How to find the location of John Muir's cabin (hang nest) in Yosemite Valley

In 1924 a plaque was mounted on a rock at the site.

The top of the plaque has an excerpt (in bold below) from this quote in the book Our National Parks, 1901:

"Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail. Like a generous host, she offers here brimming cups in endless variety, served in a grand hall, the sky its ceiling, the mountains its walls, decorated with glorious paintings and enlivened with bands of music ever playing. The petty discomforts that beset the awkward guest, the unskilled camper, are quickly forgotten, while all that is precious remains. Fears vanish as soon as one is fairly free in the wilderness. "

But some say that the plaque is at the wrong place. His cabin may have been closer to the lower fall. Look for another plaque on the trail at the base of lower Yosemite Fall with a picture of his cabin:

From a letter by Muir:

"I am operating this same mill that I made last winter. I like the piney fragrance of the fresh-sawn boards, and I am in constant view of the grandest of all the falls. I sleep in the mill for the sake of hearing the murmuring hush of the water beneath me, and I have a small box-like home fastened beneath the gable of the mill, looking westward down the Valley, where I keep my notes, etc. People call it the hang-nest, because it seems unsupported, thus:

(he drew a sketch of this cabin)

This photo is of the sketch as recreated in the main Yosemite Village visitor center:

... Fortunately, the only people that I dislike are afraid to enter it. The hole in the roof is to command a view of the glorious South Dome, five thousand feet high. There is a corresponding skylight on the other side of the roof which commands a full view of the upper Yosemite Falls, and the window in the end has a view sweeping down the Valley among the pines and cedars and silver firs. The window in the mill roof to the right is above my head, and I have to look at the stars on calm nights."

He described a May, 1871 visit by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"I had a study attached to the gable of the mill, overhanging the stream, into which I invited him, but it was not easy of access, being reached only by a series of sloping planks roughened by slats like a hen ladder; but he bravely climbed up and I showed him my collection of plants and sketches drawn from the surrounding mountains which seemed to interest him greatly, and he asked many questions, pumping unconscionably."

Read these letters at:

http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/frameindex.html?http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/life/life_and_letters/chapter_8.html

Elsewhere at the Sierra Club John Muir online exhibit, Muir is described:

"Who was John Muir?

John Muir (1838-1914) was America's most famous and influential naturalist and conservationist. He is one of California's most important historical personalities. He has been called "The Father of our National Parks," "Wilderness Prophet," and "Citizen of the Universe." He once described himself more humorously, and perhaps most accurately, as, a "poetico-trampo-geologist-botanist and ornithologist-naturalist etc. etc. !!!!" Legendary librarian and author Lawrence Clark Powell (1906-2001) said of him: "If I were to choose a single Californian to occupy the Hall of Fame, it would be this tenacious Scot who became a Californian during the final forty-six years of his life."

To find the site of the sawmill and cabin, ride the Yosemite Valley free shuttle bus and get off at the Yosemite Falls stop.

If you are riding your bike, bring a lock, as no bikes are allowed on these trails, yes, even early in the morning when you think no one else is around.

At the bus stop, and at the restrooms to your left, you will find a map of the loop trail, or actually more a path/walkway, to the base of lower Yosemite Fall.

The river is in blue, loop trail is in brown, the bridges over the river are in tan, the main road at the bottom of this picture of the map is in gray.

From the shuttle bus stop go to your right as you face the stop about 20 yards and then turn left on the well-marked, paved trail. Make a left when you see a stone trail marker with an arrow pointing to the left for Falls View:

Cross a bridge to a spur trail section off the main loop. There you will find the plaque, and a bench to sit on and enjoy relatively the same view John Muir had.

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The trailhead (starting point) for the hike to the top of Yosemite Falls is not in this area. Read Upper Yosemite Fall hike for more info.

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Muir was not the only resident of this area. Archeological work in the Lower Yosemite Fall area proves American Indian use of this part of Yosemite Valley for the last 5,450 years in two large village sites. Indians chose to live on this side of Yosemite Valley because it gets more sun in the winter.

Some visitors in the winter will be surprised to find no snow here, or even anywhere in the valley. Late summer visitors can be dismayed to find no water in Yosemite Falls.

How much water will there be in the Yosemite waterfalls?

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This walk is on the itinerary of Things to do during a Yosemite snow storm besides hiding in your tent

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For De Anza Outdoor Club summer trips, The Mountains of California by John Muir can be read at:

http://www.abovecalifornia.com/lib/JohnMuir/MountainCa

Can I recommend these chapters?

VII THE GLACIER MEADOWS

XII SIERRA THUNDER-STORMS

XIII THE WATER-OUZEL

The entire text of The Yosemite by John Muir is at:

http://www.abovecalifornia.com/lib/JohnMuir/Yosemite

Favorite chapters for Outdoor Club Snow Camp trip reading include:

Winter Storms and Spring Floods

Snow-storms

Snow Banners