Road Trip through Yosemite National Park, USA

The Yosemite National Park is a protected area that lies between Mariposa and Tuolumne counties in the State of California, the mountain range of the Sierra Nevada .The park is one of the busiest in the United States. The Yosemite National Park protects some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.

California State Route 120 runs 90 miles along the northern part of the reservation under the name of Tioga Road, and connects Yosemite Valley, to the Mono Lake, passing through the Tioga Pass (3031 meters above sea level). The road often remains closed most of the year (from the first big snowfall in October or November until spring). Some 3.5 million visitors fall in love with this park every year.

California State Route 120 is the only road between Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Yosemite is a park full of outstanding natural beauty, dotted with towering cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, giant trees and streams. In 1984 it was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its spectacular peaks of granite, its waterfalls, the clear streams, the giant sequoias and in general for its biodiversity. Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitats in the Sierra Nevada, and in the park you can see a great bio-diversity of plants and animals. The Park has peaks ranging from 1900 to 13,000 ft above sea level, and contains four major vegetation zones: forested, mountainous, sub-alpine and alpine.

Of the 7,000 different species of plants in California, about 50% are located in the Sierra Nevada and about 20% within Yosemite Park.

Places of Interest

During this road trip, you can explore a variety of interesting places in the Yosemite valley, such as:

• The Yosemite Falls (pictured right) - The Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America and has an elevation of 5400 ft. It is surely an attraction that should not be missed during this road trip.
• El Capitan - El Capitan is a 900 m high granite rock located in the south-east of the Park. The Native Americans considered this rock to be sacred. Today it is one of the most famous adventure tourism destinations in the world and is popular with bungee jumping enthusiasts, hikers and rock climbers.
• Glacier Point - Glacier Point is a viewpoint, situated at an elevation of 6880 ft above sea level. From here you can get a full view of the park. In winter, it becomes a popular skiing destination.
• Half Dome - Half Dome is a granite rock (dome) which is one of the highest in the world, with an elevation of 4737 ft. It is ideal for hiking and many tour operators in Yosemite conduct assisted hiking tours for the visitors. You will need to obtain a permit from the park officials, to take part in day hike trips organized at the Half Dome.

How about driving along this route then? It's a great route if you love driving and seeing new scenary. Book your Sacramento Airport car hire with us today to start your journey.