Yosemite National Park spans an incredible 761,000 acres in California. This year America’s National Parks are celebrating their 100th celebration of park service throughout our country. Yosemite National Park is one of the most majestic parks in our great nation. As an NH Travel Agent located in Claremont, NH, I can understand some of the majesty in many of the landmarks throughout the park. Here are five must-see attractions see when you visit this beautiful vacation destination.
1 Glacier Point
This is one of the most iconic trails in the park. It is also called The Four Mile Trail. Simple this point has a view like no other of the surrounding area. You can see Half Dome and several waterfalls at this point. If you are a lover of sunsets, then this is the place to be for stunning sunsets.
2 Yosemite Valley
As you stand in the center of the valley, you suddenly come to the realization that the very noble walls of granite that you are gazing upon and part of the stunning creation of the majestic park. There are endless variety of domes, gables, spires and streams that run through this great valley. Yosemite Valley is home to many famous cliffs and waterfalls. As you look around you marveling at this creation, you cannot help but be in awe of what you are seeing.
3 Tunnel View
The tunnel view area was originally constructed in 1933 by the National Park Service. It is located adjacent to Wawona road. This historic site offers up spectacular expansive views of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, and Half Dome. This is one of the most popular spots in the park to see a vast array of scenery.
4 Half Dome
Half Dome offers up 5,000 feet of hiking excitement. This mountain is 8,000 feet above sea level and is a great challenge to many hikers that try to tackle it. There are cables to assist you in hiking up and down the dome. Thousands of people hike the dome each year. For many of them, it is an exciting, adventurous hike, but it may not be for the faint of heart. The last 400 feet of the dome you hike with the assistance of cables to keep you safe.
5 Sentinel Dome
Sentinel Dome and Taft Point are moderate hikes in the park. It is about a 2.2-mile round trip hike that takes about 2 hours average. The walk up Sentinel Dome is easy at first as you go through the forest filled with wildflowers. One of the most impressive points on this hike is at The Fissures and Taft Point where you can see throughout the whole valley. Once you reach the top of the dome, you can enjoy the breath-taking 360-degree views of the park.
Other NH Travel Agent tips worth mentioning:
- El Capitan
- Tioga Pass
- Vernal Falls
- Mist Trail
- Taft Point
- Yosemite Falls
- Olmstead Point
- Panorama Trail