Yosemite National Park Activities

A huge mass of pristine land preserved only for the purpose of conservation and tourism, the Yosemite National Park is located in California, United States. The park is famous for its groves of the Giant Sequoia, granite cliffs and recreational activities for fun-loving people. The clean and undisturbed natural surroundings of the Yosemite National Park attract around 3.5 million people every year. Inhabited by the Ahwahneechee community, before the arrival of Caucasians in the nineteenth century, the region was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984. The Yosemite valley is home to 7,000 plant species including five vegetation zones.

Yosemite National Park Activities

Along with relishing the beauty of nature, there are many things to do in Yosemite National Park. People come to the park for enjoying various recreational activities like biking, climbing and hiking.

Hiking
Various options are available for those want to enjoy hiking in the Yosemite National Park. Many spots and locations are open for hikers, to spend time and view the spectacular landscapes and scenery. The Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point Road, Wawona/Mariposa Grove and Tuolumne Meadows are a few of the numerous sites available for hiking. Eight hundred miles of trails are waiting to be explored by hikers.

Rock Climbing
People come to Yosemite National Park during the snow-free months for rock climbing. A rock formation called El Capitan, which is 910 m high, is a challenging place for climbers to test their skills and endurance. This granite monolith is located north of the Yosemite valley.

Biking
Special paved tracks are available for bikers, which are open from the spring season. The 19 km long path is open to people from all age groups for biking. However, it is essential for children under 18 years of age to use helmets.

Bird Watching
It is possible to find many different birds, during spring in the Yosemite National Park. Around 75 vagrant and 165 migrating species are seen in this area. The commonly observed birds include the American robin, Steller jay, common raven, acorn woodpecker and the mountain chickadee. The birds that are popular among the visitors, are the spotted owl, peregrine falcon, great gray owl, northern goshawk and pileated woodpecker. Broadcast bird calls, generally used by tourists to elicit the birds, are not allowed in the park. Bird watching is an interesting activity, however, it demands a lot of patience on the part of the observer.

Horseback Riding
The horseback rides in the park include the 'Guided Mule Rides' and the 'Pack and Saddle Trips'. The mule rides are available in 2-hour, 4-hour and full-day categories, whereas the 'Pack and Saddle Trips' are available in full-day and multi-day categories.

Water Activities
Swimming and rafting are the water activities that tourists can enjoy in the park. Swimming is allowed in the summer season, in almost all the outdoor water bodies except for the waterfalls and the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The Merced river is open for rafting during the summers. The stretch between the Stoneman bridge and Sentinel Beach is used for rafting, provided that the water level is less than 6 feet and the temperature of the water is more than 100^oF.

The Yosemite National Park is a nice place to enjoy vacations and have a good time in Mother Nature's lap.