Trails and Tales of Yosemite and the Central Sierra
A Guide for Hikers and History Buffs
Sharon Giacomazzi
Sharon Giacomazzi loves to tell history tales and she loves to hike. She combines these passions in an enthralling guide to the glorious Central Sierra, presenting more than 60 fun excursions. The book's five sections, Gold Country, Western Slope, Yosemite Valley, Other Yosemite Park, and Eastern Sierra, are made richer with their fascinating historical context, and Sharon is a born storyteller who makes history fun.
You'll find ghost towns, waterfalls, wildflowers, Sequoia groves, historic roads, hot springs, river canyons, lakes, mountain peaks, and railroads, both excursion trains and historic lines long gone.
While Sharon includes some of the popular hikes, she also leads you to destinations off the beaten path, hidden corners in Yosemite Valley and the surrounding popular region. She emphasizes easy day hikes, but you'll also find peaks to climb, places to backpack, and resorts where you can just relax amidst scenic grandeur.
This new edition has been updated for 2013.
“Giacomazzi's enthusiasm for the world she writes about [Eastern Sierra canyons] is so infectious that her guidebooks are that rare thing: guidebooks that are actually a pleasure to read. And they are packed with useful information and historical lore, especially for the hiker new or relatively new to the Eastern Sierra.”
Michael Loughman, The Inyo Register
304 pages, 6" x 9", full-color cover, 59 historic and scenic photographs, 38 maps by Marsha Mello, bibliography, index, 2001.
ISBN 0-939431-25-4. trade paper
$19.00 
From the back cover:
Explore the majestic Central Sierra and learn its fascinating history
This truly one-of-a-kind guide leads you to more than 60 of the best walks and hikes among the spectacular scenery of Yosemite Park and the surrounding Sierra, an area larger than Maryland and Delaware combined. This comprehensive book features the Less traveled trails as well as some popular classics.
Trails & Tales of Yosemite & the Central Sierra will guide you to the best Sequoia groves, hidden waterfalls, most gorgeous canyons and wildflower blooms, most rewarding peaks to climb and other superb adventures.
Whether you're an avid hiker or a casual walker, you'll find the trails coming to life as Sharon Giacomazzi interweaves them with their historical context. She spins enthralling tales of native peoples, early explorers, Gold Rush mining, pioneer lumbering, early railroads, John Muir's adventures, and more.
WHAT YOU'LL FIND INSIDE:
- 60 plus hikes of all levels covering more than 350 miles Year-round hiking choices in the Gold Country, Yosemite Park, adjacent national forests, and the Eastern Sierra
- 38 clear and detailed maps
- 60 photos and illustrations, including 34 classic historical images
- A wealth of lively history & fascinating tales
From the Table of Contents:
Foreword by Caetlin O'Riordan 9
Map of the Central Sierra 10
Introduction 11
How to Use This Book 13
Map Legend 14
The Dangers: Hiker's Ten Commandments 15
The Climate 17
I. Gold Country
Introduction: Off to See the Elephant 19
1. Murphys & Calaveras Big Trees State Park 23
2. Jamestown & the Sierra Railway 29
3. Red Hills of Chinese Camp 33
4. Bagby & the Merced River Trail 38
5. Merced River Trail Ramble 43
6. Hornitos 48
7. Legend of Mount Ophir 53
Interlude: Pathfinder John Fremont's Time in Mariposa County
7. Fremont Peak 54
8. McKenzie Table Mountain Preserve 60
II. Western Slope: Trails North, West and South of Yosemite
Introduction: Waving Seas of Evergreens 63
9. Exploring Alpine County: PCT to Noble Lake 65
10. Clavey River & God's Bath 70
11. Bourland Trestle & the West Side Lumber Co. Railroad 75
12. Lake Eleanor & Preston Falls 81
13. Peach & Fig Growers Railroad 86
14. Rainbow Pool on the South Fork Tuolumne River 91
15. Wonders of Bower Cave & the North Fork Merced River Trail 97
16. Muir's Mossy Boulder on the Upper North Fork Merced River 102
17. Hite's Cove on the South Fork Merced River Trail 106
18. Yosemite Mountain-Sugar Pine Railroad 111
19. Lewis Creek National Scenic Trail 115
20. Nelder Grove of Giant Sequoias 118
21. Willow Creek Trail: Angel Falls & Devil's Slide 122
22. Jackass Lakes in Ansel Adams Wilderness 126
23. Mono Hot Springs & Doris & Tule Lakes 130
III. Yosemite National Park/ Yosemite Valley
Introduction: The Incomparable Valley 135
Visiting Yosemite Valley 135
A Capsule History of Yosemite 136
24. Artist Point & Artist Thomas Hill 140
25. Inspiration Point & Artist Thomas Ayres 144
26. Hiking Old Big Oak Flat Road to Rainbow View 149
27. Ahwahnee Hotel to Mirror Lake 153
28. Mirror Lake—Mirror Meadow 159
29. Half Dome 162
IV. Yosemite National Park Outside the Valley
Introduction: A Wealth of Glorious Terrain 169
30. Carlon Falls 171
31. Hetch Hetchy to Wapama & Rancheria Falls 176
32. Merced Grove via the Coulterville Road 181
33. Tuolumne Grove via Old Big Oak Flat Road 186
34. Foresta Forever & Little Nellie Falls 191
35. Old Foresta Road Past Waterfalls to El Portal 196
36. May Lake & Mount Hoffman 200
Interlude: High Sierra Camps 204
37. Snow Creek Trail 207
38. Four-Mile Trail between Glacier Point & Yosemite Valley 212
39. Sentinel Dome-Taft Point Loop 217
40. Wawona & the Meadow Loop 220
41. Stella Lake & the Swinging Bridge 225
42. Mono Pass & Bloody Canyon 229
43. Mount Dana Experience 233
V. Eastern Sierra
Introduction: Birthed in Fire, Sculpted by Ice 239
44. Bennettville & the History of Tioga Road 240
45. Gardisky Lake & Tioga Crest 246
46. Green Treble Lake & Hall Natural Area 249
47. Allure of Lundy Canyon 253
48. Green Creek Canyon to East Lake 258
49. Bodie State Historic Park 262
50. June Lakes Basin & Parker Lake 267
Interlude: Explore Mono Lake 268
51. Devils Postpile & Rainbow Falls 273
52. Convict Lake 276
53. Rock Creek Canyon 280
54. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Groves 285
Further Reading 290
Index 294
About the Author 303
About Bored Feet 304
