Photo by: Jacob Lips
Sitting on 748,436 acres of land that traverses four counties in California (Madera, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne), Yosemite National Park is a protected area, known internationally for its granite cliffs and crystal clear waters cascading down pure streams.
Designated as 95% wilderness, the park boasts of a biologically diverse area with giant sequoias, meadows, glaciers and more. An average of four million people visited the park in the last few years.
History
Human presence in Yosemite dates back 10,000 years, but permanent settlers weren’t recorded until 3,000 years ago. The first inhabitants were identified as Ahwahnechee. European-Americans started passing through the area during the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s. It was also around that time that the Mariposa War happened—the fight between Native Americans and miners in Mariposa County.
The Ahwahnechee was eventually driven out by the Yosemite, but other Native American tribes stayed around the borders and found work as laborers, while the tourism industry in the area flourished. Development programs, though, threatened the natural resources of Yosemite. This prompted the start of the campaign to have the area declared as protected.
On June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln created the Yosemite Grant, the first-ever order that would call for the preservation and public use of a park. On Oct. 1, 1980, the area was finally declared as Yosemite National Park.
Places to go
The Yosemite National Park has everything a person wants: thundering waterfalls, crystal clear waters from various streams and other bodies of water, imposing mountains and rock formations, beautiful flowers and lush vegetation, healthy meadows, and wildlife. Everywhere one goes to the park, a stunning view is ensured. But here is a rundown of the places visitors should go to.
Yosemite Valley
Photo by: Jacob Lips
This is the most popular destination in the park, as it has everything a person can ask for from Mother Earth: waterfalls, clear streams, rock formations, large trees, and green wilderness. There are so many activities one can do at the park: hiking, biking, camping, bird watching, photography and more.
One of the sites at the park is the Tunnel View, which is famous for offering the most famous views of the park, particularly the massive El Capitan, a popular mountain climbing peak, and Bridalveil Fall, which is probably the most famous fall at the park. One may also see the Half Dome, which is a granite formation that looks like a dome cut in the middle. Another popular rock formation visible from the valley, through the El Capitan Meadow, is Cathedral Rocks.
Also at the valley are popular meadows that showcase the great biodiversity of the park: Cook’s Meadow, Sentinel Meadow, Stoneman Meadow, and Leidig Meadow. Some boardwalks make for a perfect viewpoint of the park’s beauty. Any of these meadows are great bird-watching areas. Tourists may also spot grazing deer and bears if they are lucky.
For those interested in the history of Yosemite, the museum just beside the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center has all the historical and cultural information they might crave.
Wawona
Originally an Indian encampment, this place eventually became a place for tourists, particularly with the building of the Wawona Hotel in 1879. The hotel was built by Galen Clark, the first Yosemite guardian. Wawona is a mid-elevation basin.
Mariposa Grove
California is home to the giant sequoias, and visitors will see some of them at Yosemite through the Mariposa Grove. Some 500 giant sequoias are found here.
Tuolumne Meadows
If one has to ever feel small, Tuolumne Meadows is the best place for that. One will be dwarfed by the majestic vista of Yosemite peaks and domes, as well as the green forest. Complementing the view is the winding Tuolumne River.
Hetch Hetchy
The park has several landforms and water bodies but for a stunning view of both, there is the Hetch Hetchy. Not a lot of people will want the hike, though, as the viewpoint is some 3,900 feet up. This is one of the park’s longest hikes. Along the walk visitors will enjoy colorful wildflowers, imposing peaks, some remote canyons, peaceful lakes, and waterfalls.
Crane Flat area
This is a place to click stunning pictures with a backdrop of wildflowers peppered onto a lush meadow.
Winter
Yosemite National Park is just as enjoyable during the winter—usually from mid-December to March. Massive snow is usually limited at the Crane Flat area, Badger Pass ski area, and Glacier Point Road. The tourists can take part in several winter sports such as downhill skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, sledding, and ice skating.
Photo by: Jacob Lips