A landscape hewn by ancient glaciers, Yosemite National Park is an ageless world of waterfalls, cliffs and mountains, the sheer scale of which is beautifully intimidating. A wonderland of adventure, the park is also a milestone of American conservation, being the first area of land preserved and safeguarded – an order signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1864. It may be only the USA’s third oldest national park but it paved the way for the lot of them.
At the national park’s heart is the Yosemite Valley, a wonderfully accessible wilderness where you’ll stand in awe and reverence as your eyes trace granite buttresses, misty waterfalls, rushing rivers and emerald green forest. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll easily spot famous names like El Capitan and Half Dome with very little effort, while the rainbow infused mists of Yosemite and Bridalveil falls take a little bit of time on your feet to fully enjoy. To the far south of the park, you can find yourself dwarfed by the towering giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove, home to 500 mature specimens. To view the park through a photographer’s lens, don’t miss the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley, which itself overlooks Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Glacier Point.
