The Majesty of Yosemite National Park

You're standing at the base of Yosemite Falls, the world's 5^th highest waterfall, gazing skyward. A cool mist from the roaring water collects on your cheeks, still warm from an invigorating hike. You're in awe – amazed by the sheer size the falls, by the thunderous sound of water crashing to the ground. You've never stood so close to something so immense, so powerful.

Welcome to Yosemite National Park, the most impressive example of glaciation in the continental United States. Due in part to the efforts of naturalist and visionary John Muir, Yosemite National Park was created by an Act of Congress on October 1, 1890. About 95% of the park is designated backcountry wilderness.

Hike forest trails beneath towering sequoia trees and scale the granite face of El Capitan, the single largest rock monolith in the United States. Take in the rich aroma of vanilla-scented Jeffrey Pine as you stand at Taft Point, surrounded by shear 2,000-foot drop-offs to Yosemite Valley. Top off your day in the tranquility of the Mariposa Sequoia Groves on Mawona Point with a slice homemade chocolate cake and a dollop of sugary-sweet whipped cream.

With 1,600 miles of streams feeding numerous lakes and ponds and over 800 miles of hiking trails, Yosemite National Park is an adventurers' paradise. Relax your mind and energize your body as we explore the majesty of this untouched land.

Did You Know

Massive rockfalls have helped shape many of the outstanding features along Yosemite Valley's walls, including Royal Arches, North Dome and Half Dome.
Yosemite Falls, at 2,425 feet, is the world’s 5^th highest waterfall. It's actually made up of three separate falls: Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet), the middle cascades (675 feet) and Lower Yosemite Fall (320 feet).
Starting in 1907, the Yosemite Valley Railroad brought passengers bound for Yosemite Valley up the Merced River canyon to El Portal. From there, they would take stagecoaches to the Valley.
El Capitan, at 3,593 feet is the single largest rock monolith in the United States.
The Yosemite Firefall was an 88 year old park tradition until it was discontinued in 1968. Every summer evening at 9:00 pm in Yosemite Valley, a crowd would gather to watch a great bonfire of red fir bark as it was pushed evenly over the edge of Glacier Point cliff, appearing to the onlookers below as a glowing waterfall of sparks and fire.

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