Conservation | Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

June 20, 2022June 20, 2022

The Yosemite Grant

Gates of the Valley, Yosemite National Park, California

June 30th marks the 158th Anniversary of the Yosemite Grant Act. Authorized by Congress and signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864, it was the humble beginnings that established Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove as the first protected wilderness in the country. It also created California’s first State Park, and ultimately led to the creation of America’s National Park System.

In the years that followed, the tireless efforts of conservationist John Muir persuaded the government to protect the surrounding land as well and on October 1, 1890 Yosemite National Park was born. Never one to miss an opportunity to share the beauty and magic of his beloved home in the Sierra, Muir’s eloquent words convinced President Theodore Roosevelt and the state authorities to include Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park and in 1906 it was signed into law.

2022 is the 105th anniversary of the National Park Service, which now includes 423 individual parks covering more than 85 million acres in all 50 states. The National Park Service website along with the Yosemite Conservancy have a wealth of information about the history and preservation of Yosemite. But there’s nothing like sitting on the banks of the Merced River or gazing up at El Capitan to feel the full effect of America’s Best Idea.

September 2, 2021September 2, 2021

The Wilderness Act

Fifty-seven years ago on September 3rd, 1964 President Lyndon Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law preserving over 9 million acres of wilderness – a place where people could experience nature with minimal impact on the environment and wildlife. Since then Congress has added more than 100 million acres of wilderness area creating a natural legacy for future generations, and a sanctuary to recharge our creative and spiritual batteries apart from today’s fast-paced urban world.

The legislation established the National Wilderness Preservation System, which recognizes wilderness as “an area where the Earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” Unlike the National Parks, there is no management plan for traffic flow, employee housing or curio shops because there is simply no need. It is truly wild – nature in all its unprocessed beauty.

In this sense the two compliment each other nicely. Where the National Parks serve to protect iconic landforms and historic sites that might otherwise be subject to erosion, vandalism or overuse, wilderness areas often lack the spectacular formations which draw the masses and are instantly recognizable, but provide instead a subtle beauty and remote quality that begs for exploration and contemplation.

Ansel Adams spent the better part of his life working to preserve wilderness through his photographs and tireless appeals to Congress, and his images continue to define the power that nature has in our lives. I feel fortunate to be able to share my own view of the natural world through photography, but more importantly I’m glad those who came before me had the foresight and courage to preserve these special places where we can find renewal and experience our planet in its original untouched form.

“In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.” – Charles A. Lindbergh

November 26, 2013August 26, 2015

10 Hidden National Parks That Will Surprise You

Giant sequoia amid young pines in the Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, California

Today’s entry is a guest post by James Sermons with the National Park Foundation. As the official charity for America’s National Parks they play an integral part in preserving our incredible national heritage, and I encourage you join me in supporting their efforts. Take it away James.

The National Park System was founded in 1916 and has served as an opportunity for every American to access hundreds of the most treasured places in the United States. While many national parks and their campgrounds—Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon—are household names, there are hundreds more underrated national parks that also offer life changing experiences.

Individuals who enjoy Yosemite National Park will be thrilled to visit Kings Canyon National Park in California. The canyons bear similarities to those in Yosemite and offer breathtaking scenery. Kings Canyon offers groves of sequoia trees, including its most famous resident, General Grant, the third largest tree in the world. California is also home to other underappreciated national parks including Channel Islands National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Channel Islands National Park includes five of the Channel Islands and offers several stunning examples of independent island evolution, as 145 species on the islands cannot be found elsewhere. Also a favorite for whale-watchers, blue whales visit the islands occasionally and can be sighted from aboard a boat. Lassen Volcanic National Park boasts the most southern of the volcanoes in the Cascades range and showcases evidence of the volatile activity below the surface in numerous gas vents and boiling pools.

Further south, Saguaro National Park is a survivalist’s dream with the rugged and desolate landscape of the Sonoran Desert. This park cannot be reached by public transportation, but is easily driveable from Tucson. Traveling north, one cannot help but be drawn to the colorful red landscape of Utah. Visually stunning, and an undiscovered treat for photographers, Capitol Reef National Park contains a 100-mile long wrinkle in the landscape known as a geologic monocline. Some of the tallest sand dunes in the nation are located not far from here in awe-inspiring Great Sand Dunes National Park. Sandboarding and sand sledding offer a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for young children and those young at heart.

For photographers, artists, or those seeking something more scenic and relaxed, Big Bend National Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park are good destinations as they both offer great opportunities to view wildlife and enjoy backcountry trails. For individuals interested in astronomy or weather phenomena, Great Basin National Park is a must-visit. And finally, while Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska is unknown by most Americans, this park is larger than many small countries and offers air taxis into the remote areas of the wilderness.

Though relatively unknown, each of these parks showcase stunning visual elements, exciting adventures and incredible travel experiences. For more information on America’s more than 400 national parks, including those which are less-traveled, visit the National Park Foundation and download their free Owner’s Guide to discover all of the hidden gems in the National Park System.