*num* 



Royal Arches, North Dome and Washington Column 



BASKET DOME, farther to the left, is 

 3,5 00 feet. Its name came from an In- 

 dian legend. 



(Take left-hand turns at next two 

 intersections.) 



y GLACIAL MORAINE. The low 

 <__ hill at this intersection is one of 

 ^~ the few morainal ridges still exist- 

 ing on the valley floor. It was formed 

 when two glaciers came together. This 

 is known locally as "Ski Hill" because 

 here began Yosemite's skiing. 



V HAPPY ISLES. The spur road 

 24 leaves the highway junction and 

 leads up to the Happy Isles and 

 Nature Center. The Merced River at 

 this point branches into several chan- 

 nels forming two main islands. Some 15 

 species of trees — practically every kind 

 found on the valley floor — grow at 

 Happy Isles. The great white blossoms 

 of the Pacific flowering dogwood may 



be seen at their best here during early 

 spring. This is also an important start- 

 ing point for many High Sierra trails, 

 including those to Vernal Fall, Nevada 

 Fall, Little Yosemite, Half Dome, and 

 the high Sierra camps. 



HAPPY ISLES NATURE CENTER — 



To help you see and enjoy Yosemite 

 this visitor and information center sup- 

 plements the museum in Yosemite Village 

 and serves as the "key" to your trips into 

 the back country. For 30 years the 

 building was operated as a hatchery by 

 the California Department of Fish and 

 Game, raising fingerling trout for Yo- 

 semites' lakes and streams. Starting in 

 195 7 the trout were supplied from new 

 hatcheries near Fresno and Sonora. An 

 outdoor pond displays large trout. Ex- 

 hibits in the building will be of interest to 

 the entire family. As you leave Happy 

 Isles, traveling down-valley, Camp 1 1 is 

 on your right. This is one of six free pub- 

 lic campgrounds in Yosemite Valley main- 



