Yosemite Thrives Thanks to Conservation-Conscious Locals

‘The solution is not to scold or shun, rather to welcome and educate,’ the tourism bureau says.

A school group crosses a meadow in front of Yosemite Falls in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, Calif., on April 28, 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Yosemite National Park in California welcomes millions of visitors every year, and despite heavy traffic and crowded campgrounds, the forest has remained protected and preserved, thanks to local conservation efforts.

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine into trees,” wrote John Muir in his 1894 book, “The Mountains of California.”