(Round trip, 14 to 20 miles--6 to 12 hours)
~Little Yosemite~, although quite accessible and most charming in its
diversity of scenery, beauty and absolute restfulness, remains unknown
to most tourists. It deserves at least one day in one's Yosemite
itinerary. Fishing is reported good and those interested in geology or
botany will be well repaid by the trip.
Above Nevada Falls the canyon of the Merced expands to broad level
meadows walled in by precipitous cliffs 1500 to 2000 feet high. Here
in Little Yosemite are exhibited all of the Yosemite features--dome
structure, exfoliation, glacial phenomena, "royal arches," etc., but
on a somewhat smaller scale. Even the forests and flowers are similar,
for the altitude is here only 6000 feet--two thousand feet higher than
Yosemite. The level floor, which has also resulted from the filling in
of an ancient lake, is broken in but three places by the crests of
terminal moraines, which extend across the valley and cause the Merced
to cascade beautifully in "silver aprons." In three miles the polished
granite walls again converge to form a narrow canyon from which the
river emerges, plunging over a beautiful cascade and into a
picturesque glacial tarn. The most outstanding scenic feature of the
valley is the perfectly formed ~Sugarbowl Dome~ (lately renamed
Bunnell Point) at its head. ~Lost Lake~, near the south base of ~Half
Dome~, is a swamp part of the season and later a boggy meadow. It is
interesting only as being in the transition stage between mountain
lake and mountain meadow.
Kah-win´-na-bah´ was the Indian name for the valley as well as the
large summer camp located there. The river was known as the Yanopah.
~Little Yosemite~ is reached by following Trail Trip 1 to the top of
the Nevada Falls zigzags, thence turning left and following Trail Trip
5 to the first junction, from which we continue up the canyon. The
head of the canyon is three miles eastward. The region is an excellent
place for a permanent camp away from the overcrowded valley and one
may easily arrange at Yosemite for the delivery here of a camp outfit
and supplies.