There is so much to see and do in the National Park that you may have to spend a week or more here and there’s no better place to base your vacation from than a beautiful cabin rental. After spending your day in the park enjoying the sights in Yosemite Valley such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan and the incredible views from all vantage points, and maybe also taking in a hike somewhere in the park, you can go back to your cabin and cook a nice meal or relax in front of a roaring fire or just veg out and watch some TV while you looking out your large picture window and taking in more scenery.

While you are on your Yosemite vacation one of the more exciting things you should see is the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees that is about 20 minutes south of the Valley. If you have never seen a giant sequoia tree, you are in for an amazing treat. There are about 500 of these trees in the Mariposa Grove, and there is one tree that you simply must see. It is in the Lower Grove of the two grove that make up the Mariposa and the tree is aptly named Grizzly Giant. Believe me, it lives up to it’s name as it was once claimed to be the third largest tree in volume on Earth and is nothing short of spectacular.

The tree is estimated to be some 3,000 years old and contains an amazing 34,000 cubic feet of lumber. Grizzly Giant stands 210 feet tall and has a diameter of 30 feet at its base and a circumference of 92 feet also at the base. Just to give you an idea of hwo huge this tree is if you haven’t already grasped it, the first branch up from the base of the tree has a diameter of 6 feet. That’s larger than most trees people have in their yards, so you know this is one huge tree.

There are many more things to enjoy by staying in one of the many Yosemite cabin rentals around the park. Start planning your vacation today.

The upper falls goes down 1,390 feet, which makes it among the twenty highest waterfalls in the world, and there are many trails that lead to the top and the base of this part of the falls for those who want to get up close and personal with the natural beauty. The upper Yosemite Falls are formed by Yosemite Creek, and fall into the Cascades.

The Cascades is the second level of the falls, which consists of a series of smaller plunges and cascades that drop a total of 670 feet total. These are often overlooked because they are hard to get to and not easily seen from the access points that you can find for the falls.

The lower falls consists of only a 320 foot drop, which is adjacent to a viewing area. It is the most used viewing area of the falls, because it is the most accessible for people. At the base of the lower falls, Yosemite Creek emerges and flows into the Merced River, which isn’t far from the falls themselves. The plunge pool at the base of the falls is very dangerous and surrounded by talus, or rock fragments, that can become very slippery and dangerous for those who get too close.

According to local legend, the Ahwahneechee believed that the waterfall’s plunge pool was inhabited by the spirits of several witches, known as Poloti. They called the waterfall “Cholock”, and told folk stories about a woman going into the pool to fetch water and drawing out a bucket full of snakes. The spirits then caused that woman’s home to be sucked into the pool, taking the woman and her newborn baby with it. This legend is a part of the culture of this area, and you’re sure to hear more about it when you visit Yosemite Falls.

The high amount of wildlife in the park is largely a result of the protected nature of the park. Wildlife is less abundant outside of the park, because human activity has degraded the habitats and destroyed the places that many animals called home. You can enjoy the natural wildlife better from all of the Yosemite cabin rentals available throughout the area.

The plant life in Yosemite is just as varied as the wildlife. You will find coniferous forests full of ponderosa pines, sugar pines, incense cedar trees, white fir, Douglas fir, and a few areas of oaks and giant sequoias. Due to the mild and lower-elevation climate, many species of wildlife thrive in this habitat, including black bears, bobcats, gray foxes, mountain king snakes, spotted owls, and a variety of bat species. The large snags and juts of cliffs are used for roosting sites for the bats that call the valley home.

The higher elevation causes Yosemite wildlife to differ greatly, in part because of the climate change, but also as a result of the plants and landscapes that will survive in the higher altitudes. There are less complex landscapes, which deter much wildlife from settling here for fear of not being able to hide adequately and find the food that they need. Here you are more likely to find ground squirrels and birds, along with the occasional lizard or snake, which are not excessively popular in this part of the park. The higher the elevation goes, the fewer animals are found. At the highest point in the park, the only species you will find in most places are birds. However, near Tioga pass, you can find a small population of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.

Yosemite wildlife is as varied throughout the park and valley as the rock formations and other natural wonders will allow. There are many meadows within the park area which provide great shelter and productive habitats for those animals who reside there. There are many species which have become extinct over time, and 37 different species that are protected by Federal and State legislation, allowing them to thrive in their environment. Climate change, air pollution, wildfires, and even road kills affect the wildlife in this area on a regular basis.

If you choose to stay in the Ahwahnee Hotel, you’ll be surrounded by Glacier Point, Half Dome, and Yosemite falls, which are three of the park’s most prominent features. Even if you just visit the site, you’ll find breathtaking views that rival those found anywhere in the world.

The Yosemite Valley was formed by erosion and flooding during the ice age which caused the Merced River to cut a canyon in the desert countryside, creating Yosemite Valley and all of the natural wonders it contains. There are plenty of sights to see, trails to hike, and activities that your family can take in while in the park. You can also take a solo vacation or a romantic getaway, as this is the best place to see many beautiful sunrises and sunsets over the valley and the rock formations that tower above it.

Yosemite Valley is home to many natural wonders that are known the world over, and also to Ansel Adams, who photographed these natural wonders throughout his life as a way to get in touch with nature and allow it to speak to him and others. Although he originally wanted to be a concert pianist, one fated trip to Half Dome turned him into a photographer for the rest of his life, and he was consistently invited back to Yosemite to take photos for the park and various events.

