Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite is a beautiful park which will capture the eye of any eco-tourist that visits. Renowned for being the place to travel to for rock climbers, Yosemite has a lot more to offer and some of the most stunning scenery in America. The Yosemite Valley waterfalls are some of the most beautiful anywhere in the world.
In Yosemite Valley itself there are five main waterfalls to watch out for. The biggest is Yosemite Falls, which has a total height of over 2400 feet over three stages, and is one of the highest in the US. Vernal Fall is just over 300 feet and although the smallest in Yosemite Valley, it can be very refreshing as it does shower visitors who are walking past.
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting the park towards the end of February the Horsetail Fall is not to be missed, as the sunlight beams through and gives the impression that the water is burning bright.
The park can get very busy at the height of the season and one way to avoid being stuck in traffic is to opt for cycling. Yosemite Biking can hire out bikes at affordable prices and is sure to be a far better way of enjoying the scenery than sat in a car or bus.
If you are visiting the park to enjoy the wildlife, then you are certain not to be disappointed at Yosemite. Black bears, Mule Deer and Coyote make up just some of the wildlife that roam freely throughout the park. While much of the wildlife is not dangerous, it is prudent to plan ahead and know which animals are best to be kept at a distance. Saying this, it’s not a great idea to approach any of the wildlife in their natural habitat; they are best viewed at a distance so as not to startle them.
With all parks this size it can be easy to get lost or to find yourself unprepared, so always make sure that you plan well and read up before making a trip, as well as taking a map of the park with you.
Yosemite is also taking steps to reduce it’s carbon footprint. Stricter controls are being brough in for cars with tourists being encouraged to utilise the great public transport system that is being put in place for the future. There are also eco-tours available and a good one to check out is the Yosemite National Park eco-tours.