Yosemite - Page three - By travel authority Howard Hillman

Yosemite
National Park

page 3

More
Yosemite National Park
tips & insights

Wildlife

It includes bears, mountain lions (cougars) and coyotes.

First humans

Anthropologists believe that Indians first settled in the valley some 8,000 years ago.

Hiking

There is a variety of hiking trails to please nearly everyone. They range from challenging backpacker paths to short easy loops.

Yosemite National
Park at night

The light-faced canyon walls are beautifully lit during full moons. And, stars are brilliant on moonless nights because Yosemite National Park is not near a city or large town. Another factor: You're in a very deep valley. This further helps shield the invasive, defused sky glow emanating from distant cities.

Yosemite National Park
accommodations

They range from luxury (the Indian-themed Ahwahnee lodge) to cabins (Curry Village) to bare ground sites for bring-your-own tenters.

Reservations

Lodge, cabin and camping reservations should be made months in advance for the summer season. The Ahwahnee Lodge is usually fully booked for weekends a year in advance.

Schedule

The national park is open 24 hours a day every day. However, entry can be seriously delayed on high-traffic days.

Distance from
San Francisco

Yosemite National Park is about 300 kilometers (200 miles) east of that city.