Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is the most famous of California parks. It is about 3½ hours drive from San Francisco.
Early European-Americans first used the term "Yosemite" to refer to the Indian people who were reported to live in a yet-undiscovered mountain stronghold. Only in 1851, when the Mariposa Battalion first entered the Valley in search of the Yosemite Indians, did they coin Yosemite as a place name. Yosemite is derived from a Miwok word "Yehemite," which translates "some among them are killers."
Yosemite was set aside as a natural preserve in 1864 when Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, which gave guardianship of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to the State of California.
Yosemite is a large park, but the main tourist sights are concentrated in the Yosemite Valley. A paved road circles around the valley. Most tourists simply drive around the road and take pictures of the main sights. At present, cars are allowed within the Park. A free voluntary shuttle bus system is available to many areas throughout Yosemite Valley. Entrance fees are collected at all entrance stations.
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| Source: Gorp.com (reproduced with permission) |
Natural Attractions
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| Half Dome (Yosemite's most distinctive feature) | Upper Yosemite Falls (among the tallest waterfalls in the world) |
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| El Capitan (single largest block of granite in the world) | Mariposa Grove (huge sequoia trees) |
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| Mirror Lake (mirror reflections of Tenaya Canyon) | Wild bears |
Human Attractions
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| Lodges |
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| Camping |
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| Hotels |
| plus Visitor Centre, painting, skiing, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, sailing, horse riding... |