Rustic style by the National Park 

Service’s Landscape Division, while resident landscape 

architect John Wosky ensured its harmony with the surroundings. The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed 

a pair of camps in 1933, and realignments of both the 

Tioga Road and the Big Oak Flat Road included a checking station and a new ranger duplex in 1940. 

After World War II, in 1946, park managers established a camp for the control of the white pine blister 

rust fungus at Crane Flat. Blister rust was accidentally 

introduced into the United States around 1908 from 

Europe, and by the 1930s it had spread west to California, 

sparking concern that the fungus could damage the 

state’s sugar pine timber industry. The National Park 

•	 Exterior finishes should include wood walls and shakes, 

Wosky brown color, and masonry style as found at the 

Geology Hut. The roof color should be dark grey if 

buildings are located in visible areas.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” 

in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for night-sky 

recommendations to avoid light spillage from 

buildings.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Architectural Character” 

in the “Unifying Elements” chapter and to the “Huts, 

Cabins + High Sierra Camps” chapter.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Sign 

Character” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

top left Geology Hut masonry detail, Glacier Point (2008) GH top right Handrail 

detail, Glacier Point (2008) GH bottom Comfort station, Glacier Point (2008) GH
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264 NP S

Service cooperated with the U.S. Forest Service to develop 

a control strategy that centered on clearing currant and 

gooseberry bushes that acted as hosts for the fungus. 

After World War II, the National Park Service inherited a number of temporary wooden buildings that the 

U.S. Navy had installed on the grounds of The Ahwahnee 

when it functioned as the Naval Special Hospital. Park 

managers took the opportunity to use these in the blister 

rust program, relocating the buildings to a location on 

Tioga Road near the old CCC camp in Crane Flat, and 

to a new camp at Carl Inn (Carlon). The camps were 

closed after a reevaluation of blister rust in the mid1960s concluded that the danger to sugar pines was less 

than previously believed.

Crane Flat’s location away 

from Yosemite Valley, combined 

with its ease of access, brought 

it to the attention of Mission 66

planners attempting to reduce 

crowding in the park’s more 

heavily visited areas. This led to 

the creation of a 160-site campground south of the Big Oak Flat 

Road in 1965, and a service station at the Tioga Road–Big Oak 

Flat Road intersection.

Meadow, Crane Flat (2009) TP Gas station, Crane Flat (2010) RF

In 1973 the Yosemite Institute (now known as 

NatureBridge) acquired a special use permit to operate 

the blister rust facility for its environmental education 

program. NatureBridge has since made use of the site for 

a longer period than originally envisioned. At the time of 

publication of this document, plans were being finalized 

to relocate the environmental education center to Henness

Ridge (near Chinquapin) and completely restore the 

Crane Flat blister rust facility area to natural conditions.

S e t t i n g

Although the remaining physical evidence is limited 

and fragmentary, the concentration of historic trails, 

wagon routes, and waystation sites found at Crane 

Flat is remarkable. The 1874 Big Oak Flat Road, the 

American Indian Mono Trail, Big Oak Flat Trail, the 

Mann Brothers Coulterville Free Trail, and Lower 

(Coulterville) Trail all converged in this area. The 

waystation elements—Gobin Hotel and Billy Hurst’s 

Saloon—were clustered on either side of the wagon road. 

Early photos indicate typically unadorned utilitarian 

structures and, with the exception of fencing, a site free 

of small-scale landscape structures.

The modern Tioga Road was built through the 

meadow, around which the early structures had been 

CCC structure, Crane Flat 

(2008) GH
d a y - u s e a r e a s

 265

clustered. A small portion of the meadow extends north 

of the road. It is surrounded by mixed conifers that are 

encroaching along its edges.

The heart of the Crane Flat area is a short distance 

northeast of the entrance road to The Tuolumne Grove 

of Giant Sequoias at the former blister rust camp. At 

6,250 feet, Crane Flat is set at the head of a gentle swale 

leading to Crane Creek. An unscreened parking area 

serves the camp and is directly adjacent to and west of 

a major bend in the Tioga Road. 

In the 1930s cabins for the Civilian Conservation 

Corps, and later the blister rust camp, were arranged in 

hierarchal fashion on the slopes overlooking the meadow—

sleeping quarters at the top and service buildings below. 

Although the hierarchical arrangement has been compromised by many changes in the last decades, a straightforward arrival sequence from the Tioga Road to parking, 

administration, dining hall buildings, and cabins remains 

evident. The administration building and dining hall at 

the center of the facility are close to the western edge of 

the parking area, at the head of the swale. Small cabins 

are scattered among fir and pine trees on adjacent slopes 

to the southwest. Although there is little or no substory 

vegetation, the dark-painted structures blend in well 

with the dark tree trunks and dark sloping soils. The 

views of the sunlit meadow through the open forest and 

the quiet soundscape of this relatively protected site 

suggest the calm quality of the pre-internal-combustionengine era.

At the Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road junction, 

a gas station and store serve motorists who have traveled 

long distances. The gas station is screened from Big Oak 

Flat Road by a narrow slope of vegetation.

Billy Hurst Saloon and Gobin’s Hotel (since removed)
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

266 NP S

De v e l op ed A r e a s

During each stage of development, the buildings on the 

meadow at Crane Flat were built employing the typical 

construction methods of the period. Log cabins, frame 

structures, and prefabricated buildings were all adapted 

to the function and use of their occupants. These structures served their purpose well, and were useful into the 

next phase of occupancy.

The earliest buildings and structures at Crane 

Flat were the cluster of buildings—including the Gobin 

Hotel and Hurst Saloon—located along the historical 

alignment of Big Oak Flat Road near the junction with 

Tioga Road. They were small-scale frame and log structures with gable roofs. Porches and verandahs afforded 

protection from the extreme weather at this elevation. 

Entrance doorways and verandahs for sitting and daily 

use required shelter from the elements. These structures 

no longer exist.

The ranger patrol cabin (1915) is a four-room log 

cabin with shake roof, approximately 32 feet by 25 feet 

square with a stone fireplace in the living room. It functioned as an outpost checking station for autos entering 

the park and civilian rangers employed to protect the 

park after the removal of the U.S. Army troops. The 

cabin also had a 12-by-20-foot shed of match poles and 

shakers (NPS 1987b). The cabin was dismantled in 1960

and moved to the Pioneer History Center at Wawona.

The rangers’ quarters that still exist at the Tuolumne 

Grove entrance at Crane Flat employ the same plan as 

the rangers’ quarters at South Entrance. The ranger residence is a wood-frame structure, approximately 36 feet by 

68 feet, with two separate living quarters. The exterior 

steps and the foundation of the structure are made of 

rubble masonry. Originally, the gable roof was covered 

with shingles that were hand-brushed with a green creosote shingle stain. Today it is a standard cedar shingle, 

weathered a dark grey. A porch is at each end of the 

structure. The asymmetrical gable on the south elevation 

is worth noting. A garage was also constructed at this 

time, sited uphill at the end of a narrow drive to the rear 

of the residence. The garage structure also has a stone 

foundation and a gable roof, with the ridge running the 

long axis of the structure. Both the house and the garage 

are clad with bevel siding.

GU I DEL I N ES

•	Refer to “Major Road Corridors—Big Oak Flat Road” 

in the “Roads + Entrance Stations” chapter. 

•	New structures should be sited well back and screened 

from Tioga Road.

•	 Small-scale landscape structures should be kept to a minimum, and should be compatible with the Rustic style.

•	Incorporate important elements of earlier construction—such as porches, verandahs, and gable roofs—into 

the architecture of new buildings, as appropriate.

•	 Building height should not exceed one-and-a-half stories. 

Locate larger structures in close relation to tree 

massing to mitigate the appearance of excessive bulk.

•	The form and shape of new structures must be responsive to the climate extremes at this altitude. Roof 

design should recognize the principles of proper snow 

management. The gable and shed roof form should 

continue to be the dominant roof form. The pitch 

should match that of the historic buildings.

•	Continue the use of wood as the dominant material for 

exterior treatment. Examples of different treatments 

are found on the site, such as large-scale siding patterns. 

Split-log siding can be found on some structures. 

•	Colors and finishes should be nonreflective and in the 

warm range when visible from the road.

•	Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for further 

guidance.

•	Carefully observe night-sky recommendations and 

conform to park lighting guidelines.

Ranger residence, 

Crane Flat (date 

unknown) YRL
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H O DGD ON M EAD O W

S e t t i n g

The Hodgdon Meadows maintenance station and 

employee housing area is accessed by and directly adjacent 

to Old Big Oak Flat Road. The road is now a hiking route 

and NPS service road leading to The Tuolumne Grove 

of Giant Sequoias. The complex sits at the edge of a 

narrow but lush meadow and wetland at an elevation of 

4,700 feet. The developed area is downslope but screened 

from the Hodgdon Meadows campground by a forest of 

mixed conifers. Surrounded by cedars and pines, the area 

drains to a tributary of North Crane Creek. The two 

uses for this area are maintenance and employee housing. 

The maintenance area is close to the road and includes 

functional sand and material storage surrounded by a 

mixture of storage units, parked cars, and trailers adjacent to a large warehouse and utility area. Next to this 

are six units of trailer housing.

Employee housing, a short distance downhill, consists of numerous residential structures farther away from 

Old Big Oak Flat Road. Two of the units are Mission 66

duplexes.

GU I DEL I N ES

•	To retain the natural, less-developed character of this 

area, new construction should be located out of view 

from the historic Old Big Oak Flat Road.

•	New design should take advantage of opportunities to 

enhance historic views of the meadow from Old Big 

Oak Flat Road and trail, including appropriate vegetation thinning or removal of succeeding conifers. 

1 Campground Entrance Kiosk

 6 Trailer Housing

to Big Oak Flat

Entrance Station

Old Big Oak Flat Road

Old Big Oak Flat Road

to Tuolumne Grove

1

2

3

4

5 6

7

8

9

10

10

10

0 200 400 600 800 1200

1 Campground Entrance Kiosk

2 Hodgdon Meadow Campground

3 Vault Toilet

4 HddRd

 6 Trailer Housing

 7 Modular Housing 

 8 Mission 66 Housing

to Big Oak Flat

Entrance Station

Old Big Oak Flat Road

Old Big Oak Flat Road

to Tuolumne Grove

1

2

3

4

5 6

7

8

9

10

10

10

0 200 400 600 800 1200

HODG d ON MEADO W

1 Campground Entrance Kiosk

2 Hodgdon Meadow Campground

3 Vault Toilets

4 Hodgdon Road

5 Warehouse/Utility Area

6 Trailer Housing

7 Modular Housing 

8 Mission 66 Housing

9 Corral/Impound Lot

10 Hodgdon Meadow

Shining willow

(Salix lasiandra)
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268 NP S

De v e l op ed A r e a s

Hodgdon Meadow is part of a remote setting, well away 

from the busy Big Oak Flat Entrance. The residential 

quarters are useful references for new housing. Appropriate 

architectural character and privacy for the occupants 

are issues that appear to be lacking at the site. Refer to 

“Developed Areas—Architectural Character” in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter.

GU I DEL I N ES

•	 When joining new buildings, such as duplex units, common walls should be offset to relieve long expanses of 

walls and provide identity for the individual units.

•	 Provide protection from the weather at entrances and 

other openings that are integral to the design and avoid 

a “tacked-on” appearance. Porches and small verandahs 

are effective for this purpose.

•	 Establishing outdoor areas for housing units is appropriate. Where such areas face the street or need 

additional privacy, use of natural landforms or native 

vegetation for screening is preferred.

•	Roof form should be gable or shed, with 5:12 minimum 

slope for positive flow. Provide extra-wide valley flashing when using standing seam configuration to allow 

snow and tree duff to flow easily.

•	 Provide garages or screened carports for vehicles.

•	Refer to the “Developed Areas” section in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter for guidance on architectural character and color.

LEFT Campground sign, Hodgdon Meadow (2008) GH Top middle Maintenance area, Hodgdon Meadow (2008) GH Top Right Hodgdon Meadow (2008) TP 

Bottom Residential area, Hodgdon Meadow (2008) GH
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HETCH HETCH Y

In 1869, California State Geologist Josiah D. Whitney 

commented on a recently mapped area of the High 

Sierra, called the Hetch Hetchy Valley:

It is not on quite so grand scale as [Yosemite Valley], but 

if there were no Yosemite, the Hetch-Hetchy would be 

fairly entitled to a worldwide fame; and, in spite of the 

superior attractions of the Yosemite, a visit to its counterpart may be recommended, if it be only to see how 

curiously nature has repeated herself. (Whitney 1871)

John Muir first visited Hetch Hetchy in 1871 and 

was likewise impressed, terming it “one of Nature’s 

rarest and most precious mountain temples.” Some three 

decades later, word leaked out that the city of San 

Francisco was planning a reservoir in the valley to create 

a badly needed municipal water supply. This touched off 

a nationwide debate, not just over Hetch Hetchy but 

over the best use of public land in general. Muir and his 

fellow Sierra Club members organized a grassroots 

campaign—likely the first of its kind—hoping to sway 

Congress in favor of scenic preservation. Though unsuccessful, the campaign was a landmark in America’s natural 

preservation movement. The passage of the Raker Act in 

1913 that authorized the reservoir quickly transformed 

Hetch Hetchy into a major engineering site, including 

not just a growing dam but also a concrete plant, sawmill, 

railroad lines, huge overhead conveyor systems, quarries, 

View of Hetch Hetchy Valley before inundation (date unknown) YRL. Photograph by J.N. LeConte
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

270 NP S

and a construction camp. The 

many Rustic masonry structures 

adjacent to the dam were built 

with rock from these quarries.

The monumental Hetch 

Hetchy enterprise came into 

being out of a heroic struggle 

between two sides that both 

asserted they represented the 

highest use of Hetch Hetchy Valley. John Muir was the 

iconic leader of the natural preservationists, while Michael 

M. O’Shaughnessy, the design engineer for the city and 

county of San Francisco, symbolized the advocates for 

the reservoir. Muir died at the age of 76 in 1914, the year 

the first contract for the construction road from Hog 

Ranch (now Camp Mather) to the dam site was awarded 

to the Utah Construction Company. Twenty years later, 

O’Shaughnessy died at the age of 72, just days before 

the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct was completed in 1934. San 

Francisco celebrated the completion of the Hetch Hetchy 

system at the Las Pulgas Water Temple, which marked 

the western terminus of the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct at 

Crystal Springs Reservoir in Woodside, California. 

The Greco-Roman style temple was designed by San 

Francisco architect William Gladstone Merchant 

to commemorate the completion of Hetch Hetchy. 

San Francisco removed much of its heavy infrastructure from Hetch Hetchy after the first stage of 

the O’Shaughnessy Dam was completed in 1923. The 

city turned over most of the construction camp to the 

National Park Service, while retaining the caretaker’s 

building and guest cottage. Park managers were particularly interested in a barn, bunkhouse, mess house, and 

an office, but removed a number of other structures to 

reduce the visual clutter. Advocates of the reservoir project had originally promoted the idea of a major resort 

at the site, but concerns over water quality prevented 

extensive development. Visitor use was limited to viewing 

the dam itself or passing over it to gain access to the 

newly established hiking trails north of the reservoir.

In 1934 an earlier restroom building was replaced 

by an NPS Rustic comfort station, built by the Civilian 

Conservation Corps, which set the architectural tone for 

further work at the site. This included the city of San 

Las Pulgas Water Temple, Crystal 

Springs Reservoir, Woodside, 

California (2009) GH

Tueeulala and Lower Wapama Falls, Hetch Hetchy 

(2005) RF

O’Shaughnessy Dam (2011) RF
d a y - u s e a r e a s

 271

Francisco’s new chalet, completed in 1938, the same year 

that work to raise the height of the O’Shaughnessy Dam 

was finished. The chalet is along the north side of the old 

wagon road to Hetch Hetchy Valley, approximately 400

feet east of Hetch Hetchy Road, perched on the edge of 

the reservoir. The Rustic-style chalet was constructed by 

the city and county of San Francisco as a guest cottage 

for official city visitors; Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the 

more notable guests. Since then, the guest list has grown 

to include senators, members of Congress, and former 

presidents.

Also in 1938, the city turned two cottages over to 

the National Park Service—the older guest cottage and 

a duplex unit. In anticipation of the transfer, the two 

buildings were designed and constructed to NPS standards and were thought of as permanent fixtures, as 

opposed to the temporary structures characteristic of 

the construction camp.

S e t t i n g

The pre-reservoir valley, called Tuolumne Valley by the 

early settlers, was carved by glaciers only 15,000–20,000

years ago. It is relatively young compared to Yosemite 

Valley, where glaciation took place 750,000 years ago. 

The steep cliffs and domes surrounding Hetch Hetchy 

reservoir are evidence of a still-active geologic landscape (NPS 2007b). The bright white streak of Wapama 

Falls contrasts with the steep surrounding granite. The 

grey cliffs and walls of Hetch Hetchy Dome seem to 

demonstrate the cutting power of glaciation and active 

year-round creeks. 

Evidence of prehistoric and 19th century settlers 

includes American Indian settlements, wagon tracks, 

and fence lines below the reservoir waters (NPS 2007b).

O’Shaughnessy Dam, constructed between 1914 and 

1938, impounds the Tuolumne River at the mouth 

of the Tuolumne Gorge, creating the Hetch Hetchy 

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (2011) RF 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

272 NP S

Reservoir, an eight-mile-long body of water (NPS 1987b). 

Downstream from the dam is the Poopenaut Valley, a set 

of verdant meadows located in the narrow Tuolumne 

River canyon. The massive, arch-shaped, cyclopean 

masonry dam measures 325 feet in height, 910 feet in 

length, and 289 feet in width at the base. The dam was 

constructed in two phases. The first phase, from 1914

to 1923, included the initial construction of the dam 

to a height of 226 feet and the construction of ancillary structures such as the spillway. During the second 

phase of construction, which lasted from 1933 to 1938, 

a number of additions were made to the water system, 

including increasing the height of the dam. 

For the backpacker or day visitor, the Hetch 

Hetchy area offers striking scenery and a special soundscape. O’Shaughnessy Dam is a major backpacker’s 

gateway to the High Sierra, with trails leading west, 

north, and east into the remote Yosemite Wilderness. 

The artifacts of early 20th century engineering, along 

with the powerful cliffs and domes of this rugged mountain setting, make visits here a unique experience. 

Outfall below the dam, Hetch Hetchy (2007) GH

1 Hetch Hetchy Trail

2 O’Shaughnessy Dam

3 Hetch Hetchy Resevoir

4 Hetch Hetchy Loop Road

5 Spillway

6 Tuolumne River

7 Chalet

8 Historic Comfort Station

 9 Dormitory and Cookhouse 

10 Office/Guest House

11 Dam Keeper’s Cottage

12 NPS Bunkhouse 

13 Corral

14 Water Tank

15 Backpacker’s Campground

16 Hetch Hetchy Road

9

3

4

4 17

5

6

8

7

2

1

12 15

16

13

14

10

11

West Meadow Road

to Highway 120

0 125 250 375 500 750 1 Hetch Hetchy Trail

2 O’Shaughnessy Dam

3 Hetch Hetchy Resevoir

4 Hetch Hetchy Loop Road

5 Spillway

6 Tuolumne River

7 Chalet

8 Historic Comfort Station

 

 9 Dormitory and Cookhouse 

10 Office/Guest House

11 Dam Keeper’s Cottage

12 NPS Bunkhouse 

13 Corral

14 Water Tank

15 Backpacker’s Campground

16 Hetch Hetchy Road

60% of Schaible original

9

3

4

4 17

8

7

2

12 15

16

13

14

10

11

West Meadow Road

0 125 250 375 500 750

H etch H e t c h y 

1 Hetch Hetchy Trail

2 O’Shaughnessy Dam

3 Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

4 Hetch Hetchy Loop Road

5 Spillway

6 Tuolumne River

7 Chalet

8 Comfort Station

9 Dormitory and Cookhouse

10 Office/Guest House

11 Dam Keeper’s Cottage

12 NPS Bunkhouse 

13 Corral

14 Water Tank

15 Backpackers’ Campground

16 Hetch Hetchy Road

17 Drum Gates

Canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis)
d a y - u s e a r e a s

 273

GU I DEL I N ES

•	 For new development at Hetch Hetchy, designers 

should consult The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards 

for the Treatment of Historic Properties for guidance on 

compatibility.

