YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
by Paula Hughes Court
Yosemite National Park with over 800 miles of hiking trails is world
famous for impressive waterfalls, cliffs, and rock formations.
Summer and fall are great months to visit Yosemite but the best
months are May and June. Snow is melting, waterfalls are
spectacular and the Valley is greening up. The park has miles of
trails, lakes, and unbelievable views. It's one of America's most
popular national parks.
Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
about 200 miles east of San Francisco. The travel time to Yosemite
from San Francisco is approximately 3.5 hours. This national park
gets 2.5 to 3 million visitors per year. (4 million was the peak in 1994)
Traffic is bad on July 4th, Memorial Day Weekend, and Labor Day
Weekend. If you have the time, take a couple of days to tour the park.
Get in all of the famous vistas and some of the shorter hikes. There
are guided tours to the
highlights of the park but if you would rather not go with a tour group,
make sure you see the following attractions. If you get an early start,
you could cover many of the attractions in one single day.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK ATTRACTIONS
Half Dome
One of the most recognized symbols of Yosemite – 8,800 feet high
granite mountain rising over 4,000 feet above the Valley. Walk to the
center of Sentinel Bridge for the best view of Half Dome.
El Capitan – Near the entry to Yosemite Valley on the northern side of
Yosemite. Turnouts along the road provide beautiful vistas of this
largest single exposed granite rock on earth – El Capitan is a favorite
of experienced rock climbers. The granite walls of El Capitan rise for
nearly 3000 feet (1000 meters) in sheer vertical splendor.
Bridalveil Falls – Often the first water fall visitors see dropping 620
feet! The Ahwahneechee people called this Pohono, or “spirit of the
puffing wind,” because of the breezes that blow the lacy waterfall
sideways along the cliff face.
Yosemite Falls – Highest in North America and fifth tallest in the
world - a powerful chain of water twice the height of the Empire State
Building.
Yosemite Valley - World famous for its impressive waterfalls,
meadows, cliffs, and unusual rock formations - accessible by car all
year. The glacially eroded alpine valley is just 8 miles long and less
than one mile wide with sheer granite walls rising vertically over 3000
feet on either side. Nine magnificent waterfalls cascade into the
valley. Five of them are over 1000 feet high including the 2425 feet
Yosemite Falls.
Yosemite Village - Gift stores, fast-food restaurants and the Valley
Visitor Center. It is only a short drive to Yosemite Falls from the
Village.
Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall - Best seen from Glacier Point. Nevada
Fall is above Vernal Fall. Fern-covered black rocks frame Vernal Fall.
You will see rainbows in the spray at its base. The hike on a paved
trail from the Happy Isles Nature Center to the bridge at the base of
Vernal Fall is only moderately strenuous and less than one mile.
Glacier Point – Breathtaking view of Yosemite Valley and the Half
Dome. Make sure to take many photos here and allow time for a
short hike.
Tunnel View – For the visitor heading east towards the valley on
Highway 140, one of the most impressive views of the valley. As you
pass through the Wawona tunnel, the valley spreads out suddenly
before you. North Dome can be seen to the left, Half Dome to the right
and many other peaks rising a full 300 feet above the valley floor. This
vista has been called one of the most photographed on earth. View
of El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall on either side of the valley.
Badger Pass Ski Resort - California's original ski resort. Here you will
find fewer crowds and family-friendly activities. Services at Badger
Pass include a cafeteria, ski shop, day lodge and ski repair shop.
Portal View – Another great view of El Capitan, Half Dome and the
Yosemite Valley.
Tioga Road - A 39 mile scenic drive between Crane Flat and
Tuolumne Meadows - through forests, past meadows, lakes, and
granite domes. Many turnouts offer broad and beautiful vistas.
Tuolumne Meadows – Beautiful picturesque region – Good place to
hike with many trails. Tuolumne Meadows is the most extensive
meadow system in the Sierra Nevada. Enjoy the lakes, rolling fields
and rounded granite domes.
Hetch Hetchy Valley - Hetch Hetchy is home to spectacular scenery
and is the starting point for many less-used wilderness trails.
The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - Largest stand of giant
sequoias (also known as Sierra redwoods or big trees) in Yosemite.
See the Grizzly Giant in Mariposa Grove at 2,700 years old.
Pioneer Yosemite History Center – Museum and collection of historic
buildings. There is a horse-drawn stagecoach ride for the kids to
enjoy.
Wawona Hotel - Dating from the late nineteenth century – near other
historic buildings comprising the Pioneer Yosemite History Center.
Crane Flat - Minor service area that provides opportunities for quiet,
pleasant camping in the summer and Nordic skiing and other snow
activities in the winter - a pleasant forest and meadow area located
16 miles from Yosemite Valley.
