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Barrier-Free Travel: Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Azioni libro
Inizia a leggereLunghezza: 362 pagine3 ore
- Editore:
- Candy B Harrington
- Pubblicato:
- Nov 15, 2018
- ISBN:
- 9781370501649
- Formato:
- Libro
Descrizione
Penned by accessible travel expert Candy B. Harrington, this handy guidebook includes detailed access information about Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.Accessible Trail and Boardwalk InformationPhotos and Access Details of all Park LodgingsAccess Information on the Newly Renovated Mariposa GroveAccessible Lodging Options and Attractions in Gateway Communities35 Accessible Lodging ReviewsFly-Drive ResourcesAccessible Rental Van OptionsWheelchair and Handcycle RentalsBarrier-Free CampingAccessible Bus Tours and Ranger ProgramsSpecial Access Passes and DiscountsAccessible Viewpoints, Picnic Areas and Scenic DrivesLocal Adaptive Sports ProgramsAccess Improvements Throughout the Parks
Informazioni sul libro
Barrier-Free Travel: Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Lunghezza: 362 pagine3 ore
Descrizione
Penned by accessible travel expert Candy B. Harrington, this handy guidebook includes detailed access information about Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.Accessible Trail and Boardwalk InformationPhotos and Access Details of all Park LodgingsAccess Information on the Newly Renovated Mariposa GroveAccessible Lodging Options and Attractions in Gateway Communities35 Accessible Lodging ReviewsFly-Drive ResourcesAccessible Rental Van OptionsWheelchair and Handcycle RentalsBarrier-Free CampingAccessible Bus Tours and Ranger ProgramsSpecial Access Passes and DiscountsAccessible Viewpoints, Picnic Areas and Scenic DrivesLocal Adaptive Sports ProgramsAccess Improvements Throughout the Parks
- Editore:
- Candy B Harrington
- Pubblicato:
- Nov 15, 2018
- ISBN:
- 9781370501649
- Formato:
- Libro
Informazioni sull'autore
Known as the guru of accessible travel, Candy Harrington has been writing about travel for wheelchair users and slow walkers exclusively for over 20 years. She’s the founding editor of Emerging Horizons, and the author of the classic Barrier Free Travel; A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow Walkers.Tape measure in hand, Candy hits the road often, in search of new accessible travel finds. And when she’s not on the road, she enjoys spending time with her travel photographer husband at their home in the Sierras.
Correlati a Barrier-Free Travel
Anteprima del libro
Barrier-Free Travel - Candy B Harrington
Resources
Preface — Mariposa Grove and More!
As I got my first look at the improvements in Mariposa Grove, I couldn’t help but wonder what my friend John Pratt would think of the access. John drove a tram tour through the grove for many years, and I always enjoyed hearing his visitor stories. Some were funny — like the lady who asked why they planted the grove so far from the parking lot — but many of them were actually access-related.
John loved helping people see the grove, and he often said that if it wasn’t for the tram tours, some folks — especially those with mobility issues — wouldn’t be able to get an up-close-and-personal look at these giant sequoias. His biggest fear was that the improvements in the grove would not take disabled visitors into account.
Sadly John left us before the Mariposa Grove project was completed, but after seeing the results of this three-year effort, I’d like to think he’d give it a big thumbs-up.
Not only did the project restore the ecology of the grove, but it heightened the visitor experience. There are absolutely no commercial facilities in the grove, so you can just sit back and take in Mother Nature. And access wasn’t overlooked either; in fact it was factored into the plans from the beginning.
As a result, there’s nearly a mile of accessible trails and boardwalks in the grove, so everyone can get a close look at these giant trees. And although there’s accessible shuttle bus transportation to the grove, visitors that have a placard can also drive there. So yes, the new incarnation is extremely accessible.
I have to admit that I was frustrated with the amount of time this project took, but I’m totally wowed by the results. And the new and improved Mariposa Grove is the main reason for the second edition of this book.
Of course that’s not the only Yosemite access improvement since the first edition of this book was released. One of the specialty cabins at Half Dome Village was renovated in 2018, and the upgrades included the addition of access features. So that’s one more accessible lodging option to add to the Yosemite list.