•	 Major utility structures should be carefully designed 

and located to minimize visual disruption of the surrounding wilderness. For example, power lines and 

microwave or repeater towers should be sited to blend 

with a background of a forested slope when seen from 

major or special viewpoints like the dam, Hetch Hetchy 

Road, visitor parking, major trailheads, trails, etc. Keep 

such utilities from being silhouetted against the sky. 

They should be of nonreflective materials and of a 

color blending to the greatest extent possible with 

colors and light values of the natural surroundings.

•	 Locate walk-in camping in wooded sites at Backpackers’ 

Camp to minimize visual impacts. Refer to the 

“Campgrounds” chapter.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Masonry 

Structures” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	Refer to “Setting—Scenic Views” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

De v e l op ed A r e a s

The buildings and structures found at Hetch Hetchy 

convey how the landscape developed through its many 

phases, from early settlement, to dam construction, 

to recreation. The largest cluster of historic buildings 

occurs along the eastern loop of Hetch Hetchy Road. An 

office, guest cottage, dam keeper’s cottage, assistant dam 

keeper’s cottage, and ancillary buildings are at the center 

of the cluster. 

Associated with the 1916 O’Shaughnessy work camp, 

these buildings are the oldest examples of Vernacular 

Rustic style in the region. At the north end of the cluster 

is a distinct series of Rustic-style buildings: the Hetch 

Hetchy Comfort Station (circa 1934) and garage (circa 

1935), and, farther to the east, off the old wagon road to 

Hetch Hetchy Valley, is the chalet (1938).

Sources indicate that the park constructed only one 

building in this region, the Rustic-style 1934 comfort station. The city and county of San Francisco constructed all 

the other buildings (NPS 2007b), including:

Residences, Hetch Hetchy (2007) RF Residence with screened porch, Hetch Hetchy (2007) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

274 NP S

•	Dam Keeper’s Cottage (1916): Part of the original 

O’Shaughnessy work camp, this cottage is the most 

elaborate of the San Francisco-built Rustic-style cottages, and it is currently used as the city and county of 

San Francisco’s water keeper’s office.

•	 Assistant Dam Keeper’s Cottage (1916): Constructed as 

a part of the first O’Shaughnessy Dam work camp, this 

cottage was originally for the assistant dam keeper, and it 

is currently being used as a park ranger’s residence.

•	Official Guest House (1916): Constructed as part of the 

first O’Shaughnessy Dam work camp, this house was 

originally constructed as the office for the dam’s project 

engineer and later enlarged for use as a guesthouse.

•	Hetch Hetchy Comfort Station No. 1 (1934): This 

comfort station is a classic example of the NPS Rustic 

style. It is one of three identical comfort stations 

built during the 1930s; the other two are located at 

Tuolumne Meadows Campground.

Kolana Rock, Hetch Hetchy (2011) RF 
d a y - u s e a r e a s

 275

GU I DEL I N ES

•	 For new structures at Hetch Hetchy, designers 

should consult The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards 

for the Treatment of Historic Properties for guidance on 

compatibility.

•	New structures should reflect the character, height, 

and massing of these early vernacular structures. Refer 

to “Developed Areas—Yosemite Village—Developed 

Areas—Central Village Administrative Area—

Residential Areas—NPS Residential Area” in the 

“Yosemite Valley” chapter for a discussion of distinguished examples of vernacular architecture.

•	New buildings should continue the combinations of 

gable and hip roof found on nearby historic and vernacular structures. Continue the roof pitch used on the 

dam keeper’s and assistant dam keeper’s cottages. Shed 

roof appendages are used for entrances and additions. 

In particular, note the use of screened porches. 

•	 Exterior materials and color treatment as discussed in 

other areas of these guidelines apply here. The basic 

principles of “background” and blending with the 

environment apply here.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Small 

Buildings” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for 

guidelines.

P ICNIC AREAS

The visitor’s relation to and perception of the natural 

environment should be considered an important element 

in the location and design of picnic areas. Issues of 

natural resource protection and interpretation are intertwined with the desire to place picnic sites in scenic 

locations. In Yosemite, picnic areas are frequently found 

in sylvan settings, placed under or among trees, oriented 

to a special or unusual scenic view, or often close to a 

stream, river, or lake. Parking is usually nearby, allowing 

reasonable access for persons with disabilities and for 

transporting picnic supplies. A picnic unit typically 

consists of a table and grill. The units may occur separately or clustered in combination with a number of 

other units to form a picnic area. Most picnic areas, but 

not all, are furnished with potable water, recycling and 

trash containers, restrooms, and accessible paths to parking. Most furnishings are commercially available off-theshelf items. At some sites, particularly those close to 

water, soils and vegetation are fragile and easily damaged 

because of high groundwater tables.

One of the great innovators in the design of picnic areas was Emilio P. Meinecke, the plant pathologist 

engaged by the National Park Service in the early 1930s 

Comfort station, Hetch 

Hetchy (2007) GH

Picnic area, Lower Yosemite Fall (2005) RF

Chalet, Hetch Hetchy (2007) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

276 NP S

to investigate and advise on the deteriorating conditions 

at campgrounds and picnic areas in Yosemite and other 

national parks. A proponent of early ecological principles, Meinecke suggested that picnic area placement be 

based on soil and vegetation capacities, and he urged that 

picnic areas be separated from campgrounds.

GU I DEL I N ES

Location

•	 Site new picnic areas away from roadways to mitigate 

road noise and take advantage of natural topography 

to shield picnic areas for the same effect.

•	At sites where the likelihood of impacts to vegetation is high, furnishings (tables, trash containers, bear 

boxes, braziers, etc.) as well as portable toilet or storage 

structures should be moveable for relocation to alternate sites. Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for 

guidelines on pathway design and small buildings.

Layout

•	 Size roadside turnouts and parking areas that serve 

picnic areas to a minimum dimension to accommodate 

safe vehicle ingress and egress. Parked vehicles should 

be partially screened with vegetation and/or topography to minimize their view from the road and picnic 

area. Cluster trash bins, bear boxes, and vault toilets 

at the parking areas for ease of maintenance in areas 

with minor visual impact to the surroundings and picnic area. Where needed, screen with vegetation and 

mounding that is well-integrated into the surrounding 

topography. Refer to the “Roads + Entrance Stations” 

chapter for guidelines on turnouts, and to the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter for guidelines on parking areas.

•	 Proximity of picnic area components (parking, 

table clusters, comfort stations, dumpsters, etc.) 

to one another will vary. Service access will need to 

top West end of Tenaya Lake (2007) GH bottom Forest Service picnic table (2010) RF
d a y - u s e a r e a s

 277

be reasonably close to the main road, but should be 

screened with natural topography or native vegetation to the greatest degree possible. The location, size, 

and extent of picnic areas should be determined by 

the visual and ecological conditions of the site, including such factors as soil type, vegetation conditions, 

and rock outcrops. Where possible, anchor picnic areas 

visually by arranging them in relation to major rock 

outcrops, distinctive groves of trees, and the like.

•	 Site individual tables or clusters of tables using tree 

clusters, rock outcrops, etc., as natural spacers to provide greater distance between tables for privacy. At 

sites lacking natural topographic or vegetation 

spacers, add screening with native plant materials 

for greater privacy, as needed.

•	When paving is necessary, use a universally accessible, porous, granular type, of a color and texture that 

blends with the surrounding soil or leaf litter color.

•	 Protect adjacent vegetation areas, wetlands, or water 

bodies by providing clearly defined pedestrian paths, 

partially buried cobbles where appropriate, or other 

low barriers. Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter 

for guidelines on pathway design and barriers.

Picnic area, Lower Yosemite Fall (2005) RF
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

278 NP S

Furnishings

•	 Furnishings should be compatible with the character 

of NPS Rustic design. Primary characteristics include 

oversized, stout components with the use of Wosky 

brown for painted elements and the avoidance of reflective surfaces and bright, shiny metals. Trash containers, 

bear boxes, dumpsters, and the like should be painted 

Wosky brown.

•	 Furnishings for permanent picnic areas (those not 

planned for rotation) may employ masonry (local or 

matching) for table and grill supports as well as rough, 

board-formed concrete of generous proportions, with 

thick planks of western red cedar for the table top. 

•	Where picnic furnishings may be seasonally shifted, 

anchor equipment to the ground in a manner that 

allows for relocation and installation at alternate sites.

•	Avoid reflective, light-colored, industrial-looking 

materials such as galvanized metal tubing for table 

supports. Frames of stout, prerusted tubing are 

acceptable.

top Stone seating area at Lower Yosemite Fall (2010) RF bottom Heavy timber 

picnic table (2008) GH
r o a d s + e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n s
Overleaf Tioga Road and Mammoth Peak (2008) GH

ROADS + ENTRANCE STATIONS

M a j o r R o a d c o r r i d o r s 282

 Setting 283

 Tioga Road 290

 El Portal Road 293

Big Oak Flat Road 294

Glacier Point Road 296

Wawona Road 299

Hetch Hetchy Road 300

V e h i c l e B r i d g e s 301

E n t r a n c e S t a t i o n s 304

 Tioga Pass Entrance Station 308

 South Entrance Station 311

 Arch Rock Entrance Station 314

Big Oak Flat Entrance Station 316

Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station 317

Sh u t t l e B u s S t o p s 318

 Setting 318
281

in most parks, the basic means of providing for visitor access is the park road system. 

it is both a means and an end. it enables one visitor to reach his goal; for another, it 

is the goal. NPS park road s tandards • 1984

D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k

R oads + E ntrance S tations

Yosemite’s road system is integral to the visitor experience and plays a 

major role in how the park is perceived. For many visitors, Yosemite is what 

they see from a car or tour bus. The park’s road system was deliberately 

designed with turnouts and larger parking areas that provide views of the 

natural landscape, reflecting the philosophy of early NPS officials such as 

Stephen Mather and Horace Albright, who sought to popularize the parks 

through improved automobile access while preserving the essence of their 

natural landscapes (Carr 1998). Park roads are more than a means to a destination: the journey itself along the roads becomes part of the overall park 

visitor experience. 

Five road corridors are introduced by the park entrance stations, 

which are located near the edges of the park where the visitor crosses 

the threshold into the unique realm of Yosemite. Park visitors find wayfinding information at entrance stations where they are welcomed by 

uniformed staff before they begin their exploration of Yosemite along one 

of the road corridors. 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

282 NPS

Existing Road

Big Oak Flat Road

El Portal Road

Glacier Point Road

Hetch Hetchy Road

Tioga Road

Valley Loop Road

Wawona Road

W

E

G

V

T

• Olmsted

Point

Half Dome

View

• 

• Tunnel

View

Great Sierra Wagon Road

Old Big Oak Flat Road

Old Glacier Point Road

SC ALE IN MILES

T U O LU M N E

M E A D OW S

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Existing Road

Historic Road Alignment

Hetch Hetchy Road

Big Oak Flat Road

Tioga Road

Valley Loop Road

El Portal Road

Wawona Road

Glacier Point Road

0 2.5 5 7.5 10 15

YO S E M I T E

VA L L E Y

•Glacier

 Point

WAWO NA

BIG OAK FLAT

ENTRANCE

ARCH ROCK

ENTRANCE

SOUTH

ENTRANCE

TIOGA 

PASS

ENTRANCE HETCH HETCHY

ENTRANCE

Mount

Conness

Mount

Lyell

S

D E R N E S S

U O LU M N E

M E A D OW S

 

Existing Road

Mount

Conness

Olmsted

Point

Mount

Hoffman

Half

Dome

Mount

Lyell

Half Dome

Overlook

Tunnel

View

Great Sierra Wagon Road

Old Big Oak Flat Road

Old Glacier Point Road

SC ALE IN MILES

Y O S E M I T E W I L D E R N E S S

Y O S E M I T E

W I L D E R N E S S

T U O LU M N E

M E A D OW S

Lake Eleanor 

Reservoir

Tenaya Lake 

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Tuol umne River

Existing Road

Historic Road Alignment

Hetch Hetchy Road

Big Oak Flat Road

Tioga Road

Valley Loop Road

El Portal Road

Wawona Road

Glacier Point Road

0 2.5 5 7.5 10 15

W

E

G

V

T

Mount

Conness

Olmsted

Point

Mount

Hoffman

Half

Dome

Mount

Lyell

Half Dome

Overlook

Tunnel

View

Great Sierra Wagon Road

Old Big Oak Flat Road

Old Glacier Point Road

SC ALE IN MILES

Y O S E M I T E W I L D E R N E S S

Y O S E M I T E

W I L D E R N E S S

T U O LU M N E

M E A D OW S

Lake Eleanor 

Reservoir

Tenaya Lake 

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Tuol umne River

Existing Road

Historic Road Alignment

Hetch Hetchy Road

Big Oak Flat Road

Tioga Road

Valley Loop Road

El Portal Road

Wawona Road

Glacier Point Road

0 2.5 5 7.5 10 15

M A J O R R O A D C O R R I D O R S

Early access to Yosemite was on horseback or by stagecoach, which limited the number of people entering the 

park. The trip was arduous and expensive, and it tended 

to discourage casual visitors or those of modest means. 

Travel to the park increased with the opening of the 

Yosemite Valley Railroad line to El Portal in 1907, but 

most visitors continued the earlier pattern of staying in 

hotels for weeks or even months to justify the time and 

cost of the trip. However, starting in 1913, the rise of 

automobile tourism brought not only more visitors to 

the park, but a new class of visitor as well. Working-class 

families who had never before had the time or disposable 

income for an extended vacation were now able to make 

the trip to Yosemite. Their cars often served as both 

transportation and lodging (Rothman 1998). Stephen 

Mather, the founding director of the National Park 

Service, was an early advocate of auto tourism, and he 

strongly favored development that would make the parks 

more accessible to these new visitors (Shaffer 2001). 

Mather thought it essential that the large parks should 

have a major road into their scenic backcountries, and in 

1915 he formed a group to purchase the Great Sierra 

Wagon Road to serve as a model (Sellars 1997).

Most importantly, auto tourism changed the fundamental nature of the visitor experience at Yosemite and 

became a dominant factor in future development. The 

new breed of tourists not only wanted to 

drive to Yosemite, they wanted to drive 

in Yosemite and see the sights from their 

cars (Louter 2001). A new road-building 

program, initiated in 1924 after much delay, 

was among the most significant of the 

responses to auto tourism because it 

produced a series of structures that came 

to be identified as essential elements of 

Yosemite’s landscape. The tunnels and 

bridges of the Big Oak Flat Road, together 

with the Wawona Road and its Tunnel View 

overlook, were carefully planned to give 

visitors views of some of the park’s most 

spectacular features. Where possible, 

the roads incorporated turnouts to give 

m a j o r r o a d c o r r i d o r s

See also page 14 for detailed park map

H

b

t

v

w

g

s

O

p

M

e

Historic Road 

Alignment

Great Sierra 

Wagon Road

Mariposa Grove Road

Old Big Oak Flat Road

Old Glacier Point Road
R o a d s + E n t r a n c e S t a t i o n s

283

motorists further opportunities to take in the vistas. The 

central portion of Tioga Road, from White Wolf to the 

point just west of Tuolumne Meadows, was the site of 

extensive and controversial realignment between 1957 and 

1961 as a part of the NPS Mission 66 program of facility 

modernization. Park officials saw the work as necessary 

to ease congestion and improve views, and thus draw 

visitors away from the crowded Yosemite Valley. 

Environmental advocates believed that the earlier, more 

primitive road would better preserve the park’s wilderness and high country by limiting the number of people 

willing to venture into it (Carr 2007).

The design of the roads and their associated features advanced the blending of art, architecture, and 

landscape design that is characteristic of the National 

Park Service’s development programs, while serving as 

a model for future work both in the park and in other 

units in the system. This design approach was honored in 

1996, when the Tioga Road and the Big Oak Flat Road 

jointly received the Federal Highway Administration’s 

designation as a National Scenic Byway. This designation 

recognized that the trans-Sierra route was among the 

nation’s most exceptional roads, possessing “distinctive 

cultural, historic, natural or other qualities unique among 

neighboring states” (USDOT 2007). Winter conditions 

in Yosemite require the annual closure of Tioga Road 

between Crane Flat and Lee Vining Canyon, and of the 

Glacier Point Road beyond Badger Pass. 

NPS landscape architects during the 1920s and 

1930s expended considerable time and effort on road 

design to ensure that each visitor was given the opportunity to discover Yosemite’s vistas from the most 

spectacular angles. Alignment and design improvements 

were based on the idea that modern, high-quality roads 

would be less likely to distract visitor attention from 

the scenery than roads that were too rough or winding. 

Other techniques used to improve the visitor experience 

included naturalistic rock cutting, drill-hole removal, the 

Many visitors view 

Yosemite’s landscape 

from their vehicles 

(2007) TP

planting of vegetation, and the use of local building 

materials, including native stone and logs, to help the 

road blend with its surroundings and appear to be lying 

lightly on the land. The new Glacier Point Road, re-built 

in the 1930s, is an example of aesthetic road alignment. 

Another example of such alignment is that of the El 

Portal Road. Many of the masonry improvements in the 

1930s along that road were based on principles of naturalistic design and use of native materials.

S e t t i n g

Six of the park’s major road corridors are discussed in 

this document—Tioga, Big Oak Flat, El Portal, Wawona, 

Hetch Hetchy, and Glacier Point—and cover more than 

135 miles, making up the bulk of Yosemite’s circulation 

system. Five are clustered near or along the western 

border of the park. The exception is Tioga Road, a transSierra route that stretches from Crane Flat to the Tioga 

Pass Entrance Station at the eastern boundary of the 

park. These roads wind through a wide range of altitudes 

and forest communities, offering breathtaking views of 

the unique and rugged Yosemite landscape. They differ 

markedly in character from the picturesque roads of the 

flat Yosemite Valley floor.

Yosemite’s complex geology is revealed in road cuts, Tioga Road (2008) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

284 NPS

Elements that define the character of a road fall 

into one of two groups. The first involves the road’s 

alignment, width, gradient, depth of shoulders, and 

color of pavement, among others. The second includes 

all the elements and spaces adjacent to or through which 

the road is placed. These include views, surrounding 

topography, vegetation, bedrock color, and soil. 

The color of the adjacent soil and bedrock also 

affects the character of the road. Color varies substantially throughout the park, from dark-brown soils at 

lower altitudes to light-grey, granitic soils higher up.

Throughout the park and along each of the road 

corridors there are many impressive views—some of 

vast landscapes and others of foreground forest, meadow, 

or lake settings. The park maintains many important and 

historic views through vegetation management, allowing views to be experienced from moving vehicles or at 

one of many turnouts. Much of the geology visible from 

the road is a result of the ancient interaction between 

glaciers and the underlying rocks (NPS 2004h). Areas of 

polished granite are a prominent example. Landslides, 

rockfalls, and avalanches are common in Yosemite, 

leaving evidence in the form of boulders, talus, and 

cleared vegetation. 

The park is replete with beautiful, functional, 

and historic roadside features. These include handmade, 

native-stone guard and retaining walls, fitted riprap, 

stone curbs, swales and culverts, and small bridges. The 

stone, mostly local granite, has been rough-cut or simply left natural, and skillfully laid among similar stones. 

These features vary slightly from road to road and add to 

the visitor’s visual experience. 

top The view from the road is influenced by surrounding forest conditions and topography, Tioga Road (2008) GH bottom The travel experience along major roads 

is accentuated by significant landscape features such as cliffs, Big Oak Flat Road

(2008) GH
R o a d s + E n t r a n c e S t a t i o n s

285

Many informal turnouts are inadequate in terms of 

circulation and safety. In addition, along roadsides without barriers, motorists frequently park on shoulders, 

damaging adjacent vegetation and blocking the views to 

the surrounding landscape for passing motorists. This 

happens often along Tioga Road, in Tuolumne Meadows, 

at Tenaya Lake, and in Yosemite Valley. Reconfiguration of 

turnouts, usually on the downslope side of the road, can 

have negative impacts on vegetation, especially in the 

subalpine belt, where growth and recovery can be slow. 

Snow management, including plowing and storage, is a 

constant maintenance and design issue. Curbs, particularly 

asphalt curbs, are subject to plowing damage at highelevation turnouts and parking areas.

