A One or Two Day Trip to Yosemite National Park
Water Falls and Spectacular Mountain Scenery on a Short Trip
Sep 15, 2008
Yosemite’s remote location makes for a long drive from the major populations of northern California, but those that make the trip are rewarded with the views like no other in the world.
From Central California, route 140 leads directly to Yosemite, on nicely paved roads, but through significant changes in elevation. It is a solid five hour drive from the bay area.
Visiting Yosemite Valley
The most famous places to visit in park are in Yosemite Valley, easily reached off of route 140. Here the visitor will find Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls.
This area has a number of restaurants, tourist shops, walkways and nature centers. There is a large amount of parking available, although the lots do become crowded later in the day. Visitors can either park at the different sites, or park in the central lots and take free buses to the major attractions.
The rock formations in Yosemite impress with their sheer size. El Capitan is 7569 feet above sea level, and several thousand feet above the valley floor. Climbers from all over the world come to ascend the sheer face. The height and distance make the climbers invisible to the naked eye from below.
Things to Know About Yosemite
Entrance fees to the park start at $20 for a seven day vehicle pass. The valley floor area is open all year, but many of the other roads in the park are closed from November to May.
Lodging is available in the Park, in facilities ranging from unheated cabins to a luxurious lodge.
Driving Tour of Yosemite Park
In the summer season, the park opens up the roads to the high country. Glacier Point offers dazzling views of the valley attractions from a different perspective.
Big Oak Flat Road rides along cliffs and offers great views of the giant rock formations of the valley and leads to Tioga Road. Tioga Road west runs through the heart of Yosemite, hundreds of miles toward the Nevada border.
Achieving great heights, Tioga Road is closed by snow November to May. It runs through dense forest for many miles. Hiking trails and scenic rivers are accessible in this area. About half through the park, the road opens up to fantastic rock formations, giant domes of granite thousands of feet high.
Olmsted Point reveals a most spectacular view of Tenaya Canyon. Every mile of the road brings a more breathtaking site, until the Park ends at Tioga Pass. At nearly 10,000 feet, highway 120 heads toward Nevada with a thrilling and terrifying descent to the Mono Basin Scenic Area.
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