One of the first national parks in the country, made famous by John Muir and Ansel Adams
Glacial valleys, soaring granite cliffs, narrow canyons - all of these were carved out of the land millions of years ago during the Ice Age. Together with giant Sequoia trees and magnificent waterfalls, it's no wonder Yosemite is one of the most popular national parks not just in California, but in the entire country. Summers often require an advance reservation, but it's worth planning ahead to be able to experience Yosemite's unique beauty. There's something for every skill level here, though the long, strenuous hike up Half Dome is the most rewarding. Rock climbers generally make a beeline for El Capitan, which has become notorious for free-climbing. In any case, spend a few days soaking in the raw, untamed power of nature and you will not regret it. As Galen Clark, guardian of the Yosemite grant, once said,
"I have seen persons of emotional temperament stand with tearful eyes, spellbound and dumb with awe, as they got their first view of the Valley from Inspiration Point, overwhelmed in the sudden presence of the unspeakable, stupendous grandeur."
