Yosemite National Park
Ages: 0 and up
Cost: $20 per vehicle park entrance fee
Parking: Yes - public parking lots available
Features: Restrooms, Picnic Area, Handicap Accessible, Changing Table
It's not hard to picture Yosemite National Park in your mind's eye. It's easy to imagine a place of thundering waterfalls, granite crags, towering trees and beautiful wildlife, hundreds of acres wide thanks to the millions of photos taken of this beautiful place; however, it's not until you find yourself there, in the valley or on a trail, taking it all in, that you can really experience Yosemite.
From Modesto, Yosemite is only a two-hour drive east, offering a day trip or an overnight, depending on preference. Often, lodgings at Yosemite are booked well in advance, especially campgrounds, so advance planning is advised.
There are six main regions of the park.- Most popular is Yosemite Valley, which is open year round, and is world-famous for its amazing views of impressive waterfalls, rock formations and flora and fauna. With winter weather comes Yosemite's open air ice-skating rink, where visitors skate beneath the majestic Glacier Point and Half Dome formations.
- Glacier Point is a one-hour drive from Yosemite Valley and offers an exhilarating overlook of the valley 3,214 feet below.
- Wawona and Mariposa Grove serves as the southern entrance of the park, with huge Giant Sequoias and a collection of historic buildings which showcase the beginnings of the park serving as a tourist attraction.
- Tioga Road and Tuolumne Grove at the western edge of the park offers forests, meadows and lakes to explore. Visitors will find Tuolumne Grove quieter and less congested than other park areas.
- Tuolumne Meadows is on the eastern side of the park, providing visitors with an opportunity to hike through the sub-alpine meadows of the granitic High Sierra.
- Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a municipal water and hydroelectric supply, is open from May 1 to Labor Day. Swimming is not permitted, but beautiful views and many hiking trailheads still allow for fun.
- Badger Pass could be considered Yosemite's winter wonderland. Skiing, snowboarding, and tubing areas are open as weather permits.
Warm weather seasons are the park's busiest time of year, as the roads are accessible, but there are tons of winter activities, including cross-country skiing and outdoor ice-skating.
Be sure to pick up or download the oft-published Yosemite Guide, which offers maps and general information for all the park's services, the many organized events — and highlights the events especially for children — and detailed maps. Additional information to help in planning your visit to Yosemite National Park is available online.
1 Reviews
missbirdie
Reviewed on 07/28/2011
How can Yosemite National Park receive anything BUT a five star review?!?
This crowned jewel in California's amazingly diverse landscape is only a two-hour drive from Modesto and offers visitors a chance to step into a natural wonder for the day.
We arrived at the park mid-morning, first spotting Bridalveil Fall as soon as we began a descent into the valley; from that point on, there was not a moment that elapsed...more
