Just inside the south entrance to Yosemite National Park is one of the very few hiking trails that allow dogs...the Wawona Meadow Loop. So Thistle and I came to hike it, hoping to see wildflowers in the meadow. There weren't any, but the trail was nice anyway.
The trailhead is located across the street from the Wawona Visitor Center (which is still closed for the season). To get to it, you walk a short ways on the old circa 1856 Chowchilla Mountain Road.
Looking up Chowchilla Mountain Road. It looks like it would make for a good walk itself.
The map at the trailhead, starting at the red dot.
Information about the trail.
The picture is blurry because Thistle was so excited to get started. Let's go!
In 1918, the Wawona Golf Course was constructed on the north end of the meadow, which is why the grass is so green in this area. The trail goes through the pine and cedar forest around the perimeter.
Large Incense Cedar trees.
And even larger Ponderosa Pines.
Ponderosa Pine
Notice the old split-rail fencing that hints of other uses of the meadow in the past.
On the left you can see the golf course green. From here on the meadow is being restored to its former natural state.
Historic split-rail fence
This is what remains of an old cattle chute.
This interpretive sign describes the many uses of the meadow through the years, including an airplane landing strip for visitors to Yosemite.
In this old photo you can see horses in the meadow and a bit of the old road that cars used to tour the scenic loop. Motorized vehicles are no longer allowed.
I took this picture, but in black and white, the scene could easily have been back then.
Thistle and I were the only ones on the trail this morning. It is shady and cool.
This is why I said the meadow is being restored. Some former uses changed the balance of nature here, allowing non-native plants to become established, and changed the native habitat for wildlife.
This Ponderosa Pine is labeled #10. Why?
Because it's serving double duty as a living power pole. Hope that doesn't hurt the tree.
Coming around the end of the meadow to the other side we notice standing water in places along the trail.
This sign explains the natural wetland habitat.
And the types of wildlife who live here.
We didn't see any wildlife, but we saw more wetlands.
View from the other side.
Picture of the historic Wawona Hotel, founded by Galen Clark, who was appointed the first "Guardian" of Yosemite by the state of California.
We are nearing the end of the trail, back where we started beside that old hotel.
And these are the only wildflowers we saw on the trail...Baby Blue Eyes, I believe they are called.
One more view of the meadow.
Big Trees Lodge, formerly called the Wawona Hotel. New concessionaires are changing most of the old names in the park.
