Tuolumne River
California
The Tuolumne River, designated in 1984, originates high in the Sierra Nevada on the eastern side of Yosemite National Park and flows westward for 62 miles before it continues into Stanislaus National Forest. The river has two principal sources: 1) the Dana Fork, which drains the west-facing slopes of Mount Dana; and 2) the Lyell Fork, which begins at the base of the glacier on Mount Lyell. The two forks converge at the eastern end of Tuolumne Meadows, one of the largest subalpine meadows in the Sierra Nevada. The Tuolumne River meanders through Tuolumne Meadows and then cascades through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne before it enters the eastern end of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (still within the park, but not part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System). Below O'Shaughnessy Dam, the river again is included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System as it continues through a low-elevation meadow and rocky gorge.
Designated Reach
September 28, 1984. The main stem from its source to the Don Pedro Reservoir.
Outstandingly Remarkable Values
Culture
The rich archeological landscape along the Tuolumne River reflects thousands of years of travel, settlement, and trade. Parsons Memorial Lodge, a national historic landmark sited near the Tuolumne River, commemorates the significance of this free-flowing segment of the river in inspiring conserva...Show More
Ecology
In Tuolumne Meadows, Dana Meadows, and along the Lyell Fork, the Tuolumne River sustains one of the most extensive Sierra Nevada complexes of subalpine meadows and riparian habitats with relatively high biological integrity. Poopenaut Valley contains a type of low-elevation riparian and wetland h...Show More
Geology
Rock types of the upper Tuolumne River are chiefly granites; three major intrusive periods in the development of the Sierra Nevada have contributed different granitic varieties. Metamorphic remnants occur at higher elevations, such as the slate of Mt. Lyell and the limestone of Mt. Dana. Visitors...Show More
Recreation
Rare and easy access to high-elevation sections of the Tuolumne River through Tuolumne and Dana Meadows is provided by the Tioga Road across the Sierra. Wilderness travelers along the Tuolumne River engage in a variety of activities in an iconic High Sierra landscape, where opportunities for prim...Show More
Scenery
Lyell Canyon offers remarkable and varied views of lush meadows, a meandering river, a U-shaped glacially carved canyon, and surrounding peaks. The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne offers views of a deep, rugged canyon with vast escarpments of granite, hanging valleys, and long cascades of falling wa...Show More