Yosemite National Park embraces a spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery in the Sierra Nevada, which was set aside as a national park in 1890. The park harbors a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest living things. Perhaps the most famous focal point of the park is ‘Half Dome’. It is not only a challenging experience to climb this grand granite dome, but also difficult to leave from the top of the dome because of its solitude and beauty.

At a glance

• Park Size: 761,266.28 Acres.
• Climate: Summer: Typically dry, with occasional thunderstorms; highs in the low 90s, lows in the 50s, Winter: Snowy, rainy, or (sometimes) even sunny days are possible, with highs ranging from the 30s to 50s and lows in the upper 20s.
• Typical Flora: The varied topography of Yosemite's wilderness hosts about 1,460 species of plants in over 40 recognized plant communities.
• Camping: There are thirteen campgrounds in Yosemite National Park. Camping reservations for up to seven of these campgrounds are available five months in advance.