Let me start off by saying that Yosemite National Park is my favorite national park that I have visited. No, that is not the only national park that I have visited. There are 63 national parks and I have been to over 20 of them.
There is just something that I find so awe inspiring about Yosemite. The first time that I was in the park was when I was 5 years old and we were on a big out west trip as a family.
I remember being at Taft Point looking down into Yosemite Valley and thinking that everyone looked so small. I also remember being forced to sit in rushing water from Yosemite Falls which is glacier fed with my sister Donna and I was crying my eyes out. Oh, the memories.
There is much more that I remember about Yosemite on that trip and that was not the only national park that we went to. We stopped at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Crater Lake, Grand Tetons, Petrified Forest, Zion, Bryce and the Badlands.
I remember some about each one of those parks but the most vivid memories that I have are from being in Yosemite. Fortunately, I have been to Yosemite three other times over the years.
Everytime that I am there it does not get old. So, I want to give you 6 great reasons why you should make it a place that you must see in person.
1. Giant Sequoias
The first reason to visit Yosemite are the majestic giant sequoias found in the park. If you enter the park at the southern entrance you will find the Mariposa Grove which is the largest collection of sequoias in Yosemite. It is home to over 500 mature giant sequoia trees.
Some of the more popular trees in the grove include the Tunnel Tree that you can walk through. The Grizzly Giant is the most popular and is one of the largest and oldest trees in the grove at more than 2,700 years old. There is also a cluster of trees called the Bachelor and the Three Graces that are popular.
As a family, we visited the park in the summer of 1970 when I was a spry five years old. The Wawona Tree was a tree that you could drive your car through and it fell over the winter before we got to the park. So, I remember being disappointed in seeing the tree down.
Mariposa Grove is really beautiful and there is just something majestic about it. The last time I was in the park the grove was closed for restoration and I was very disappointed because I wanted Tonya, my wife, and Makenzie, my daughter, to experience it.
Yosemite also has two other lesser known areas of sequoias in the park. They are the Tuolumne and Merced Groves. We went to the Tuolumne Grove since the Mariposa Grove was closed. There was a nice trail to hike throughout the Tuolumne Grove and there were some impressive trees to see.
2. Granite Formations
The second reason to visit Yosemite are the magnificent granite formations. If you know anything about Yosemite, you know that the most distinguishing features in the park are the large granite rock formations. This is by far the aspect of the park that I enjoy the most.
I could go all science teacher on you and explain how that they were formed and have been exposed over time but I will spare you all the details. All you really need to know is that they are beautiful and amazing to look at.
Half Dome is one of the more famous if not the most famous formation in the park. It has a sheer cliff on one side which rises more than 4,700 feet from the valley floor.
The other side of the formation is rounded and smooth. You can see Half Dome from various places throughout the park and you can even hike to the top of it.
Another famous granite formation in the park is El Capitan. Just like with Half Dome there are various places where you can see El Capitan throughout the park.
El Capitan climbs more than 3,000 feet from the valley floor on the west end of Yosemite Valley. Just like Half Dome you can hike to the top of El Capitan if you so desire.
Some of the other formations that are in the park include Sentinel Dome, Cathedral Rocks, and the Three Brothers. They all have their own unique style and beauty.
3. Waterfalls
The thrid reason to visit Yosemite are the beautiful waterfalls. Yosemite has a number of waterfalls that you can see throughout the park but the most popular ones can be seen from Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite Falls is the most popular falls in the park. I have to say it is my favorite out of all of the falls. It is also the highest waterfall in North America at 2,425 feet total drop. There are 3 sections to the fall which include the upper falls, middle cascades and lower falls.
You can hike to the lower falls in a one mile loop trail. There is a trail that you can hike to the top of the falls which is an all day adventure.
There is also Horsetail Fall which is off of the east side of El Capitan. This fall appears to be on fire during the middle to late February. That is one of my bucket list things to see before I die.
Bridalveil Falls is a 620 foot waterfall that can be seen from various places throughout the park. It is probably the second most popular fall in the park. There is an easy trail that can be taken to the base of the fall.
Some of the other falls in the park include: Sentinel Falls, Ribbon Falls, Nevada Falls, and Wapama Falls.
4. Hiking
The fourth reason to visit Yosemite are all the trails that you can use to hike. Like most national parks, Yosemite is a great place to hike with over 800 miles worth of trails to pick from.
You have easy, medium and difficult hikes to choose from. If you like an easy hike just strolling around the valley floor of the park is worth it. It is very flat and you have all of the surrounding waterfalls and rock formations to look at.
Some of the more popular trails in the park include: Yosemite Falls Trail, Half Dome Trail, Mist Trail to Vernal Falls, Mirror Lake Trail, Sentinel Dome Trail and May Lake Trail.
5. Yosemite Valley
The fifth reason to visit Yosemite is the beautiful Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is really not that large. It is around 7 miles long and less than a mile wide but the scenery that is packed into that small stretch is probably more beautiful than just about anywhere on earth.
You are surrounded by the granite rock formations such as El Capitan and Half Dome. Many of the waterfalls can be seen and accessed from the valley.
The valley itself is lush and green during the summer time. The Merced River runs through it. You can see wildlife as you walk or drive through the valley. It is one of those places that pictures don’t do it justice.
6. Beautiful Vistas
The final and sixth reason to visit Yosemite are the beautiful vistas to see in the park. There are a number of places that you can go to to see the park at its grandest. This can be from places on the valley floor to places such as Washburn Point that only take a short walk to get to.
My favorite 3 places in the park to see great views of the park include: Glacier Point, Taft Point and Tunnel View.
My top place to see views of Yosemite is Taft Point. It is a 2.2 mile round trip hike to get to the point. It is more than worth the effort plus the hike to the point is not too strenuous.
Once you are at the point, you get fantastic views of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan and a number of the waterfalls in the park. You really feel up close and personal with the surroundings since there are no guardrails except for one small section around the edge of the point.
Glacier Point is my second favorite place in Yosemite to see great views of the park. Glacier Point is busier than Taft Point since you park and then have a very short walk to see the views. At Glacier Point, you get fantastic views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite high country.
Another spot to see great views is the Tunnel View which is right off of highway 41 in the park. It is a popular spot and can be hard to find a spot to park but it is worth it. You can see Half Dome, El Capitan and Yosemite Valley from this vantage point.
Final Thoughts
There are many beautiful national parks but it is Yosemite that has grabbed my heart the most. Everytime that I have been there it just does something to my soul.
I can see God’s handy work and creativity. If you have never been to the park, I hope after reading this post that you will make it a place that you visit.
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