Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park was the first one in the world to officially become a national park in 1890 thanks to the work of John Muir. Situated in the heart of the Sierra Nevada the Yosemite Park is the image of nature itself with thousands of hectares of forest, great mountains ranging between 600 m and 3960 m, beautiful waterfalls and breathtaking views over the valley. The Yosemite Valley located in the middle of the park is one of the most impressive glacial valleys in the world. Towered by the impressive granite peaks of El Capitan and Half Dome the valley is characterized by steep slopes surrounding a flat area crossed by the Merced River, which is all is left of the ice bed. The animals are all free including bears, pumas, deer and squirrels, therefore precautions must be taken not to attract dangerous species.
The best time to visit Yosemite is in summer when the climate is favourable, winters are very cold and the weather in spring is temperamental with often snow as late as April. Unfortunately at the height of summer the park is full of tourists and even the camping sites are often fully booked. There are 13 camping sites in the park and some of them accept advance bookings, only 4 of them are open all year round.
Upon arrival it is fundamental to stop at the Visitor Centre where the rangers will supply important information about safety and directions in the park including maps for footpaths and cycling trails indicating the difficulty level of each route.

Don’t miss the 900 m high El Capitan, the world’s tallest cliff that with an almost smooth vertical wall is an irresistible challenge for free climbers from all over the world. The Bridalveil Falls and the Yosemite Falls are both an incredible sight and are best seen in late spring or early summer just after the ice melt. The Half Dome, visible from everywhere in the park taking its name from the characteristic shape, has become the symbol of Yosemite. The Redwood trees are the biggest trees one could ever see, enormous millennium old trees with trunks as large as 6m in diameter and 71m tall. They can be seen in the park’s southern part at Wawona and Mariposa Grove, and in Tuolumne Grove in the west side.
The people pushed for time can take advantage of the scenic tours, which are organized daily and range from 2 to 8 hours.
The park is the perfect place for trekking, free climbing, rafting and cycling. Ice-skating is possible in winter in the Curry village rink.
For more information on the Yosemite National Park contact Wilderness Centre on +1 209 372-0308.