They’ve been busy down in Kings Canyon National Park too, with the addition of the new Grant Grove Restaurant, which features excellent access and a great view of Bradley Meadow.
More good reasons for a second edition.
I was also able to include a few more properties in the gateway cities of Mariposa, Mammoth Lakes and Visalia in this edition.
Of course, access is continually improving in all of the parks, and I do plan to post future changes at www.barrierfreeyosemite.com. So let me know if you come across any upgrades, changes or improvements, so I can share them with my readers.
And let me know how you enjoy these three Central California National Parks.
Candy Harrington
candy@EmergingHorizons.com
www.CandyHarrington.com
www.EmergingHorizons.com
Facebook: Candy Harrington
Twitter: Candy B. Harrington
Pinterest: Candy Harrington
Table of Contents
Admission and Park Passes
Admission Fees
The admission fee to Yosemite National Park is $35 per car, and the admission fee to Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park is $35. This fee is collected at park entrance stations, and admission is good for seven days. Payment can be made with cash or a credit card. Save your receipt as you’ll need to show it if you enter a park through a different gate, or if you come and go from a park.
The National Park Service also offers free admission on several days throughout the year, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day and the first day of National Park Week. It’s best to arrive early on these days, as the parks are usually quite crowded.
Park Passes
A number of discount park passes are also available at all national park entrance kiosks. See if you qualify for one, as it may help trim your travel budget.
Access Pass
This free lifetime pass provides for free admission to all national parks, and is available to U.S. citizens or residents with a permanent disability. Applicants must provide documentation of a permanent disability, and prove residency or citizenship. The pass also offers a 50% discount on campsites and boat launch fees. It generally does not provide for a discount on fees charged by concessionaires.
Military Pass
The free annual Military Pass provides for free park admission, and is available to active members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Reserve and National Guard Members are also eligible. A Common Access Card or Military ID (Form 1173) is required to obtain this pass.
Senior Pass
This lifetime pass provides free park admission, and is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or older. The cost of the pass is $80. An annual Senior Pass is also available for $20, and the cost for this annual pass can be applied to the purchase of a lifetime pass. Proof of age and residency or citizenship are required. The pass also offers a 50% discount on campsites and boat launch fees. It generally does not provide for a discount on fees charged by concessionaires.
Annual Pass
If you plan on visiting a number of national parks throughout the year, the Annual Pass may be a good deal for you. This non-transferable pass costs $80 and it’s good for free park admission to all national parks for the entire year. It’s an especially attractive deal if you live near a national park, or are planning a road trip that includes a number of national parks. You can also order this pass by calling (888) 275-8747.
Annual 4th Grade Pass
This free annual pass is available to all 4th graders and is valid for the duration of the 4th grade school year and the following summer. Paper vouchers can be obtained at www.everykidinapark.gov and exchanged for an Annual 4th Grade Pass at any national park entrance. This pass is also available to home-schooled students.
Yosemite or Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Annual Pass
If you’re planning several trips to Yosemite or Sequoia-Kings Canyon within a year, these park-specific annual passes could save you a few bucks. The Yosemite annual pass costs $70, and the Sequoia-Kings Canyon annual pass costs $60. The passes are good for unlimited visits for the purchaser and others in the vehicle for one year.
Authorized Park Concessionaires
All of the lodgings inside Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are operated by authorized concessionaires, who have contracted with the National Park Service, and operate under strict guidelines. They are responsible for the daily operations of the facilities, as well as improvements and upgrades. It’s important to deal with these concessionaires directly when you make a reservation; as not only will you get the best price there, but you will also have access to employees that can block the accessible rooms and describe the access details of each available room. Unfortunately these concessionaires do not always come up first in internet searches because paid advertisements appear before them. Some of these paid advertisements even list national park lodges
that are located many miles outside the parks, which is very misleading to people who are unfamiliar with the geography of the parks. The authorized concessionaires in Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are listed below. Again, deal directly with these concessionaires for all lodging reservations.
