Known for its plunging waterfalls, 巨大的红杉, 陡峭的花岗岩悬崖, 和更多的, you could easily spend weeks exploring 约塞米蒂国家公园. The park has a distinct appeal no matter what time of year—here, shoulder season simply means less people 和 a chance to see Yosemite's beauty from a different angle. Spring brings gushing waterfalls, summer allows for tackling all outdoor pursuits, fall boasts colorful trees 和 fewer crowds, 和 冬天 becomes a snowy wonderl和 for cross-country skiing 和 snowshoeing.
Getting around the park is made easier by the free Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS), a public transit system that allows you to me和er through the park car-free. Four routes connect to Yosemite from the gateway communities of Merced, 夫勒斯诺市, 庞大的湖泊, 和 Sonora (the latter three operate in summer only).
Plan ahead when you visit this storied destination to ensure the trip of a lifetime—here’s a guide to get you started.
埃尔卡皮坦
Towering 3,593 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor, 埃尔卡皮坦 is the undisputed king of the granite monoliths 和 a mecca for daredevil rock climbers. Get a good look at the earth’s largest single piece of granite from 埃尔卡皮坦 Meadow. With a pair of binoculars, you can even watch the climbers inch their way up The Nose.
If you’re new to granite crack climbing or traditional climbing, sign up for a class with Yosemite Mountaineering School 和 Guide Service 在咖哩村. The beginners’ “Welcome to the Rock” class will have you climbing 和 rappelling at heights of up to 60 feet on your first day. To learn 更多的 about Yosemite climbing, head over to the 埃尔卡皮坦 Bridge 和 have a chat with one of the Yosemite Climbing Rangers. The “Ask a Climber” program (11 a.m.–3 p.m. in summer) is a daily gathering of rangers, climbers, 和 curious onlookers.
默塞德河漂流
Give your adrenaline a day off as you float gently down the lazy 默塞德河. Lie on your back in an inflatable raft, trail your fingers in the water, 和 gaze up at Yosemite’s granite walls as you me和er downstream. 在Curry Village租用设备, 把你的船扔进水里, 和 wave hello to 埃尔卡皮坦 as you pass. (A shuttle bus takes you back to the start so you can conserve your energy for other park activities.)
图奥勒米草甸
Lace up your boots 和 w和er easy trails along the Tuolumne River or 更多的 rugged paths to the summits of lofty domes 和 granite-backed alpine lakes. 睡在帐篷小屋里, nosh on a burger from the Tuolumne Grill, or attend a poetry gathering at the log-walled Parsons Lodge. 安排你的旅行时间 图奥勒米草甸 carefully—this 8,600-foot high country is accessible only from June to October.
约塞米蒂瀑布
上、下、中 约塞米蒂瀑布 combined make up the highest waterfall in North America, topping out at a prodigious 2,425 feet. A challenging trail accesses the upper fall’s crest, but the base of the lower falls can be visited with an easy stroll. From April to June, wear rain gear—an icy spray drenches all who come near.
半圆顶
One of the West’s most photographed l和marks, 半圆顶 从各个角度激发敬畏. Hardcore hikers can trek to its summit (permits are required); everybody else can admire its sheared-off granite from afar. Check out the perspective from Mirror Lake at the base of the stone monolith or drive up to the Washburn Point overlook on 冰川点 Road.
瓦沃纳隧道视图
从 隧道的观点 is one of Yosemite’s most iconic scenes, made famous by an Ansel Adams photograph. From the Wawona Tunnel’s eastern side, shoot your own postcard-panorama of Yosemite Valley, 埃尔卡皮坦, 半圆顶, 和新娘面纱瀑布. Or hike the Pohono Trail uphill for an even bigger view where you can enjoy the scenery in relative solitude.
The Ahwahnee Yosemite Dining Room
伟大统治着 阿瓦尼餐厅. Bounded by massive timbered walls, its 34-foot-high ceilings are dotted with dozens of wrought iron ch和eliers. Enormous picture windows framed by heavy draperies let in views of Yosemite Valley. The dining room seats 400 people—和 there’s no bad seat in the house, especially at Sunday brunch.
冰川点
冰川点’s 7,214-foot overlook provides an unforgettable vista of Yosemite Valley 和 the High Sierra crest. St和 at the stone walls 和 survey Vernal 和 Nevada Falls 和 the 默塞德河 canyon, or walk inside the granite Geology Hut to peer out at 半圆顶. 最佳游览时间? Sunrise or sunset, when 半圆顶 和 its granite neighbors turn pink.