Facts About Yosemite National Park

There are many intriguing facts about Yosemite Park. This land was named a World Heritage Site in 1984. Almost all of this rugged landscape is designated wilderness. It contains five major vegetation zones, providing habitat for a wide variety of plants and wildlife. There are 761,266 acres reaching across the western side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

The park ranges in elevation from 2,000 to over 13,000 feet. It's granite cliffs and mountain peaks are enjoyed by many for their climbing paths and spectacular vistas. There are more than 800 miles of hiking trails throughout the park. They lead to magnificent scenery including steep waterfalls and old-growth Sequoia forests. There are also abundant lakes and rivers flowing through the park, adding to the scenery and providing summer recreation.

The park is located in California, about 3 ½ hours from San Francisco and 6 hours from Los Angeles. The majority of tourists visit in the summer, though it is open every season of the year. It is home to three of the world's 10 highest waterfalls and one of the world's largest trees, “The Grizzly Giant.” The Sequoia groves provide a canopy for abundant wildlife including bears, mountain lions, and mule deer. Another fact about Yosemite Park is that it contains thousands of types of plants and wildflowers, some of which are rare to the region.

There are many recreation options for visitors including hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing, and river rafting. The winter offers other activities such as skiing and snowshoeing. In the spring and summer, the park features art exhibits. One of the facts about Yosemite Park is that Ansel Adams helped popularize it with stunning black-and-white photography of its gorgeous scenery. There is an Ansel Adams Gallery at the park, which features his and other artists' work, inspired by Yosemite. Yosemite Park inspires more than 3 ½ million visitors every year who come to explore this extraordinary landscape.

For more Yosemite Park lodging information call 866.875.8456. For lodging reservations call or log onto Yosemite Activities today.

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