| Yosemite National Park |
BY: Carla Bailey
Whether your fitness level is beginner or advanced, Yosemite National Park is the ideal vacation spot. Located in the Sierra Nevada
Mountain Range, along California’s eastern edge, Yosemite covers 760,000 acres of breath-taking wilderness. Only 200 miles from
San Francisco and 300 miles from Los Angeles, the location is perfect for singles, couples, families and groups, there is something for
everyone in the park.
Upper Yosemite Valley is the most visited, and most famous, location inside the National Park, and once you’ve entered, there is no
question to why. El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and much more can all be seen quite easily once inside the valley. The layout
of Yosemite Valley lends itself to easy strolls and bike rides. The paths will take you by Swinging Bridge (which doesn’t swing),
Yosemite Chapel, The Ahwahnee Hotel, Curry Village, The Horse Stables, Mirror Lake, The Nature Center, as well as Yosemite Village.
Bicycle rentals are available at Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village.
Yosemite Village, which includes the Visitor Center, Bookstore, Yosemite Museum and Indian Village, Sport Shop and The Ansel Adams
Gallery, among others, could be considered “the center of the universe” for all visitors. Whether you need to pick up your backcountry
permit, buy supplies, or just love to shop, this is where you will need to spend some time. There are three more visitor centers located
throughout the park. No matter what your fitness level, Yosemite’s activities lend itself to everyone. Photography walks, outdoor classes,
horseback riding, swimming, fishing, rafting, educational films, as well as ranger and naturalist led walks. If you are feeling more
adventurous, try a rock-climbing lesson at the Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service. During the winter activities are
plentiful with cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and ice-skating.
Hiking may be the most popular activity at Yosemite, with over 800 miles of hiking trails. Day hikes range in length ½ mile to 17 miles
round trip and are rated on a difficulty scale of easy to very strenuous. A personal favorite is the paved trail to Mirror Lake. At 2 miles
roundtrip, this trail is perfect for all stages of hikers, as well as being accessible to bicycles. I have seen Mirror Lake during each of the
four seasons, and the sights have never been the same. Some of the highest waterfalls in the country are located within the park, most
notably Yosemite Falls at 2,425 feet. While most trails to the top of the falls can be strenuous there are many short hikes that give
wonderful views of many waterfalls.
Beyond the most visited sections of the park are The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias on the southern end of the park, Hetch Hetchy at
the northwestern edge, and Toulumne Meadows in the northern section of the park. At Mariposa, which is closed in the winter, you will
find many activities that lead throughout the world’s largest trees, such as hiking, ranger-led walks and tram tours. A visit to Hetch-
Hetchy will give you views of towering cliffs and waterfalls from the top of O’Shaugnessy Dam. Toulumne Meadows, known as Yosemite’
s high country, offers terrific views of forests, meadows, lakes and granite domes. The Grand Canyon of The Toulumne River is also
located in the upper portion of the park.
The lodging within the park ranges in price from $5 to $366 and includes campgrounds, tent cabins, cabins, and lodges located
throughout the park, as well as the first class hotel, The Ahwahnee. With so many choices Yosemite is a vacation location that fits every
budget.
No matter who you are or what time of year you come to Yosemite National Park there is always something different to see. While
summer may be the most popular, and most crowded, time to visit the park, spring and winter in Yosemite have a charm all their own.
Springtime offers wildflowers and animals in abundance, as well as melting snow roaring down rivers and waterfalls. Wintertime in
Yosemite feels like you are walking inside an Ansel Adams photograph.
The official website of Yosemite National Park is www.nps.gov/yose/. Lodging information and reservations is available at www.
yosemitepark.com.
Whether your fitness level is beginner or advanced, Yosemite National Park is the ideal vacation spot. Located in the Sierra Nevada
Mountain Range, along California’s eastern edge, Yosemite covers 760,000 acres of breath-taking wilderness. Only 200 miles from
San Francisco and 300 miles from Los Angeles, the location is perfect for singles, couples, families and groups, there is something for
everyone in the park.
Upper Yosemite Valley is the most visited, and most famous, location inside the National Park, and once you’ve entered, there is no
question to why. El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and much more can all be seen quite easily once inside the valley. The layout
of Yosemite Valley lends itself to easy strolls and bike rides. The paths will take you by Swinging Bridge (which doesn’t swing),
Yosemite Chapel, The Ahwahnee Hotel, Curry Village, The Horse Stables, Mirror Lake, The Nature Center, as well as Yosemite Village.
