Sunday, February 18, 2007

Fun Activities in Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful areas in the United States. It boasts some of the most gorgeous wilderness in the west and stretches across the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Yosemite is known worldwide for its ancient, giant Sequoia groves, amazing waterfalls (Yosemite Falls is the largest in North America), incredible granite cliffs, clear, deep rivers, biodiversity and scalable peaks. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the first national park areas set aside by the US government.

With all this beauty, it stands to reason that it would draw a plethora of visitors from around the world, from foreign visitors and tourists to rock climbing addicts and wilderness junkies. Luckily, enjoying nature and being active go hand in hand at Yosemite, and there are myriad adventures and activities for visitors to enjoy at their leisure. No matter whether you visit in the summer, winter, spring or fall, you will find something both intriguing and exhilarating to do.

For some, it may be enough to simply walk around and gape at the sights; hike up Yosemite Falls and see its thundering splendor or simply snooze or picnic in its famous Sequoia groves. For others, camping, mountain biking, rock climbing backpacking or snowshoeing might be more up their alley.

In the summer and spring, visitors can enjoy any activity imaginable, from hiking, backpacking and swimming (summer only) to mountain biking, horse riding, rafting (summer only) and rock climbing. There are designated areas throughout the park for these activities. If you're an avid horseback rider, Yosemite's stables are open and offer guided tours; other operations outside of Yosemite offer rides in the park as well.

If you're a backpacker, you can take multi-day trips or overnight trips, though for most overnight trips to the backcountry you need a wilderness permit, which is easily gotten at the ranger station in the area. If you're into bicycling, enjoy over fifteen miles of trails; if you're into swimming or rafting, the Merced River gets warm enough for both around mid summer. If you're a rock climber, Yosemite is your haven, as it is home to some of the most famous rock climbing in the world.

If you decide to visit Yosemite in the fall or winter, you will most likely be confined to Yosemite Valley, as the rest of the park is closed until mid to late spring due to heavy snowfall. However, this still offers various activities for visitors, one of the most fun of which is snowshoeing; guided trips are offered throughout the season. Ice skating is available at the Curry Village ice rink. Badger Pass Ski Area is one of the oldest ski areas in California and, located in Yosemite, offers great cross country and downhill skiing opportunities. Overnight ski trips are also available for visitors, but again, you need a wilderness permit.

Thus, visiting Yosemite is a great idea any time of year, and there are many opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all types. Whether you want to vacation in luxury or rough it in the wilderness, Yosemite has exactly the trip you're looking for, and so many activities you'll never be bored.

Yosemite Lodging can help you find the lodging you need in Yosemite year-round. Whether you want to camp or stay in a lodge or hotel, we can help you out. Please visit http://yosemitelodging.com
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