All of these natural and human-made features 

contribute significantly to the character of the park’s 

roads and therefore strongly influence the visitor experience of Yosemite. How they are maintained, modified, 

or added to is directly relevant to the interpretive and 

experiential goals of introducing the public to the 

park’s wilderness areas.

G E N E R A L G U I D E L I N E S

These guidelines refer to all human-made structures 

associated with Yosemite’s roads, including the roadbed, 

shoulders, and adjacent natural features, such as soil and 

vegetation, that are impacted by the location of the road. 

The guidelines are focused on the character of features 

attendant to the major road corridors (guard walls, bridges, 

turnouts, view management, etc.) and do not address areas 

of roadway safety and alignment, sectional or structural 

design, or geometrics. Refer to Director’s Order 87A for 

park road standards (NPS 1984b) and all current applicable 

standards related to road design and safety.

Road Design

•	Road design, alignment, and paving width and material, 

as well as road hierarchy within Yosemite National Park, 

should be consistent with the NPS Park Road Standards, 

including intentional traffic calming provided by narrow, 

curving roads (NPS 1984b). The current alignment 

and width of many roads promotes slower driving, as 

do the exaggerated turns of historic roads, all enhancing scenic touring opportunities.

Site-sourced, worked-granite guard walls, Hetch Hetchy Road (2008) GH

ten days is the minimum a traveler should allow for the journey from 

san francisco, and of this three days could be spent in the valley, one 

in the big trees, the remaining six in transit. ear ly visitor to yosemite va ll e y 

• yos emi te roads and b ridge s • nps hi s tor ic american engineer ing r ecord • 1991

Snow clearance along Tioga Road in the 1950s YRL
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•	Redesign of a road corridor should employ improvements that are natural in appearance and restore 

native vegetation.

•	The design of roads and turnouts should include provision for snow management. This includes no-impact 

snow storage areas and plow-resistant structures 

such as drainage swales, culverts, barrier walls, gently 

sloping concrete flanges that are pitched upward from 

the pavement, and boulders. In areas where plowing is 

necessary, vertical face curbs should be limited.

•	Continue to design hardscape and vegetation as a transition from road edge to wilderness. There should be 

an imperceptible transition from the constructed road 

edge to the wilderness beyond.

•	To maintain the seamless transition from road edge to 

wilderness, introduction of curbs should be minimized 

where shoulder parking is not an issue.

Vista Management

•	New design should take advantage of developing 

views and vistas along the travel corridor. The resultant changes in clearing of vegetation for views should 

take advantage of gaps created by fill slopes, and 

should appear random and natural. This may occur 

less frequently in subalpine zones, where tree growth 

is extremely slow. Avoid an abrupt, artificial, clearcut appearance at the view site by saving or adding 

vegetation and replicating a natural, mixed-height, 

mixed-age, and otherwise ecologically appropriate 

vegetation community.

Turnouts and Overlooks

•	Renovation of turnouts with historic walls or other 

historic features should conform to The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

guidance on compatibility.

•	When turnouts are eliminated, the site should be 

restored to natural conditions and vehicle access 

should be physically blocked. Vegetative berms, such as 

those installed along Glacier Point Road, may be used 

for this purpose. Materials used for blocking access 

should fit in with immediately adjacent vegetation, 

soil, rock types, and topography. These could include 

plantings and unevenly distributed boulders; partially 

buried guard boulders, distributed in informal clusters parallel to the fog line and no greater than five feet 

apart; or log barriers. Avoid the unnatural appearance 

of evenly spaced and aligned boulders or logs.

Overview of Olmsted Point, Tioga Road (2008) DV

Conceptual plan of turnout and overlook
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•	The design of pedestrian zones at new overlooks should 

avoid formal geometries. After satisfying traffic and 

maneuverability standards, let the topography, boulder 

clusters, and vegetation dictate the shape and detailing 

of the outer or pedestrian edge of the overlook. 

•	 Provide for adequate, clearly marked pedestrian zones 

separated from vehicle zones by such means as roughworked granite curbs, boulders, and planted mounds 

or strips that appear to have been gathered from the 

immediate landscape surroundings.

•	 Provide universal access for pedestrians at new viewpoints, wayside interpretive exhibits, or other areas 

where visitors are likely to congregate. 

•	 Masonry walls should be designed and placed to enhance 

views for all visitors. Interpretive exhibits and signs 

should be placed and scaled to avoid blocking or competing with popular views, including from a wheelchair 

or passenger car.

•	In planning of roadside facilities, allow adequate space 

for future shuttle bus stops, where appropriate and 

practicable.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Sign 

Character” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

Trailheads

•	All elements of the trailhead should be designed to 

create a distinct transition from the roadway and 

adjacent parking area to the surrounding area. As 

trailheads occur at areas of different character due 

to elevation and forest type, improvements should 

strive to reflect the uniqueness of each site.

•	 Major trailheads in developed areas should be designed 

to be rustic in character while also providing more 

facilities and sometimes incorporating such features as 

paving and vault toilets. In addition to the items listed 

for minor trailheads, the following should be considered at major trailhead sites:

“if you want to enjoy the beauties of such landscapes as yosemite 

presents, you must see them slowly.” british ambassador james bryce’s 

address to the american civic association in 1912. Hardy • 1990

top Conceptual plan of minor trailhead bottom Conceptual plan of major trailhead
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(a) Paving of stabilized aggregate over an engineered 

base, unstriped and without curbs, except when 

near developed areas where asphaltic concrete paving already exists.

(b) Irregularly spaced boulder or cobble stops rather 

than concrete curbs.

(c) Partially buried cobbles to define spaces at asphaltpaved parking, using striping only at highly 

developed areas.

(d) A small, designated area for trash containers and 

bear-proof food storage boxes, located at logical 

nodes where they can be accessed by garbage trucks 

and where people gather, but without dominating 

the landscape (see plan diagram).

(e) Log benches where site conditions permit.

(f ) Informally arranged and unevenly spaced, partially 

buried local boulders to define a pedestrian zone 

containing interpretive signs and kiosk clusters, log 

bench seating areas, and trash and recycle container 

clusters.

•	Comfort stations should be designed to be as unobtrusive as possible, and should be simple, reflecting and 

making use of site-sourced materials where allowed. 

If not locally sourced, materials should be selected to 

match those found in the immediate environment. Refer 

to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Small Buildings” in 

the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	 Minor trailheads should be designed to be simple in 

character and should incorporate the following: 

(a) An approach sign for oncoming vehicles, either 

200–300 feet in advance of the trailhead or an 

appropriate distance dictated by traffic, geometrics, 

or surrounding landscape conditions.

(b) Aggregate for trailheads or trailhead parking that 

blends with the of surrounding ground color.

(c) A clearly marked trail entrance, ideally incorporating a marking device reflecting the unique cultural 

or natural characteristics of a particular trail, made 

of site-sourced materials where possible.

(d) A traditional trail destination mileage sign of 

prerusted metal with cutout letters and numbers 

mounted on a single prerusted metal stake.

(e) Informal seating of locally sourced boulders, logs, 

or other material, matching in appearance those 

at the site.

•	Curbs and wheel stops should be avoided, where snow 

removal is expected. Partially buried boulders or cobbles, or logs with footings, can be used where wheel 

stops are needed for safety. Cobbles may be used to 

define spaces if needed. Striping should be minimized.

•	 Sign clutter at wilderness thresholds should be 

avoided. Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Sign 

Character” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

Masonry 

•	New guard walls, culverts, etc. should be rustic in 

nature and compatible with any design precedents in 

the vicinity. Some modern materials such as reinforced 

concrete may be appropriate. Avoid faux materials, finishes, or detailing. Use locally-sourced stone if available. 

Large-scale granite guard wall (2009) TP
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top Historic masonry retaining walls and guard walls, Big Oak Flat Road (2008) GH 

middle Typical rough-worked granite boulders (2007) TP bottom Granite seat wall and 

interpretive pedestal, Olmsted Point viewing area, Tioga Road (2011) RF

The design goal should be consistent with Rustic 

design principles, such as ensuring compatibility of 

design with the immediate natural surroundings. 

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Masonry 

Structures” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

Roadside Landscape Structures

•	If small landscape structures—including interpretive exhibits, informational signs, and benches—are 

deemed necessary, their scale, placement, design, and 

material should be compatible with existing features 

in the immediate vicinity and should blend with their 

surroundings. 

•	Roadside landscape structures should be sited to blend 

with their surroundings and avoid being silhouetted 

against the sky. They should also be painted or treated 

to blend with their surroundings. Refer to “Developed 

Areas—Building Exteriors” in the “Unifying Elements” 

chapter for guidelines on color.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Small 

Buildings” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter for 

guidelines on roadside landscape structures and 

above-ground utilities such as repeater towers, 

transmission towers, and light poles.

•	When replacing or repairing park welcome signs or 

markers at the park boundary, use logs, masonry, and 

graphics that convey the strength and scale of the 

landscape the visitor is about to experience.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Sign 

Character” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.
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T I O G A R O A D

The Tioga Road corridor extends 58 miles from Crane 

Flat in the west to the Tioga Pass Entrance Station at 

the eastern boundary of the park. It is both the highest highway in California—ascending to an elevation of 

9,945 feet at Tioga Pass—and the southernmost autoaccessible pass in the Sierra Nevada range. In connection 

with Highways 120 and 140, this trans-Sierra route offers 

the unique experience of crossing a range of geological and forest types in spectacular scenic settings from 

California’s Central Valley to the Mono Basin. The Tioga 

Road winds through a wide range of landscapes—dense 

forests, broad meadows, and vast slopes of polished 

granite—offering spectacular views and numerous interpretive opportunities. Extensive portions of the road 

follow American Indian trade routes that once extended 

from Yosemite Valley to Mono Lake. Significant lengths 

of the road follow the historic Great Sierra Wagon Road, 

built in the late 1800s. Backpackers and day hikers can 

access numerous trailheads and trail crossings along the 

road, including the famous John Muir and Pacific Crest 

trails. Because of its great beauty and significant history, the Tioga Road, as well as the adjacent section of 

Big Oak Flat Road, has been designated a National Scenic 

Byway and All-American Road.

Traveling east from Crane Flat, the Tioga Road 

ascends gradually from 6,250 feet through heavily 

wooded stands of lower montane conifers, curving along a 

series of creek swales. Exposed, cut banks of dark-brown 

soil and dense vegetation give way to occasional sunlit 

patches of grass and views to distant ranges. At about 

7,000 feet the road transitions into several long, relatively straight segments, at first paralleling a tributary 

to the South Fork of the Tuolumne River. At Siesta 

Lake (8,000 feet), the road passes through a dense, 

mature red fir forest. Continuing eastward, the curving 

road hugs the steep slopes of Yosemite Creek canyon. 

Elevations vary from 8,000 to 9,000 feet, and masses of 

exposed and polished grey granite dominate the views 

from the road. At Porcupine Flat, vegetation thins to an 

upper montane forest. Road cuts are lighter in color 

because of the prevalence of granitic soils. After a long 

curve with several south-facing turnouts, the road winds 

in tight curves through dense forest until it comes upon 

the breathtaking openness of Olmsted Point, a scenic 

overlook constructed during the Mission 66 era. 

Olmsted Point presents one of the most spectacular 

vistas in the park, with a view that stretches from Tenaya 

Lake to Half Dome. The predominantly grey landscape 

of granitic domes, massifs, and broad slopes is dotted 

with erratic boulders and punctuated with narrow, widely 

Granitic domes, Tioga Road (2008) GH Tuolumne Meadows from west end, Tioga Road (2008) GH

it has been called the “road to broken dreams.” perhaps though, its 

many miles of unexcelled scenic grandeur have fulfilled the desires, 

the deep felt longing for a contact with nature’s wilderness, even the 

dreams of many thousands who have passed over its often twisting, ever 

changing course. (referring to tioga road) T rexler • 1980
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spaced stands of whitebark pine. The large, recently renovated turnout and parking area accommodates about 60

vehicles, allowing visitors to access wayside exhibits and 

scenic overlooks. It is defined by orderly curbs, guard 

walls of varying height made of large, worked, rectangular granite blocks, and an extensive fill area stabilized by 

overcast unworked granite boulder riprap. Low guard 

wall sections avoid a sense of enclosure and enhance the 

grand scale of the open landscape.

From Olmsted Point, Tioga Road descends through 

steep, forested slopes to Tenaya Lake, the largest lake in 

the park and “the shining centerpiece of the Yosemite 

trans-Sierra corridor” (Rose 2006). Drivers often pull 

off the road and park on the narrow shoulder to view the 

pristine subalpine lake and the 10,000-foot peaks beyond.

Northeast of Tenaya Lake, the road ascends, 

threading between Pywiack and Medlicott and other 

grey granite domes that exceed 8,800 feet, the scale of 

which makes the road feel narrower.

Shortly after a long curve in the road, at 8,600

feet, the expanse of Tuolumne Meadows comes suddenly 

into view. This serene grassy plain—the largest subalpine meadow complex in the Sierra Nevada—consists of 

meadow vegetation bordered by lodgepole pine forests. 

Some succession of pines into the meadow is occurring. 

Fragments of riparian vegetation along the Tuolumne 

River and its tributaries thread in serpentine patterns 

through the meadows. Beyond the meadows loom the 

seasonally snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada 

crest. Portions of the highway here follow the alignment 

of the historic Great Sierra Wagon Road.

top Parking at Olmsted Point, Tioga Road (2008) DV bottom left Tenaya Lake from Olmsted Point, Tioga Road (2008) GH bottom right Tenaya Lake, Tioga Road (2008) GH
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Tioga Road passes in a relatively straight course 

along the edge of the meadows to a zone of heavily used 

visitor facilities. Leaving the meadows, the road crosses a 

bridge over the Tuolumne River and ascends past Lembert 

Dome through another lodgepole pine forest. At 9,000

feet, the vegetation transitions to scattered clusters of 

stunted conifers on vast slopes of granite. The sparse vegetation conveys a sense of the harsh and powerful winters 

at this altitude and strongly enhances a feeling of remoteness. At Dana Meadows (9,750 feet), the road turns north 

and ascends to the Tioga Pass Entrance Station (9,945

feet). The scattered, wind-sculpted subalpine vegetation 

of the meadow is dominated by the barren, rocky, and 

often snow-covered flanks of the Sierra crest, including 

Mount Dana, Mount Gibbs, and Gaylor Peak. Past the 

Tioga Pass Entrance Station (outside of the park), the 

road rapidly descends through the steep, towering slopes 

of Lee Vining Canyon, a landscape remarkably different 

from the gently sloping Dana Meadows. 

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New road design should conform to The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

guidance on compatibility and the NPS Park Road 

Standards (Director’s Order 87a).

•	Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for guidelines on parking areas.

•	New overlooks along the road or at trailheads should 

ensure compatibility with rustic detailing and materials. 

Ensure minimal impact of design and visitor use on 

meadow vegetation and soils.

•	Naturalistic barriers, such as guard boulders or logs, 

can be used to control visitor use and unsanctioned 

parking. The placement of such barriers should retain 

a rustic character, avoiding straight lines or even 

spacing. New barriers should be low enough to retain 

meadow views from private vehicles. Refer to the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter for guidelines on barriers and parking areas. Refer also to the “Tuolumne 

Meadows” chapter for more detail on specific sites.

•	Design may consider selective tree thinning for 

designated roadside and turnout views along the 

many forested miles of Tioga Road. Refer to the 

“General Guidelines for Major Road Corridors” 

section in this chapter for guidelines on view 

management and road corridors.

Dana Meadows, Mammoth Peak, Tioga Road (2008) GH Commemorative plaque, Tioga Pass Entrance Station (2008) GH

Red fir (Abies magnifica)
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E L P O R T A L R O A D

El Portal Road runs for nine miles along the banks of the 

winding Merced River from El Portal (west of the park 

boundary) to Pohono Bridge. Near El Portal, the shape of 

the narrow canyon floor illustrates the cutting power of 

the river as it meanders through deep deposits of alluvial 

gravel and boulders. North of the river are steep, grasscovered, south-facing slopes, some of which show evidence 

of former mining operations. On the opposite side of 

the river, foothill belt vegetation dominates the cooler, 

north-facing slope. At points along the road are fine examples of well-crafted, random, angular, fitted-rock riprap. 

Just east of El Portal, at the mouth of the Merced 

Gorge, the park boundary is marked by a stone pylon and 

sign. Here the character of the road changes. The road 

narrows and begins to ascend the granite slopes above 

the cascading river, with a retaining wall between the 

road and steep drop-offs. This is the westerly extent of 

the third and last glacial epoch. Steep canyon walls as 

high as 3,000 feet form a narrow, V-shaped valley floor. 

Frequent rockfalls and landslides in this geologically 

active area have littered the riverbed with house-sized 

boulders and rocks from the steep slopes above. Flooding 

has caused significant damage to the road over the years. 

Extreme floods in 1997 washed out numerous sections of 

the road, all of which have been rebuilt, widened, and/or 

straightened. Along the river’s edge, long sections of rockpatterned, liner-formed concrete guard walls replaced 

the original hand-laid, worked-granite blocks. A few 

examples of original stonework of site materials remain, 

including hand-laid masonry guard walls at Arch Rock, 

lined ditches and culverts from the 1920s, and the granite rubble entry pylon and wooden sign from 1930 at the 

park boundary line. 

From the Merced River Gorge the road follows the 

historic wagon road alignment. Along this route, riparian 

vegetation of varying density lines the more stable banks 

along the river. Views are limited by dense vegetation 

and the closeness of the canyon walls. However, glimpses 

of the boulder-strewn rapids and pools of the Merced are 

compelling, especially during the spring snowmelt. Rock 

cuts made to widen the roadway in the first half of the 

20th century were carefully designed to blend with the 

surroundings. This has been enhanced by the growth of 

natural vegetation.

At Arch Rock there is an entrance station and 

parking for a picnic area and comfort station. Visitors 

stop to photograph Arch Rock and the often-wild 

1923

El Portal Road, Merced River (2010) RF
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Merced River that cascades past the canyon’s monumental walls. The narrow El Portal road ascends through 

Arch Rock, a dramatic and unique gateway to the park 

from the west, then past Cascade Creek, where a picnic 

area and overlook to Cascade Fall exist. The road continues to Fireplace Creek, where it connects with Big Oak 

Flat Road. At the eastern terminus of El Portal Road is 

the Pohono Bridge, constructed in 1920 (NPS 2007c). 

Here, at an elevation of 3,750 feet, El Portal Road meets 

the Valley Loop Road.

The El Portal Road exhibits a conscious alignment 

in relation to rockfall boulders and trees. Many of the 

masonry improvements in the 1930s along El Portal Road 

were based on “principles of naturalistic design and use 

of native materials” (NPS 2007c).

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New road design should conform to The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

guidance on compatibility.

•	New design along the road should continue the use 

of slope stabilization techniques that encourage 

riparian vegetation, such as mechanically stabilized 

earth gabions.

•	The use of faux-rock form-liner concrete retaining walls 

should be limited to the repair or replacement of such 

walls as they currently exist along the gorge segment of 

El Portal Road. New design should use historically compatible masonry or concrete retaining walls.

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for Major Road Corridors” 

in this chapter for more guidelines on road corridors.

B I G O A K F L A T R O A D

This 18-mile road extends from the Big Oak Flat entrance 

to the juncture with the El Portal Road near Fireplace 

Creek, one mile downstream from Pohono Bridge. It 

starts at an elevation of 4,750 feet at Big Oak Flat, rises 

to 6,250 feet at Crane Flat, and descends to under 4,000

feet at the El Portal Road junction. The alignment is called 

the “new” Big Oak Flat Road, having been built under the 

supervision of landscape architects in the 1930s to replace 

the original route that served horse and wagon traffic. The 

road’s original incarnation was as one of the earliest routes 

into Yosemite Valley and is determined eligible for listing 

on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the 

best examples of historic stonemasonry work in the park 

can be seen along this road. Because of significant cultural, 

visual, and scenic values, the section of Big Oak Flat 

Road from the entrance station to Crane Flat has been designated a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road.

From Big Oak Flat the road turns south and 

ascends slowly, past road cuts of dark-brown soil, to 

6,000 feet, climbing through a heavily forested, lower 

montane, mixed conifer zone. The road then turns 

easterly and begins to descend, sometimes steeply, in a 

combination of straight sections and curves to Crane 

Flat. A gas station and store are located just off the 

junction with Tioga Road at Crane Flat, providing services for travelers that are otherwise unavailable for miles 

to the east or west.

