Experience Yosemite National Park, Western USA
Outdoor Adventures in a U.S. National Park in Central California
Sep 26, 2009
Just hours by car from bustling San Francisco or Sacramento, California, or Reno, Nevada, Yosemite National Park offers pristine wilderness and peaceful vistas. Located in Central California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, the park’s 1,200 square miles range from meadows 2,000 feet above sea level to cliffs towering a massive 13,000 feet. Much of the park is open year-round, so visitors can see Yosemite’s splendor in all four seasons.
Yosemite Valley’s Waterfalls, Cliffs, Biking and Hiking
One of the most well-known areas of Yosemite National Park is Yosemite Valley. Waterfalls spilling down sheer granite cliffs, world-class rock climbing and wide-open meadows can be explored by bicycle, on foot, horseback, tour bus or car. Yosemite Falls, the tallest in North America, are found at the north side of the valley. See the park while rafting down the Merced River, with rentals available in Curry Village.
Located near the center of the park, Yosemite Valley features a visitor center and is open year-round. The valley boasts more than 12 miles of biking trails, with rentals available at Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village. Hike to Vernal, Nevada or Bridalveil Falls or Mirror Lake. Climb massive El Capitan or Half Dome with the Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service.
Giant Sequoia Groves
Rare Sierra redwood trees, or sequoias, are preserved in Yosemite National Park. Explore three groves of the tallest and largest trees on earth. The Mariposa Grove, containing hundreds of sequoias, is located near the park’s south entrance. Winter snow sometimes closes the road to Mariposa Grove, but the area is accessible to hikers and skiers year-round.
The Tuolumne and Merced Groves, at the west edge of the park, each hold dozens of giant sequoias. Parking is available near the groves, and both groves are accessible by one- or two-mile steep hikes.
Museums, Galleries and History Centers
Yosemite Village, near the center of the park in Yosemite Valley, offers many cultural activities. At the Ansel Adams Gallery, photography experts instruct classes. The Yosemite Museum offers tours of an outdoor Yosemite Indian Village, demonstrations of Indian cultural activities and exhibits of woven baskets and traditional dress of native Yosemite Indians. Films at the Valley Visitor Center include Ken Burns’ classic, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.
At Wawona, on the park’s south side, the Pioneer Yosemite History Center is a collection of historic buildings. Take a horse-drawn stage ride from the center and learn about Yosemite history or visit the blacksmith shop. The historic Wawona Hotel dates from the late nineteenth century, and is accessible by car year-round.
Drive or Bus Tour to Glacier Point and Olmsted Point
Glacier Point, in south-central Yosemite National Park and 30 miles from Yosemite Valley, is an overlook with a stunning view of Half Dome (towering more than 3,000 feet above the valley) and the surrounding High Sierra mountains. Several day hikes along the Glacier Point Road (open May through November) afford views of meadows with wildflowers, rushing creeks and panoramic views of Yosemite Valley.
Olmsted Point can be reached via Tioga Road, which intersects the center of the park from east to west and is the highest trans-sierra route in California. The 39-mile scenic drive along Tioga Road passes forests, meadows, lakes and views of granite domes. From the scenic turnout at Olmsted Point, Tenaya Canyon and Tenaya Lake with Mt. Conness in the background are stunning vistas.
Yosemite Lodging and Dining
Accommodations in Yosemite National Park range from the upscale Ahwahnee, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls and Wawona Hotel. Giant stone fireplaces, elegant stained glass and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome are a few of the features of the four-star Ahwahnee. Families enjoy Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, while the Wawona Hotel boasts romantic Victorian charm. Yosemite also offers heated cabins and unheated canvas tents for those who prefer something closer to nature.
Dining options range from award-winning cuisine to boxed lunches. The Ahwahnee Dining Room’s impressive hall echoes its fare. Outside dining is available at many venues during summer months, such as the Wawona Hotel’s Veranda restaurant. Casual dining is offered in the Curry Village and Yosemite Village areas, including buffets and delis, as well as salad, ice cream and coffee bars.
Yosemite National Park offers the best nature has to offer — from waterfalls breaking sheer cliffs to meadows of wildflowers — that are just a day trip from San Francisco or Sacramento, California, or Reno, Nevada. Activities at Yosemite range from hiking, biking and rock climbing to museum-going, fine dining and touring. Experience other Western U.S. national parks, such as Olympic on the coast of Washington State, Mount Rainier near Seattle, Washington, or Wyoming's Yellowstone Park.
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