In pictures: Yosemite National Park

Photographic evidence that this stunning National Park belongs high on your adventure bucket list

Spanning 747,956 acres across Northern California, Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous in the world, drawing in nearly four million visitors a year.

photo-1457725428622-efbbd8b7b224

Most of them won’t make it much farther than the visitor centre — a shame for them but great news for anyone who does, because this vast National Park is host to endless adventure, from climbing and hiking to rafting and cycling.

photo-1443636695178-be226c44e060

Glacier-carved canyons, soaring monoliths and cascading waterfalls make it a photographers dream.

photo-1445914897371-974b137e4402

Over 800 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, varying from gentle valley strolls to testing ridgeline hikes.

photo-1426604966848-d7adac402bff

For climbers, Yosemite is an undisputed Mecca. El Capitan (pictured above) is one of the most famous – if challenging features – a granite monolith which juts out 900m from the valley below.

photo-1429516387459-9891b7b96c78

The other big landmark is Half Dome (pictured above), a distinctive granite crest with a sheer rock face that rises 1,444m from the valley floor.

photo-1454982523318-4b6396f39d3a

The Park is also famed for its giant sequoia trees. It’s home to over 200 of them, some believed to be 3000 years old.

photo-1441239372925-ac0b51c4c250

The Yosemite Falls, above, comprised of upper, middle and lower falls are the tallest in the park, cascading some 739 metres into the valley below.

L2NfDz5SOm7Gbf755qpw_DSCF0490

There’s 13 campsites to stay at in the park or, better still, get a Wilderness permit and wild camp in the depths of the park.

photo-1445283091103-52e71613d678

Find out more about this bucket-list destination on the Yosemite National Park website.

OAG