Boulders, Merced River Gorge (2011) RF
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Past Crane Flat the road steeply descends along 

southwest-facing slopes through patches of chaparral. 

Here, there are sweeping, sparsely vegetated views 

of Big Meadow, Foresta, and beyond—a result of the 

A-Rock and Big Meadow fires. Westward views, especially 

at sunset, can be vast and colorful. There are narrow, 

unsanctioned turnouts and a few formal turnouts along 

this section of the road, including Big Meadow overlook.

Just east of the juncture with the historic Foresta 

Road is a small paved turnout with entry and exit lanes, 

known as Half Dome View. This spot provides a view of 

the impressive steep walls of the narrow Merced River 

canyon, with Half Dome in the distance. Partially buried 

boulders and scattered canyon oaks at the southern end 

of the turnout present a recognizable transition from the 

pavement edge to the wilderness beyond. This transition 

area forms an appealing and often-photographed foreground to the compelling view. 

Along this section of the road, several large and 

small creeks intersect the road and cascade down the 

steep, forested slopes of the Merced River canyon. The 

steep slopes make the roadbed feel narrower and more 

constricted. Fine hand-laid guard and retaining walls of 

large, local, rough-worked granite blocks are set between 

house-sized boulders in narrow gorges. Three graceful 

bridges, built in the 1930s of reinforced concrete, cross 

Wildcat, Tamarack, and Cascade creeks. Three tunnels 

were cut through topographic shoulders to allow for a 

constant roadway gradient and to minimize scarring. 

The tunnel portals, characterized as “some of the finest 

stone work in the park,” were flanked and topped with 

replanted native vegetation (Davis 2004). The masonry 

retaining walls and tunnel portals are “illustrative of 

landscape design and Rustic architecture principles” 

(NPS 2004b). Exiting the tunnels, the road continues to 

descend through oak-dominated foothill vegetation until 

it joins the El Portal road in a sharply angled intersection 

adjacent to the Merced River. 

top Tunnel portal, Big Oak Flat Road (2008) GH bottom Old Big Oak Flat Road

1938
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top Fitted riprap, Big Oak Flat Road (2008) GH middle Half Dome View, Big Oak Flat 

Road (2010) DN bottom Concrete bridge over Cascade Creek, Big Oak Flat Road 

(date unknown) YRL-RA

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New road design should conform to The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

guidance on compatibility and the NPS Park Road 

Standards (Director’s Order 87a).

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for Major Road 

Corridors” in this chapter. 

G l acier P oint R oad

The historic 16-mile Glacier Point Road runs from 

Chinquapin to Glacier Point. The road ranges from 6,040

feet in elevation at Chinquapin to 7,750 feet in elevation 

between Ostrander Rocks and Washburn Point; it then 

descends to 7,214 feet at Glacier Point. At only 18 feet 

wide, it is narrower than some of the other main roads in 

the park. The road shoulder varies in width except at the 

switchback section near Glacier Point, where there are no 

shoulders (NPS 2007a). In the winter the road is closed to 

vehicle traffic from Badger Pass ski area to Glacier Point.

Glacier Point is not a through road. Visitors 

instead head for one or more of the destinations along 

the road, including Badger Pass, wilderness trailheads, 

Bridalveil Creek campground, Washburn Point, and 

Glacier Point. Turnouts designed to capture spectacular 

views include El Portal View, Clark Range View, Sentinel 

Dome, and Washburn Point. The road is a notable example of 1930s naturalistic road aesthetics. It was designed 

to take advantage of views and to fit comfortably within 

natural topography, and the road prism was naturalized 

by creating gradual side slopes and revegetating with 

native vegetation (NPS 2007a). 

From Bridalveil Creek Bridge to Clark Range View, 

and again in the Pothole Meadows area to Glacier Point, 

significant segments follow the historic alignment of the 

Old Glacier Point Road. Trailheads at various points along 

the corridor provide access to McGurk Meadow, Buena 
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Vista Crest, Alder Creek, the Clark Range, Ostrander 

Lake, Pohono, Sentinel Dome, and the Panorama trails. 

Glacier Point Road was purposefully designed to 

meander through the forest and along the edges of vegetation communities in order to prolong the visitor’s 

approach to the view of Yosemite Valley and its massive 

granite walls. Road designers removed shrubs and trees 

at turnouts and at other places along the road to enhance 

views. Through-cuts in the granite were sometimes covered with local soil and planted with site-appropriate 

vegetation. Specimen trees were planted at visually 

critical locations such as bends in the road. The large 

red firs near Summit Meadow are a good example. Today, 

large mature trees along the roadway tower over humanconstructed features, immersing visitors in the natural 

world (NPS 2007a). This contributes significantly to a 

sense of remoteness.

Between Chinquapin and the entrance to the Badger 

Pass ski area, a mixed conifer forest of pine, cedar, and fir 

dominates the winding, relatively level road. Elsewhere, 

the curving road is characterized by relatively dense, 

mixed conifer forest that conceals all but a few glimpsed 

views where there are gaps in the trees or where tree 

density is lighter. Informal, sometimes narrow and unpaved 

turnouts can occur at these viewpoints (NPS 2007a).

As the road climbs gently east of Badger Pass, 

stands of red fir predominate for a distance of about 

eight miles. The wide spacing, limited understory, and 

dark trunks of these tall, mature specimens, as well as 

the dark soils they grow in, distinguish these groves 

from the mixed conifer stands back down the road (NPS 

2007a). Beyond the restored Bridalveil Creek bridge, 

the road straightens, with only a few long curves. Here 

the road follows the historic alignment. Red fir gives 

way to mixed stands of Jeffrey and lodgepole pines with 

more shrubbery, including manzanita, Ceanothus velutinus (tobacco brush), and Ceanothus cordulatus (snow 

brush), providing a lighter, greener understory.

Near Mono Meadows, just before the Clark Range 

View turnout, the road turns 90 degrees toward the 

north, following the historic alignment, across the level 

Pothole Meadows, and descends through Sentinel Saddle 

toward Washburn Point.

Panorama view, Glacier Point Road (2011) RF
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Approaching Washburn Point, stunning views of 

Half Dome, Little Yosemite Valley, the Illilouette drainage, 

and Tenaya Creek Canyon are visible before visitors even 

reach the parking lot. The long, sweeping views are visible from the parking area. Washburn Point provides a 

different experience from Glacier Point, where parking is 

separated from the pedestrian-oriented viewing areas. 

Past Washburn Point, a series of switchbacks 

descends toward Glacier Point. Here the steep, winding 

road narrows a bit and reenters a forest of red fir. There 

is more light and greater spacing between these fir trees, 

in part because of the presence of granite boulders, outcrops, and shoulders. Long views are nevertheless limited, 

if not obstructed. At the base of the switchback zone 

the road ends in a loop at the Glacier Point parking area. 

A pedestrian loop leads from the parking area to Glacier 

Point, with its magnificent, sweeping views from northwest to east of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and scores 

of peaks and ridges of the Sierra crest.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New design should follow compatibility guidance in 

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment 

of Historic Properties and the NPS Park Road Standards 

(Director’s Order 87a).

•	New design should take advantage of opportunities 

to manage, remove, thin, and plant native vegetation 

to create, restore, and retain significant views from 

turnouts.

•	Design hardscape and plantings with a naturalistic 

approach and in a manner that creates an imperceptible 

transition from the constructed road edge to the natural 

areas beyond. 

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for Major Road Corridors” 

in this chapter.

Vehicle barrier, Washburn Point, Glacier Point Road (2007) GH Half Dome and Little Yosemite Valley, Washburn Point, Glacier Point Road (2008) GH

Bridalveil Creek 

Bridge, Glacier Point 

Road (2007) TP

1934
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W A W O N A R O A D

Wawona Road runs 27 miles from State Highway 41 at 

the southernmost boundary of the park to its crossing 

with Southside Drive near Bridalveil Fall. A stone pylon 

and timber sign in the Rustic style marks the park’s 

boundary near the South Entrance. From there the road 

winds gently for about a mile in a northerly direction 

through dense coniferous forest until it reaches the South 

Entrance Station. The South Entrance Station receives 

more vehicle traffic—in the form of automobiles, recreational vehicles, and trucks—than any other park 

entrance. The Mariposa Grove Road begins at the South 

Entrance and continues east toward the popular Mariposa 

Grove of Giant Sequoias. After leaving the South Entrance 

Station, the Wawona Road runs north and then predominantly northwest, ascending and winding slowly from 

an elevation of 5,000 feet through forests of mixed pine, 

cedar, and fir. There are few views and turnouts along 

this segment.

The road then descends slowly to below 4,000 feet, 

past the dense grasses of Wawona Meadow, paralleling a 

tributary of the South Fork of the Merced River. Dense 

coniferous vegetation surrounds the meadow, the ninehole golf course, and the green foreground of the historic 

Wawona Hotel, all in full view from the road. Past the 

unique cluster of white buildings on its north side, the 

road crosses a contemporary masonry-faced bridge over 

the South Fork of the Merced. To the east, scattered 

on the flat floodplain valley and meadow, are facilities 

including the Wawona Hotel, the Pioneer Yosemite 

History Center, an administrative center, and a maintenance area. Chilnualna Falls Road leads east from here 

to Section 35, an area interspersed with private in-holdings, containing a mixture of NPS housing and vacation 

cabins. Mariposa Grove, Chilnualna Falls, and Meadow 

Loop trails converge on this area.

Within a quarter mile northwest of the bridge, at 

slightly under 4,000 feet, short views through roadside 

conifers open up to the river, riparian vegetation, and the 

Wawona Campground. On the low terraces above the 

river, U.S Army Cavalry Captain A.E. Wood built a 

sunny encampment for troops who patrolled the park 

in the early 1900s.

Ascending in a more northerly direction, the road 

winds past trails leading to Empire Meadows, Deer Camp, 

and the Sierra National Forest before ascending in a 

sharp bend at Mosquito Creek. There are few significant 

view gaps through the mixed coniferous trees crowding 

both sides of the road. In places, the road follows the 

historic alignment.

Wawona Road continues past the entrance to 

Yosemite West (a privately owned community inholding) 

before reaching the Chinquapin intersection with Glacier 

Point Road. At 6,000 feet, Chinquapin is comprised of a 

cluster of white buildings similar in character to those at 

Wawona. Leading from the broad paved intersection and 

winter chain-up area is the Glacier Point Road, which 

offers all-season access to the Badger Pass ski area and 

seasonal access to popular Glacier Point.

Tunnel View, Wawona Road (2008) DN
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From Chinquapin, Wawona Road continues northward, descending gently and curving through miles of 

coniferous forest between 5,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation. Before reaching Turtleback Dome, roadside gaps 

in the forest vegetation begin to appear, followed by an 

abrupt opening of wide views to the west over a broad 

zone of chaparral, the result of past forest fires. Informal, 

unauthorized turnouts begin to appear along the west 

edge of the road.

The road continues to descend slowly north of 

Turtleback Dome in long curves. Views are largely limited 

by mixed coniferous vegetation, with the exception of a 

few gaps through which the steep walls of the Merced 

River Canyon can be glimpsed. After a short distance, and 

rather suddenly, the road turns toward the east, drops to 

about 4,200 feet, and reveals a partial view of Yosemite 

Valley and the west portal of the historic Wawona Tunnel. 

The east portal of the tunnel is hewn out of granite bedrock. The renovated Tunnel View overlook, just past the 

tunnel, offers a spectacular up-Valley view to Half Dome 

and attracts thousands of visitors daily. The handsome 

rustic stone retaining and guard walls built by skilled 

masons in 1933 are still in place. 

From Tunnel View overlook, the road descends to 

the east through dense forest to its terminus in Yosemite 

Valley near Bridalveil Fall, at an elevation of 3,750 feet. 

Here Wawona Road merges with Southside Drive.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	New road design should conform to The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

for guidance to ensure compatibility and the NPS Park 

Road Standards (Director’s Order 87a).

•	Design new turnouts or improvements to existing 

turnouts between Wawona and the Wawona tunnel to 

take advantage of outstanding views.

•	 See “General Guidelines for Major Road Corridors” in 

this chapter for guidelines on trailheads.

H E T C H H E T C H Y R O A D

Hetch Hetchy Road begins at Camp Mather and travels 

eight miles past the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station to 

the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Preceding Hetch Hetchy 

Road, visitors travel along Evergreen Road, which runs 

from Highway 120 near the Big Oak Flat entrance to 

Camp Mather. Beginning at 4,700 feet in the Stanislaus 

National Forest, Evergreen Road passes through gently 

rolling, lower montane coniferous forest. The forest is 

interrupted by several large meadows and a few simple 

homesteads and barns built in the attractive mountain 

rural vernacular.

After entering Yosemite National Park and passing 

the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station, the road briefly 

ascends to Poopenaut Pass, then descends steadily toward 

O’Shaughnessy Dam. The road is very narrow, lacking a 

centerline and shoulders in many places. North of the 

entrance station the road changes character, breaking 

out of the coniferous forest, narrowing, and descending 

along the precipitous slopes above the Tuolumne River. 

Vegetation changes to a broadleaved, upland, woodland 

type, consisting of blue oak, foothill pine mix, and juniper. 

Impressive views to the northwest overlook the rugged 

and wooded Poopenaut Valley, the Tuolumne River, 

O’Shaughnessy Dam, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and adjacent granitic slopes.

The winding section of road just above and leading to the dam is narrower than most other major roads 

in the park, and it follows the original alignment of the 

rail line used in the construction of the dam. To avoid 

extensive upslope excavation and downslope overcasting 

in this steep terrain, slope retention was required. This 

resulted in some of the finest examples of granite guard 

walls, retaining walls, culverts, swales, and fitted riprap 

found in the park. The rectangular rough-worked blocks 

and fitted random angular stones match the dark-grey 

color of the surrounding granite shoulders and boulders. 

Some of the granite-faced culverts were rehabilitated 

after the 1997 flood, replicating the important handmade quality of the original work.

1932
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G U I D E L I N E S

•	New road design should conform to The Secretary of the 

Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

guidance on compatibility and the NPS Park Road 

Standards (Director’s Order 87a).

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for Major Road 

Corridors” in this chapter.

V E H I C L E B R I D G E s

With the exception of the steel-truss second Sentinel 

Bridge, erected in 1879, most of the 19th and early 20th 

century bridges in Yosemite were either simple spans 

of large logs or trusses of timber. Compared to the surrounding granite cliffs in Yosemite Valley, the early bridges 

of wood and steel trusswork appear fragile and even temporary when compared to modern bridges. Given the 

frequent flooding of the Merced River, the natural erosion 

and migration of the riverbed through the relatively 

soft alluvium of the Valley floor, and the geological 

dynamics of Yosemite, this temporary appearance may 

be appropriate.

The early bridges were initially designed for the 

lighter loads of pedestrians, horses, and horse-drawn 

wagons. With the exception of the rebuilt covered bridge 

over the South Fork of the Merced River at Wawona, 

none of these early bridges survives in original form. 

Most were built with locally available materials. The 

military who patrolled the park at the turn of the 19th 

century were responsible for the more complex truss 

structures. The 20th century brought heavier vehicles to 

the park, leading to wider paved roads, and with them, 

a greater need for wider, stronger structures spanning 

greater distances. Reinforced concrete spans began to 

appear in the 1920s in the Valley. Built in the 20th century and distributed throughout the park, these bridges 

span numerous seasonal and perennial creeks in addition 

to the Tuolumne and Merced rivers and their tributaries. 

They are found in widely differing settings, both visually 

top Road above dam, Hetch Hetchy (2009) TP bottom Masonry guard walls, 

Hetch Hetchy Road (2007) GH

1925
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and historically, at elevations ranging from 4,000 feet 

at the South Fork of the Merced at Wawona to 8,600

feet at the Tuolumne River in Tuolumne Meadows (Davis, 

Croteau, and Marston 2004).

Yosemite’s historic vehicle bridges can generally be 

divided into two broad categories:

•	Historic reinforced concrete open spandrel arches. Good 

examples of this type include Cascade, Tamarack, 

and Wildcat Creek bridges, which seem to sit lightly 

but tenaciously in their rugged settings. Graceful primary arches spring from abutments, and smaller arched 

forms support the roadway. The simple concrete guard 

rails with evenly spaced openings and stout top and 

bottom rails are low enough so that seated passengers can see over them to the scenery beyond. These 

bridges, designed in the 1930s, were considered streamlined, and are appropriate for steep terrain spanning 

deep ravines or gorges.

•	 Rusticated. The Rustic style emphasized a handmade 

look, and most early structures were in fact built with 

hand tools. Only relatively unrefined local materials or 

materials matching local sources were used for the rustic 

appearance. Structures were designed to reference natural forces such as gravity and severe weather conditions 

such as heavy snows. For example, wet or dry masonry 

walls involved careful but straightforward nesting of 

interlocking stones with the largest stones at the base of 

the walls, thereby expressing gravity and the limitations 

of hand labor. The walls were always visually anchored 

to the ground at the base (or, in the case of arched 

bridges, sprung from the riverbanks), typically being 

battered or splayed at the ground line. The large scale 

and relatively crude shaping of materials and the irregularity of repeated features (such as with stone guard 

and retaining walls) all expressed the apparent limitations of handwork and hand tools, but also, and more 

importantly, hinted at a relationship to the grandeur of 

the surrounding mountain landscape.

Streamlined concrete bridge at Cascade Creek, Big Oak Flat Road (date unknown) RA Bridalveil Creek Bridge, Glacier Point Road (2007) GH
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Applied specifically to vehicle bridges, rustication 

involved hand-shaped granite stones for self-supporting 

guard walls, with spandrel cladding as an extension of 

wing wall cladding that sprang from grade, often engaging huge site boulders. Piers and abutments were likewise 

clad with stone and hand-hewn timber or log members. 

Even though the rustication was intended to portray a 

historic appearance while covering reinforced concrete 

or steel support structures, the materials used were not 

artificial, and the construction was essentially by hand 

labor or convincingly conveyed that quality. Rustication 

of functional structures such as bridges in the classic 

Rustic style can be distinguished from more contemporary attempts at copying past styles or looks (such as 

faux rock walls).

Many of the park’s creeks, rivers, and ravines are 

spanned by steel or reinforced concrete beams or arches 

clad with various types of stonemasonry or concealed 

beneath timber falsework. The guard rail designs and 

heights for bridges rusticated with masonry vary from 

crossing to crossing, as does the provision of a sidewalk. The rustic arched masonry-clad concrete bridges 

included hand-shaped ring stones of granite quarried 

in the park. More recent contemporary rustic bridges, 

incorporating new standards such as higher guard walls, 

have had varying degrees of success in meeting the 

aesthetic standards of the 1930s rustic styles.

With respect to views from the road, most older 

bridges had guard rails or parapet walks, which were low 

enough (generally 24–36 inches) to see over from a seated 

position in a private automobile. Newer bridges have 

high guard walls or large-diameter pipe or timber railings wherever there is a dropoff of more than 30 inches 

high and where pedestrian traffic is expected. Some pipe 

railings employ reflective metals and have been given a 

streamlined appearance with curved support brackets.

G U I D E L I N E S

•	 For design of new bridges, designers should consult The 

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of 

Historic Properties for guidance to ensure compatibility 

and the NPS Park Road Standards (Director’s Order 87a).

•	In areas of steep terrain, deep ravines, or gorges, the 

1930s-era, streamlined, reinforced concrete arch and 

guard rail system bridges could serve as appropriate 

models.

•	 Masonry cladding for new bridges should only be 

applied from the ground up—for example, masonry 

cladding should not be applied only to suspended 

spandrels or railings without also being applied to 

piers, abutments, pylons, and wing walls.

•	 Masonry cladding on concrete arch and spandrels, as 

well as parapet guard walls on new bridges, should 

retain the historic patterns found in the park. Use practical, simple, timeless-looking stone patterns that were 

typical of rusticated structures of the 1930s, and not 

designed patterns such as Ashlar, a style unrelated to 

the practical, structurally based use of natural, locally 

found stone of past eras. Continue the use of ring 

stones on stone-clad arched spans. Mortar joints should 

be narrow and deep-raked to the extent possible, to give 

an appearance similar to that of a dry-laid wall.

•	Where little or no pedestrian use is anticipated, low, 

masonry-clad, solid parapet guard walls are preferable 

to taller open ones with metal or timber top rails on 

arched spans.

