Читать книгу 50 Best Short Hikes: Yosemite National Park and Vicinity онлайн

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Wapama Falls

YOSEMITE VALLEY

Regional Overview

The centerpiece of Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley absolutely lives up to its reputation as one of the more stunning settings on Earth. The 6 miles of valley floor are lined by 3,000-foot walls, pinnacles, and waterfalls. The iconic shapes of El Capitan and Half Dome dominate the skyline. At the valley’s eastern end is Tenaya Canyon, with its even more expansive granite slabs reaching to the summit of taller peaks.

Because others share my admiration for Yosemite Valley, it is also very, very crowded, especially during late spring and summer months. This is not a location to visit if you seek solitude. But it is likewise not a place to shun just because you will not be by yourself. People visit iconic attractions because they are just so exquisite. The easiest way to avoid most of the people is to stay in the park and begin your walks early in the day; until 10 a.m. the crowds are manageable (and summer temperatures more pleasant). Fall is quieter, but of course the waterfalls are only dribbling and the flowers have faded. While the Yosemite Valley walks that climb upward are icy (and closed) in winter, the walks on the valley floor are accessible year-round, and a thin layer of snow is a beautiful decoration. May and early June are the best times to see the waterfalls roaring, and it is worth putting up with the crowds to visit then.