Yosemite National Park in California is known around the world for its stunning waterfalls and sheer granite cliffs. If you and your family enjoy rock climbing then Yosemite National Park is a great destination for you. The park itself is more than 200,000 acres although most people don’t see more than about 10 miles of that because there are so many things to do and see in the park.
The sheer granite cliffs and stunning waterfalls are remnants of a glacier that carved the cliffs and waterfalls out of the Sierra Mountains millions of years ago. Most of the waterfalls are fed by melting snow from the mountains. Because the water is coming from the mountains during the late summer and early fall, the waterfalls are often bare because there has been no snowfall but by early winter they are flowing once again. Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America, is the crown jewel of the many waterfalls in the park.
Hike up into the Sierra Mountains and you can spend the day in one of the beautiful mountain meadows that are scattered throughout the park. You can hike on the flat, grassy land, or enjoy the beautiful scenery with a picnic. There are several small glaciers in the park so you and the kids can enjoy the experience of seeing and even walking up to a real glacier that is a miniature version of the glacier that created the Yosemite Valley.
When it comes to getting around the park you can hike, bike, ski (in appropriate areas) or go on horseback. Take a guided horseback tour into the mountains to see all the best views without having to take a strenuous mountain hike or if you have little ones with you that can’t make the hard hike into the mountains.
The entrance fee to get into the park is $20 per car, there is a smaller fee for those that come in on bicycles or horseback. Campgrounds at Yosemite National Park fill up quickly so plan to make a reservation well in advance if you want to plan a camping trip to the park. The campgrounds all have flush toilets, dump stations, showers and laundry facilities. Prices range from $10-$20 per day depending on the campground and the season.