For three decades, Adams lived in the valley with his wife, taking over her father’s old homestead and studio. He took photos all over the park, acted as a curator of many of the early buildings in the 1920s, and became a world famous photographer thanks to the infamous picture of Half Dome that he is most commonly associated with.

Yosemite Valley and Yosemite National Park have something to offer everyone, and you can’t begin to explore everything in just one trip. From the stunning waterfalls to the sheer cliffs and naturally beautiful rock formations, including El Capitan, there is much to be seen in this park. If you want to see it all in one trip, you’ll likely need at least two weeks, if not longer. Although the valley only spans 7 miles long and nearly a mile wide, the sheer height of some of the trails and rock formations gives it much more dimension and area than you would expect upon first sight.

Even into the late 1800s, Half Dome was declared inaccessible by all accounts, but since then, there have been many paths proving this declaration wrong, because there are hikers numbering in the thousands each year that ascend the trail to the summit of Half Dome, as well as circling the sight and viewing it from various points along the trail. The trail itself is a mere 2 miles away from Half Dome, but the route takes you around the dome, making it an 8.5 mile hike for those who dare to traverse it. Although the trek is fairly simple, the final climbing section to the top is conquered with the assistance of metal cables that were built in 1919 by drilling bolts made of iron into the smooth granite surface.

This makes Half Dome in Yosemite Valley a much safer hike for those who want to make the trip, and likely saves many lives as well. In addition to the trail, there are numerous routes for rock climbing that will take you from the valley leading up the vertical face on the northwest side of Half Dome. There are more than a dozen routes here, and additional rock climbing routes on the south face and the west shoulder of the formation, allowing a challenging or simple climb for anyone who visits the beautiful formation and wants to enjoy a climb.

The Half Dome in Yosemite was first climbed in 1957 by Royal Robbins, Mike Sherrick, and Jerry Gallwas, taking five days and was the first Grade VI climb that occurred in the United States. This route is known today as the regular northwest face route. Although the formation appears to be missing its other half, it is actually as intact as it ever was intended to be by nature.

Depending on where you view it from, you can get many different views of this natural wonder, including a place at Glacier Point where the dome looks more like a narrow ridge of rock. No matter what you see or how you interpret the formation, it is easily the most popular attraction in Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite geology leaves people simply awestruck, considering that the valley only runs for 7 miles in length and a mile in width. The valley is a flat-floored part of the canyon of the Merced River that is widened from the rest of the canyon. The landscape is boldly sculpted with cataracts and cliffs, as well as forest lands and rolling meadows abounding. The valley floor lies at about 4,000 feet, the cliffs rise another 3,000 to 4,000 feet higher on either side of the valley. Some of Yosemite National Park is located within Yosemite Valley, and provides a chance for everyone to see the true beauty of this natural wonder.

El Capitan is a well known figure in Yosemite geology, which is located on the lower end of the valley, and is the most majestic cliff in the entire area. The cliff rises more than 3,000 feet above the valley floor and shares is space with the Cathedral Rocks, which are more than 2,500 feet high and jut into the valley. Further up the valley, you’ll find numerous waterfalls and natural water features of the park, as well as the Royal Arches. These are sculpted within one another, and into a rock wall that rises 1,500 feet into the valley sky.

Yosemite geology has something for everyone to marvel at. The rock formations, waterfalls, and other features of the valley keep people amazed and coming back for more on a regular basis. Within the valley, you’ll also find Half Dome, adequately named for its natural half-dome shape, which is the most recognized rock formation in the valley. The Yosemite Valley didn’t become what it is today by accident. It is a result of hundreds of thousands of years of nature taking its course and being left undisturbed by commercial invasion and people looking to take over the land. If you get the chance to visit Yosemite, you’ll definitely be awed at the sights that you see.

The activities you can enjoy in Yosemite National Park are almost endless, but some that you can enjoy are listed below:

Experiencing Waterfalls – The waterfalls here are nothing short of spectacular. Yosemite Falls for example has a drop of more than 2,400 feet and is one of the tallest falls in the world. There are various place that you can view Yosemite Falls from around the valley and if you want to get real close there is a one mile trail that you can take right up to the base of the lower falls to get a better view.

Viewing Giant Sequoia trees – These trees are the largest living things on Earth and are over 3,000 years old. You’ve never experienced anything like standing next to one of these incredibly massive trees.

Hiking – There are plenty of places to hike while in Yosemite and some of those places are in and around the valley, along Glacier Point Road, in the Wawona and Mariposa groves featuring giant sequoias, in Tuolumne Meadows and several other places.

Auto Cruising – There are miles of roads within the park where you can see the beautiful sights of Yosemite. The 39 mile Tioga Road scenic drive is the most famous drive in the park and offers some incredible vistas along the way. The drive will take you anywhere from one and a half to 2 hours depending on how long you stop and take pictures or just gawk at some places.

Those are just some of the more popular things to do while at Yosemite however, there are still a tone of things left to do such as backpacking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, rock climbing and so much more. Of course while you are spending several days here you can enjoy your vacation while staying the nights in any one of several Yosemite cabin rentals in and around the park.