Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Exploring Yosemite National Park
Some of the world's most beautiful mountain terrain is
protected within the 1,170 sq miles (3,030 sq km) of Yosemite
National Park. Hordes of visitors descend upon the park each
year to admire its breathtaking views, formed by millions of
years of glacial activity. Each season offers a different
experience, from the swelling waterfalls in spring to the rustic
colors of autumn. The summer months are the most crowded,
but during the snowbound winter months several roads are
inaccessible. Fall is the best time to visit, when temperatures are
mild and crowds are reduced. Bus tours, cycle paths, hiking trails,
and roads are all aimed at leading visitors from one awe-
inspiring panoramic scene to another.
Upper Yosemite Falls, swollen with ice-melt
in the spring
} Half Dome
Eastern end of Yosemite Valley.
Open daily.
At nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) above
the valley floor, the silhouette of
Half Dome has become a
symbol of Yosemite. Its curved
back rises to a peak, before
dropping vertically down to the
valley. Geologists believe that
Half Dome is not half, but three-
quarters of its original size. It is
thought that as recently as
15,000 years ago, glacial ice floes
moved through the valley from
the Sierra crest, scything off rock
and depositing it downstream.
The 8,840-ft (2,695-m) summit of
Half Dome offers an amazing
view of the valley. The 9-mile
(14-km) trail from Happy Isles
trailhead to the peak can be
strenuous and long, taking
around 10 to 12 hours.
(740 m) in two great drops,
Upper Yosemite and Lower
Yosemite Falls. One of the most
recognizable features of the
park, the cascades are visible all
over the valley.
The top of Upper Yosemite
Fall, by far the longer and more
elegant of the pair, can be
reached via a strenuous 7-mile
(11-km) round-trip trail. The
Lower Falls are easier to visit, via
a short trail that starts next to
Yosemite Lodge and frames an
unforgettable view of both falls.
As with all the park's waterfalls,
Yosemite Falls are at their peak in
May and June, when the winter
snows melt and fill the creek to
capacity. Conversely, by
September the falls often dry up
and disappear altogether, their
presence marked only by a dark
stain on the granite wall.
} Yosemite Falls
North Yosemite Valley. Open daily.
Yosemite Falls are the highest
waterfalls in North America and
tumble from a height of 2,425 ft
} Vernal and Nevada Falls
Eastern end of Yosemite Valley.
Open daily.
A popular half-day hike in
Yosemite National Park is the
Mist Trail, which visits these two
waterfalls. The first fall on the
7-mile (11-km) round-trip is
Vernal Fall, which plunges 320 ft
(95 m) and spreads its spray
across the trail (carry a poncho
or rain jacket in spring.) The trail
can be strenuous for the 2 miles
(3 km) to the top of Nevada Fall,
which drops an impressive 595
ft (180 m). Here, the Mist Trail
joins the John Muir Trail, which
runs around the back of Half
Dome all the way south to the
summit of Mount Whitney.
Sheer drop of El Capitán
 
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