There is just something about Yosemite National Park that washes away your sadness, your daily concerns, and your worries. This magnificent park is located in the central Sierra Nevada of California about 150 miles east of San Francisco.
It’s one of the first wilderness parks in the United States which is best known for its waterfalls. Within the park you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.
Yosemite National Park is open 365 days a year, 24 hours each day. Visitors are permitted to drive in and through Yosemite Valley without any requirement for reservations. The South entrance, arch rock, big oak flat, Tioga pass, Hetch Hetchy are the five main entrances to the park.
Which time of the year is best for Yosemite vacation?
Yosemite enjoys a Mediterranean climate, which means whatever time of year you go, you can enjoy the season you’re in. depending on which month you visit, you see beautiful wildflowers and gushing waterfalls.
The spring season (April and May) is the best time to view the park’s spectacular waterfalls. As warmer weather begins to melt the snow, creeks and streams are rushing with water, and many unnamed waterfalls and cascades can be seen all along the rim of Yosemite Valley.
The summer season (June through September) is the peak Yosemite vacation period. The weather during the summer is very predictable. It rarely rains except for some time there can be wandering afternoon thunderstorm that can produce lightening and moderate rain for a while at the higher elevations.
The winter season (December through March) is a Yosemite vacation opportunity for those who enjoy skiing and solitude. While Yosemite Valley and Wawona remain accessible year-round, the Tioga Road and roads between Crane Flat and Tioga Pass, including the Tuolumne Meadows are closed.
However, if the weather remains seasonable, a Yosemite vacation still presents ample opportunity to explore the Park’s exquisite scenery at greater leisure. Short-term closures may occur because of weather conditions although Yosemite Valley and Wawona remain open all year.
Yosemite Camping:
It is possible to enjoy a short Yosemite vacation of two to three days touring some of the Valley’s main scenic attractions but to really experience this magnificent natural sanctuary, you should take full advantage of Yosemite camping and lodging facilities.
You can choose three basic types of accommodation such as a concession-operated Yosemite lodging facility, a Yosemite national campground or wilderness camping.
Yosemite Park has 13 campgrounds of which seven are on a reservation-only system. Yosemite campground reservations are absolutely essential during the busiest season from April through September.
Camping fees changes from year to year. You should check the first-come, first-served Yosemite campgrounds. However, during the month of May these camping sites are generally difficult to obtain.
Yosemite Falls:
Yosemite falls is one of the most spectacular sights in all of the United States. In the summer, the water flow dwindles to almost nothing, but in the spring during snow melt, the waterfall is overwhelming.
Yosemite Falls can be seen along the roadside at a number of viewpoints along Southside Drive. The best ones are at Cook’s Meadow and Swinging Bridge, and it also can be seen along the trail to Lower Yosemite Falls.
Yosemite Falls is fed mostly by snowmelt. Peak flow usually happens in late May, but by August, Yosemite Falls is often dry. It begins flowing again a few months later, after winter snows arrive.
The total height of the waterfalls is 2425 ft., making this the one of the highest waterfalls in the world. It is easily the single best thing in a national park that has plenty of incredible sights to see.
No matter what your interests may be, you’ll find your passions fulfilled at Yosemite National Park!
Source: Latimes
