Yosemite National Park

One of the crown jewels of the American National Park Service, Yosemite, located in Southern California, draws millions of visitors each year. In 1890, it was established as the second ever National Park in the United States and has been a famous site ever since. Known for it’s epic granite mountains, crystal clear lakes, and luscious evergreen trees, Yosemite is the perfect place to escape to nature.

Yosemite’s popularity can cause certain area of the park to be packed with tourists, but it still has plenty of nature and wildlife to offer, and there are many ways to enjoy both aspects of the park. Perhaps the most iconic attraction at Yosemite is half dome, and there are many ways to see it. The most accessible and epic view can be seen from Glacier Point, which can be access by driving along Wawona Road. Glacier Point is a must see in Yosemite, because not only can you see half dome, but you can also see Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Valley. The park’s three most popular landmarks can be viewed from this one point! Unfortunately, there is no easy way to hike half dome. The only trail leading to the top is 15.6 miles and about a 10-12 hour round trip. If you are an avid hiker and properly prepared, this trail can be an amazing experience with a huge reward. However, most visitors responsibly chose to enjoy half dome from a simple overlook instead of attempting the strenuous hike.

Besides half dome, Yosemite falls is another must see in the park. The perfect way to enjoy this historic site is the 7.6 mile “Yosemite Falls Trail”. This hike is a full day commitment is is considered to be a difficult trail, so it is not for all visitors. If this is the case for you, there is a much shorter hike that leads to Columbia Rock, another great place to enjoy the falls, and there are also lookout points that are just a short way away from your car. Yosemite Falls is particularly special because of an epic phenomenon that occurs each you in mid to late February. During this time of year, the sun’s light can hit the falls just right, and it will appear to be flowing lava. Because of this, the event is often referred to as “Yosemite fire fall”. Even if you can’t visit in February, the falls are absolutely spectacular year around.

There are over 750 miles of hiking trails in Yosemite, and each one showcases another epic feature of the park. Yosemite is such a huge park, it’s impossible to enjoy it just in one day! Luckily, there are lodges and inns both in and surrounding the park. However, if you plan to spend the night, be sure to book well in advance, because rooms fill up fast. No matter if you want to enjoy Yosemite from the safety and comfort of lookout spots along the road or if you want to venture fare into the wilderness, this park will not disappoint!

 

https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

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