Yosemite National Park is a national park in USA. This is a UNESCO world heritage site.
overview
Yosemite National Park (pronounced "Yoxemmiti") is a national park located largely in Mariposa County and Tuolumne County, California, USA. The park covers an area of 3,081 square kilometers (1,189 square miles) and reaches the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Yosemite welcomes more than 3 million tourists each year, most of whom come here to visit Yosemite Valley. Selected as a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is known worldwide for its beautiful granite cliffs, majestic waterfalls, crystal clear waters, great conifer trees, and biodiversity (approx. 89% of the park is still wilderness). Yosemite was also the first park approved by the federal government USA reserved for wild areas. While it wasn't the first national park, Yosemite was a focal point for developing the national park system (thanks in large part to the likes of John Muir).
Learn more about Yosemite
Topography-geology
The geology of the Yosemite region is mostly granite and old rock remains. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada range was uplifted and slanted to create gentle slopes to the west and steep eastern slopes. The uplift makes river beds steeper and creates deep and narrow canyons. About a million years ago, snow and ice piled up, creating glaciers in alpine meadows that flowed down river valleys. Ice in the Yosemite Valley could have frozen up to 1,200 m (4,000 ft.) at the beginning of the glacial period. As the ice melted down, it carved the U-shaped valley that draws many people to the beauty of Yosemite today.
Biodiversity
Yosemite is one of the largest and most continuous environmental blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and it supports a wide variety of plants and animals. The park has an elevation of 600 to 4,000 meters (2,000 to 13,114 feet) above sea level and consists of five major vegetation zones: woodland/oak, lower plateau, upper plateau, subalpine, and high mountains. About 50% of the 7,000 California plant species are found in the Sierra Nevada and more than 20% are found in Yosemite. The park has a documented environment or record for the existence of more than 160 rare plant species, and the rare local landforms and unique soils in Yosemite are well suited to this limited habitat of many of these plants.
How come?
Road
Warning: No gas stations in Yosemite Valley
There are four main entrances to the park. All routes fly the mountain roads are relatively tortuous and the right time should be budgeted for them. Please note that the above may pose a safety hazard, so when driving, be alert and focused during the trip. Also, do not confuse the town of Oakdale to the west, with Oakhurst to the south.
- State Route 120 from the west from Oakdale. This is the fastest route from the western locations (Bay Area) and Northwest (Sacramento). Route 120 is a bit steep, so RVs and trailers should consider route 140 instead. In winter, snow makes the lower elevations of Route 140 more appealing.
- State Route 140 Western words Mariposa and Merced. This route mainly goes up the Merced River Gorge into Yosemite Valley and is the most scenic western entrance. RV and tour bus traffic used to congest this road a bit too much in the summer. However, two new bridges to cross a recent rock slide in the Merced River canyon now restrict vehicles to 45 feet. Many visitors remain unaware of the new bridge over the Merced River and assume State Route 140 remains closed. Highway 140 is now happily congested and the bridge affords a great view of the massive rock slide.
- State Route 41 north from Fresno and Los Angeles / Southern California. Be sure to fill your gas tank in Oakhurst (several stations along the highway), or pay dearly the closer you get to the park. Note that many businesses (including two more gas stations) are located on the first half mile of adjoining State Route 49 in Oakhurst.
- State Route 120 from east (Tioga Pass Road) from Lee Vining and freezing points. The road is only open from June to October, although snow may force closure by the end of September and push it to reopen by the end of July.
An entrance that exists only to enter the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (not Yosemite Valley) outside of State Route 120 from the west. It requires taking a side lane near the main road 120 west of Yosemite's entrance. Please note that Hetch Hetchy has restricted access hours due to security for the reservoirs. Please check with Yosemite National Park before heading out to Hetch Hetchy.
During the snow season, usually November through March, snow chains may be required. Snow chain requirements are taken seriously in Yosemite with fines of up to $5000, so snow chains must be in place during these months.
Note: During the summer months traffic becomes heavily congested in Yosemite Valley, and parking can be nearly impossible to find. Summer visitors to Yosemite Valley are therefore highly recommended to use the YARTS shuttle system (see below) to get to the park.
Airway
By plane
There is no runway in this national park. Airports in surrounding communities include:
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), Fresno. Located about 1.5 hours (by car) south of the entrance of the park on Highway 41. By far, the largest of the four airports in San Joaquin Valley (also known as the Central Valley) west of Yosemite. There are flights to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver, Guadalajara (Mexico), Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles (LAX), Phoenix, Portland (OR), Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle/Tacoma.
- Mercedy Airport (MCE), Merced. Located about two hours (by car) from Yosemite Valley on Highway 140. Flights from Los Angeles (LAX - 1 stop), Visalia, and Las Vegas.
