The popular John Muir Trail / Pacific Crest Trail runs along the Tuolumne River Wild and Scenic corridor in Lyell Canyon and is one of Yosemite’s summer wilderness highlights. A variety of users access this trail, from backpackers and day hikers to stock users. Trail restoration will address habitat impacts while enhancing the visitor experience.
This trail crosses through wetland habitat where the ground remains extremely damp into the summer months when visitor traffic is heaviest. In an attempt to avoid the mud, hikers and stock users have unintentionally created numerous parallel trails that have become deeply rutted over time. These ruts alter natural wetland hydrology, which impact Yosemite toad habitat and change plant distribution. These drainage issues also make trail maintenance challenging and unsustainable.
This project will re-route three to five locations on the John Muir Trail / Pacific Crest Trail in addition to the Peninsula Stock Camp crossing the Tuolumne River. These trail sections will be moved out of sensitive wetland habitat to drier, more resilient areas that will be easier for visitors to access. By restoring these vital habitats, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy views of healthy, functioning wetland ecosystems on an improved trail system.
Together we are improving Yosemite’s trails for both visitors and wildlife.
Partnering with Yosemite National Park.