Yosemite National Park is one of the premier national park of North America. It is the third most visited national park in the entire United States. Yosemite is internationally recognized park with breath taking granite cliffs, waterfalls, worlds tallest sequoia trees spread out at 1,200 square-mile park with thousands of lakes and ponds. Yosemite contains nearly 350 miles of roads and 800 miles of hiking trails that including hiking on top of breath takingly beautiful water falls.
Most parts of Yosemite National Park can be traveled by a car. Best scenic route to enter the park is from Route 120 east from Tioga Pass Road where it is only opened from June through October. While entering the park from most northern end, you should first visit Mono Lake and Bodie State Park, a well-preserved gold mining ghost town. This northern route will take you to gradual climb of Sierra Nevada Mountain from the plains of Northern California. This northern route will take you high up in the mountains where the road is 2 lane highway featuring tunnels and 4,000-5,000 foot steep drops on the side of main road; Do not forget to stop on the turnout to view the scenic valley below from high up in the mountains.
Drive to Yosemite Valley next with spectacular granite walls. You will be mesmerized by shear 3,000 foot or more vertical rock walls and the spider-like rock climbers (the world best comes to scale those cliffs) who make this their pilgrimage to scale those cliffs. Have a high zoom video camera to view those climber high up in the cliffs from way below the base of the cliffs. In the Yosemite Valley right by the Merced River visit Bridalveil Fall, Horse Trail Fall, and Yosemite Falls are within walking distance from parking lot. Most fall depending on the winter season snow fall has less water during the July to August summer season. It is recommend to visit Yosemite during the start of Spring to see those breath taking 2,000 ft tall water falls. Visiting Nevada and Vernal Falls require small hike from the main road. Hike from Happy Isles shuttle bus stop on the 4-mile long Mistry Trail to Vernal Fall and take the Vernal Fall footbridge to get an excellent views of the 317 foot (97 m) high Vernal Fall. Hike past the Vernal Falls in Misty Trail to strenuous hike to the top of Nevada Fall.