- Modesto City-County Airport (MOD), Modesto. Located about 1.5 hours (by car) from the west entrance of the park on Highway 120. A commuter flight to San Francisco (SFO).
- Urban airport Stockton (SCK) there are flights to Las Vegas and Honolulu. Located about 1h 45m (by car) from the west entrance of the park on highway 120.
San Francisco Bay Area including San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), and San Jose International Airport (SJC) is much larger than any airport in the valley and has flights more often than many destinations. The driving distance from the Gulf is about four hours. However, landing at SFO requires crossing one of the San Francisco Bay Bridges which are often congested in the late afternoon and evening commute. (Similarly, in the morning for round-trip flights, and in this direction includes a toll station.) Sacramento International Airport (SMF), north of Sacramento, is a large airport option is also about a four-hour drive from the park. Visitors from the east can choose Reno/Tahoe International (RNO) in Reno, which is about 3.5 hours (by car) from the Tioga Pass (summer only).
Do
Long walk
Visitors in suitable health enjoy hiking the park's trails and footpaths. Check with rangers for trail conditions; snow and rockfall hazards near the trails during winter, and the cables on the Half Dome trail only pull up from late May to early October (Half Dome lifts when the cables are not up) possible but dangerous and absolutely not recommended). No permits are required for day hikes throughout the park, with the exception of the summit of Half Dome.
Yosemite Valley
Many of the grasslands have short trails, some of which are accessible to the disabled. For those staying in the valleys, getting around is easy on foot, taking in the beautiful views, and avoiding the stress of the tourist cable cars in the valley.
- Lower Yosemite Falls (0.5 mi (0.8 km) round trip), Start at Lower Yosemite Falls bus stop. This easy paved trail offers a good view of the waterfall with a close-up view of the falls below. (Note: this waterfall is usually dry from August to October.) Since the falls head north of Northside Dr, it's better to see the falls on your way out of Yosemite Valley.
- Bridalveil Falls (0.5 mi (0.8 km) round trip), Starting from Bridalveil Falls parking area. Another easy paved path leads to the bottom of Bridalveil Falls. The head of the falls is on Southside Dr. So the best way to get there is on your way to the valley.
- Mirror Lake/Meadow (2 mi (3.2 km) to Mirror Lake, 5 miles (8 km) around the lake), Start from the bus stop at the beginning of Mirror Lake. The trail runs along an old road with a large lake in spring and a meadow the rest of the year. The lake is largely dry mostly grassland which is at the bottom of Half Dome and offers great views. Those interested can also wander around the lake bed.
- Valley Floor Loop (6.5 mi (10.5 km) round trip with shortcuts, 13 miles (21 km)). The Yosemite Valley loop trails can be hiked in part or in full. Following the path in some places, the trail can be shortened by crossing the bridge just east of El Capitan Meadow.
- Vernal Falls (Mist Trail) (3 miles (4.8 km) round trip), Start from Happy Isles . bus stop. This intense hiking trail leads to the top of Vernal Falls. From the Vernal Falls Bridge on, the trail offers great views of the 97-meter high Vernal Falls. Over the bridge the trail becomes steep and can be slippery and the water spray from the falls will get you wet as it traverses the 600 stone steps to the top of the falls.
- Nevada Falls (Mist Trail) (7 miles (11.2 km) round trip), Starting from the islands Happy bus shuttle. Nevada Falls is further along the Mist Trail, past Vernal Falls. This intense path leads to the top of the Vernal Falls, increasing the granite steps more, and to the top of the Nevada Falls.
- Panoramic Trail (8.5 mi (13.7 km) one-way), Starting from Glacier Point. The Panorama Trail offers panoramic valley views and close-ups of three waterfalls (including the lesser known Illilouette Falls) before continuing down the Mist Trail and ending at Happy Isles. From late May or early June to October, a toll hiking bus will take you up to Glacier Point.
- 4-mile trail to Glacier Point (9.6 mi (15.5 km) round trip), Start at the Four Mile Trailhead just west of the Swinging Bridge picnic area. the arduous winding road to Glacier Point. The trail offers spectacular views up and down Yosemite Valley. Visitors interested in a day hike can return to Yosemite Valley via the Panorama Trail.
- Upper Yosemite Falls (7.2 mi (11.6 km) round trip), Start near Camp 4 bus stop. This is an extremely difficult winding road to the top of Yosemite Falls, which is 2,425 feet (739 m) high. The trail offers beautiful views of Half Dome and eastern Yosemite Valley. Those who don't have the time (or energy) to get to the top can walk about a mile about Columbia Rock, which in itself offers great views. In summer, the trail is hot and dusty, so bring plenty of water.