Visit Yosemite - America's popular national park

Yosemite National Park, where Yair Netanyahu was caught catching a cold on these hot days, is one of the most popular national parks in America. The park was declared by President Abraham Lincoln as early as 1864 as a national nature reserve. Yosemite is located in the east-central part of California and covers an area of 3,029 square kilometers. Only in 2023 the park received 3,897,070 million visitors, a huge number that repeats itself almost every year. 

And even if you haven't visited it yet, you've probably heard or seen in movies some of its famous sites, including Yosemite Falls, which rises to a height of 739 meters, and is considered the sixth highest in North America. Also, the "El Capitan" and the ancient redwood trees. So what is so special about Yosemite National Park? A lot - Yosemite has a lot to offer visitors.

The park manages to naturally combine local history with the beauty and power of nature. It has hiking trails, wild animal encounters, iconic monuments and roaring waterfalls. Besides the natural wonders, the park is full of history of the natives who have lived there for centuries. And like everything in America, you can also find places to stay. For example, here is one of the first mountain resort hotels in California, the Wawona Hotel which opened in 1856 and has a pool and golf course. Or the Ahwahnee Hotel, which was built later, in 1927 and has the most luxurious vacation cabins you will find.

Since summer is the peak season in the area, you should reserve a place in advance. The park operates a reservation system for entering the park during the peak hours of 5 am to 4 pm, and if you do not book in advance you may not be able to enter. Reservations cost $2 and are available seven days before the visit. Even if you plan to drive through the park, you must book a ticket in advance. The famous Route 120 is one of the park's premier drives, passing through landmarks such as Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows, and up to Tioga Pass. 

The spring and summer seasons are the most touristic seasons in the park. After the ice melts, the waterfalls are at their peak and the park's lakes become a popular destination for visitors who want to swim and canoe. Of course, autumn also has its charm, with another plus - fewer visitors.

One of the attractions in the park is a visit to Wahhoga Village, the last American Indian village in the valley that was dismantled in 1969 and its residents were evacuated. Native Americans lived in the park nearly 4,000 years ago, and many tribes continue to call Yosemite home to this day.

Another must-see in Yosemite is the "El Capitan" cliff - a granite cliff at a height of 910 meters. You can't miss the mighty cliff (in the north of the park) and you can even climb to its top, from a trail that leaves near Yosemite Falls.