Virtual Yosemite

Virtual Yosemite Virtual Yosemite is a groundbreaking and extensive interactive VR tour of Yosemite National Park.

In 1955, a disgruntled employee of the Ahwahnee Hotel intentionally introduced some American bullfrogs into the concrete...
07/16/2026

In 1955, a disgruntled employee of the Ahwahnee Hotel intentionally introduced some American bullfrogs into the concrete reflection pond in front of the hotel, with the intent that the incessant and loud grunting calls of the frogs would disturb hotel guests and cause complaints to senior staff.

This "prank" resulted in a devastating invasive species effectively wiping out numerous other aquatic species in Yosemite Valley, due to the bullfrogs' large size, voracious appetites, and highly successful breeding.

In the 1990s, Yosemite began what would become a two decade effort to eradicate these bullfrogs from the Valley. By 2019, that goal was achieved, and the park began reintroduction efforts for a number of the species (mostly smaller frogs) the bullfrogs had wiped out.

Park scientists also began a program with the San Francisco Zoo to introduce endangered California red-legged frogs (made famous in Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County") into the protected meadows of Yosemite Valley as a way to better conserve the species.

The program has been, by all accounts, a success. In the spring of 2026, the 10,000th captive raised red-legged frog was released, and these red-legged frogs appear to be well established.

Seen here, San Francisco Zoo director of field conservation Dr. Rochelle Stiles, joined by Yosemite aquatic ecologist Dr. Rob Grasso and a group of Yosemite Conservancy supporters, perform one of the final frog releases for the year in Cooks Meadow.

Further details of the story, including 360° interactive VR views from Virtual Yosemite, can be seen at:
https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/
https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/
https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/

©2026 Photography by Scott Highton

Over the past several years, Virtual Yosemite has been working to add aerial 360-degree panorama coverage to our already...
02/19/2026

Over the past several years, Virtual Yosemite has been working to add aerial 360-degree panorama coverage to our already extensive online VR tour of Yosemite National Park — https://www.virtualyosemite.org/

Finally, new technology and design developments have enabled us to photograph these panoramas within the challenging regulations of both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS).

Viewers can now browse the Virtual Yosemite site with roughly 120 new photographic 360-degree aerial views, which are distinguished in the tour by their yellow and red airplane icons.

From these unique viewpoints, viewers are also presented with ID labels for notable landmarks and ground reference points. Standard red "target" links also connect our aerial views to our extensive ground-based panoramic coverage.

Aerial perspectives allow for even better exploration of both the topography and geology of Yosemite. These new panoramas give viewers the time and resolution to more closely examine the park’s features from multiple viewpoints.

Virtual Yosemite is thrilled to finally be able to present these as a part our celebrated VR tour.

We have also added helpful user interface features to the Virtual Yosemite tour, including distance indicators between aerial panoramas. Within the Map display, we also now have filters for showing aerial/non-aerial views, along with filters to isolate panoramic views from each season.

As always, we recommend viewing Virtual Yosemite on the largest screen possible. Use the zoom tool not only to see more detail, but to better separate landmark labels.

We also encourage you to tilt your view straight down as you’re exploring these aerials. Some of these vertical views can be quite striking, and often highlight the value of aerial viewpoints. Definitely try this over Yosemite Valley locations.

For those who prefer our celebrated imagery without its descriptive links, captions, and label overlays, clicking the Show/Hide Links button at the bottom right side of the viewer window can turn these displays off and on as desired.

A convenient addition to our user interface is the Go Fly? button near the upper left corner of the tour window. Clicking this takes you from the ground-based panorama you're viewing up in the air to the closest aerial panorama available.

Once in the air, the button changes to Descend? status. Clicking it similarly puts you into the closest ground-based panorama to your aerial location.

Of course, you can jump between aerial and ground-based locations any time by clicking their respective link icons in any panorama.

Full navigation instructions can be found at: https://www.virtualyosemite.org/navigating-virtual-yosemite/

Thank you for your continuing support, and we hope you enjoy these unique new additions to the project.

Scott Highton
Author / Photographer
Virtual Yosemite

Julia Parker is an exceptionally skilled Native American basket maker (Coast Miwok–Kashaya Pomo), who lived and worked i...
08/05/2025

Julia Parker is an exceptionally skilled Native American basket maker (Coast Miwok–Kashaya Pomo), who lived and worked in Yosemite Valley for 55 years.

When she was 17, she married Ralph Parker, the son of Lucy Telles, a highly respected basket maker, whom she began her basketry training with. Later, she also trained with Tina Charlie, Carrie Bethel, Minnie Mike, and Elsie Allen.

