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Yosemite Valley: Surrounded by
towering granite, carpeted with lush meadow,
and featuring the soft-flowing Merced River,
Yosemite Valley is one of nature's most
spectacular achievements. |
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Half Dome: Rising more than 4,000
feet from the floor of Yosemite Valley,
Half Dome is the most recognizable symbol
of the park. It can be enjoyed from many
angles throughout the park, including from
the summit itself, accessible by a difficult
but non-technical trail. |
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Bridalveil Fall: One of two prominent
falls that cascade directly into Yosemite
Valley, Bridalveil descendes 620 feet from
top to bottom. |
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Giant Sequoias: The largest living
things on the planet, the giant sequoias
(sequoia giganteum) are cousins to the taller
(but more slender) coastal redwoods (sequoia
sempervirens) found on California's northwest
coast. Two groves of old-growth sequoia
offer visitors the chance to experience
these behemoths up close. |
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El Capitan: Dominating
Yosemite Valley's northern wall, El Capitan
is popular with daredevil climbers, who
are commonly spotted dangling from its massive
face. |
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The Merced River: Falling
rapidly over roaring cascades in little
Yosemite Valley, the mighty Merced slows
to a relaxed pace as it winds through the
heart of the more famous lower valley. |
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Yosemite Falls: Falling
in two segments, Yosemite Falls measures
over 2400 feet from its top to the valley
floor. At 1430 feet, the upper falls is
among the 20 highest waterfalls in the world. |
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Tenaya Lake: Seated
among the granite peaks in Yosemite's high
country, Tenaya Lake is named for the chief
of the tribe who lived here when European
settlers first arrived. |
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Tuolumne Meadows: At
over 8000 feet in elevation, this enormous
meadow's beauty is accentuated by the barren
granite faces that surround it. |
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The Ahwahnee Lodge:
Yosemite's grand dame lodge, the Ahwahnee
offers luxury accommodations, and a classic
dining hall. |
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Glacier Point: Easily accessible by road,
Glacier Point rises above Yosemite Valley, and affords
some of the most incredible views available in Yosemite.
From Glacier Point, one can see all the prominent
features of the Valley, as well as the Merced River
Canyon, and its impressive Nevada and Vernal Falls,
Little Yosemite Valley, Tenaya Canyon, Cloud's Rest
and other park features. It's one of the most awe-inspiring
views to be found in the Western United States.
The High Country: Rarely visited by the vast
majority of park visitors, Yosemite's high country
offers an experience of the park from above that provides
a brilliant counterexperience to the underneath perspective
afforded in the valley. Here, visitor's enjoy bare
granite peaks, vast meadows, alpine lakes and relative
solitude. In our opinion, the high country is in every
way the valley's equal, and in some ways, its superior.
Nevada and Vernal Falls: Cascading through
the Merced River Canyon, above Yosemite Valley, these
high-flow falls are well worth a vigorous hike out
of the valley.
Little Yosemite Valley: Hovering over the
Merced River Canyon below, Little Yosemite Valley
is a peaceful notch accessible only by hiking or horseback.
Wildlife: Yosemite is renowned for its wildlife.
Enjoying one of the highest concentrations of black
bear in the West, Yosemite also features an abundance
of deer, racoons, marmots, squirrels, chipmunks and
birds. Vigilant observers may also see bobcats, coyotes,
badgers and mountain lions.
Tioga Pass: At 10,000 feet in elevation, Tioga
Pass marks the park's eastern entrance. Here, trees
are scarce, the terrain is wild, and the drop-off
down the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada to Mono
Lake is gasp-inducing.
Wawona: The historic hotel and golf course,
located near the park's southern entrance makes a
charming stop for lunch and a stroll.
Badger Pass Ski Area: For winter visitors,
Badger Pass offers some enjoyable (albeit not terribly
challenging) slopes, only a short drive from Yosemite
Valley.
The Backcountry: Vast areas of Yosemite are
only accessible by foot or horseback. These areas
require permits and some effort to get to, but provide
tremendous rewards to those willing to put forth the
effort.
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir: Often referred to
as a second Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy was dammed
in the 1910's to provide water and power for the San
Francisco Bay Area. Modern visitors will, unfortunately,
never get to appreciate the valley for what it was.
Nevertheless, the current lake provides a very pleasant,
and remote area to enjoy the Sierras in a lakeside
setting.
The Bodie Ghost Town: Passing out of the park
at Tioga Pass, visitor's can take a day trip to a
remnant from California's wild past; the Bodie Ghost
Town. Kept in a state of "arrested decay"
by the state park service, Bodie eschews the commercialism
of some other western ghost towns in favor of a quiet,
remote chance to drift back to days of gold, guns,
struggle and debauchery that characterized California's
Gold Rush days.
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Hiking: Offering everything from easy strolls
to the base of massive waterfalls to challenging backcountry
treks to the top of granite monoliths, and most things
conceivable in-between, Yosemite is a hiker's (and
walker's) paradise. Visitor's can explore trails on
their own, or enjoy the a walk with a professional
naturalist.
Horseback Treks: Horseback riding in Yosemite's
backcountry is one of the most popular ways to see
it, but also one of the most difficult to book. If
a backcountry horseback trek interests you, please
be sure to make you contact us early for the best
chance of success.
Rafting: For casual family-style rafting,
rafts are available in the valley to float through
along the Merced's relatively calm waters there. More
adventurous opportunities abound outside park boundaries,
with a season that runs fromm early spring well into
the summer, depending on winter snowpack.
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