Yosemite National Park,
California
Yosemite National Park, located in the Sierra Nevada
Mountains, is home to nearly 800,000 acres of pure,
untouched wilderness. There is no civilization whatsoever, meaning no buildings, no roads and no electricity.
Yosemite National Park is one of the most peaceful destinations for camping in America, with nothing but the
sounds of peace and quiet in your ears. Enjoy the scenery at the top of Glacier Point, which displays the popular Yosemite Valley below, as well as the Half Dome. The
Half Dome is an incredible rock structure worshipped
by most climbers and hikers. The rock rises more than
4,000 feet above the valley, and one side is rounded off,
creating an illusion.
The massive solid formations that have been corroded
and exfoliated over time to form nature’s breathtaking
art, are scattered through meadows and lush, pine-covered forests at varying elevations. When exploring,
look for the large Sequoia trees. Sequoias are the largest trees in the world and can grow to be as tall as a
26-story building. There are over 200 different species
48 Summer 2015 Adventure Outdoors
to spot throughout the park,
including black bears, the
great grey owl, mule deer,
mountain beaver, bobcat,
cougar, and gray fox. The
black bears are common,
and have been known to
break into vehicles for food,
so proper storage is a must.
Within the park, there are the Yosemite Falls and the Ribbon Falls. Yosemite Falls cascades down more than 2,000
feet and is one of the tallest falls in North America. Ribbon Falls is the longest, regarding vertical point drops, and
the head sits at the top of the highest cliff, which measures
more than three miles in a hike. There is rich history here, as
well. The Native American Ahwaneechee tribes lived in the
Yosemite Valley for almost 4,000 years. President Lincoln
visited Yosemite Valley as well, and the park receives more
than 3 million visitors each year. Reservations are usually
required for most of the campgrounds in the park, and summer is the best time to book a trip there.