More than 4 million people flock to Yosemite each year and for good reason. It is home to 3 of the world’s 10 tallest waterfalls and although Yosemite Valley is only 1% of the national park, the valley contains:
- El Capitan, the undisputed king of granite mountains that’s become a mecca for daredevil rock climbers.
- Half Dome one of the west’s most photographed landmarks. It’s also where, at certain times of the year, Horsetail Falls and the setting sun can produce a glowing waterfall called the “firefall”.
- Yosemite Falls whose upper, middle and lower falls make up the highest waterfall in North America at a combined 2,425 feet!
- Bridalveil Falls drops 620 feet over a granite face, can be seen from the road, and if you’re lucky enough to get a parking spot is a short hike.
- Tunnel View is one of the most scenic vistas in the park, providing views of El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Falls all at once.
Needless to say, Yosemite is one of those parks you can visit over and over again as you’ll never see it all. I mean there’s over 800 miles of hiking trails in the park!
With its thrilling granite peaks, spectacular waterfalls, and giant sequoias, Yosemite’s splendor is no secret, but if you’re looking for some less crowded areas, we have a few ideas.
There’s a relatively quiet campground at Hodgdon Meadows and nearby is the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. This grove is smaller than the Mariposa one, but equally enchanting. The hike down to the grove is easy, but remember its uphill all the way back. You may have seen photos of this grove which contains the Dead Giant, a massive sequoia which tourists used to be able to drive through.
Did you know there are only 75 naturally occurring giant sequoia groves and they are all found on the wester slopes of the Sierra Nevadas in Central California and no one knows why these groves have become so isolated?
Doug enjoyed a mountain bike ride from the campground over to the Tulomne Meadows. A hike nearby was cut a bit short when he slipped on a log and scraped up his leg.
Visit Tenaya Lake or one of the Gaylor Lakes off of Tioga Pass Road.
Whether you head to Yosemite for all its grandeur or you tuck back in one of its quieter corners, you’re sure to make memories in this magnificent national park.
