“No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite.” ~ John Muir
For thousands of years, various Native American tribes roamed the majestic landscapes of Yosemite—one of the most visited (nearly 4 million a year) — and beloved—of all US National Parks. Today the park occupies 1,200 square miles in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California and is home to over 400 species of vertebrates, diverse plant communities, and geological wonders dating back millions of years.
Yosemite Valley is the park’s main draw (and most crowded area), where visitors can see an amazing array of iconic landmarks in one fell swoop, amid the granite cliffs that ring the valley: El Capitan, Half Dome, and Glacier Point, and its amazing waterfalls, especially during the spring snowmelt. Yosemite Falls (actually a series of three falls) is one of the world’s tallest at 2,245 feet. The famed Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, at the southern edge of the park, holds ancient trees that reach up to 300 feet. More than 750 miles of hiking trails crisscross the park, so you can easily spend a lifetime walking around it and always see something new. (Don’t overlook nearby Sequoia National Park with more of these beloved giants.)
Yosemite’s main gateway towns include El Portal and Mariposa on the west; Fish Camp and Oakhurst near the south entrance; Groveland at the northwest entrance in Gold Country; and, when Tioga Road is open in summer and early fall, Lee Vining and Mammoth Lakes on the eastern flanks. All these towns are excellent places to stay and visit while on Yosemite adventures. — Cheryl Crabtree