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Yosemite National Park: Nature at Its Best

By: Shawn Collin Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Yosemite National Park is probably one of the most popular parks in the world. Found on the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Central California, tourists worldwide visit Yosemite Valley for the beautiful sights and the magnificent natural attractions. Here are a few attractions you’ll see at Yosemite National Park.

One of Yosemite’s major attractions is El Capitan. El Capitan is a granite wall which rises nearly 4000 feet above Yosemite’s floor. El Capitan is the largest granite slab on earth which is exposed. Climbers all over the world will enjoy climbing El Capitan. Tourists would usually spot climbers working their way up this magnificent rock.

Another tourist attraction is Glacier Point. It is probably the most breathtaking overlooks on Yosemite and probably one of the most magnificent in the world. This is a must visit when you’re at Yosemite National Park. Not only will you sit 3,300 feet above Yosemite’s valley floor, but you will also get a bird’s eye view of most of the park’s attractions.

The Half Dome in summer is one of the popular tourist destinations and is one of the most famous spots at Yosemite. Climbers work their way up this 2000 foot face which takes them more or less 7 hours. It is one of the toughest rock climbing challenges on earth. You could also hike around its back side to reach the summit.

Another destination at Yosemite that attracts climbers worldwide is Sentinel Rock. Sentinel Rock sits close to another popular destination, Yosemite Falls. Yosemite falls is the highest in North America and is the fifth largest waterfalls on the planet. The best time to visit is spring through early summer. During winter, the waterfalls create pieces of ice which crash and create noises that sound like thunder. One other prominent waterfall in Yosemite is Bridalveil Falls which stands 620 feet high.

Vernal Fall and Mist Trail are other popular sites at the park. This series of sites is one of the most popular destinations tourists visit. It features a hike which starts at Happy Isles, then a climb at Mist Trail beside the beautiful Merced River to Vernal Fall, which has a 330 foot drop.

Tunnel View is another major attraction at Yosemite. You will get a complete view of El Capitan, Sentinel Rock, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls and a lot of other attractions. Tunnel View is considered one of the most photographed places in the planet.

These attractions are probably the most glorious and breathtaking destinations you’ll set your eyes on. These are but a few Yosemite has to offer. Here in Yosemite, one will definitely appreciate nature’s beauty and bow down to its splendor.