5 Must-See Sites in Yosemite National Park

When I was 16, my father, a West Point professor, took two cadets to Yosemite National Park. They spent 10 days there really roughing it up, learning about the environment and their instinctual selves. They even acquired rugged wilderness names — one cadet was named “Goat” and the other “Bear!” (They, on the other hand, just called my Dad “Sir.”) Upon my Dad’s return he was ecstatic; it was their first time in Yosemite and he had tons of photos, sketches, and stories to illustrate their adventure. Needless to say, he had me yearning to experience the great National Park as well.

Fast forward 10 years and I’ve been on four great backpacking trips through Yosemite. It’s been a profound experience each and every time, and although I grew a lot in between each trip, I always seem to visit the same familiar landmarks each time. It’s like visiting old friends that have seen you grow throughout the years, familiar faces that you must greet each time you’re there. So, please meet my best Yosemite friends:

Half Dome

The mighty Half Dome. It has this certain aura around it. It makes people question themselves and the world around them. Can they make it to the summit? How did people make it to the summit a hundred years ago? How do people even summit Half Dome from the OTHER SIDE?  It’s just an entire state of awe every time you’re in the rock’s big presence. The best thing about it is that you don’t have to hike all the way in to see its magnificence, some of the greatest lookout points of Yosemite look out towards Half Dome, including Glacier Point and Olmstead Point.

El Capitan

Once you’ve seen Half Dome, you’ll think you’ve seen it all … until you go see El Capitan. Even the name sounds profound. It’s approximately 100 million years old and, just like Half Dome, it was carved by glacial action. My absolute favorite thing to do is to try to find the rock climbers through binoculars. Apparently it takes more than a day to climb the face of El Capitan, so climbers must clip in a hammock onto the rock wall to sleep at night! The rock is 3,000 feet high, and it gives me chills just thinking about sleeping 500 feet up!

Bridalveil Fall

This plunge waterfall is one of the most prominent waterfalls of the national park. Just like Half Dome and El Cap, these waterfalls also seem to hold a magical spirit about them. The plunge of water from 600 feet up makes the water turn into a misty cloud at the end. It is said that the Ahwahneechee Native American tribe believed that inhaling the mist of the waterfall would improve chances of marriage.

Mariposa Grove

The Mariposa Grove is in a different area of Yosemite than the previous three landmarks are in, but I assure you it’s worth the travel. This sequoia grove holds two of the 25 largest giant sequoias in the world. The best part is that some of the most prominent trees are given names. My favorite is “The Faithful Couple,” two trees that have grown so close to each other that their trunks are fused together at the base.

Yosemite Valley

Last, but certainly not least, is the classic Yosemite Valley. I would say it’s the glue that holds the park together because after all, it’s the most visited area of the park. Backpackers go there to stock up on supplies and visitors go there for lodging and dining. Oh, and the bears go there for the food. (Don’t worry, that’s what the outside food lockers are for!) You’ll see everyone there, from the elder to the toddler, all enjoying the beautiful Yosemite National Park.

 

 

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