Dark Secrets Of Yosemite National Park

1. The Yosemite murderer

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In 1999 Cary Anthony Stayner the Yosemite Park Killer murdered four women near the famous Californian park. He currently remains on death row, and he is one of Yosemite's darkest secrets. His brother was kidnapped when he was just 3 years old. Stayner grew up with a history of deviancy that then escalated to him becoming a serial killer in later life.

2. The park displaced native people from their land

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Not many people realize the dark secret behind the Yosemite National Park which actually displaced native people from their lands. The area had historically been inhabited by tribes such as the Ahwahneechee and Paiute people who were then driven out

3. There are 33 unsolved missing person cases

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Yosemite may be a place of outstanding natural beauty but it also has a lot of hidden darkness. There are as of 2016 33 missing person cases and that number has increased in recent years. These people were seen at a variety of different places around the park but none of them have ever been accounted for...

4. There was a Mariposa Battalion to displace Indigenous people

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In 1951 a group of volunteers formed from the Californian State Militia called The Mariposa Battalion. They were intended to defeat the local tribes in the area and drive them out. It was authorized by a state Governor. They burned Native American villages and food supplies which forced them to leave their homes.

5. A huge reservoir was built on good land

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Controversy arose when it came to the decision to build a reservoir in the Yosemite National Park. The decision wasn't approved by many people as the land used was good and fruitful. It meant that it wiped out a very large area of nature and wildlife to create room for the reservoir.

6. Accidental falls occur here

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Tragically, accidental falls occur often at Yosemite National Park. In fact, some falls have been documented over time, some are never even discovered and some have been presumed due to people going missing and never returning. The vast space and terrain mean that falling is sadly not a rare occurrence, and it can end up in fatality.

7. Landslides and rockfalls can be a frequent occurrence

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Again, with the vast rocky terrain of Yosemite, you cannot always guarantee visitor safety. Natural elements take their toll, and landslides and rockfalls are frequent occurrences. This happens particularly frequently when there have been extreme weather changes which makes the rocks unsteady as they go through a variety of temperatures.

8. The Mariposa Indian War

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The Mariposa War of 1851 happened when thousands of settlers entered the land after the California gold rush. The settlers and immigrants turned on the native people and a war broke out. This wasn't just due to the gold rush, it also involved Yosemite.

9. The 'Firefall' tradition of throwing burning embers off the glacier had an environmental impact

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The Yosemite Firefall was a yearly spectacular in which hot embers would be thrown from the top glacial point of the park. It would create a fantastic illusion of a Firefall. Yet, despite the beauty it had terrible environmental consequences for wildlife and local nature and has subsequently been banned.

10. Lost hikers are a regular phenomenon

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When hikers set out in Yosemite they may believe that due to it being a national park it will be easier to navigate. This is not the case and many hikers underestimate the hugeness and difficulty of the park and become lost. The majority of hikers eventually find their way or are found by rangers, others are not so lucky.

11. The deaths of BASE jumpers

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BASE jumping is when people jump from the cliffs whilst wearing a wingsuit. It is illegal in the park however it has not stopped people from trying. In 2015 two men, especially at BASE jumping, named Dean Potter and Graham Hunt died whilst jumping from one of Yosemtie's cliffs.-

12. Paranormal legends haunt Yosemite

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There are many paranormal stories that surround Yosemite. In fact, people have claimed that they have seen supernatural beings or ghosts whilst inside the park. Some claim that they have seen the ghosts of children who have become lost and never discovered in the park.

13. The moonbow at Yosemite Falls

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There is a natural spectacle that has been named Yosemite's 'moonbow' due to the fact that it looks like a rainbow however it is created by the light of the moon. The moon's rays combined with the spray of the waterfall sometimes result in this phenomenon, however, it can only be witnessed a few times per year.

14. Some people go to end their life

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Sadly, there are a few accounts of people who have gone to Yosemite to end their lives. The huge space and anonymity of the park hide some dark secrets. Some Yosemite deaths are of course tragic accidents. But, there are also those which have been deemed as purposeful.

15. Yosemite is facing an environmental impact

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Yosemite, like many other places around the world, is suffering from the impact of climate change. Tourism is also something that affects the environment of Yosemite and has to be assessed. But, the single biggest threat is climate change and the impact it is having on the natural habitat.

