Yosemite Sightseeing - Yosemite Tours - San Francisco Tours

Yosemite National Park (pronounced "Yo-SEM-it-tee", IPA [joʊˈsɛməti]) is a national park largely in Mariposa County, and Tuolumne County, California, United States. The park covers an area of 1,189 mi² (3,081 km²) and stretches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Over 3 million people visit Yosemite each year, with most only seeing Yosemite Valley. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity (about 89% of the park is designated wilderness area). It was also the first park set aside by the U.S. federal government and through the work of people like John Muir was a focal point in the development of the national park idea.

In the cool, moist climate of the California coastline, redwoods have thrived for 20 million years. While redwoods must have plentiful moisture and mild temperatures to survive, they can live in different microclimates within the forest ecosystem: along ridgetops, beside fluctuating rivers, farther inland (with drier temperatures), and close to the ocean (with a buffer of salt-tolerant trees).

The biggest trees in Muirwoods would be found at the bohemian and cathedral groves one is 14 feet wide and another is 252feet tall. Many are over 1,000 years old, but most are 600-700 years old. The world tallest living is a Coast redwoods in northern California.

At the center is Yosemite Valley, a half-mile deep depression carved by glaciers during the last ice age, which now has soaring 3,000 foot high granite domes and many powerful waterfalls, including the third and seventh highest in the world. The area received National Park status in 1880, as a result of the efforts of the pioneering Scottish naturalist John Muir, and has grown in popularity ever since.

The Merced River runs through the valley, and is followed either side by two scenic drives. The Merced River tumbles over the cascading Nevada and Vernal Falls of Yosemite National Park. The river meanders along the valley floor through Yosemite and builds into a river of pure whitewater. With its' steep gradient, sweeping bends, and few obstacles to negotiate the Merced provides long straight forward rapids with big rolling waves. This Class IV river is an excellent step up into the realm of advanced California whitewater rafting.

Yosemite Valley is world famous for its impressive waterfalls, cliffs, unusual rock formations and meadows. Yosemite Valley is accessible all year.

There are many vistas in the park, the top six : Glacier Point, Tunnel View, The Cascades, Olmsted Point, El Portal View and O’shaugnessy Dam.

Yosemite is home to countless waterfalls. The best time to see waterfalls in the spring. Peak runoff typically occurs in May or June. The most famous among them are Yosemite Falls (2,425 ft), Bridalveil Fall (620 ft), Vernal Fall (317 ft), Nevada Fall (594 ft), Horsetail Fall (1,000 ft) and Staircase Falls (1,300 ft)

Yosemite National Park, located in the western sierra Nevada mountains in central California has rocky summits, innumerable lakes, forests, meadows and endless alpine scenery. Yosemite Valley, about 3,000 feet deep and about two miles wide, is known for its landmark rock formations. Half Dome is perhaps the most recognized symbol of Yosemite, is one of the most sought-after landmarks in Yosemite. Rising over 4,000feet above the valley floor.

Half Dome can be seen throughout eastern Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. Some people rock climb or even hike to the top. It’s very likely that Half Dome never had another half, at least not one as well formed as this. The flat face overlooks Yosemite Valley, whose U-shaped cross section is the result of glacial action.