Yosemite National Park Guide Details
Overview: Yosemite is the 3rd oldest national park in the United States (Established October 1, 1890), and one of the favorite parks in the world. It covers 1,189 square miles in the western Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. With over 800 miles of trails, it's a nature-lover''s dream. Most visitors spend all of their time in Yosemite Valley, where the most popular sights are, but there are several more amazing areas to discover if you have the time. The park's elevation ranges from 2000ft to 13,114ft (600m to 4,000m), stretching from Giant Sequoia groves housing 200ft trees over 2,000 years old, to breath-taking valleys carved by glaciers, and home to the highest waterfall in America, to high meadows filled with rivers, lakes, and wildflowers. Over 3.5 million people from around the world visit Yosemite each year. The park offers lodging reservations up to 1 year in advance, which are usually booked only a few minutes after the phone lines open up each day.
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is by far the most popular area of the park, attracting visitors from every corner of the world. It is home to the most famous sights as we well as the largest crowds. The valley is about 7 miles long (and about 1 mile wide) and contains many great hikes such as the Mist Trail, which passes 2 spectacular waterfalls before continuing up to Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan. The Merced river flows through the valley, and you can rent rafts to float down this gentle river, or just dip your feet in to cool off from the afternoon heat.There are many great places to stay such as the famous Ahwahnee Hotel or Yosemite Lodge, and Curry Village is a great place grab a snack or some ice cream after a long day's hike. Be sure to check out the Visitor's center while you're here and take advantage of the free, eco-friendly shuttles with many destinations throughout the valley. If you are interested in camping, be sure to make a reservation early, as spots in first-come-first-serve campgrounds fill up quickly.
Tuolumne Meadow
Tuolumne Meadows is about a 90-minute drive from the valley and offers a completely different perspective on the park. At around 8500ft at its lowest point, it is a mile higher than the valley and is filled with wild flowers, rivers, and sharp granite peaks. The only way to access this area by car is along Tioga Road, which is closed Novermber to May due to snow conditions. If you have the extra time, this area is a great place to go to escape the crowds of the valley. There is a high sierra camp complete with tent cabins, showers and a restaurant. At the restaurant you can order lunches to carry with you the next day while exploring the meadows. Be sure to check out Tenaya lake where you can swim, picnic, and find the trailhead to hike Clouds's Rest. If you are a granite junkie, you will find some great rock climbing here at Pothole Dome, Lembert Dome, and Fairview Dome among others. For hikers there are great trails to Soda Springs, Lembert Dome, Glen Aulin, Cathedral Lakes, and Lyell CanyonBe prepared: is it colder here than in the valley, and weather can change suddenly. If you see dark clouds form or hear thunder you will not want to be the highest thing in the meadows.


