Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park was established in 1890 and protected a breathtaking section of mountainous and valleys terrain in the Sierra Nevada. The Park was named after the nearby Yosemite Valley. The Park is home to an impressive array of waterfalls, meadows, and forests, some of which are home to groves of huge sequoia trees, the largest living creatures on the planet.
Yosemite Valley, with its high cliffs and waterfalls; the Mariposa Grove, containing hundreds of ancient giant sequoias; Glacier Point, with its breathtaking view of Yosemite Valley and the high country; Tuolumne Meadows, a large subalpine meadow surrounded by mountain peaks; and Hetch Hetchy, a reservoir in a valley considered a twin of Yosemite Valley.
The Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley, known for its beauty and grandeur, is home to several of the Park’s most visited trailheads. These challenging paths take hikers up the almost vertical granite walls of the Valley. Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and El Capitan are just a few of the amazing sights that await the hiker in Yosemite National Park. The hiker is rewarded with breathtaking vistas at the Valley’s rim, which make any challenges along the way seem inconsequential.
Tuolumne Meadows
The elevation of Tuolumne Meadows is over 8,600 feet. Hikers may access lakes, meadows, and stunning river canyons via a path network that radiates out from Tuolumne. Extensive wilderness paths like the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail are accessible to hikers for an overnight backpacking journey in the Park’s northern reaches, between Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley. Tuolumne, being higher in elevation, is Yosemite Valley is 15–20 degrees colder than this area.
Tioga road
There is about 4000 feet of elevation gain on this picturesque 45-mile trip. The route crosses Tioga Pass after leaving Crane Flat and passing through Tuolumne Meadows. The road is open to travel beginning in late May or early June and continuing until the first heavy snowstorm after November 1. During the winter months and the beginning of spring, Tioga Road transforms into an ungroomed cross-country ski track for intrepid campers.
Hetch Hetchy
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, in Yosemite’s northwestern corner, is a jumping-off point to other breathtaking, less-visited region of the Park. The reservoir is at an approachable 3,900 feet, making it a favourite destination for intrepid hikers in the shoulder seasons, and the Hetch Hetchy Road is usually available all year. Summertime heat on the route is expected, but it’s worth it to get to the spectacular locations accessible from here. While the road is closed, visitors need help reaching Hetch Hetchy’s trailheads.
Wawona and glacier point
Wawona, a historic town at an elevation of 4,000 feet, may be found on Highway 41 just inside the Park’s southern limit. Trails departing from Wawona can be hiked in the spring, fall, and summer because of the area’s low altitude. Trailheads near Wawona provide access to the less-visited southern backcountry of Yosemite, where broad meadows, woodlands, and lakes abound.
Users of the wilderness will find this region appealing due to the high volume of water available throughout the spring. During winter, when snow covers the ground, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias becomes a protected wilderness area.
Fishing At Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park abides by the same fishing restrictions as the state of California, requiring anybody to be 16 or older to get a state-issued fishing license. On the last Saturday of April, anglers may finally cast a line in a river or stream and close on November 15. The only place where fishing is prohibited until June 15 is Frog Creek, which is located close to Lake Eleanor and is intended to protect rainbow trout during their breeding season. Fishing is permitted at all times in all lakes and reservoirs.
Address: California, United States
Open: 24 hours
Phone: +1 209-372-0200
Visitors: 3,667,550 (in 2022)
Area: 3,027 km²
Established: October 1, 1890
Management: National Park Service
UNESCO Site Id: 308
