Yosemite National Park
A perfect day in Yosemite National Park
J
ust like millions of others you’ll no doubt be drawn to the dramatic
waterfalls, giant sequoias, abundant wildlife and awe-inspiring cliffs of
Yosemite National Park. One of your first ports of call has to be for that
iconic Yosemite photo, looking down across this awe-inspiring valley.
Feeling active? Head for Yosemite Falls trail which will lead you to the
top of El Capitan – one of the largest rock formations in Yosemite. The
hike to the top is well rewarded with close-up views of Upper Yosemite
Fall and distant views of Half Dome and other Sierra mountain peaks.
Along the hike, enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Yosemite Valley’s meadows
and the meandering Merced River. The most popular way to scale El
Capitan though is rock climbing – see if you can spot the coloured dots
of people on the side as they scale the side of this enormous rock. Of
course, you can always stay with your feet planted on the ground and
take a photo from below.
Yosemite has many hikes from short to strenuous. Mirror Lake is a
popular hike that takes about an hour, however this lake is seasonal and
is at its fullest in spring/early summer. When the water is calm the lake
offers beautiful reflections of surrounding cliffs.
Don’t feel like hiking? With over 20 kilometres of paved bike paths
throughout the valley you can explore by bike, which are available for
rent at the visitor’s centre.
But there’s no need to rush. Why not spend the night in the park or
in one of the nearby vi