Yosemite National Park
Aramark
(888) 413-8869
www.travelyosemite.com
www.facebook.com/YosemitePark
Half Dome Village (Curry Village)
Yosemite Valley Lodge (Yosemite Lodge at the Falls)
The Majestic Yosemite Hotel (The Ahwahnee)
Big Trees Lodge (Wawona Lodge)
Housekeeping Camp
Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park
Delaware North
(866) 807-3598
www.visitsequoia.com
www.facebook.com/VisitSekiParks
Wuksachi Lodge
John Muir Lodge
Grant Grove Cabins
Cedar Grove Lodge
Table of Contents
Yosemite National Park
Set aside as a national park in 1890, Yosemite includes over 1,200 square miles of scenic beauty in the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains. And although the park boasts a large wilderness area, the bulk of the visitors gravitate to Yosemite Valley, where the lion’s share of services, attractions and overnight accommodations are located.
There are five entrance stations to the park, four of which allow access to Yosemite Valley.
The Big Oak Flat Entrance is located a half-hour east of Groveland, on Highway 120. It’s another 45-minute drive from this entrance to Yosemite Valley. It’s also the most direct route from the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Arch Rock Entrance is located a hour east of Mariposa on Highway 140. From there, it’s a 25-minute drive to Yosemite Valley.
The South Entrance is located on Highway 41, about 30 minutes north of Oakhurst. It’s an additional hour-drive to Yosemite Valley from this entrance. This entrance is most often used by Southern California traffic.
The Tioga Pass Entrance is located on the east side of the park, about 35 minutes north of Mammoth Lakes off Highway 395. It takes about two hours to get to Yosemite Valley from this entrance, although it’s a very scenic drive. This entrance and Tioga Road are closed during the winter months, due to heavy snow.
Additionally the Hetch Hetchy Entrance is located about 20 minutes north of the Big Oak Flat Entrance on Evergreen Road. This is the only park entrance that does not lead to Yosemite Valley, but instead offers visitors access to the scenic drive to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
No matter how you get there, Yosemite National Park offers visitors a diverse landscape that includes everything from granite monoliths and spectacular waterfalls to giant sequoias. And thanks to many years of access improvements and policy modifications, many of these pristine natural areas are now accessible to wheelchair-users and slow walkers.
Table of Contents
The Basics
Road Conditions and Weather
Yosemite National Park is open year-round, and the major roads in the valley are plowed in the winter. Visitors are advised to carry chains or cables, as they can be required at any time from November to May. Yosemite Valley may close during periods of extreme rainfall, as parts of the valley are prone to flooding.
Tioga Road usually closes from November to May, but depending on weather conditions it can still be closed in late June. Updates on the projected opening and closing dates of the road are posted at www.nps.gov/yose.
The road to Hetch Hetchy is also open all year; however it may be closed intermittently in the winter due to snow. This road also closes at night. Additionally, vehicles over 25 feet are not permitted on this road at any time.
And although Glacier Point Road is open to the Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area in the winter, the remainder of the road is usually closed from November to May. Updates on opening and closing dates are also posted on the Yosemite website.
Traffic to and from Yosemite Valley can also be very heavy during the summer months, especially on holiday weekends. At this time traffic can be backed up at the entrance stations, so visitors are advised to arrive early in the day in order to bypass the heaviest traffic. Weekend traffic is very congested in the summer, so mid-week visits are also advised during this time.
For road conditions inside the park, call (209) 372-0200 and press 1. For road conditions on the major highways to and from Yosemite, call the Cal Trans Hotline at (800) 427-7623.
Elevations in Yosemite range from 4,000 feet in Yosemite Valley to 8,600 feet at Tuolumne Meadows on Tioga Road; and as expected the weather varies depending on the elevation. Generally speaking Yosemite receives 95% of its rain (and snow) between October and May, and Yosemite Valley can be blanketed in snow after any given winter storm. Best bet is to dress for variable weather conditions no matter when you visit the park, as the weather can — and does — change rapidly in this part of the Sierras.