•	 Log or rough-cut timber post and rail systems are preferred to metal piping guard rails. Where no pedestrian 

use is anticipated, consider large-diameter unpeeled 

logs secured as guard rails on concrete or steel-girder 

deck bridges. 
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E N T R A N C E S T A T I O N S

Yosemite’s entrance stations function as doorways where 

uniformed park staff welcome visitors and provide them 

with information to enrich their time in the park. Rather 

than being located exactly at the park boundaries, stations 

occupy sites that enhance the sense of arrival in a unique 

and special place. At the same time, the entrance stations 

are meant to be symbols of the National Park Service’s 

authority and oversight. This helps to remind visitors that 

their enjoyment of the park also carries with it the responsibility to help protect Yosemite’s wonders.

Shifting park boundaries and road alignments mean 

that Yosemite has had entrance stations—or “checking 

stations,” as they were originally termed—at a number 

of different locations over the years. The current stations 

are: Hetch Hetchy near Camp Mather, Big Oak Flat in 

the Hodgdon Meadow area, Arch Rock on the El Portal 

Road, the South Entrance at the intersection of the 

Wawona Road and the Mariposa Grove Road, and Tioga 

Pass on the eastern boundary of the park. The facilities themselves have been repeatedly modified in response to 

changing traffic patterns, administrative needs, and, in 

some cases, natural disasters. The stations are typically 

made up of one or more kiosks, a comfort station, and a 

residence unit (in some cases converted to an office).

Arch Rock Entrance Station, dating from 1926 and 

partially reconstructed in 2009, is the oldest entrance 

station in use. It was built in conjunction with the All 

Weather Highway through the Merced River canyon, and 

was sited to take advantage of the natural granite arch 

that formed a suitable entry point to the park. The location—immediately adjacent to the Merced River—has 

made the station vulnerable to periodic flooding.

The Tioga Pass Entrance Station was built during 

1931 and 1932 to replace an earlier facility in Tuolumne 

Meadows. It is a notable example of Rustic design, using 

rugged stone and log construction to blend in with the 

scenery of the High Sierra.

The 1934 South Entrance complex reflects a different expression of Rustic design, with low wood-frame 

buildings with rubble foundations for harmony with the Arch Rock, El Portal Road (date unknown) YRL

Tioga Pass Entrance Station (2007) GH
R o a d s + E n t r a n c e S t a t i o n s

305

heavily wooded site. This included using stones that were 

specially selected for their worn and weathered appearance in the foundations. The layout of the station has been 

changed on several occasions to better handle traffic or 

to protect the buildings from the traffic—problems compounded by narrow lanes and tight curves (NPS 1999b).

The Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station buildings 

have a design similar to those at the South Entrance, 

Chinquapin, and Crane Flat. This includes the kiosk, 

which was originally built in the 1950s and reconstructed 

in 2010 to be compatible with adjacent Rustic style 

buildings. By contrast, the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station 

complex, which was originally built in 1966 and reconstructed in 2010, reflects the simplified architecture of 

the Mission 66 period.

G E N E R A L G U I D E L I N E S

•	 For new design at entrance stations, designers should 

consult The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the 

Treatment of Historic Properties for guidance to ensure 

compatibility.

•	 Entry markers are an important first opportunity 

to present a welcoming image of the national park 

and to communicate to the visitor the experience 

beyond the point of entry. Refer to “Landscape Uses 

+ Structures—Entrance Markers” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

•	At fee kiosk medians it is essential to retain the NPS 

Rustic character in the design and detailing of vehicle 

barriers. Median designs for entry stations—including 

choices for color and texture—should relate to and 

draw from natural conditions flanking the station. These 

include soil type and color; vegetation type, color, and 

pattern; boulders; cuts into granitic or soil slopes; and 

outcrops. Unfinished natural materials, such as boulders, timbers, or rough-formed concrete in the form 

of stout, oversized, rounded or square bollards with 

top Conceptual entrance station plan bottom Conceptual fee kiosk plan
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306 NPS

integrated shielded lighting, are appropriate. If large 

boulders are used, they should be buried at least onethird of their height and anchored at the approach 

and departure ends of the kiosks, and they should be 

distributed and clustered with smaller boulders in random and naturalistic patterns as required for security 

and pedestrian safety.

•	 Medians should be uniformly enclosed by large-scale, 

worked, single-course granite block curbs forming 

long, narrow, asymmetrical median zones shaped to 

direct traffic flow to the reception and departure windows. Use pavement markings and colored reflectors 

on the curb face to direct oncoming traffic around and 

to the right of kiosks.

•	 Medians should be planted with low-growing shrubs 

and/or grasses of the appropriate vegetation zone. 

Vegetation should not block views to and from the 

kiosk.

•	 Entry signs—such as the NPS arrowhead logo and 

informational signs that include entrance fees, fees 

at work, and “campgrounds full” signs—should be 

designed with the NPS Rustic architectural style in 

mind. Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Sign 

Character” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	Give special attention to interior lighting in order to 

avoid glare and reflection on the viewing windows. 

The use of task lighting is an effective technique to 

control the interior environment. The pass-through 

windows require special attention; control the relative 

brightness of interior space with the adjacent outdoor 

area so that there is a transparency between the two. 

Observe the principles of night-sky practice. Refer 

to the park lighting guidelines and “Landscape Uses 

+ Structures—Lighting” in the “Unifying Elements” 

chapter.

•	At some entry stations such as Tioga 

Pass, Big Oak Flat, and 

South Entrance, it will 

be appropriate to provide for an approach 

parking area and pedestrian plaza within a 

short walking distance 

of the entrance kiosk, 

with a safe, clearly 

marked walking path 

to the kiosk. Refer to 

Tioga Pass Entrance Station (2008) GH

Fee kiosk (2007) GH Tioga Pass entrance gates (2008) GH
R o a d s + E n t r a n c e S t a t i o n s

307

South Entrance Station (2008) GH

“General Guidelines for Major Road Corridors” in this 

chapter for a discussion of trailheads and turnouts.

•	A desirable rustic character for the kiosk can be achieved 

by the use of wood-post-and-beam framing. Masonry, as 

the protected base, is a desirable and useful treatment, 

as the splash caused by vehicles as they proceed past 

the kiosk can be considerable. Sash and doors should 

be painted in NPS Rustic colors.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Small 

Buildings” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter. 

•	The roof slope should reflect the slope found in adjacent 

structures, particularly those that are historic, such as 

the office or rangers’ quarters. Because the traditional 

alignment of the ridge is parallel to the direction of the 

traffic, it becomes necessary to control and collect rain 

and snow so that it does not interfere with the visitor–

ranger interface and function. Roofing material of 

fire-retardant sawn shakes, weathering metal, or properly bonded color coatings are appropriate.

•	Wall cladding should be of wood with resawn surface, 

trimmed with members that are a minimum of 7⁄8 inches 

in thickness. Shingle or shake sidewalls with corner 

boards can be an effective treatment. Use transparent 

stain finish.

•	Design structures so that the occupant of the kiosk 

structure will have clear views in every direction. 

•	 Entrance gates such as the Tioga Pass log gate which 

pivots with reflectors to warn approaching motorists, 

are still an effective solution for low-key control. These 

gates can also function as markers, reminding visitors 

that they are passing over the threshold to a very special environment. 

•	 Security equipment or features included in the median 

and kiosk designs should be integrated into the structures so that they do not detract from the character at 

each of these entrances.

•	 Light poles, where needed, should be placed to the 

sides of the roadway. Poles can be prefinished metal, 

bronze or dark brown, or wood, blending as much as 

possible with the surrounding site.

•	 See also the “Unifying Elements” chapter for guidelines on lighting.
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T I O G A P A S S E N T R A N C E S T A T I O N

After departing the Mono Basin east of Yosemite and 

negotiating Highway 120’s narrow, winding road that 

ascends through the steep walls of Lee Vining Canyon, 

motorists finally arrive at the summit of Tioga Pass, 

at 9,945 feet. There they find the Tioga Pass Entrance 

Station. Set at the northeast end of Dana Meadows, the 

entrance station is surrounded by majestic bulwarks of 

the central Sierra crest, including Mt. Dana (13,053 feet) 

and Mt. Gibbs (12,764 feet) to the south and Gaylor 

Mountain to the north. Looking west is the spectacular, 

snow-covered Kuna Crest, with bright blue tarns and 

golden meadows in the foreground. This extraordinary 

view, along with the rarified air, wind, and white daylight, present a sense of stark isolation at this remote 

entrance to the park. The fragile high-altitude subalpine 

vegetation is particularly vulnerable to damage from 

pedestrian traffic, evident in several areas around the 

ranger’s office.

Tioga Pass is the highest automobile pass in 

California. The first winter storm closes the road sometime between mid-October and mid-December. The deep 

drifts usually cannot be plowed clear until late May or June. 

Often snowbanks still line the road into July and snow can 

be seen on the surrounding peaks well into the summer.

The Tioga Pass complex consists of recently reconstructed entrance gates made of peeled logs that are 

supported from the original 1934 masonry piers, the 

ranger station and comfort station dating from 1934, 

and a Mission 66 era fee kiosk.

The ranger station, built in 1934, was the first 

stone building of the NPS Rustic architectural style built 

by the National Park Service in the Tuolumne Meadows/

Tioga Pass area. It was listed on the National Register of 

Historic Places in 1978. According to NPS landscape 

architect John Wosky, it set the precedent for use of the 

Rustic style in this area of the park; other Rustic stone 

buildings were erected in Tuolumne Meadows at the 

same time. Initially the building was a combined onebedroom residence and ranger station. Today it is used 

entirely as an office. It stands on the north side of the 

highway adjacent to the fee kiosk. It is a predominantly 

stone building, roughly 28 feet square, with a porch 

across its south facade. The entrance door at the eastern 

end of the porch opens into a lobby with a finely scaled 

Views to Dana Meadows 0 100 200 300 400 600

1 Tioga Road

2 Parking Area

3 Parking Area

4 Trail to Gaylor Lake

5 Comfort Station

 6 Ranger Office 

 7 Stone Pylon and Gate 

 8 Memorial Stone

 9 Tioga Entrance Kiosk

to Lee Vining

to Tuolumne 

Meadows

2 1

10

7

6

4

3 5 8

9

Views to Dana Meadows 0 100 200 300 400 600

1 Tioga Road

2 Parking Area

3 Parking Area

4 Trail to Gaylor Lake

 6 Ranger Office 

 7 Stone Pylon and Gate 

 8 Memorial Stone

9 Tioga Entrance Kiosk

to Lee Vining

to Tuolumne 

Meadows

2 1

10

7

6

4

3 5 8

9

1 Tioga Road

2 Parking Area

3 Parking Area

4 Trail to Gaylor Lakes

5 Comfort Station

6 Ranger Office

7 Stone Pylon and Gate

8 Memorial Stone

9 Entrance Kiosk

10 Highway 120

T i o g a p a s s e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n
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309

top left Porch, Tioga Pass Entrance Station (2008) GH top right Masonry pier and gate support, Tioga Pass Entrance Station (2008) GH middle left Tioga Pass Entrance 

Station from the east (2008) GH bottom Tioga Pass Entrance Station; from Park and Recreation Structures (1938) Good
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

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stone corner fireplace. The building has large-scale 

masonry walls with added wood beams for window lintels. 

The roof is framed with logs of about eight inches in 

diameter that support a shingled roof. The entrance 

porch, enclosed with a low stone wall, has two peeled-log 

columns that mark the entrance. Hunkered down into the 

hillside, the station appears to emerge from the uphill 

sloping grade, its masonry walls blending with the boulder-strewn hillside. The white flagpole adds an elegant 

vertical accent to the setting. The architectural drawings 

of the station were included in the highly regarded Park 

and Recreation Structures (Good 1938). The text states 

that “the difficulties inherent in boulder masonry are 

here met rather better than usual.”

A few yards to the northwest, surrounded by a 

group of young trees, is the comfort station, built with 

the same materials as the ranger station. The comfort 

station was also constructed in 1934, and measures 

roughly 11 feet by 26 feet. The structure has battered, 

large-scale stone walls and a jerkinhead gable roof 

covered with shingles. 

...The Tioga Pass region has inspired millions of visitors over the years. The late Ferdinand Castillo of the 

National Park Service became possessed by the area. 

Until his death in 1993, Ferdinand reigned as the “keeper 

of the gate,” working in the small entrance station at the 

top of the Sierra. 

“Welcome to Yosemite,” Ferdinand would intone as he 

greeted incoming visitors. Often he added a “travelers’ 

advisory” to his message. “The sun is low. Watch for deer 

on the road,” was a common warning. For those leaving 

the park and headed toward the Blue Slide area of Lee 

Vining Canyon, it was “Look out for rocks on the road. 

Please come back again.”—Reprinted by permission from 

Gene Rose, Yosemite’s Tioga Country, 2006

top Comfort station, Tioga Pass Entrance Station (2007) GH bottom Tioga Pass 

Entrance Station (2008) GH
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G U I D E L I N E S

•	New design should use stone materials for paving and 

rough-cut, random-length, granite for curbing, compatible with the masonry found on the building and 

the gate structure. Granite boulders should be placed 

in informal clusters as barriers to vehicles at pathway 

turning points, terminations, and at the intersections with pedestrian plazas. Refer to the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter for guidelines on circulation and 

pathways.

S O U T H E N T R A N C E S T A T I O N

The South Entrance Station is about one mile north of 

the park boundary on the Wawona Road, at an elevation 

of 5,150 feet. The landscape is characterized by dense 

groves of large incense-cedar trees, medium-green foliage, and a shaded forest floor of dark-brown soil thick 

with duff. 

In July 1934, federal relief funds became available to 

build the South Entrance Station, a comfort station, and 

nearby housing for the rangers employed year-round in the 

Wawona District. The buildings were all constructed using 

locally available materials and were designed to blend harmoniously with the setting. The buildings are set on a 

gentle southwest-facing slope in a dense, mature, lower 

montane coniferous forest. They consist of a restored 

entrance station building, a ranger residence, a comfort 

station, and two non-historic fee kiosks.

The ranger residence is a wood-frame structure, 

approximately 36 feet by 68 feet, with two separate 

living quarters. The exterior steps and the foundation 

of the structure are made of rubble masonry. Workers 

transported the stone and sand needed to build the steps 

and foundation some six miles from 

the Wawona Basin. Originally, the 

gable roof was covered with shingles 

that were hand-brushed with a green 

creosote shingle stain. Today it is a 

standard cedar shingle, weathered a 

dark grey. A porch is at each end of 

the structure. The asymmetrical gable 

on the south elevation is worth noting. A garage was 

also constructed at this time, sited uphill at the end of 

a narrow drive to the rear of the residence. The garage 

structure also has a stone foundation and a gable roof, 

with the ridge running the long axis of the structure. 

Both the house and the garage are clad with bevel siding. 

The National Park Service used this same plan for the 

ranger residence at Crane Flat. 

The comfort station, measuring approximately 19

feet by 32 feet, is adjacent to the entrance kiosks on the 

east side. The wood-frame building has bevel redwood 

siding and a gable roof. The foundation consists of the 

same rubble masonry from the Wawona Basin—specifically from the bed of the South Fork of the Merced 

River—similar to the foundations of the ranger quarters 

and the entrance kiosk. Marked, river-washed, worn 

specimens were chosen for this purpose. Stone steps lead 

to entrances on either end of the building. The stone 

base extends approximately 30 inches above grade to the 

windowsills. This feature—the protected base—is a key 

element in Rustic design; in this instance, it is an important, character-defining element of the building. Designed 

for year-round use, the comfort station originally had a 

gas heating system and was lit with gas lamps. North of 

the comfort station is a stone drinking fountain. 

Flat hats at entrance 

station (2007) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

312 NPS 1 Historic Checking Station

2 South Entrance Kiosks

3 Flag Pole

4 Historic Comfort Station

5 Storage Shed

 8 Wawona Road 

 9 Historic Ranger Duplex

10 Historic Garage

11 Parking

12 Mariposa Grove Road 

to Yosemite Valley

to Mariposa Grove

to Oakhurst

2

1

6

4

3

5

7

8

9

10

11

12

1 Historic Checking Station 0 50 100 150 200 300

2 South Entrance Kiosks

3 Flag Pole

4 Historic Comfort Station

5 Storage Shed

6 Highway 41 

7 4-Mile Road

 8 Wawona Road 

 9 Historic Ranger Duplex

10 Historic Garage

11 Parking

12 Mariposa Grove Road 

13 Giant Sequoia 

to Yosemite Valley

to Mariposa Grove

to Oakhurst

2

1

6

4

3

5

7

8

9

10

11

12

0 50 100 150 200 300

The recently renovated historic entrance station 

(now used as an office) is a wood-frame structure with 

rubble granite foundation and a wood shingle gable roof. 

The building also originally had a gas heating system 

and gas lamps providing illumination. Like the ranger 

residence, the stone for the foundation came from the 

Wawona Basin. 

The South Entrance layout has undergone numerous changes through the years. Landscape architects, 

especially John Wosky, believed it never fulfilled the 

park’s needs with regard to traffic and circulation control 

(NPS 1987b).

Today the South Entrance 

is the most heavily used entrance 

in Yosemite. Despite the inconvenience of traffic delays, the 

handsome Rustic-style structures 

of the South Entrance continue 

to announce to visitors that they 

are entering a place where natural beauty abounds, and where 

the Valley’s massive granite walls 

and the Mariposa Grove’s stately 

giants continue to delight and 

inspire visitors since their protection in 1864. TOP RIGHT Comfort station, South 

Entrance (2008) GH 

1 Office

2 South Entrance Kiosks

3 Flag Pole

4 Comfort Station

5 Storage Shed

6 Wawona Road

7 Wawona Road

8 Ranger Duplex

9 Garage

10 Parking

11 Mariposa Grove Road

12 Giant Sequoia

s o u t h e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n
R o a d s + E n t r a n c e S t a t i o n s

313

G U I D E L I N E S

•	Cluster recycle and trash containers adjacent to the 

pedestrian plazas in areas with low visual impact. 

•	New fences for separating pedestrian and vehicle traffic 

and protecting planted areas should be rustic, splittimber, double-post barrier fences.

•	New log benches should be arranged to allow for social 

interaction. Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—

Barriers, Fences, and Benches” in the “Unifying 

Elements” chapter.

•	Consider the use of stabilized soils where feasible for 

all areas not subject to snow removal.

top left Entrance kiosks, South Entrance (2008) GH TOP right Ranger residence, South Entrance (2008) GH bottom left Comfort station, South Entrance (2010) RF 

bottom right Office, South Entrance (2008) GH

•	New signs should be limited to those that are essential to entrance function at the fee kiosk. The scale and 

character of necessary signs should not distract from 

the kiosk structure. Refer to the “Unifying Elements” 

chapter for guidelines on sign character.

•	 Primary light sources should not be visible or overly 

bright and should reflect the historic character of the 

area. Warning lights, although essential, should be 

kept to a minimum.

•	Refer to “Developed Areas—Building Exteriors” in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter. 

Detail, ranger residence, 

South Entrance (2008) GH
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

314 NPS

A R C H R O C K E N T R A N C E S T A T I O N

At an elevation of approximately 3,000 feet, this entrance 

station is the lowest in the park. It sits on a narrow shelf 

at the bottom of a river-cut canyon. The buildings are set 

amid house-sized boulders, close to the roaring rapids of 

the Merced River. The character of this landscape reflects 

the geologically unstable canyon walls and the power of the 

river as a cutting agent. The kiosks (one of which was 

completely rebuilt in 2010) and nearby historic ranger 

residence and offices are appropriately secondary in this 

setting. For visitors entering the park, there is a small, 

oak-shaded parking and picnic area overlooking the rapids 

and the adjacent riparian vegetation. At the river’s edge 

are the remains of a handsome worked-granite footbridge 

abutment, swept away in the flood of 1938, that contrasts 

with the dynamic, wild setting. 

G U I D E L I N E S

•	All new signs should be of the same architectural 

character as the existing station.

•	Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Sign 

Character” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for Entrance Stations” 

in this chapter regarding clustering of signs and 

median design.

•	Refer to the “Unifying Elements” chapter for guidelines on the layout of parking areas and masonry.

