Yosemite

Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

You can drive to Yosemite year-round and enter via Highways 41, 140, and 120 from the west. Tioga Pass Entrance (via Highway 120 from the east) is closed from approximately November through late May or June. Hetch Hetchy is open all year but may close intermittently due to snow. Please note that GPS units do not always provide accurate directions to or within Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)

Tunnel View is perhaps one of the most photographed views in the park.

A hike up to Sentinel Dome rewards people with great views of the landscape around them.

Cathedral Peak is one of the most recognizable peaks in the Yosemite Wilderness.

The walk to Lower Yosemite Fall is a popular and easy hike.

Yosemite Falls will sometimes only trickle at the end of summer, but wet winters can rejuvenate the flow.

Glen Auilin is one of five High Sierra Camps, located in the Yosemite high country.

Yosemite National Park's massive giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) live in three groves in the park. The most famous of these is the Mariposa Grove, which contains about 500 mature giant sequoias.

Tenaya Lake is a favorite place to stop along the Tioga Road in summer.

Half Dome is one of the most recognizable granitic formations in the world.

El Capitan rises over 3,000 feet above the floor of Yosemite Valley.

A rewarding view of Yosemite Valley in winter as seen from Tunnel View.