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Range of Light
Yosemite National Park is celebrated for its splendor and majesty – the heart of what John Muir called the “Range of Light.” Beloved by many conservationists, John Muir's life in the Sierra was a "tribute to one of our nation’s oldest and most beloved national parks”.
Yosemite landmarks may be toured from Wawona, a favorite in Southern Yosemite, the Yosemite Valley, up to the High Country of Tuolumne Meadows and beyond. Yosemite National Park is located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada; a mountain range that encompasses more than 20 million acres. However large, this mountain range is blessed with a sunny and relatively mild climate; and within the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite stands out as a destination unparalleled, having moderate temperatures and cool nights in the valley. Even during the winter months, the abundant snowfall is often interrupted by periods of sunny weather.
Ranging in elevation from 2,000 feet in the lower Merced River Gorge to 13,114 feet on top of Mount Lyell, the park covers an area of 761,266 acres of seemingly endless beauty. “Of all Yosemite’s natural features, perhaps the waterfalls and cascades are the most popular with visitors,” and Yosemite Falls is above all, the star attraction. The highest falls in North America and one of the ten highest falls in the world, Yosemite Falls drops 2,425 feet in three separate leaps from the rim of the valley to the floor below. The steep, 3.6-mile Yosemite Falls Trail sees many tourists each year. Winding up the face of the north wall of the valley, the trail gains 2,700 feet as it leads to the Upper Yosemite Fall.
Another of Yosemite’s most famous attractions is Half Dome, a giant rock formation which rises to 8,842 feet consisting of Half Dome Granodiorite – Yosemite’s most famous rock. Made of a kind of granitic rock, Half Dome has been around for 87 million years, much younger than other rock exposures in the valley. Other trails climbing toward Tuolumne Meadows, in the high country are best locations for viewing Half Dome, including Olmsted Point.
As a close second, El Capitan, is one of the most famous features in the valley. El Capitan is a translation of the Indian name for the mountain they called “Rock Chief” for its presumed humanlike profile. With it’s granite face, this immense rock formation is one of the sheerest in the world; and upon frustrating many climbers over the years, was only first scaled in 1958.
Nevada Fall
El Capitan, sunset
Nevada Fall Springtime and Autumn…
Snowpack of Spring feeds the cascading fall towards the valley, and conversely with Autumn season's prolonged dry weather the water becomes a delicate trickle in comparison.
Nevada Fall Autumn…
Yosemite National Park is celebrated for its splendor and majesty – the heart of what John Muir called the “Range of Light.” Beloved by many conservationists, John Muir's life in the Sierra was a "tribute to one of our nation’s oldest and most beloved national parks”.
Yosemite landmarks may be toured from Wawona, a favorite in Southern Yosemite, the Yosemite Valley, up to the High Country of Tuolumne Meadows and beyond. Yosemite National Park is located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada; a mountain range that encompasses more than 20 million acres. However large, this mountain range is blessed with a sunny and relatively mild climate; and within the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite stands out as a destination unparalleled, having moderate temperatures and cool nights in the valley. Even during the winter months, the abundant snowfall is often interrupted by periods of sunny weather.
Ranging in elevation from 2,000 feet in the lower Merced River Gorge to 13,114 feet on top of Mount Lyell, the park covers an area of 761,266 acres of seemingly endless beauty. “Of all Yosemite’s natural features, perhaps the waterfalls and cascades are the most popular with visitors,” and Yosemite Falls is above all, the star attraction. The highest falls in North America and one of the ten highest falls in the world, Yosemite Falls drops 2,425 feet in three separate leaps from the rim of the valley to the floor below. The steep, 3.6-mile Yosemite Falls Trail sees many tourists each year. Winding up the face of the north wall of the valley, the trail gains 2,700 feet as it leads to the Upper Yosemite Fall.
Another of Yosemite’s most famous attractions is Half Dome, a giant rock formation which rises to 8,842 feet consisting of Half Dome Granodiorite – Yosemite’s most famous rock. Made of a kind of granitic rock, Half Dome has been around for 87 million years, much younger than other rock exposures in the valley. Other trails climbing toward Tuolumne Meadows, in the high country are best locations for viewing Half Dome, including Olmsted Point.
As a close second, El Capitan, is one of the most famous features in the valley. El Capitan is a translation of the Indian name for the mountain they called “Rock Chief” for its presumed humanlike profile. With it’s granite face, this immense rock formation is one of the sheerest in the world; and upon frustrating many climbers over the years, was only first scaled in 1958.
Nevada Fall
El Capitan, sunset
Nevada Fall Springtime and Autumn…
Snowpack of Spring feeds the cascading fall towards the valley, and conversely with Autumn season's prolonged dry weather the water becomes a delicate trickle in comparison.
Nevada Fall Autumn…
Bridalveil Fall in Spring…
Hwy 41 turns south leaving Yosemite Valley, the Bridalveil Fall parking lot, the first right turn leads to the base feeding the Merced River, and the fall in full view.
Ancient Sequoia Groves more on sequoias…
Among the tallest falls and grandeur of rock formations are the giant Sequoia trees. The largest living things in the world, the giant Sequoias are armored with thick bark, up to two feel thick, providing sufficient insulation to the tree’s inner living tissue from the hottest of fires. In his Yosemite guide, and the trees “self-prune,” losing their lower limbs as older trees to remove the possibility of flames reaching their fire-sensitive crown. Three major groves of Sequoias, the Merced, Tuolumne and Mariposa, all exist in Yosemite National Park. The Mariposa Grove is by far the largest! Reaching their maximum height at about 800 years of age, the sequoias tower more than 300 feet in height.
Also among Yosemite’s trees are the sugar pines. Sporting narrow cones up to two feet long, “one doesn’t want to wander through a sugar pine forest during a wind storm,” the sugar pine is another fire adapted species, making it a common associate of the sequoias.
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L.A. Star Attractions • L.A. Getaways • Yosemite National Park • 49er Gold Rush Highway • Tour & Travel Destinations
Special Feature: California Native Culture - Julia & Lucy Parker • Advertising & Marketing • California Photo Album • Contact /Request
CA Tour & Travel Survey • California Marketplace • Yosemite Travel Deals
