Spectacular Yosemite National Park will be the subject of a film to be shown at Clear Lake State Park on Saturday, October 31, 2009. Courtesy photo.

CLEAR LAKE STATE PARK – See Yosemite National Park in all of its glory at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, in the visitor center auditorium. This 55-minute film will complete our Western National Parks series.

Enjoy the amazing features of this world-renowned park for the first time or relive your Yosemite experience. See granite domes that rise 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the valley floor. Hear the rush of Yosemite Falls, a falls 13 times higher than Niagara. See this geologically elegantly carved work of art right here in California.

As I reviewed the film, I recalled being one of three lead persons going into Yosemite to scout the locations of birds for a community college Birds of California class. It was my first experience in mountain driving and also camping in Yosemite.

The first morning, we arose long before dawn to experience the “dawn chorus” of amazing bird vocalizations. The bird of the trip was the gray-crowned rosy-finch sighted high on a canyon wall.

Some years later, crossing Tuolumne Meadows, at an approximate elevation of 8,600 feet on the last day before winter closure, is an experience both my husband and I will always cherish. The region was exquisite in fall dress.

After viewing the film, browse our museum to look for similarities. Yes, there are some. We both share Mediterranean Climates, flora and fauna. Geological history shows how movements of the North American Plate influenced both.

The Visitor Center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday through October. The museum is one of Lake County’s great treasures of natural history.

At this time, there is no entrance fee to Clear Lake State Park for participating in walks, programs or visiting the museum.

Visit www.clearlakestatepark.org for program schedule, great photos and park information.

Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.