Yosemite, United States1 daySpring
Yosemite National Park
Ideal: Ideal for nature, hiking, photography, camping, and scenic routes.
When Lincoln protected the valley in 1864, it was the first time a government set aside land purely for preservation, laying groundwork for the national park concept worldwide. El Capitan is a 900-meter monolith of granite; Alex Honnold climbed it free solo without ropes in 2017. Yosemite Falls, at 739 meters North America's tallest, runs dry most Augusts because it depends entirely on snowmelt — May and June are the right months if you want the falls flowing.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1 October 1890
- Area
- 3,027 km²
- Elevation
- 2,686 m
- Annual visitors
- 3.7 million
- Heritage status
- World Heritage Site
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Why go?
- To see one of California's most powerful landscapes
- To explore waterfalls, valleys, and hiking trails
- To leave the city behind for a nature-focused trip
Travel tip
The park is large — plan your route for a day trip; Yosemite Valley is a strong starting point.
