Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act enacted by Congress in 1864 during the Civil War, and assured the preservation of Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia trees for future generations. In 1906 the valley and grove of big trees, along with lands surrounding them, became Yosemite National Park, known throughout the world for the scenic beauty of its features. This year the park is celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Yosemite Grant Act that started it all.

Lands just outside the park boundary offer many scenic and historic features of their own, and we encourage anyone coming to the Sierra Nevada Mountains this year to visit the little known and lightly visited Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway. The 90-mile-long byway forms a loop that can be driven at one time, or taken in 3 segments at a leisurely pace for more enjoyment of the spectacular scenery it has to offer. The first volume in our series of Sierra Nevada Adventures entitled Exploring the Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway: Hidden Heart of the Central Sierra is a complete guide to the history, geology, flora, and fauna to be seen and enjoyed along the way.