Yosemite National Park is known for its towering waterfalls, El Capitan a three thousand foot rock formation, and Half Dome a granite dome with a sheer front face and rounded smooth backside.
The main tourist area is known as Yosemite Valley with the Merced River flowing through the middle of the valley.
One of the most famous waterfalls in Yosemite National Park is Yosemite Falls, which drops 2,425 feet from the upper falls to the lower falls. It is the highest waterfall in the park.
Another famous waterfall of Yosemite is Horsetail Falls known for its “firefall”, which is only seen for a short time in February where the light of the sun in the evening hits the falls at just the right angle to create the effect of lava flowing over the cliff.
Other well known waterfalls are Bridalveil Fall, Ribbon Fall, Sentinel Falls, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall.
El Capitan is a vertical granite monolith known for its famous rock climbs, popularized more recently by the documentary film “Free Solo” featuring Alex Honnold. Alex climbs the face of El Capitan without any ropes, AKA free solo.
Half Dome can be hiked to the top with a permit. The permit is required to protect wilderness character, reduce crowding, protect natural and cultural resources, and improve safety per the Half Dome Stewardship Plan. The Half Dome Trail is a 16.3 round trip trail with cables at the top to aid in this last very steep section.