16. The lost grave of James Hutchings

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It is thought that within Yosemite's National Park, there is a lost grave of a man named James Hutchins. Experts have suggested that the grave does reside within the park, yet nobody has actually managed to find it to this day. It remains a mystery that has not managed to be solved.

17. The Haunted Ahwahneee Hotel

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The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite is one of the largest and also has one of the biggest reputations. However, this reputation has become intertwined with horror due to the sheer amount of unexplained occurrences in the hotel. In fact, it's even been the inspiration or base of many horror movies including The Shining.

18. Mirror Lake's fading surface

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Mirror Lake is considered one of the park's natural spectacles. It provides a clear mirror image of the cliff above and it's truly breath-taking for tourists to see. But, it is thought that the effect is fading. The mirror-like image is not as clear and seems to be changing over time.

19. The name of Yosemite was chosen by European American settlers

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It would only be right for the park to be named by the people who had lived on the land for centuries. However, this was not the case. Instead of giving that right to the native people, a European settler called Lafayette Bunnell chose the name Yosemite.

20. The natural landmarks are changing shape

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Yosemite is known as one of the most beautiful parks in the entire world. It draws millions of people each and every year just to witness it's beauty. However, perhaps that is part of the problem. The tourism combined with climate change means that some of the natural phenomena are changing shape like never before.

21. The curse of the Chilnulana falls

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Chilnualna Falls in Yosemite is one of the least explored attractions in the area. This is because of its sheer danger. The falls are so huge and exist in massively rocky terrain that it is usually only attempted by very experienced hikers or climbers. Yet, it's thought there is a curse because so many accidents have happened here.

22. The mono wind legend

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There is a phenomenon regional to the Mono Pass Trailhead which has been named because of this as the 'Mono winds'. They can vary from 50 to 100mph in speed and when they occur they cause massive damage to the surrounding area. Legends have circulated due to the winds occurring in only these parts.

23. The stereotyping of Indigenous people through Yosemite's Camp Curry

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One of the darkest secrets of Yosemite is the prejudice and racism that has marred its past. In fact, Curry Camp or Curry Village (due to the founder's name Jennie Curry) was introduced to show the native history of the park. Yet, these stereotyped indigenous people rather than reflecting authenticity.

24. Overcrowding and overuse are huge problems

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Such a beautiful area is of course a major attraction to people all over the world. But it is becoming problematic. Overcrowding and overuse of the area means that the park bears a huge toll daily with so many people. The park cannot stay as well protected with vast amounts of people using it every day.

25. Drownings at Mirror Lake

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Sadly, drowning is another occurrence that happens each year at Yosemite National Park. However, swimming in open lakes is always more dangerous than you realize. And, for some tourists, it ends in fatality as they do not realize the danger of open water swimming. Mirror Lake is just one of the lakes where fatalities have occurred.

26. The Hantavirus outbreak of 2012

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In 2021 Yosemite National Park was hit with the hantavirus infection. And, due to so many people having visited the park, when it was discovered that some of these people tested positive for the Hantavirus a LOT of people had to be informed. 3 out of the 10 original people died from the infection.

27. A constant battle of illegal substance cultivation

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Yosemite National Park is so huge that some people take advantage of the space for their gain. They grow illegal substances here due to the natural environment helping things grow. There is a constant battle by park rangers to stop this cultivation!

28. Commercialisation is drowning out authenticity

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One of the beautiful elements of the park is that it's a space for that - nature. So, it has very little interference when it comes to the nature that occurs here. But, commercialization is growing and growing and it's bigger than ever and having an impact on the park's authenticity.

29. Photographer Galen Rowel's tragic death

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A photographer and author named Galen Rowel tragically died when his plane crashed at the park. He was the pilot and his wife and two friends were also passengers who died. The Rowell's were returning from a photography trip when the accident happened.

30. The struggle for conservation funding

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Funding for anything is harder to get now due to the state of economies all over the world. But conservation is necessary for the park, otherwise, it cannot maintain its natural order. But, funding is increasingly hard to get, meaning that some parts of the park face more ruin than ever without the correct conservation.