Tour to Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe (CA, USA)

Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe (CA, USA)

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park's breathtaking natural and cultural elements have been preserved over time because to a long history of conservation.  A key factor in the creation of the national park concept was the conservation ethics and rules derived from Yosemite National Park.  The Yosemite Grant was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 as a result of lobbying by Galen Clark and others to prevent development in the Yosemite Valley.

The United States national park system was made possible by John Muir's successful campaign to create a larger national park that would include not only Yosemite Valley but also the surrounding mountains and woods. These initiatives led to Yosemite National Park's designation by Congress in 1890. The Mariposa Grove of Big Trees and Yosemite Valley, however, were left under state administration by this statute. 

The 747,956-acre Yosemite National Park is located in east-central California on the central western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Internationally renowned for its breathtaking granite cliffs, waterfalls, crystal-clear streams, enormous sequoia groves, and biological richness, Yosemite was named a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 1984. 135 miles of the Tuolumne and Merced Rivers have been included in the national wild and scenic rivers system, and over 94% of the park is designated as wilderness.

A variety of flora and animals can be found in Yosemite, which has one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada. Five main vegetation zones—chaparral/oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, and alpine—are supported by the park's nearly 11,000 feet of vertical gradient.  More than 1,400 of the 7,000 plant species found in California are found in Yosemite.  More than 160 uncommon plants can find adequate habitat in the park; many of these plants have a limited range that is characterized by peculiar local geologic formations and distinctive soils.

Granitic rocks and the remains of earlier rocks define the Yosemite region's geology. The Sierra Nevada's more spectacular eastern slopes and comparatively mild western slopes were formed by tilting and uplifting the region some 10 million years ago. Deep, narrow canyons were created as a result of the uplift making stream and riverbeds steeper. Glaciers formed at high elevations and flowed down river basins approximately a million years ago as a result of the accumulation of snow and ice. It's possible that during the early glacial event, the Yosemite Valley's ice thickness reached 4,000 feet. The U-shaped valley that draws so many tourists to its picturesque views today was cut and sculpted by the downslope flow of the ice masses.

Different populations flourished and made their marks throughout Yosemite's history.  After many generations of Ahwahneechee habitation, European settlers arrived in the middle of the 1800s.  Few early European explorers—just 650 from the mid-1850s to the mid-1860s—made the trek to Yosemite Valley by horseback or stage because of the difficult terrain.

 Writers, artists, and photographers who lived among many of these early white settlers helped to popularize "the Incomparable Valley" across the globe.  By 1907, the Yosemite Valley Railroad had been built from Merced to El Portal, making the trip easier and drawing more tourists.

Statements of significance explain why the values and resources of Yosemite National Park are significant enough to warrant designation as a national park unit.  Statements of significance explain the importance of a region, a country, a system, and the world at large.  These claims, which are backed by information, analysis, and consensus, are connected to the park unit's mission.  Significance statements highlight the park's unique qualities and guide management choices, concentrating on safeguarding the most valuable assets and principles of the park unit.

Lake Tahoe 

The Sierra Nevada's Lake Tahoe is 192 square miles in size and may reach a maximum depth of 1,646 feet.  Lake Trout (Mackinaw), Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and, to a lesser extent, Largemouth Bass, White and Black Crappie, and Bullhead Catfish are among the several introduced sport fish that call the lake home.  Although they are uncommon, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) have occasionally been stocked.  The most popular and frequently captured species is the mackerel, which typically varies in length from 16 to 25 inches.  

The second most sought-after species are rainbow trout, which typically measure between 10 and 14 inches.  Although fishing performance fluctuates throughout the year, July and August are the most fruitful months for boat fishing from shore, top-lining, or deep-lining.  Since little rainbow trout are stocked from Cave Rock and Sand Harbor (Nevada State Parks), these areas yield the highest catches.  Due to private property and parking restrictions, shore access is restricted around the majority of the lake.   Boaters find that top-line trolling is the most effective way to catch rainbow and brown trout, while the most popular methods for mackinaw are deep-line trolling, jigging, and live minnow fishing.  

For fishermen who lack the sophisticated fishing equipment or angling expertise necessary to capture lake trout, there are a variety of commercial guiding services available.  A 4 pound 13 ounce Kokanee Salmon, a 15 pound 15 ounce Brown Trout, a 37 pound 6 ounce Lake Trout (the state record), an 11 pound 7 ounce Rainbow Trout, and a 4 pound 9 ounce Mountain Whitefish are among the record fish.

Lake Tahoe had 4,509 Rainbow Trout stocked in 2022.  It is possible to target these coldwater game fish from land, and they will accept a variety of baits, including flies.  Rainbow trout account for 16% of all fisherman catches in Lake Tahoe and are the most common fish taken from the beach.  Lake Tahoe's natural brown and rainbow trout have the potential to reach remarkable sizes.  For the best chance of catching one of these trout from a boat or shore, fish drop down locations along the shoreline with a variety of spinners, bait (powerbait and live bait), and streamer/midge flies.

Lake Trout in Lake Tahoe can grow exceptionally large and feed on a wide assortment of resident fish in the lake such as Rainbow

Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, crayfish and other forage fish.  Because of their rich protein diet, lake trout can gain up to thirty pounds.  Because so many fishing boats and charters target lake trout, 50–70% of angler catches in Lake Tahoe are of this species.  The greatest way to capture a monster is to fish from a boat using lures, trolled spinners, and jigging.  In the early season, you can use bait, lures, or flies to target lake trout from shore or deep drop-off locations if you don't have a boat.

Numerous warmwater game species, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and bullhead catfish, can be found in Lake Tahoe.  Although some, especially smallmouth bass, can be caught in the lake, these fish are typically found in marina areas, mostly the Tahoe Keys, where the water is shallow and warmer than the main lake.  Fishing is best done from a boat because the Tahoe Keys are a private neighborhood with little public access. Anglers should respect private property, including docks.  For the best chance of capturing these fish, use topwater lures, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or nightcrawlers in shallow, rocky areas along the coast.