Bicycle rentals are available at Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village.
Yosemite Village, which includes the Visitor Center, Bookstore, Yosemite Museum and Indian Village, Sport Shop and The Ansel Adams
Gallery, among others, could be considered “the center of the universe” for all visitors. Whether you need to pick up your backcountry
permit, buy supplies, or just love to shop, this is where you will need to spend some time. There are three more visitor centers located
throughout the park. No matter what your fitness level, Yosemite’s activities lend itself to everyone. Photography walks, outdoor classes,
horseback riding, swimming, fishing, rafting, educational films, as well as ranger and naturalist led walks. If you are feeling more
adventurous, try a rock-climbing lesson at the Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service. During the winter activities are
plentiful with cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and ice-skating.
Hiking may be the most popular activity at Yosemite, with over 800 miles of hiking trails. Day hikes range in length ½ mile to 17 miles
round trip and are rated on a difficulty scale of easy to very strenuous. A personal favorite is the paved trail to Mirror Lake. At 2 miles
roundtrip, this trail is perfect for all stages of hikers, as well as being accessible to bicycles. I have seen Mirror Lake during each of the
four seasons, and the sights have never been the same. Some of the highest waterfalls in the country are located within the park, most
notably Yosemite Falls at 2,425 feet. While most trails to the top of the falls can be strenuous there are many short hikes that give
wonderful views of many waterfalls.
Beyond the most visited sections of the park are The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias on the southern end of the park, Hetch Hetchy at
the northwestern edge, and Toulumne Meadows in the northern section of the park. At Mariposa, which is closed in the winter, you will
find many activities that lead throughout the world’s largest trees, such as hiking, ranger-led walks and tram tours. A visit to Hetch-
Hetchy will give you views of towering cliffs and waterfalls from the top of O’Shaugnessy Dam. Toulumne Meadows, known as Yosemite’
s high country, offers terrific views of forests, meadows, lakes and granite domes. The Grand Canyon of The Toulumne River is also
located in the upper portion of the park.
The lodging within the park ranges in price from $5 to $366 and includes campgrounds, tent cabins, cabins, and lodges located
throughout the park, as well as the first class hotel, The Ahwahnee. With so many choices Yosemite is a vacation location that fits every
budget.
No matter who you are or what time of year you come to Yosemite National Park there is always something different to see. While
summer may be the most popular, and most crowded, time to visit the park, spring and winter in Yosemite have a charm all their own.
Springtime offers wildflowers and animals in abundance, as well as melting snow roaring down rivers and waterfalls. Wintertime in
Yosemite feels like you are walking inside an Ansel Adams photograph.
The official website of Yosemite National Park is www.nps.gov/yose/. Lodging information and reservations is available at www.
yosemitepark.com.
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Mirror Lake, Yosemite National Park
Full in spring and summer, empty in winter and fall
Full in spring and summer, empty in winter and fall
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A Green Yosemite
Although there are plenty of activities within Yosemite, one of the best is taking in the magnificent views of Yosemite Valley, representing
only one percent of the park area. To avoid the crowds that descend upon the valley in the summer, go for a hike. One of the best trails in
the park takes visitors to Cloud's Rest. From Tenaya Lake, this is a 14 mile round-trip hike that provides awe-inspiring views of
Yosemite. Those left with a bit more energy can head to the Mariposa Grove, home to giant sequoia trees which can be 150-280 feet tall.
In an effort to conserve and protect this great environment, Yosemite implemented the use of 18 hybrid electric buses in 2005. These
buses produce fewer carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions compared to the park's older buses.
Although there are plenty of activities within Yosemite, one of the best is taking in the magnificent views of Yosemite Valley, representing
only one percent of the park area. To avoid the crowds that descend upon the valley in the summer, go for a hike. One of the best trails in
the park takes visitors to Cloud's Rest. From Tenaya Lake, this is a 14 mile round-trip hike that provides awe-inspiring views of
Yosemite. Those left with a bit more energy can head to the Mariposa Grove, home to giant sequoia trees which can be 150-280 feet tall.
In an effort to conserve and protect this great environment, Yosemite implemented the use of 18 hybrid electric buses in 2005. These
buses produce fewer carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions compared to the park's older buses.