Beginning in 1960, she worked as a cultural specialist at the Yosemite Museum, and took over for Lucy Telles as a cultural demonstrator, specializing in basket weaving and acorn processing. She retired in 2015.

Julia has traveled extensively teaching and sharing her art, leading workshops and classes. Her work is in the collections of the Smithsonian and other museums, as well as private collections of Queen Elizabeth II and others.

She's also been awarded two honorary doctorate degrees, one in 2006 from the California College of the Arts, and the other in 2021 from California State University, Fresno.

Her daughter Lucy (named after Julia's mentor Lucy Telles) is herself a highly regarded basket maker, as is Lucy's daughter Ursula Jones. Ursula's daughter Naomi is also following the tradition, and Naomi's recently born daughter Esha is expected to, as well.

On the last day of June, 2025, these five generations of of Parker family basket weavers gathered for a day of cultural presentation at the Ahwahnee Village behind the Yosemite Museum, supported by the Yosemite Conservancy. It was a wonderful celebration of their art and and traditions.

Click on the Virtual Yosemite link below to the panoramic VR image of their presentation, and then click on the yellow Gallery button to see a collection of photos of Julia and the five generations of basket weavers in her family.

https://virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/

Julia and Lucy also conduct three-day basket weaving workshops in Yosemite Valley, also supported by the Yosemite Conservancy.

At age 97, Julia has slowed a bit physically, but still retains a twinkle in her eye, enjoys telling stories, and is easily cajoled into leading traditional tribal songs with her rattle stick.

©2025 Photography by Scott Highton

This weekend has brought yet another welcome storm to the Sierra – perhaps one of the last of the season to add signific...
03/30/2025

This weekend has brought yet another welcome storm to the Sierra – perhaps one of the last of the season to add significantly to the Sierra snowpack.

When temperatures are cold enough and storms are big enough, parts of Yosemite reasonably accessed by the public take on a beautiful, albeit temporary, blanket of snow. Those who can get into the park when this happens are treated to landscapes that are generally missed by prime season visitors to the park.

One of these locations is the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, where more than 500 immense Sequoias can be found. See:
https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/

The Grove is extremely popular through most of the year, as it's relatively easy to access. There's a large parking lot just inside the south entrance (Highway 41) to the park, and free shuttle buses transport visitors up a moderately steep two mile road to the edge of the Grove. From there, a number of trail options allow visitors to explore as little or as much of the Grove as they want.

In winter, however, the free shuttles don't operate, so simply getting to the Grove and back requires a four mile round trip hike, plus whatever additional explorations one wants to make inside the Grove. Elevation at the parking area is about 5,150', while the Grove trailhead is 5,600', and trails within the Grove climb up to about 6,800'.

When there's a fresh coat of snow, however, the experience is one of tranquility, beauty, peace, and (usually) solitude. It is also cold, though – and often wet, so hikers should be prepared for a long day outside. Slippery trails demand good footwear, and hikers should expect sub-freezing temperatures.

Many of the Grove's iconic trees are within a mile of its entrance (not including the two mile walk to get there). These include the Fallen Monarch, the Bachelor and Three Graces, the Grizzly Giant, and the California Tunnel Tree.
See:
https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/
https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/
https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/
https://www.virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/

Excellent hiking info, courtesy of yosemitehikes.com , can be found at:
https://www.yosemitehikes.com/southern-yosemite/mariposa-grove/mariposa-grove.htm

©2025 Photography by Scott Highton

New to Virtual Yosemite is a small VR tour of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, located about an hour outs...
03/20/2025

New to Virtual Yosemite is a small VR tour of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, located about an hour outside of Yosemite in the historic gold mining town of Mariposa. You can start this tour at: https://virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/

The Museum is a part of the California State Park system, and is the only unit in that system without any associated land.

Inside, visitors can find extensive displays of gems, minerals, and artifacts from California's mining history, including a 175-foot long re-created mine tunnel. https://virtualyosemite.org/virtual-tour/

Highlights include the Fricot Nugget – the largest (13.8 lb) crystalline mass of gold remaining from the California gold rush, a broad selection of minerals including a large display of glow-in-the-dark specimens, as well as gold, silver, platinum, and benitoite, California's state gemstone.

Changing weather, a recent rock fall closure (temporary) of Highway 140 into the park, and current insecurity about park access and reservations pending for this summer, means that many visitors to the area will find attractions outside the park as welcome alternatives.

The town of Mariposa is also the home of two other notable museums, the Yosemite Climbing Association Museum featuring the deep history of climbing in Yosemite, and the Mariposa Museum & History Center.

These and over 500 more locations in and around Yosemite can all be visited free in high resolution interactive VR, courtesy of Virtual Yosemite – https://www.virtualyosemite.org

©2025 Photography by Scott Highton

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