TOP Entrance kiosk, Arch Rock Entrance Station (2010) RF 

BOTTOM Office, Arch Rock Entrance Station (2007) GH
R o a d s + E n t r a n c e S t a t i o n s

315

0 40 80 120 160 240

1 El Portal Road

2 Arch Rock Entrance Kiosk

3 Office

4 Residence

5 Merced River

 6 Stone Guard Wall

 7 Parking Lot

 8 Well House

 9 Arch Rock

1

4

1

2

3

7

8

1

9

to El Portal

to Yosemite

Valley

5

6

0 40 80 120 160 240

1 El Portal Road

2 Arch Rock Entrance Kiosk

3 Office

4 Residence

5 Merced River

 6 Stone Guard Wall

 7 Parking Lot

 8 Well House

 9 Arch Rock

1

4

1

2

3

7

8

1

to El Portal

5

6

top Merced River, Arch Rock Entrance 

Station (2008) GH middle Guard wall 

incorporating existing boulder, Arch Rock 

Entrance Station (2007) GH 

bottom Roof bracket at office, Arch Rock 

Entrance Station (2007) GH

1 El Portal Road

2 Entrance Kiosk

3 Office

4 Residence and 

Comfort Station

5 Merced River

6 Stone Guard Wall

7 Parking Lot

8 Well House

9 Arch Rock

a r c h r o c k e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

316 NPS

•	 New plantings should be protected by split-timber 

barriers, either pierced-post or zigzag. Refer to 

“Landscape Uses + Structures—Barriers, Fences, 

and Benches” in the “Unifying Elements” chapter.

•	When planning new buildings or facilities, consider 

the use of porches and verandahs to gather various 

functions under a unified architectural motif.

1 Big Oak Flat Road

2 Hodgdon Road

3 Big Oak Flat Entrance Office

4 Big Oak Flat Entrance Kiosks

5 Parking Area 

 6 Information Center

 7 Comfort Stations

 8 Mather District Ranger Office 

 9 Emergency Generator

to Crane Flat

to Manteca

to Hogdon Meadow

2

1

7

6

4

3

5

8

9

0 50 100 150 200 300

to Crane Flat

to Manteca

to Hogdon Meadow

2

1

7

6

4

3

5

8

9

0 50 100 150 200 300

Fee kiosks, Big Oak Flat Entrance Station (2010) RF

B I G O A K F L A T E N T R A N C E S T A T I O N

The Big Oak Flat Entrance Station is set in a gently 

undulating, densely forested landscape of ponderosa 

pine, sugar pine, and Douglas fir at 4,900 feet. Second 

to the South Entrance, it receives many visitors and is an 

area of intense vehicle and pedestrian activity. The road 

almost doubles in width at the approach to the three fee 

kiosks, which were completely rebuilt in 2010, replacing 

the Mission 66-era kiosks. A generous parking area to the 

right is the foreground for a group of buildings of various 

sizes, ages, and shapes. These include a comfort station, 

offices, and other visitor service buildings. 

G U I D E L I N E S

•	A unified architectural style, compatible with the 2010

fee kiosks, should be used.

•	There is an opportunity to closely mass buildings to 

provide a view and connection to the forest behind the 

complex of visitor service buildings.

1 Big Oak Flat Road

2 Hodgdon Road

3 Entrance Office

4 Entrance Kiosks

5 Parking Area

6 Office

7 Comfort Stations

8 Information Center

9 Emergency Generator

b i g o a k f l a t e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n
R o a d s + E n t r a n c e S t a t i o n s

317

H E T C H H E T C H Y E N T R A N C E S T A T I O N

This remote, lightly visited entrance station is found in 

a heavily shaded, dense mixed pine and fir forest. It sits 

on a level bench at an elevation of approximately 4,200

feet, south of Poopenaut Valley. Beyond the Mission 66

kiosk (rehabilitated in 2010) are two historic Rustic 

buildings—a ranger residence and an office with a porch 

overlooking the station entrance and a garage to the rear. 

The site plan is similar to that found at Chinquapin. The 

station evokes the feeling of a settlement in a clearing— 

quiet and peaceful. An old corral and cabin are hidden 

among conifers behind and at some distance from the 

ranger residence and office. Across the road, recessed 

into the forest, is a cluster of small plywood cabins for 

seasonal employees. The Hetch Hetchy Road overlays the 

historic route of the rail line used in the construction of 

the Hetch Hetchy Dam.

G U I D E L I N E S 

•	 Future employee housing should be located away from 

the road and screened from the view of visitors.

•	Refer to “General Guidelines for Entrance Stations” 

in this chapter. 

2

1

1

7

6

4 3

5

8

0 50 100 150 200 300

to Highway 120

to Hetch Hetchy

1 Hetch Hetchy Road

5 Ranger Office

2

1

1

7

6

4 3

5

8

0 50 100 150 200 300

to Highway 120

to Hetch Hetchy

top Fee kiosk, Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station (2007) RF bottom Ranger office and 

residence, Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station (2008) GH 

Ranger office and residence, 

Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station 

(date unknown) YRL

1 Hetch Hetchy Road

2 Flag Pole

3 Entrance Kiosk

4 Boulder Barrier

5 Ranger Office

6 Garage

7 Electrical Shed

8 Pump House

h e t c h h e t c h y e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

318 NPS

The old shuttle bus stop at Sentinel Bridge, because of 

its simple, nonintrusive structure, has been adapted to 

new functional requirements.

G U I D E L I N E S

Site Design

•	 Shuttle bus stops should be designed for convenient 

connections with adjacent circulation pathways. 

Multiple entry points will provide easy access and 

allow approaches from different directions. The new 

Yosemite Falls stop is an example of a shuttle bus 

stop with multiple entry points.

•	 Pedestrian zones associated with each shuttle bus stop 

waiting area must be integrated with surrounding 

pedestrian trails or gathering areas. They must also 

relate to adjacent bike trails, providing for appropriate separation, caution indicators, and bike racks. For 

example, incorporate adjacent trails or sidewalks into 

the shuttle bus stop pavement instead of separating 

them with narrow planting areas.

•	Allow generous space for the free flow of pedestrians 

and multiple entry points in areas of high pedestrian 

traffic.

•	Use boulder and cobble clusters, tree drip lines, and 

grade changes to define the edges of pavements. This 

allows for informal transitions to adjacent planted or 

natural landscapes.

•	 Lay out leading edge curbs or warning strips in transitional curves to ensure that safety and functional 

requirements for buses are not compromised.

•	With either a raised or a flush waiting area, the use 

of a granite edge element is recommended. If there is 

a curb, the granite should be split-face with a flame 

finish. If there is no curb, the edge of the waiting 

area should be defined by a flush granite paver strip 

with flame finish.

•	 Shuttle bus shelters and their surroundings should 

incorporate a set of standard elements throughout the 

Valley. The roof shape proportions and ridge and eave 

S H U T T L E B U S S T O P S

Shuttle bus stops by their very nature should be easily 

recognizable yet also recede and blend as much as possible into the landscape. To preserve the visual tranquility 

of the setting, extra care must be given to the design of 

these structures. In some areas a structure such as a porch 

can provide the necessary shelter required for a bus stop, 

thus eliminating the need for an additional structure in 

the environment.

The key design elements of shuttle bus stops include 

the shelter structure design; the waiting area; transitions 

to pathways; and the treatment of vegetation, benches, 

barriers, lighting, and signs.

Most Valley shuttle bus stops have been redesigned 

to integrate site work into their natural and architectural 

surroundings. Details include a consistent system of site 

furnishings such as benches, fencing, information signs, 

and lighting. (The detailing of several of these shelters 

relates stylistically to nearby structures.)

Shuttle bus stops outside the Valley, often in highcountry settings, may not need the level of development 

found in the Valley, yet they should provide shelter during inclement weather.

S e t t i n g

Some Valley shuttle bus stops were refurbished in 2009, 

with new maps, schedules, and interpretive signs added; 

others were improved with new shelters and benches.

The setting for each new shuttle bus stop in 

Yosemite is different. Some are at the edges of open 

meadows, some are in the forest, and those planned for 

developed areas such as Yosemite Lodge and Curry 

Village will be located next to buildings. Some stops have 

shelters and others do not. The new shuttle bus stop at 

Yosemite Falls incorporates ease of maintenance and flexibility of access. The old bus stop at Curry Village, while 

it embodied the visual spirit of the original complex, did 

not satisfy current requirements for shuttle bus stops. 
R o a d s + E n t r a n c e S t a t i o n s

319

height should be the same, as should curb/warning 

strip treatment, benches, timber barriers, and signs. 

Where appropriate, incorporate some elements that are 

unique to the specific site.

•	In addition to sizing the platform for passenger load, 

the width and length of the shelter should be sized to 

provide proper protection from the weather.

•	 Several smaller shelters with space between them may 

be preferable to one long shelter. Smaller shelters have 

a modest scale and allow the layout to be easily adapted 

to local site conditions.

Landscape Elements

•	Concrete is recommended for the platform and the 

braking pad areas. The concrete should include a color 

admixture to reduce the contrast with the roadway 

(the color is to be determined site by site). The platform paving should have a light, exposed-aggregate, 

finished surface. The braking pad should have a shuddered surface texture. Shape the concrete braking pad 

to conform to the zone required for buses to exit the 

adjacent roadway—in most cases, a rectangle with 

tapered ends. Refer to the Yosemite Falls shuttle stop 

as an example.

•	At stops with curbs, place accessible ramps at the ends 

of the loading platform parallel to the alignment of the 

curb. Where feasible, use straight ramps instead of the 

truncated ramps that are typical in urban settings.

•	Where asphalt pedestrian pathways are being renewed 

or replaced, finish with sand-impregnated asphalt. 

Refer to the Yosemite Falls shuttle bus stop.

•	Use barriers sparingly and where necessary for safety 

reasons or to prevent trespass onto planted areas. 

Around planted areas, use the pierced-post system. 

Refer to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Barriers, 

Fences, and Benches” in the “Unifying Elements” 

chapter.

•	Use barriers to separate shuttle seating areas and 

bicycle traffic. The shuttle bus stop at Yosemite Falls 

uses a series of low stone walls that can also be used 

for seating.

•	Trash and recycling cans should be enclosed with the 

appropriate material and clustered at key points on 

the platform to maximize use. Where the back edge 

of the platform abuts natural or planted areas, partial 

enclosures made of low granite walls or large boulders (backed with plantable mounded soil) may be 

appropriate.

Shuttle bus stop at Tuolumne Meadows store (2008) GH Valley Visitor Center shuttle bus stop (2005) RF
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

320 NPS

•	Two types of wood benches are recommended for 

shuttle bus stops: one type for outside the shelter, 

and another type for within the shelter. Benches outside shuttle bus shelters should be arranged in clusters 

of two or three in orthogonal relationships (instead 

of end-to-end rows). Refer to “Landscape Uses +

Structures—Barriers, Fences, and Benches” in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter for more guidelines on 

benches.

•	 Signs for wayfinding and transit information should 

comply with the NPS graphic identity.

Structures

•	The roof of the shelter should be framed using 

saw-sized lumber with resawn surfaces.

•	 For the standard design, roofing material should be 

either wood shingle or asphalt shingle, depending on 

local context and approval of the fire marshal.

•	The bus shelter roof must divert rainwater and snow 

melt from the loading area (where passengers interface with the bus). Because the typical roof is a gable 

running parallel to the curb, gutters and leaders are 

required to conduct rainwater and snowmelt away from 

the loading area and sidewalk. This will prevent ice 

from forming on the loading area in winter.

•	In more developed areas, columns should be roughsawn, oversized timbers that are supported on concrete 

bases with concealed connectors. Log columns may be 

more appropriate in forested areas or in historic properties with buildings of a strong rustic character. When 

logs are used for columns, they should not appear too 

finished—tight knots are desirable, similar to lodgepole pine with bark peeled.

•	Columns should have a generous plinth to separate 

the wood column from water that might collect on the 

pavement. Board-formed concrete is recommended 

for typical structures. Granite masonry is also recommended where it is compatible with the architectural 

context.

•	Wood elements should have a protective stain in a color 

that blends with the surrounding landscape.

•	 Lighting: Surface-mounted ceiling fixtures are recommended for the shelter area. Electrical conduit should 

be concealed in the roof assembly. Area lighting for the 

platforms should have fixtures shielded with sharp cutoffs. A pole-mounted area light is required for waiting 

areas without shelters. Signs should incorporate lighting as required, primarily in developed areas. Refer 

to “Landscape Uses + Structures—Lighting” in the 

“Unifying Elements” chapter.

Mirror Lake shuttle bus stop (2008) RF
e n d n o t e s
e n d n o t e s

g l o s s a r y 323

b i b l i o g r a p h y 327

p r e p a r e r s + r e v i e w e r s 332

i n d e x 334

Overleaf Black Oaks, Yosemite Valley (1938) YRL-RA
 323

glossary

100-year floodplain The land adjacent to a river 

corridor that would be covered by water during a 

100-year flood event. A 100-year flood event has a 

1% probability of occurring during any given year. 

Abutment A structure that supports the ends of 

a bridge or dam.

Adaptive reuse A new use for a structure or 

landscape other than the historic use, normally entailing some modification of the structure or landscape. 

Also see Rehabilitation (cultural resources).

Alluvial Processes by which sediment is deposited 

by running water.

Alluvium Sediment deposited by a stream or 

other body of running water.

Alpenglow A reddish glow on mountain peaks at 

sunset or sunrise, caused by reflected weak sunlight.

Ambient noise The existing sounds at a given 

location coming from all sources, both near and far.

Background noise The all-encompassing sound 

associated with a given environment at a specified 

time, usually a composite of sound from many sources 

and directions. Background noise remains in a given 

location in a given situation when all uniquely identifiable, discrete sound sources are eliminated, rendered 

insignificant, or are otherwise not included.

Bank The slope of land adjoining a body of water, 

especially a river, stream, lake, or channel.

Base of talus See Talus slope zone.

Biodiversity Or biological diversity. Includes 

genetic diversity within species, species diversity 

within a community, and diversity in a full range of 

biological communities. An area is considered biologically diverse when it includes rich and stable 

populations of native species that are naturally 

distributed across the landscape.

Biological community An association of plants 

and animals in a region dominated by one or more 

prominent species or by a physical characteristic 

(e.g., California black oak community).

Bond An arrangement of masonry units to provide 

strength, stability, and in some cases, beauty.

Braided stream system A stream pattern that is 

characterized by the division of water flow into more 

than one channel. A basic characteristic of this pattern 

is the diversion of a single trunk channel into a network of interconnected branches and the formation 

of interspersed islands.

California black oak woodland A vegetation 

community dominated by California black oak 

(Quercus kelloggii). Other species that may be 

present include canyon live oak, California buckeye, 

Douglas fir, incense cedar, and ponderosa pine. The 

canopy can be continuous, intermittent, or savannalike. Shrubs may or may not be common. Groundlayer vegetation is sparse or grassy (Sawyer 1995).

Cabin (cultural resource) A small, rustic residential structure, usually occupied seasonally.

Cabin (lodging) A structure containing one to 

four lodging units, as defined in the 1992 Concession 

Services Plan/EIS.

Chukah A Miwok granary.

Colluvial soils Loose earth material (such as 

rock fragments, sand, etc.) that accumulates on steep 

slopes or at the base of talus slopes through the 

action of gravity.

Community When used in a social or political 

context, refers to the group of people living in a particular area. When used in a biological context, any 

group of interacting organisms belonging to a number 

of different species that occur in the same habitat. 

Also see Biological community.

Concessioner A private commercial entity that 

conducts business under contract with the National 

Park Service in Yosemite National Park to provide 

food, lodging, retail, recreation, and other services to 

park visitors. 

Conifer invasion The progressive growth of coniferous trees, such as pines and incense cedars, into 

areas that formerly did not support these species. 

Over the last 150 years, human-caused changes (such 

as alteration of soil moisture and suppression of a 

natural fire regime) have encouraged unnatural rates 

of conifer spread, reducing the size and continuity of 

meadows in Yosemite Valley.

Cottage A lodging structure containing five to 

eighteen lodging rooms, as defined in the 1992 

Concession Services Plan/EIS.

Cultural landscape A geographic area, including 

both cultural and natural elements, associated with a 

historic event, activity, or person, or exhibiting other 

cultural or aesthetic values. 

Cultural resources Properties such as landscapes 

or districts, sites, buildings, structures, objects, or cultural practices that are usually greater than 50 years 

of age and possess architectural, historic, scientific, 

or other technical value. By their nature, cultural 

resources are non-renewable.

Day visitor Any visitor who does not spend the 

night in the park.

Debris flow Soil, rock, and other materials that 

are rapidly transported by water and gravity. Debris 

flows occur in a variety of environments throughout 

Yosemite, ranging from steep ephemeral and perennial stream channels below cliffs to nearly flat alluvial 

fans.

Degradation (natural resources) Refers to 

negative impact(s) to natural resources or natural 

processes. The impact may be singular or cumulative; the extent may be local or ecosystem-wide. 

The term degradation is used broadly and may refer 

to: reduction in habitat size, reduction in extent of 

plant populations, declining species vigor exhibited as 

reduced population numbers, reduced reproductive 

success, increased mortality rates, and/or decreased 

percent of available habitat utilized.

Ecological restoration See Restoration (natural).

Ecosystem A system that involves the interaction 

of organisms with their physical environment.

Ecotone A vegetation transition zone between 

different habitat types, such as the area between 

meadows and California black oak woodlands.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

A detailed statement required by the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when an agency 

proposes a major action that significantly affects the 

quality of the environment. This document describes 

and analyzes the activities that might affect the 

environment.

Exotic species See Non-native species.

Facilities Refers to buildings, houses, campgrounds, 

picnic areas, visitor-use areas, operational areas, and 

associated supporting infrastructure such as roads, 

trails, and utilities.

Faux A French word used to describe something 

made to resemble something else, such as pre-cast 

concrete made to look like granite. 

Fen A unique wetland type, possessing a water 

source that originates from alkaline ground water. 

Typically fens possess unique wetland vegetation 

adapted to saturated alkaline growing conditions.

Fire return interval The typical period of time 

between naturally occurring fires. Fire return intervals vary by vegetation type and location.

Floodplain Land on either side of a stream or 

river that is submerged during floods. 

 D e s i g n G u i d e l i n e s f o r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

324 NPS

Footprint The land area covered or occupied by a 

function or structure.

Free-flowing river A body of water existing or 

flowing under natural conditions without impoundments, diversions, straightening, riprapping, or other 

modification of the waterway (as defined in the Wild 

and Scenic Rivers Act–16 USC 1286 [b]). Also see 

Riprap.

Geographic information system (GIS)

A unique assemblage of hardware, software, and 

personnel that integrates digital databases, spatial 

technologies, and analytical methods in order to capture, store, edit, analyze, and display geographic data.

Geologic hazards Natural geologic processes 

(i.e., rockfall) that occur or could potentially occur in 

locations that present a threat to humans or developed areas.

Geomorphic Refers to the shape of the earth, or 

the shape of features on the earth’s surface.

Glaciation A collective term for geologic processes of glacial activity, including erosion, deposition, 

and the resulting effects of such action on the earth’s 

surface. 

Groundwater All water found below the surface 

of the ground. Also see Surface water.

Hazard trees Any tree, either alive or dead, which 

due to outwardly visible defects could fall down (in 

part or in entirety) and strike a person or property 

within any designated portion of a development zone. 

Hazardous waste Hazardous materials that no 

longer have practical use, such as substances that 

have been discarded, spilled, or contaminated, or 

that are being temporarily stored prior to proper 

disposal.

Headwaters The point or area of origin for a river 

or stream. 

Herbaceous Refers to plants that lack a woody 

structure.

Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)/ 

Historic American Engineering Record 

(HAER)/Historic American Landscape Survey 

(HALS) A documentation program that produces 

a thorough archival record of buildings, engineered 

structures, and cultural landscapes significant in 

American history and the growth and development 

of the built environment.

Historic character The sum of all visual aspects, 

features, materials, and spaces associated with the 

historic nature of a site, structure, or landscape.

Historic district A geographically definable urban 

or rural area, possessing a significant concentration, 

linkage, or continuity of sites, landscapes, structures, 

or objects united by past events or aesthetically by 

plan or physical developments. A district may also 

be composed of individual elements separated geographically but linked by association or history.

Historic topography The physical features and 

contours of a place or region as they existed during 

historic time.

Hotel A structure containing more than eighteen 

lodging rooms, as defined in the 1992 Concession 

Services Plan/EIS.

