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Yosemite National Park: Travel Guide And Tips
Yosemite National Park, a renowned World Heritage Site located in California, is famous for its exceptional waterfalls, biological diversity, gigantic Sequoia trees, peaceful meadows and granite cliffs. Yosemite is visited by 3.8 million people every year, and their visit is mostly limited to the Yosemite Valley area. For those who revel in adventurous exploration trips there is ample opportunity around every corner if they venture into the back country. That’s why Yosemite accommodations are so popular!
Since the area of Yosemite National Park is fairly large (1,200 square miles), it is necessary for the one day trip planners to choose the appropriate kind of trip that would suit them the best. Specializing in just one activity is best to get the most out of a day trip, and you can choose between sightseeing, hiking, bird watching, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, swimming, kayaking, skiing and many more. Camping, too, requires getting a Yosemite reservation well in advance. Secondly, there is no one ‘best’ season to visit the park. It all comes down to what you’re looking for. The weather varies dramatically and this changes the landscape radically from season to season. Still, spring is considered to be the most beautiful time of the year to see the thriving vegetation in its full grandeur. In winter, there are accessibility issues to contend with. During the winter there are convenience issues to contend with as much of the park remains closed during these months due to the deep snow.
The best way to absorb the beauty of this eye-catching park is to take a hike. Unforgettable day hiking experiences can be experienced at Bridalveil Fall, Sentinel Meadow and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. If you’re up to it, you can try more demanding hikes. For example, the Glacier Point and Tuolumne Meadows trails provide a great workout and fabulous vistas. If you want to check out more waterfalls, try Chilnualna Falls, Horsetail Fall or Vernal Fall.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the world’s largest granite monolith, ‘El Capitan’ if you are an avid rock climber. ‘The Big Stone’ is where all the fun is. Make sure you don’t fail to visit it during the best times of the year in favorable conditions. There are a variety of climbing routes to choose from, and if you get stuck and need assistance, there are rescue teams on standby.
Approximately 12 miles of paved cycling trails and regular roads are available for the taking for the fit biker, which is just the tip of the iceberg. Mountain bikers will love the range of options for off roading, particularly challenging downhill runs and cross country expeditions. Guided horseback riding trips are also available all through spring to fall. Yosemite is equally well known for its range of water activities. People can enjoy kayaking, swimming and rafting. Swimming in the Merced River is a wonderful experience and the calm waters of Tenaya Lake are perfect for kayaking. Lovers of snow sports will find plenty available at Yosemite during the winter months. Rugged and fit types can attempt the challenging cross country skiing routes or snowshoe trails, while the less adventurous can slide around Curry Village’s ice skating rink. Badger Pass ski resort offers full service skiing and snowboarding, with accommodation, rentals, lessons and more.
All in all, if you are into the great outdoors, Yosemite will not disappoint! Keep in mind that, as it is a national park, you will need to organize permission to enter and do some things. Day-trippers can just rock on up and pay at the entrance, but people planning to stay a while need to book their accommodation in advance unless they want to try their luck at the few places that don’t allow reservation. So if you want to be sure of your place to stay, grab your camping reservation or couples cabin in Yosemite several months before your trip.
Yosemite Half Dome Hike June 2010