Yosemite National Park

Description

One of the best-known national parks in the United States, Yosemite covers nearly 1,200 square miles, of which the vast majority is wilderness.  Most visitors only see Yosemite Valley, but that occupies only about 7 square miles, less than 1% of the park's total area.  The park has excellent opportunities for hiking, climbing, water sports, and a variety of other outdoor activities.

There are a number of campgrounds throughout the park, and several lodges.  While a few of the camp sites do not require reservations in theory, in practice it is necessary to make reservations in advance (preferably well in advance) at nearly all sites.  However, reservations are not needed to enter the park. 

Half Dome is one of the more famous locations in the park (it appears on the 2005 California state quarter).  Originally formed as an underground magma bulge, this feature was exposed as the softer rock around it weather away.  At some point, part of the dome structure either weathered away or was sheared off by glaciers, giving the remaining portion its striking appearance.  Half Dome can be ascended on foot by following an 8.5 mile trail from the valley floor.  While the trail is not an easy ascent, the very ambitious and/or thrill addicted can choose instead to climb the sheer vertical face.

Main Web Site

http://www.nps.gov/yose/

Location

Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles, and it does not have an address per se.  The closest border of the park is roughly 150 miles east of San Francisco.

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Drive Time

from Ames (per Google maps): 4 hours and 1 minute

Note that this is the drive time to one of several park entrances.  Driving to a particular destination within the park will take longer, possibly much longer, assuming it can be reached by car at all.

Public Transit

Hours

The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Individual camp grouds, lodges, and other areas frequently close during some seasons, however.

Cost

entrance fee of $20 per car

entrance fee of $10 for those on foot, on horseback, or on motorcycle