Housekeeping unit A type of rustic accommodation found within Housekeeping Camp in Yosemite 

Valley. The unit is composed of a concrete, threewalled structure with canvas roof and door, a small 

patio, and a common bathroom. 

Housing support facilities Amenities required by 

a typical residential community (i.e., post office, food 

preparation and service, recreational facilities, barber 

shop, childcare, etc.).

Hydrologic response The response of a watershed to precipitation, often the resulting streamflow 

from a precipitation event or snowmelt.

Hydrology The science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water on the 

surface of the land, in the soil and underlying rocks, 

and in the atmosphere.

Infrastructure The various systems and facilities 

needed to support park operations and visitor services (e.g., sewer and water systems, electric systems, 

communication lines, roads and trails, and various 

support buildings).

Jerkinhead roof A gable roof that ends with a 

clipped ridge in the form of a small hip.

Life zone Bands of characteristic vegetation 

occurring along elevation gradients.

Liquefaction A process by which water-saturated 

soils lose strength and liquefy during ground-shaking 

events. 

Lithic Of or relating to stone or stone tools.

Lodging unit/room Concessioner-operated facilities for overnight visitors. A lodging unit may be a 

single structure, such as a tent cabin, or a series of 

rooms grouped into larger motels or hotels. Lodging 

rooms in Yosemite are available at a range of prices 

that correspond to the type of structure as well as 

the amenities provided. 

Mechanical treatment The alteration of the 

landscape using hand implements, power tools, and 

heavy equipment.

Microclimate The distinct yet uniform localized 

climate of a small site or habitat.

Mission 66 style (architecture) Refers to buildings developed in national parks between 1956 and 

1970, during a period of experimentation with new 

structural forms, modern materials, and machinedriven methods of construction. The intent was to 

provide low maintenance, economical, permanent 

structures.

Mitigation An activity designed to avoid, minimize, 

rectify, eliminate, or compensate for impacts of a 

proposed project. A mitigation measure should be 

a solution to an identified environmental problem.

Mixed conifer zone Plant communities consisting of a mix of conifers such as pine, fir, incense cedar, 

and Douglas fir. The zone includes lower montane, 

montane, and upper montane coniferous forests. 

California black oak and other hardwoods are common associates.

Moraine An accumulation of mineral material, such 

as boulders, stones, and sediment, that is transported 

and deposited by a glacier.

Mosaic A descriptive term for vegetation where 

the mix of species types and ages creates a diverse 

assemblage of vegetation or vegetation communities. 

This term can also be used to describe diversity in 

habitat types.

Multi-use paved trail A trail that is intended 

for pedestrian and bicycle use. Occasionally, short 

segments of multi-use trails may also be used for 

horses, maintenance, and emergency access by motor 

vehicles.

Museum collection Objects, works of art, historic documents, and natural history specimens 

collected according to a rational scheme and maintained so they can be preserved, studied, and 

interpreted for public benefit.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

The federal act that requires the development of 

an environmental impact statement (EIS) for federal 

actions that might have substantial environmental, 

social, or other impacts.
 325

National Historic Landmark (NHL) A district, site, building, structure, landscape, or object 

of national historical significance designated by 

the Secretary of the Interior under authority of 

the Historic Sites Act of 1935 and entered in the 

National Register of Historic Places.

National Register of Historic Places The comprehensive list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, 

and objects of national, regional, state, and local 

significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. This list is maintained 

by the National Park Service under authority of the 

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Natural process A collective term for processes, 

including hydrologic, geologic, biologic, and ecosystemic, that are not the result of human manipulation.

Natural quiet The absence of human-caused 

sounds.

Natural resources Features and values that 

include plants and animals, water, air, soils, topographic features, geologic features, paleontologic 

resources, natural quiet, and clear night skies.

Natural topography The natural shape or 

contour of the land.

Non-native species Species of plants or animals 

that do not naturally occur in a particular area and 

often interfere with natural biological systems. Also 

known as alien, introduced, or exotic species.

Off-season Refers to a period of year when 

Yosemite visitation is lowest, usually from late 

autumn to early spring. 

Ordinary high water That line on the shore 

established by the fluctuations of water and indicated 

by physical characteristics such as a clear, natural line 

impressed on the bank, shelving, changes in the character of the soil, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, 

the presence of litter and debris, or other appropriate means that consider the characteristics of the 

surrounding areas.

Overnight visitor Refers to visitors who spend 

the night in Yosemite. This includes those that who in 

lodging, campgrounds, and wilderness areas.

Oxbow A bend in a meandering river channel that 

is abandoned as the river shifts its course over time. 

Oxbows can remain saturated with surface water or 

groundwater for some time, providing diverse wetland habitats for vegetation and wildlife.

Palustrine A term relating to vegetated wetlands 

(e.g., marsh, swamp, fen, bogs) and small, shallow 

ponds.

Pedestrian/stock trail Mostly unpaved trails 

intended to accommodate both pedestrians and 

stock users. (Use of bicycles on unpaved trails is 

prohibited.)

Point bars Areas along the inside bends of a meandering river where material is deposited.

Pool-riffle The relationship, usually expressed as 

a ratio, between the surface area of pools and that 

of small rapids (riffles) in a given portion of a stream 

or river.

Post-flood conditions Describes the environment in Yosemite Valley following the January 1997 

flood. Post-flood conditions include any subsequent 

clean-up activities, such as the removal of flood-damaged facilities at Yosemite Lodge and the closure of 

Upper and Lower River campgrounds.

Prescribed fire Fires that are intentionally ignited 

under controlled conditions to meet management 

goals for natural resources and processes, wildland 

fire protection, and cultural resource preservation.

Preservation (cultural resource) The act or 

process of applying measures to sustain the existing 

form, integrity, and material of a historic structure, 

landscape, or object. Work may include preliminary 

measures to protect and stabilize the property, but 

generally focuses on the ongoing preservation, maintenance, and repair of historic materials and features 

rather than extensive replacement and new work.

Preservation (natural resource) The act 

or process of preventing, eliminating, or reducing 

impacts to natural resources and natural processes.

Protected species See Threatened and endangered species.

Radiating impacts Human activity and associated 

foot traffic that originates in visitor focal points, such 

as parking lots, and spreads into adjacent areas.

Reconstruction The act or process of depicting, 

by means of new work, the form, features, and detailing of a nonsurviving historic structure or landscape 

for the purpose of replicating its appearance at a specific time and in its historic location. (The term also 

refers to the resulting structure or landscape.)

Redevelop A term that applies to areas that are 

currently developed, where all or part of the existing 

development is removed and replaced, modified, or 

adaptively reused. 

Rehabilitation (cultural resources) The act 

or process of making possible an efficient, compatible use for a historic structure or landscape through 

repair, alterations, and additions while preserving the 

portions or features which convey the historical, cultural, and architectural values. Also see Adaptive use.

Rehabilitation (natural resources) All activities conducted to improve the quality or biologic 

function of an impacted natural resource. The term 

rehabilitation connotes a less extensive process than 

restoration. Site impacts may preclude a full restoration, but project work is undertaken to enhance the 

extent or function of natural processes.

Restoration (cultural) The act or process of 

accurately depicting the form, features, and character 

of an existing historic structure, landscape, or object 

as it appeared at a particular period of time, by 

removing modern additions and replacing lost portions of historic fabric, paint, or other elements.

Restoration (natural) Work conducted to 

remove impacts to natural resources and restore 

natural processes, and to return a site to natural 

conditions.

Revegetation Replacement or augmentation of 

native plants in an area largely or entirely denuded 

of vegetation.

Riparian areas Areas that are on or adjacent to 

rivers and streams; these areas are typically rich in 

biological diversity (flora and fauna).

Riprap Any hardening of a shoreline (with rocks or 

cement) to stabilize river banks for the protection of 

facilities on or near the bank.

G l o s s a r y
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

326 NPS

Rockfall Associated forms of mass movement 

such as rock avalanches, rockslides, debris slides, and 

debris flows (Wieczorek, et al. 1998).

Rockfall shadow zone A distance calculated to 

determine outlying boulder locations beyond the 

extent of talus. The limit of the shadow zone is determined by a procedure based on the apex of the 

talus and a minimum shadow angle of 22 degrees 

(Wieczorek et al. 1998). 

Rockfall talus zone See Talus slope zone.

Root rot (Armillaria root rot) A native plant 

disease primarily affecting oaks, but other tree species as well; sometimes exacerbated by management 

activities. It can also result in tree hazards.

Rubble bond A random pattern of irregularly 

sized masonry units.

Rustic style (architecture) Refers to a building 

style developed in the 1920s and 1930s in national 

parks. The Rustic style emphasized the use of natural materials and textures, and thoughtful integration 

with the natural landscape.

Sediment A particle of soil or rock dislodged, 

transported, and deposited by surface runoff or a 

stream. The particle can range in size from microscopic to cobble stones.

Sense of arrival An emotional and mental state 

that accompanies the end of a visitor’s travels and 

the beginning of their park experience. For many 

visitors, arrival in Yosemite marks the end of a considerable journey involving both lengthy planning and 

travel. For some, a sense of arrival is created by the 

clear opportunity to park their car, learn about and 

plan activities in the park, and begin their exploration of the park with the assistance of exhibits, signs, 

guidebooks, trails, shuttle buses, etc. For others, this 

sense of arrival begins with the first sight of Yosemite 

icons (e.g., Tunnel View, El Capitan, Half Dome). For 

returning visitors, this sense of arrival may occur as

they check into their campsite, cabin, or lodging room.

Stewardship The responsibility of caring for the 

park. This often grows from an understanding of 

and respect for the principles of the National Park 

System and the needs of the park’s natural, social, and 

cultural environment.

Stock This term generally refers to horses and 

mules used for riding or carrying packed supplies on 

established trails.

Succession The process by which vegetation is 

either re-established following a disturbance or by 

which it initially develops in an unvegetated site. This 

term also refers to the entire process from initial 

colonization to the development of vegetation typical 

of that geographic area.

Surface-treated asphalt paving A method of 

modifying the finish of freshly-laid asphaltic concrete 

to accelerate blending with the surrounding ground 

by broadcasting and brooming the surface with fine 

soil from the installation site. 

Surface water Water that naturally flows or settles 

on top of natural landforms and vegetation, often as 

rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water.

Sustainable design Sustainable design is a concept that recognizes that human civilization is an 

integral part of the natural world and that nature 

must be preserved and perpetuated if the human 

community itself is to survive. Sustainable design 

articulates this idea through developments that 

exemplify the principles of conservation, particularly of nonrenewable resources, and encourages 

the application of those principles in our daily lives. 

Sustainable design results in development that meets 

the needs of the present without compromising 

the ability of future generations to meet their own 

needs; they do not permanently reduce the natural 

resources available to humanity. 

Talus An accumulated mass of rock fragments 

(broken rock formed by falling, rolling, or sliding) 

of various sizes derived from and lying at the base 

of a steep slope (Wieczorek, et al. 1998).

Talus slope zone The area where the majority of 

accumulated rock debris is deposited at the base of 

a steep slope following a mass movement event (i.e., 

rockfall) (Wieczorek et al. 1998). 

Threatened and endangered species Species 

of plants and animals that receive special protection 

under state and federal laws. Also referred to as 

listed, endangered, or protected species.

Traffic check station A location where vehicle 

access is regulated; typically requires buildings, multiple traffic lanes, and staffing.

Transit bus A mode of transportation that operates on a schedule along routes with established 

stops. Transit buses do not require daytime parking 

in Yosemite Valley, as they continuously pick up and 

drop off passengers along their established routes. 

Umacha A Miwok structure made of cedar bark 

and used for shelter.

Understory An underlying layer of vegetation, 

specifically the vegetative layer, and especially the 

trees and shrubs, between the forest canopy and the 

ground cover.

Upland community The vegetation found where 

soil conditions are average to dry and where soils are 

only infrequently flooded or saturated. 

Visitor experience The perceptions, feelings, and 

interaction a park visitor has in relationship with the 

environment. The visitor experience is influenced by 

general access, facilities, visitor services, interpretation and orientation, and recreational opportunities. 

Other elements also contribute to the quality of the 

visitor experience, such as the condition of natural 

and cultural resources, air quality, transportation, 

and noise.

Walk-in campground A campground with consolidated parking areas separated from the individual 

campsites. Campers walk a short distance from the 

parking area to their campsites (e.g., Camp 4).

Weathering steel A type of steel that oxidizes naturally over time, giving it an orange-brown 

color and a rough texture. It has a very high tensile 

strength, and in spite of its rusted appearance it is 

actually more resistant to damaging corrosion than 

standard forms of carbon steel. 

Wetland areas Areas inundated by surface or 

groundwater with a frequency sufficient to support, 

under normal circumstances, vegetation or aquatic 

life that requires saturated or seasonally saturated 

soil conditions for growth and reproduction. 

Wilderness Areas protected by provisions of 

the Wilderness Act of 1964. These areas are characterized by a lack of human interference in natural 

processes; generally, there are no roads, structures, 

or installations, and the use of motorized equipment 

is not allowed.
 327

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 329

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1996c Tioga Road–Big Oak Flat Road National Scenic 

Byways and All-American Roads Nomination. Yosemite 

National Park, CA.

1997 Vegetation Management Plan. Yosemite National 

Park, CA.

1998. Evaluation of the Historical Significance and 

Integrity of the Hetch Hetchy Road for Determination 

of Eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. 

Denver, CO.

1999a Mariposa Grove Cultural Landscape Inventory. 

Yosemite National Park, CA.

1999b South Entrance Station Cultural Landscapes 

Inventory. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2000 Mission 66 Visitor Centers, The History of a 

Building Type. Washington, DC.

2001a Camp 4 National Register of Historic Places 

Nomination. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2001b Residential Yard Care Policy, Housing 

Management Plan. Chapter 6, Policies, Yosemite 

National Park, CA.

2002 Cultural Landscape Treatment Recommendations, 

Yosemite Village Historic District, Housing Area, 85% 

Draft. Unpublished report. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2003a NPS Correspondence, Jim Snyder, Park 

Historian, December.

2003b “Natural Resources at Yosemite National 

Park,” Yosemite National Park Fact Sheet, April. 

Yosemite National Park, CA.

2004a Buck Camp National Register of Historic Places 

Nomination. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2004b New Big Oak Flat Road National Register of 

Historic Places Nomination. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2004c Ostrander Ski Hut National Register of Historic 

Places Nomination. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2004d Snow Creek Cabin National Register of Historic 

Places Nomination. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2004e Snow Flat Cabin National Register of Historic 

Places Nomination. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2004f Yosemite National Park Fire Management Plan/

EIS. Yosemite National Park, CA. Available at http://

www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/fireplan.htm.

2004g Yosemite National Park Geology Overview. 

Yosemite National Park, CA. Available http://www.

nps.gov/archive/yose/nature/geology.htm.

2004h Yosemite Valley Historic District National Register 

of Historic Places Nomination, Yosemite National 

Park, CA.

2006a Wawona’s Lost Garden—Buffalo Soldier 

Arboretum Restoration Feasibility Study. By Charles 

Palmer, Robin Pan and Brenda Hanley. Yosemite 

National Park: Division of Resource Management 

and Science.

2006b Management Policies. Washington, DC.

2007a Glacier Point Road Cultural Landscape Inventory. 

Yosemite National Park, CA.

2007b Draft Hetch Hetchy Cultural Landscape 

Inventory. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2007c Segment D, El Portal Road Addendum to

1997 Determination of Eligibility. Yosemite National 

Park, CA.

B i b l i o g r a p h y
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

330 NPS

2007d Soda Springs Historic District Cultural 

Landscapes Inventory. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2007e Tunnel View Overlook Rehabilitation—

Environmental Assessment. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2007f Tuolumne Meadows Historic District Cultural 

Landscapes Inventory. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2008 Wawona Historic District Cultural Landscape 

Inventory. Yosemite National Park, CA.

2010a Badger Pass Cultural Landscape Report.Yosemite 

National Park, CA.

2010b Cultural Landscape Report Camp Curry Historic 

District, Yosemite National Park, CA.

2010c Administrative Draft Tuolumne River Plan. 

Yosemite National Park, CA.

2011a The Ahwahnee Historic Structures Report. 

Yosemite National Park, CA.

2011b The Ahwahnee Cultural Landscape Report. 

Yosemite National Park, CA.

2011c Wawona Hotel Complex Historic Structures 

Report and Cultural Landscape Report. Yosemite 

National Park, CA.

2011d NPS Yosemite Scenic Vista Management Plan. 

Yosemite National Park, CA.

2011e White Wolf Lodge Main Building and Duplex 

Cabins Historic Structures Report. Yosemite National 

Park, CA.

2011f Long Range Interpretive Plan. Yosemite National 

Park, CA.

2011g Lighting Guidelines Final Report. Yosemite 

National Park, CA.

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B i b l i o g r a p h y
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

332 NPS

a sense of place

de s i g n g u ide l i n e s f o r

yo s e m i t e nat i o na l pa r k

Second Edition, Expanded

Copyright ©2012 National Park Service 

All Rights Reserved

National Park Service, 

Yosemite National Park

Don L. Neubacher, Superintendent

Mark Butler, Former Chief of Project Management

PREPARERS + PROJ EC T TEAM

National Park Service, 

Yosemite National Park

Gretchen Stromberg, Project Manager/

Landscape Architect

Randy Fong, Chief of Project Management

Bernadette Barthelenghi, Former Project Manager

Kimball Koch, Landscape Architect

Daniel Schaible, Historical Landscape Architect

Erik Skindrud, Editor

Pacific West Region

Charles Palmer, Historian

Denver Service Center

Christy Fischer, Editor

Carla McConnell, Architect

Consultants

George Homsey, FAIA, 

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis

Tito Patri, FASLA, Landscape Architect

Katherine Whitney, Editor, 

Katherine Whitney & Associates

Madeleine Corson with Rachel Griffiths, 

 Lucy Kirchner, Stuart Silberman, Book Design, 

Madeleine Corson Design, San Francisco

Melissa Harris, Architect, Associate Professor, 

University of Michigan

Diana Vanderburg, Editorial Support, 

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis

Johanna Hauser, Editorial Support, 

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis

Amy MacKay, Editorial Support, 

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis

Kari Holmquist, Editorial Support, 

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis

REVIEWERS + ADVISORS

Lisa Acree, Botanist, Resources Management & Science

Jim Benya, Benya Lighting Design

Sueann Brown, Former Historical Architect, 

Resources Management & Science

Linda Eade, Research Librarian, Interpretation 

& Education

Jennifer Hardin, Native American Liaison, 

Resources Management & Science

Dave Humphrey, Branch Chief, History, Architecture,

and Landscapes, Resources Management &

Science

George Jaramillo, Historical Architect, 

Resources Management & Science

Laura Kirn, Branch Chief Archeology & Anthropology,

Resources Management & Science

Mary Kline, Branch Chief, Visitor Services, 

Interpretation & Education

Shawn Lingo, Historical Architect, 

Resources Management & Science

Kristina Rylands, Former Planner, Planning Division

Jennifer Self, Architectural Historian, 

Resources Management & Science

Jeannette Simons, Former Native American Liaison,

Project Management/Compliance

PHOTOGRAPHY C REDITS

CW: Carson White

DN: Doug Nelson

DNC: Delaware North Companies

DNC-KW: Delaware North Companies, 

Keith Walklet

DV: Diana Vanderburg

GH: George Homsey

GS: Gretchen Stromberg

HJ: Hank Johnston 

JM: James McLane

LH: Laura Hartman

ML: Mark Lazzaro

NPS-DD: National Park Service Night Sky Team, 

 Dan Duriscoe

RF: Randy Fong

SA: Sasaki Associates Inc.

