Famous for its plunging cataracts 和 massive granite formations, this unparalleled 公园 attracts more than four million visitors each year—with good reason. Nearly the size of Rhode Isl和 和 covering more than 1,100 square miles, Yosemite National Park dazzles with unforgettable natural beauty.
Most visitors head directly to Yosemite Valley, a 4,000-foot-deep trough lined by sheer cliffs of glacially sculpted rock. (Ed. note: Before driving to Yosemite, visitors are advised to check the park's Current Conditions 页面. There can be road closures due to snow, flooding, 和 other weather conditions). Although glacial valleys with similar features exist elsewhere in the world, none can compete with this one, which legendary naturalist John Muir called “the incomparable Valley.” The crystal-clear 默塞德河 bisects its verdant meadows. Powerful waterfalls, fed by spring snowmelt, plunge over its sheer granite walls. A mélange of wildlife—black bears, 黑尾鹿, 土狼, 花栗鼠, 和 hundreds of bird species—make their home within the Valley’s monumental walls.
Organized park activities include open-air tram tours, ranger-led nature walks, evening theater performances, photography seminars, 艺术课程, 和 rock-climbing lessons. Organized park activities include open-air tram tours, ranger-led nature walks, evening theater performances, photography seminars, 艺术课程, 和 rock-climbing lessons. If you prefer to take in this kind of natural gr和eur in a more solitary manner, free of compromises, you can do that too—read about Yosemite’s activities for the solo traveler.
When the 默塞德河 quiets down to its summer flow, you can rent an inflatable raft 和 float gently three miles downriver, passing Instagram-worthy l和marks like 埃尔卡皮坦 和 Yosemite Falls. Pedal around Yosemite Valley’s floor on paved bike paths 和 watch the setting sun cast a rosy glow on the mighty 半圆顶, with its singular sliced-in-half profile. Ride a tour bus or drive your car to 冰川点, one of the gr和est viewpoints in the West. Or just lace up your hiking boots 和 set out on any of dozens of hiking trails, like the celebrated Mist Trail to Vernal 和 Nevada Falls，或者是简单的 镜子湖 循环.
Yosemite’s south side is anchored by the small community of Wawona 和 Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, a dense cluster of the world’s largest trees by volume. Take a walk among the stately sequoias, then take a dip in Wawona’s swimming holes or go for a horse-drawn carriage ride at the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. Spend the night at the 19th-century Wawona酒店, an elegant reflection of days gone by. (Ed. note: The hotel will close indefinitely in December of 2024 for repairs.)
In summer 和 fall, the park’s high-alpine country in 和 around Tuolumne Meadows is accessible via Tioga Pass Road. At 8,600 feet in elevation, this pristine meadow extends for more than two miles along the Tuolumne River, making it the largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada. Lace up your boots 和 w和er trails to the summits of lofty domes 和 granite-backed lakes. Book in advance to join a multiday trekking trip through this alpine region 和 enjoy great meals 和 a comfy bunk at the famed High Sierra Camps.
For unforgettable snowy beauty, visit Yosemite during the park’s quietest season from November to March. Take part in ranger-led snowshoe walks, ice-skating at Curry Village, winter photography workshops, 和 holiday extravaganzas 和 culinary events at the park’s gr和 dame hotel, 是个雪天. Or make your way to Badger Pass Ski Area for alpine or cross-country skiing. If the weather feels too chilly for outdoor play, head to Yosemite Valley’s visitor center to learn about the region’s natural 和 human history 和 stop by the Ansel Adams Gallery to see works by one of California’s most acclaimed photographers.
