Top 10 Facts about the Yosemite National Park

By King of Hearts – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about the Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is found in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. This park is famous for its colossal, ancient sequoia trees.

The beautiful vistas, Tunnel View and the Bridal veil waterfalls, the granite cliffs and half dome are some of the top attractions in this park.

This park gives its visitors an awesome experience throughout the four seasons. Not only is its natural beauty, but it also has a fascinating history about it.

It is among the top five national parks visited by millions of nature lovers. There are several activities to do here from rock climbing, hiking and camping.

Before your next trip to the Yosemite National Park, here are some facts about the park that will interest you.

1. Yosemite was not America’s first National Park

The first natural wonder to be protected by the United States in California in 1864, was the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. It was under the public trust of the state of California.

This laid the foundation for the National Park System leading to Yosemite becoming a National Park 18 years later.

The First National park established was Yellowstone National Park followed by Sequoia National Park then Yosemite National Park.

2. The Rocks and waterfalls glow at sunset

By Amadscientist – Wikimedia

During the evenings earlier on in the year, visitors at the park could be lucky to spot the glow of Horsetail Fall which shines like a ribbon down the cliff.

The sunset hits the water giving it the appearance of being aflame. To get the best view, head over to the El Capitan picnic area.

You will enjoy the brilliant reds and orange illumination. This spectacular wonder is experienced mid to end of February.

3. Rock climbing was first done at Yosemite National Park

The granite monoliths in Yosemite are not the easiest to scale thereby becoming the park’s major attraction for rock climbers.

This became a fascination to many after World War II when adventure seekers headed to camp 4.

It is a campsite famous for hosting some of the most prolific rock climbers in history.

Both skilled and amateur climbers have managed to climb to the top of the granite rocks.

It is at this park that rock climbing was considered a sport. This goes back to the 1880s. The highest peak is El Capitan standing at 3,300 feet.

4. Yosemite creeks turn to slushies

By Diliff – Wikimedia

This is one fascinating and dramatic natural occurrence at the Yosemite National Park.

It happens in the spring when there is a high flow of water at the falls when the overnight temperatures are below freezing.

The mist from the waterfalls freezes and in so doing flows down the creek like a giant Slurpee. It then surges into a white mass with icy water below.

This is a natural event known as frazil ice.

5. The famous hotel in the Yosemite was once a hospital

The hotel at the Park was once used as a naval hospital during World War II. It started as a primitive lodging area but was soon abandoned.

This was in the late 1920s. Several years later, it was leased by the U.S Navy to serve as a naval hospital during WWII.

They transformed it into a psychiatric rehab and later on to a holistic treatment centre for all patients.

6.  It was the first Park to bid for Winter Olympics

By Unclekykyderivative – Wikimedia

The Yosemite National Park President hoped to host the Winter Olympics at the Park.

This idea came about after he had visited Switzerland in 1928 during the Winter Olympics.

He commissioned the construction of an 800-foot snow slide, a massive ice-skating rink, toboggan runs and a small ski jump.

Unfortunately, Yosemite and several other American locations lost it to Lake Placid in New York for the 1932 Winter Olympics.

The Park, however, hosted the West Coast try-outs for America’s Olympic speed-skating team. Win-Win I would say.

7. The tallest waterfall in North America is located in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park boasts of the tallest waterfall in Continental America.

The waterfall has a drop of 2,425 feet and is known as the Yosemite Falls. To see the cascade in its full glory, head over there in May.

During winter, an ice cone is often noticeable at the top of the falls.

Another magnificent waterfall is the bridal veil Falls close to the entrance of Yosemite Valley. This waterfall has a drop of 620 feet.

You can view the upper Yosemite Fall, the middle cascades and Lower Yosemite Fall from different locations in Yosemite Valley.

8. There are luxury campsites at the Park

There are several activities to do in the Yosemite as well as accommodation options.

The Park offers a limited number of High-end campsites. These are available for those backpacking through the high country during the day and need a place to crush and camp at night.

Each of these camps provides warm meals, clean water, and access to bathrooms and canvas tents with comfortable beds and wood-burning stoves.

To get access to this camp, you will be entered into a lottery system to stand a chance to stay in one of these in-demand sites.

9. More than 500 species on animals living in the Yosemite

The Yosemite National Park is home to several amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

There are endangered and rare animals too, one such animal is the rare Sierra Nevada red fox.

It was spotted for the first time more than a100 years on a wildlife camera in the woods. The fox was roaming at the higher side of California’s Sierra Nevada.

Out of the 7,000 plant species found in California, 20% of these are found within Yosemite National Park.

Other animals found here include bears, deer, foxes, bald eagles, raccoons, and squirrels.

The valley boasts of beautiful flora like the wildflowers and lush grasses.

There are boardwalks and hiking trails at the most popular meadows like Cook’s, Sentenial, Stoneman and Leidig.

Another natural wonder in the Park is the Giant Sequoias and Mariposa Grove.

At Mariposa Grove, there are about 500 mature giant sequoias. These trees live to be 3,000 years old and are the largest known living things on earth.

10. Buffalo soldiers were the first protectors of the Park

By Starlingjon – Wikimedia

The Buffalo Soldiers were African-American Army soldiers.

They had been assigned to patrol Yosemite and other protected areas in the West in 1899.

This successful military troop turned out to be one of the country’s first backcountry rangers.

They had numerous responsibilities, such as protecting Yosemite from poachers and fighting forest fires.