TH: Thomas Heinser

TP: Tito Patri

YRL: Yosemite Research Library

YRL-EM: Yosemite Research Library, E.F. Menning

YRL-HW: Yosemite Research Library, H.D. Wulzen

YRL-OW: Yosemite Research Library, Onas Ward

YRL-RA: Yosemite Research Library, Ralph Anderson

YRL-ST: Yosemite Research Library, Steve Thompson

YRL-TH: Yosemite Research Library, 

Thomas Houseworth

FRONT COVER PHOTO Geology Hut, Glacier Point 

(2011) Thomas Heinser

BACK COVER PHOTO Ahwahnee bungalow, chimney 

detail (2004) Randy Fong

I llustration c redits

Hand sketches by Melissa Harris 

unless noted otherwise

preparers + reviewers
 333

 P r e p a r e r s + R e v i e w e r s

opposite Original architectural drawing 

of The Ahwahnee (1926)

a sense of place

de s i g n g u ide l i n e s f o r

yo s e m i t e va l l ey

First Edition

Copyright ©2005 National Park Service 

All Rights Reserved

National Park Service, 

Yosemite National Park

Michael J. Tollefson, Superintendent

Kevin Cann, Deputy Superintendent

Bill Delaney, Chief of Project Management/Compliance

Russell Galipeau, Former Chief of Resources 

Management & Science

Jerry Mitchell, Former Acting Chief of Resources 

Management & Science

DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc.

Jerry Ernest, Director of Facility Services

Tim Smith, Director of Operations

PREPARERS + PRO J EC T TEAM

National Park Service, 

Yosemite National Park

Randy Fong, Project Manager/Architect

Paul Chattey, Historical Architect

Consultants

George Homsey, FAIA, 

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis, Architects

Jim McLane, Architect, 

James McLane & Associates

Tito Patri, FASLA, Landscape Architect

Katherine Whitney, Editor,

Katherine Whitney & Associates

Madeleine Corson with Supreeya Pongkasem, 

Book Design, Madeleine Corson Design, 

San Francisco

Melissa Harris, Architect, Associate Professor, 

University of Michigan

David Robbins, Graphic Support, 

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis, Architects

REVIEWERS + ADVISORS

National Park Service, 

Yosemite National Park

Sue Beatty, Biologist, 

Resources Management & Science

Ed Billington, Division Liaison, 

Facilities Management

Linda Eade, Research Librarian, 

Interpretation & Education

Dave Forgang, Museum Curator, 

Interpretation & Education

Don Fox, Landscape Architect/Accessibility

Coordinator, Facilities Management 

Sue Fritzke, Vegetation Ecologist, 

Resources Management & Science

Phyllis Harvey, Division Liaison, 

Visitor Protection

Laura Kirn, Archeologist, 

Resources Management & Science

Carol Knipper, Division Liaison, 

Resources Management & Science 

Victoria Mates, Writer/Editor, 

Interpretation & Education 

Barbara Moritsch, Division Liaison, 

Resources Management & Science 

Bob Roney, Interpreter, 

Interpretation & Education 

Bill Rust, Concession Facility Manager-Engineer, 

Business & Revenue Management

Kristina Rylands, Editor-in-Chief, 

Interpretation & Education 

David Siegenthaler, Interpreter, 

Interpretation & Education 

Jeannette Simons, Park Historic Preservation Officer, 

Project Management/Compliance

Jim Snyder, Historian, 

Interpretation & Education

Craig Struble, Historic Preservation Specialist, 

Facilities Management

Kim Tucker, Division Liaison, 

Business & Revenue Management

National Park Service, 

Pacific West Region-Oakland Office

Michael Crowe, Architectural Historian

Robbyn Jackson, Historical Architect

Kimball Koch, Landscape Architect

National Park Service, 

Pacific West Region-Seattle Office 

Cathy Gilbert, Historical Landscape Architect

David Louter, Historian

DNC Parks and Resorts of Yosemite, Inc.

Don Evans, Project Manager

Bill Hunsaker, Project Manager

Bridget Rabon, General Manager, Yosemite Lodge

Independent Reviewer

Jim Benya, Benya Lighting Design

Ethan Carr, Assistant Professor, Department of 

Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, 

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Gretchen Stromberg, Planner, Newfields, LLC 

Valley Project Firms

East Valley Site Plan, Curry Village Cabins, and 

 Employee Housing, Architectural Resources 

Group, Inc.

Lower Yosemite Fall, Office of Lawrence Halprin

Valley Shuttle Bus Stops, David Evans and 

Associates, Inc.

Yosemite Lodge/Camp 4/Northside Drive, 

Sasaki Associates Inc.

photography c redits

DNC: Delaware North Companies

DNC-KW: Delaware North Companies, 

Keith Walklet

GH: George Homsey

JM: James McLane

NPS-DD: National Park Service Night Sky Team, 

 Dan Duriscoe

RF: Randy Fong

SA: Sasaki Associates Inc.

TP: Tito Patri

YRL: Yosemite Research Library

YRL-EM: Yosemite Research Library, E.F. Menning

YRL-HW: Yosemite Research Library, H.D. Wulzen

YRL-OW: Yosemite Research Library, Onas Ward

YRL-RA: Yosemite Research Library, Ralph Anderson

YRL-ST: Yosemite Research Library, Steve Thompson

YRL-TH: Yosemite Research Library, 

Thomas Houseworth

FRONT COVER PHOTO Bird-walk group along Merced 

River (1936) YRL-Ralph Anderson 

BACK COVER PHOTO Ahwahnee bungalow, chimney 

detail (2004) Randy Fong

I llustration c redits

Hand sketches by Melissa Harris unless 

noted otherwise
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

334 NPS

A 

accessibility, 21, 40-41, 59-60, 74, 76, 78, 125

Administration Building, 33, 84, 87, 88-89, 98, 101, 

105-6, 109, 111

Ahwahnee, The: 

 architectural character of, 34, 82, 85-86, 99, 137- 

42, 148

guidelines for, 90, 142, 150

entrance markers, 62, 139

location of, 30, 49, 54, 56, 80, 98, 139

masonry, 88, 96, 141-42

 setting and scenic views, 18, 54, 80, 83-84, 94-95, 

138-141

Ansel Adams Gallery, 98, 107, 109-10

Arch Rock Entrance Station, 12, 14, 35, 282, 293, 

304, 314-15

Arts and Crafts Style, 32, 47, 102, 118

B

Badger Pass, 14-15, 35, 202, 205, 254-57, 283, 

296-97, 299

barriers, 60, 63, 71-72, 125, 146, 185-88, 191, 213, 

248, 257, 277, 286, 292, 305, 311, 316, 318-19

benches: 

 guidelines for, 59, 71-72, 74, 125, 141, 153, 288-

89, 313

shuttle bus stops, 318-20

small buildings, 63

Big Oak Flat Entrance Station, 12, 14-15, 294, 300, 

304-6, 316

Big Oak Flat Road, 14-15, 29, 35, 40, 57, 65, 248, 

263-68, 282-84, 289-90, 294-96, 302

boardwalks, 59, 68-70, 147, 233, 236, 239

bridges: 

footbridges, 42, 63, 68-70, 99, 115, 236

guidelines for, 35, 40, 68-70, 237, 282, 285, 301-3

rusticated bridges, 302-3

streamlined bridges, 295, 302

Buck Camp Cabin, 14, 200, 204

Bug Camp (Tuolumne Meadows), 180-81, 186

Building: 

 exterior, 21, 82, 85-90, 11, 128, 132-33, 136, 150, 

154, 208, 266

 massing, 73, 80, 83-84, 98, 101, 110, 116, 118, 131, 

134, 142, 149, 152-153, 176, 316

 orientation, 45, 109, 126, 129, 133, 147-48, 

151, 227

small, 56, 63-65, 80, 85, 131, 226-27, 233

 siting, 16, 32, 47-50, 52-53, 56, 61, 63-65, 71, 

80-82, 94-95, 104, 109, 126, 129, 133, 147-48, 

151, 205, 207, 227, 243, 266

utility, 33, 103, 174-75

C

cabins: 

frame structure, 124, 187, 210

guidelines for, 124, 129-33, 205, 208

masonry structure, 136

log structure, 27, 56

California Territorial style, 210

Camp 4: 31, 63, 96, 98, 144, 225-26, 242-43 

Camp Mather, 35, 270, 300, 304

campgrounds (camp areas): 

development of, 28, 56, 223-30

guidelines for, 63, 223-30

location of, 31, 99, 138, 223-30

Chapel, 234 

Chinquapin, 14, 15, 35, 37, 75, 77, 90, 169, 200, 

210, 250-54, 296, 299. 317 

circulation: 

 guidelines for, 57-59, 99, 106-7, 124-25, 146-47, 

175, 230, 312

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), 35-37, 48, 

52, 72, 75, 97, 169, 174, 184, 190, 203, 205, 

225, 255, 261, 263, 265, 270 

comfort stations: 

guidelines for, 63-65, 188-90, 227-228, 275, 288

concrete: 

 architectural character, 48, 82, 118, 141-42, 174-

75, 293, 302

building exterior, 65, 68, 128, 132, 156

 guidelines for, 41, 60, 66, 69-70, 74, 83-84, 151, 

228, 278, 288, 294, 303, 305, 319, 320

trails, 68, 146

Crane Flat, 14, 35, 37, 41, 74, 168, 188, 226, 263-66

culverts, 36, 65-66, 68, 284, 286, 288, 293, 300 

Curry Village: 

climate, 49, 57, 120

guidelines for, 77, 119-36

history of, 31, 40, 82, 119-36

location of, 56, 62, 80, 95, 97-99, 120

D 

day-use areas: 

guidelines for, 233-78

Degnan’s complex, 48, 108-10

drainage: 

 guidelines for, 50, 70-71, 86, 108, 120, 123, 125, 

243, 286

E 

El Portal Road, 40, 282-83, 293-95, 304

employee housing, 37-41, 48, 59, 90, 98, 123, 133-34, 

142, 169, 186, 213, 251, 267, 317

entrance markers, 44, 62, 122, 126

F

fences: 

barriers, 71-74, 117, 125, 257, 313

double post, 72-73, 172

pierced post, 72-73

post and rope, 72

screen, 73 

zigzag, 72, 172 

footbridges, 42, 63, 68-70

Frog Creek Cabin, 14, 201, 203

G

Geology Hut, 65, 82, 84, 88, 258-63, 

Glacier Point, 14-15, 31, 34, 36, 41, 54, 75-76, 78, 

80, 84, 104, 121, 258-63

Glacier Point Road, 14, 57, 251, 282-83, 286, 

296-98, 302

Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp, 207, 219-20

Good, Albert, 63, 226

grading: 

guidelines for, 70-71, 125, 243

site planning, 41, 129, 243

Great Sierra Wagon Road, 29, 179-80, 193

Guardrails, 70

H 

Handrails, 68-70, 167, 208

Happy Isles, 68, 75, 99, 201, 203, 235-39

Hetchy Hetchy, 12, 14-15, 27, 35-36, 65, 70, 269-75

Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station, 305, 317

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, 12, 14, 226, 271, 300

Hetchy Hetchy Road, 300-1

Hodgdon Meadow, 14, 76, 226, 267-68, 304

Housekeeping Camp, 56, 68, 98-99, 155-56 

index

A S e n s e o f P l a c e
 335

I n d e x

I 

Indian Cultural Center at Wahhoga, 26, 98, 

144, 242-44

interpretive waysides, 42, 75-77, 224, 233, 287, 291 

L 

LeConte Memorial Lodge, 47, 99, 111, 239-42

lighting: 

 guidelines for, 65, 77-80, 126, 169, 192, 239, 244, 

257, 266, 306

M 

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, 11, 15, 27-28, 

32, 42, 244-47, 299

Mariposa Grove Road, 57, 282, 299, 304, 312

masonry: 

 architectural character, 33, 36, 47, 62, 65-68, 83, 

88-89, 109-10, 117, 131, 189-90, 194, 207, 210, 

214, 217-18, 237, 241, 253, 260-63, 266, 270, 

272, 283, 293-95, 299, 301-3, 308-11

CCC, 88, 186, 191, 205

guidelines for, 65-68, 70, 74, 90, 205-8, 228, 261- 

 63, 278, 287-89, 303, 307, 311, 320

Mather, Stephen T., 32-33, 36-37, 46-47, 143, 200, 

281-82

May Lake High Sierra Camp, 208, 218

Maybeck, Bernard, 47, 193-95, 206-7, 241

Maybeck and White, 180, 184

McCauley Cabin, 192-95, 208

meadows: 

boardwalks, 59, 70

fencing, 73, 200

guidelines for, 53, 61, 70, 82, 145, 174

 history, 27, 30, 54, 61, 96-97, 101, 179-81, 

183-84, 196

siting, 53, 61, 151, 234

vegetation, 52, 96-97, 139, 145, 182, 291

Medical Clinic, 25-26, 88, 98, 103, 107, 111, 115

Meinecke, Emilio, 224, 275

Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias, 14-15, 75, 77, 

244-45, 248-49

Merced Lake High Sierra Camp, 14, 34, 200, 

206, 216

Merced Lake Ranger Station, 14, 204

Mission 66: 37-39, 48, 65, 68, 74, 83, 98, 100, 102, 

143, 148-49, 152, 160, 171, 180, 264, 267, 283, 

290, 305, 308, 316-17

Museum (Yosemite Village), 33, 48, 66, 84-85, 88, 

98, 100-1, 103, 105-6, 109-12

N 

National Historic Landmark, 15, 47, 98-99, 110, 

138, 164, 184, 193, 239, 242

National Park Service (NPS) Rustic style. 

See Rustic style

NatureBridge, 41, 264

night sky, 49, 77, 126, 169, 183, 192, 263, 266, 306 

O

O’Shaughnessy Dam, 15, 36, 203, 226, 270-74, 300

Old Big Oak Flat Road, 248, 263, 267, 282, 295

Old Coulterville Road, 245

Old Glacier Point Road, 282, 296

Old Wawona Road, 250

Olmsted, Frederick Law, 28, 46, 246 

Olmsted Jr., Frederick Law, 104, 123

Olmsted Point, 14, 39, 42, 76, 282, 286, 289, 290-91

Ostrander Ski Hut, 14, 35, 200-1, 205-6

Overlooks, 25, 39, 56, 286-87, 291-92

P

parking: 

camp areas, 208, 211, 224-27, 265

 day-use areas, 57, 107-8, 234, 255-56, 260, 

275, 291

 guidelines for, 58, 60-62, 78, 108, 120, 124, 133, 

145-47, 170, 172, 185-88, 191, 208, 213, 227, 

230, 253, 276, 288, 306

landscape use, 106, 119, 246, 281, 298

lighting, 78

Parsons Memorial Lodge, 68, 82, 88, 180-81, 

184-85, 192-96

pathways, 59-60, 71, 104, 129, 141, 146, 151, 

169-170, 207, 216, 227, 233, 260, 318-19

picnic areas, 63, 188, 224, 233-34, 275-78 

picnic tables, 63, 225-26, 229, 233

Pioneer Yosemite History Center, 66-67, 160-61, 

169, 171-74, 299

porches: 

 guidelines for, 65, 88-89, 110, 117, 129, 133-34, 

136, 150, 152-53, 167-68, 174, 188, 210, 266, 

268, 275, 316

Post Office, 33, 84, 98, 102-3, 105, 109, 111-13, 144

Public Works Administration (PWA), 36-37

R

Ranger Camp (Tuolumne Meadows), 180-81, 185-87

Rangers’ Club, 33, 58, 81, 91, 101, 109, 111

retaining walls, 70, 117, 208, 284, 289, 294-95, 300

Road Crew Camp (Tuolumne Meadows), 67, 181, 

184, 186, 188, 190-92

roads:

alignment, 29, 56, 58, 99, 108, 147, 285

approach, 58, 107, 124

 design, 17, 35, 57-58, 71, 78, 107, 175-76, 230, 

243, 245, 281-301

roofs: 

 architectural character, 82, 117, 127-28, 131, 148, 

152, 252

guidelines for, 85-87, 131, 153, 169, 174, 189, 266

 Rustic style, 33, 47, 85

small buildings, 63, 89

snow, designing for, 86, 189

Rustic style (NPS Rustic style):

building character, 77, 82-83, 109, 127, 137, 141

 development of, 32-33, 47-48, 180, 184, 194, 

203-4, 273-74

S 

Section 35 (Wawona), 66, 160-62, 169, 174-75, 299

shuttle bus stops, 58, 74, 78, 287, 318, 320

signs: 

character, 74-77, 168, 314

highway and traffic related, 58, 76

informational, 75, 289, 306, 318

interpretation, 75, 196, 287-88

site orientation, 75, 77

park entry, 76

wayfinding, 75, 320

Sierra Club, 35, 39, 99, 180, 184, 193-94, 239, 

241, 269

snow, designing for, 49, 60, 62, 65, 76, 78-79, 87-90, 

131, 133, 136, 149-50, 153, 167, 188, 206, 208, 

229, 266, 268, 286, 288, 307, 313, 320

Snow Creek Ski Hut, 14, 200-2

Snow Flat Cabin, 14, 203

Soda Springs, 15, 68, 180-81, 192-94, 196, 

soundscape, 49, 183, 265, 272

South Entrance Station, 66, 299, 307, 311

Spencer, Eldridge T., 127, 141, 202, 245, 252, 254

Spencer, Jeanette Dyer, 256, 257

stairs, 79, 117, 134, 151, 153, 202, 260

Sunrise High Sierra Camp, 14, 217

sustainability, 9, 19-20, 150 
A S e n s e o f P l a c e

336 NPS

T 

Tecoya dorms, 152

tent cabins, 19, 90, 97, 119-21, 123-24, 129, 131-33, 

185-87, 206-19, 242

Tioga Pass Entrance Station, 82, 90, 189, 280, 283, 

290, 292, 304, 306, 308-10

Tioga Road, 14, 29, 32, 34-35, 39, 48, 58, 180-81, 

183, 185-90, 209, 263-66, 282-86, 289-92, 308

Trailheads, 75, 77, 233-34, 236, 287-88, 290, 292

trails: 

circulation, 57

guidelines for, 50, 58-61, 95, 125, 239, 318

history of, 35, 40, 42, 193

lighting of, 78

scenic views, 59, 95, 183

surface, 60

Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, 14, 244-45, 

248-249, 265, 266, 267, 

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (Tuolumne Meadows 

High Sierra Camp), 181, 188, 200, 211-13

Tuolumne Meadows, 14-15, 49-50, 56-57, 88-90, 

178-95, 211-14, 224, 226-30, 290-92, 308

U 

Underwood, Gilbert Stanley, 34, 137, 141

universal design, 19, 21

V 

Valley Visitor Center, 38, 42, 48, 75, 110-11

vegetation:

barriers, 33, 60, 73, 102, 125

camp areas, 224-27

day-use areas, 108, 275-77

drainage, 50, 62, 96, 108

grading, 71

 guidelines for, 48, 52-53, 61, 95, 105, 109, 123, 

145, 170, 176, 186-88, 207, 213, 227, 229, 267-

68, 285-87, 298, 305-6

management of, 52, 54, 73-74, 97, 105, 139, 284

restoration of, 71, 73, 96, 123, 155, 188, 206

 types of, 12, 52-53, 96, 104, 111, 116, 145, 169, 

182, 292-98, 300

views, scenic:

building orientation, 47-48

camp areas, 224

circulation, 282-83

day-use areas, 233-34

design ethic, 47, 53-56, 80

guidelines for, 53-56, 95

historic, 54, 56, 97

roads, 56-58, 95

Village Store, 102, 107, 109-10

Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, 14, 67, 199, 207-8, 

214-15, 257 

W 

walls, 70, 87-88, 94-95, 194

Washburn Point, 296-98

Wawona, 14, 159-76, 225-27, 245-47, 251-54, 

299-302 

Wawona Hotel, 15, 34, 66-67, 160-67, 169, 210, 

251, 299

Wawona Point, 245-47

Wawona Road, 161-63, 168-69, 253-54, 282, 

299-300

weathered steel, 70

White Wolf, 14, 34-35, 90, 200, 206, 209-11

windows: 

 guidelines for, 79, 88-89, 132, 136, 145, 154, 

168, 306

 Rustic Style, 82, 117, 202

Wosky, John, 83, 89, 186, 190, 204, 263, 308, 312

Y 

Yosemite Conservancy, 41

Yosemite Lodge, 56-57, 80, 83, 88, 98, 113, 

143-54, 256-57

Yosemite Village: 

building exteriors, 82, 86-89

 central Village administrative area, 47, 84, 105, 

108-12

design ethic for, 32-33, 47, 99, 101

guidelines for, 49, 98, 102-3

location of, 79, 101-18

 maintenance service and storage areas in, 

107, 118

pedestrian plaza, 38, 79-80, 95, 100-1

residential areas in, 46, 102, 116-17

N A T I O N A L P A R K S E R V I C E • Y O S E M I T E N A T I O N A L P A R K • C A L I F O R N I A