MONEY-SAVING TIPS FOR YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
by Paula Hughes Court
Yosemite National Park with over 800 miles of hiking trails is world
famous for impressive waterfalls, cliffs, and rock formations.
Summer and fall are great months to visit Yosemite but the best
months are May and June. Snow is melting, waterfalls are
spectacular and the Valley is greening up. The park has miles of
trails, lakes, and unbelievable views. It's one of America's most
popular national parks.
Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
about 200 miles east of San Francisco. The travel time to Yosemite
from San Francisco is approximately 3.5 hours. This national park
gets 2.5 to 3 million visitors per year. (4 million was the peak in 1994)
Traffic is bad on July 4th, Memorial Day Weekend, and Labor Day
Weekend. If you have the time, take a couple of days to tour the park.
Get in all of the famous vistas and some of the shorter hikes. There
are guided tours to the
highlights of the park but if you would rather not go with a tour group,
make sure you see the following attractions. If you get an early start,
you could cover many of the attractions in one single day.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK ATTRACTIONS
Half Dome
One of the most recognized symbols of Yosemite – 8,800 feet high
granite mountain rising over 4,000 feet above the Valley. Walk to the
center of Sentinel Bridge for the best view of Half Dome.
El Capitan – Near the entry to Yosemite Valley on the northern side of
Yosemite. Turnouts along the road provide beautiful vistas of this
largest single exposed granite rock on earth – El Capitan is a favorite
of experienced rock climbers. The granite walls of El Capitan rise for
nearly 3000 feet (1000 meters) in sheer vertical splendor.
Bridalveil Falls – Often the first water fall visitors see dropping 620
feet! The Ahwahneechee people called this Pohono, or “spirit of the
puffing wind,” because of the breezes that blow the lacy waterfall
sideways along the cliff face.
Yosemite Falls – Highest in North America and fifth tallest in the
world - a powerful chain of water twice the height of the Empire State
Building.
Yosemite Valley - World famous for its impressive waterfalls,
meadows, cliffs, and unusual rock formations - accessible by car all
year. The glacially eroded alpine valley is just 8 miles long and less
than one mile wide with sheer granite walls rising vertically over 3000
feet on either side. Nine magnificent waterfalls cascade into the
valley. Five of them are over 1000 feet high including the 2425 feet
Yosemite Falls.
Yosemite Village - Gift stores, fast-food restaurants and the Valley
Visitor Center. It is only a short drive to Yosemite Falls from the
Village.
Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall - Best seen from Glacier Point. Nevada
Fall is above Vernal Fall. Fern-covered black rocks frame Vernal Fall.
You will see rainbows in the spray at its base. The hike on a paved
trail from the Happy Isles Nature Center to the bridge at the base of
Vernal Fall is only moderately strenuous and less than one mile.
Glacier Point – Breathtaking view of Yosemite Valley and the Half
Dome. Make sure to take many photos here and allow time for a
short hike.
Tunnel View – For the visitor heading east towards the valley on
Highway 140, one of the most impressive views of the valley. As you
pass through the Wawona tunnel, the valley spreads out suddenly
before you. North Dome can be seen to the left, Half Dome to the right
and many other peaks rising a full 300 feet above the valley floor. This
vista has been called one of the most photographed on earth. View
of El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall on either side of the valley.
Badger Pass Ski Resort - California's original ski resort. Here you will
find fewer crowds and family-friendly activities. Services at Badger
Pass include a cafeteria, ski shop, day lodge and ski repair shop.
Portal View – Another great view of El Capitan, Half Dome and the
Yosemite Valley.
Tioga Road - A 39 mile scenic drive between Crane Flat and
Tuolumne Meadows - through forests, past meadows, lakes, and
granite domes. Many turnouts offer broad and beautiful vistas.
Tuolumne Meadows – Beautiful picturesque region – Good place to
hike with many trails. Tuolumne Meadows is the most extensive
meadow system in the Sierra Nevada. Enjoy the lakes, rolling fields
and rounded granite domes.
Hetch Hetchy Valley - Hetch Hetchy is home to spectacular scenery
and is the starting point for many less-used wilderness trails.
The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - Largest stand of giant
sequoias (also known as Sierra redwoods or big trees) in Yosemite.
See the Grizzly Giant in Mariposa Grove at 2,700 years old.
Pioneer Yosemite History Center – Museum and collection of historic
buildings. There is a horse-drawn stagecoach ride for the kids to
enjoy.
Wawona Hotel - Dating from the late nineteenth century – near other
historic buildings comprising the Pioneer Yosemite History Center.
Crane Flat - Minor service area that provides opportunities for quiet,
pleasant camping in the summer and Nordic skiing and other snow
activities in the winter - a pleasant forest and meadow area located
16 miles from Yosemite Valley.
MONEY-SAVING TIPS FOR YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
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