Altitude
Yosemite National Park has a wide range of elevations; from just under 2,000 feet near the Arch Rock Entrance, to 13,144 feet at the summit of Mount Lyell. The highest point navigable by vehicle is Tioga Pass, which logs in at an impressive 9,945 feet. That said, Yosemite Valley, which boasts the lion’s share of the iconic attractions, has an elevation of just 4,000 feet.
Although the symptoms of altitude sickness generally do not appear at elevations under 8,000 feet, wheelchair-users, slow walkers and people with compromised immune systems may feel the effects of increased altitudes at significantly lower elevations. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, lethargy, insomnia and gastrointestinal disturbances. If you are unfamiliar with the effects that higher elevations have on your body, it’s best to take it slow and drink plenty of water for the first few days at any increased elevation, especially if you live at sea level. Additionally, you may want to consult your doctor regarding the effects that increased elevations may have on your specific condition. To assist you in your travel planning, the elevations of all the major areas of the park are listed at the beginning of each section.
Picnic area on the east end of Tenya Lake — about 8,000 feet
Airport
The Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is the closest commercial terminal to Yosemite National Park. It’s approximately a 2.5-hour drive from FAT to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Transportation from the airport to the park is also available on YARTS (see below). Accessible rental vans are available in Fresno from Mobility Works (877-275-4907). Advance reservations are required for accessible van rentals.
YARTS
The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) provides fixed route public transportation to Yosemite from the surrounding gateway communities. There are four YARTS routes, which enter the park through each of the four main park entrances. All YARTS buses are wheelchair-accessible; however passengers that require wheelchair seating must contact YARTS at least 48 hours in advance at (877) 989-2787 to insure availability.
YARTS tickets, which include park admission, can be purchased online at www.yarts.com. Discounts of approximately 50% are available to seniors (age 62 and older) and people with a disability. Children under 12 ride for free. Luggage and large backpacks are allowed on YARTS buses; however because of space limitations they may need to be stowed in the luggage compartment under the bus.
The four YARTS routes are listed below.
Merced — Highway 140
This year-round route begins in Merced and features several stops in the city, including the Amtrak station; after which it travels along Highway 140 to the Arch Rock Entrance Station. There are stops along the way in Cathey’s Valley, Mariposa and Midpines. Stops inside the park include Half Dome Village, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, the Yosemite Valley Lodge and the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.
Fresno — Highway 41
This route begins in Fresno and includes stops at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport and the Amtrak station. It then travels along Highway 41 and stops in Coarsegold, Oakhurst and Fish Camp, before it arrives at the South Entrance of the park. Stops inside the park include the Mariposa Grove, Wawona Market, Big Trees Lodge and the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. This route operates from May to September.
Mammoth Lakes — Highway 120 E/395
This route begins in Mammoth Lakes and travels north on Highway 395, with stops along the June Lake Loop and in Lee Vining. Next it heads west on Highway 120, goes through the Tioga Pass Entrance, and continues along to Tuolumne Meadows, Crane Flat and the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center . This route only operates from June to September, as Tioga Pass is closed during the winter.
Sonora — Highway 120
This route begins in Sonora and travels along Highway 108 to Jamestown, before it connects to Highway 120, and heads east to Groveland, Buck Meadows and Rush Creek Lodge. It also stops at the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station, Crane Flat and the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center inside the park. This route operates from May to September.
Detailed YARTS schedules and fare tables can be found on the YARTS website. Truly, taking YARTS is one of the easiest ways to get to the park, especially during peak season when parking is hard to find. And since all the park shuttle buses are also accessible, you can visit nearly every major attraction in the park without a car. YARTS is easy, affordable and accessible.
YARTS bus in Yosemite Valley
Amtrak
The two closest Amtrak stations to the park are located in Merced and Fresno. Amtrak offers wheelchair-accessible bus connections from both stations. The Fresno bus route follows Highway 41, and takes about 2.5 hours to reach the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. The Amtrak bus connection from Merced travels along Highway 140 to the Arch Rock Entrance, and takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach Yosemite Valley. YARTS also stops at both the Fresno and Merced Amtrak stations.
Free Valley Shuttle
Although vehicle traffic is still allowed in most areas of the valley, the Yosemite Valley shuttle is the easiest
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