Horsetail Fall, located in Yosemite National Park in California, is a seasonal waterfall that flows in the winter and early spring. The fall occurs on the east side of El Capitan. If Horsetail Fall is flowing in February and the weather conditions are just right, the setting sun illuminates the waterfall, making it glow orange and red. This natural phenomenon is often referred to as the "Firefall", a name that pays homage to Yosemite Firefall, the manmade event that once took place in Yosemite.
Chilnualna Falls is a series of waterfalls totaling 690 feet (210 m), located on Chilnualna Creek in the southern section of Yosemite National Park.
Staircase Falls is a series of waterfalls located on the southern side of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. The falls descend a total of 1,300 feet (400 m) into Yosemite Valley over a series of steps. Staircase Falls is relatively ephemeral and is usually dry by the end of the month of June. The falls are located immediately behind Camp Curry on cliffs below Glacier Point.
Royal Arch Cascade is a waterfall located on the north wall of Yosemite Valley and the Yosemite National Park, United States, within walking distance from the Ahwahnee Hotel. The falls are 1,250 feet (380 m) high and are usually dry by June. The waterfall gets its name from its location immediately adjacent to the Royal Arches, which are a series of concentric semicircular setbacks in the cliff face directly opposite Glacier Point. The waterfall lacks a plunge pool and its flow is relatively gentle, making the base of the falls a popular photo spot.
Illilouette Fall is a 381-foot (116 m) waterfall on the Illilouette Creek tributary of the Merced River in Yosemite National Park. It is located in a small canyon that cuts into the south wall of Yosemite Valley directly across from Vernal Fall. The origin and meaning of the waterfall's name has been lost to time.
Silver Strand Falls drops 574 feet (175m) along Meadow Brook, at the western end of Yosemite Valley, within Yosemite National Park. The falls are commonly thought to drop 1170 feet (356m); this is incorrect. The name Widow's Tears had been applied to Silver Strand Falls in the past, but the lower-volume waterfall located one drainage to the east of Meadow Brook is now known as Widow's Tears and is thought to drop 1,170 feet (360 m), hence the confusion regarding the height.
Lehamite Falls is located in Yosemite National Park. It consists of a long series of steep cascades that fall 1,180 feet (360 m) into Yosemite Valley, in a manner similar to Sentinel Fall. The falls are located in a small cleft in the north wall of the valley known as Indian Canyon, immediately to the right of Yosemite Falls and seen above Yosemite Village. "Lehamite" is a native word for "arrowwood."
Snow Creek Falls is a long series of cascades located in Yosemite National Park toward the eastern extent of Yosemite Valley. It descends a steep gorge on a sizeable stream that originates in May Lake to the north, dropping east of the trail that leaves the Valley above Mirror Lake en route to North Dome and other north-rim destinations. Snow Creek Falls is the second highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park.
Quaking Aspen Falls (also called Tioga Pass Falls) is a 25-foot, multi-stranded waterfall off Tioga Pass Road in Yosemite National Park. Although the falls typically dry up by August, the stream flows year-round both above and below the falls.
The Pywiack Cascade is a waterfall in Yosemite National Park within the U.S. state of California. It is located a few miles downstream from the outlet of Tenaya Lake on Tenaya Creek at the head of the steep and rugged granite gorge, Tenaya Canyon. The waterfall can be viewed from Glacier Point, or by a 6-mile (9.7 km) hike from Olmsted Point, but the canyon is dangerous and the waterfall is unsafe to be reached on foot. The waterfall is highly seasonal. It typically rages in the spring and early summer while shrinking to a trickle by late summer to mid-autumn.
Nevada Fall is a 594-foot (181 m) high waterfall on the Merced River in Yosemite National Park, California. It is located below the granite dome, Liberty Cap, at the west end of Little Yosemite Valley. The waterfall is widely recognized by its "bent" shape, in which the water free-falls for roughly the first third of its length to a steep slick-rock slope. This mid-fall impact of the water on the cliff face creates a turbulent, whitewater appearance in the fall and produces a great deal of mist which covers a wide radius, which led to its current name (Nevada is a Spanish word meaning "snowy").
Mariposa County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 17,131. The county seat is Mariposa. It is located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, north of Fresno, east of Merced, and southeast of Stockton.
Yosemite National Park ( yoh-SEM-ih-tee) is a national park of the United States in California. It is bordered on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The park is managed by the National Park Service and covers 759,620 acres (1,187 sq mi; 3,074 km2) in four counties – centered in Tuolumne and Mariposa, extending north and east to Mono and south to Madera. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, groves of giant sequoia, lakes, mountains, meadows, glaciers, and biological diversity. Almost 95 percent of the park is designated wilderness. Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada.
Clouds Rest is a mountain in Yosemite National Park, located east-northeast of Yosemite Village, California. Although there are many peaks in the park having far greater elevation, the proximity of Clouds Rest to the valley gives it a very high degree of visual prominence.
Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet (739 m) from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall. Located in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak.
Mariposa-Yosemite Airport (IATA: RMY, ICAO: KMPI, FAA LID: MPI, formerly O68) is a public airport located four miles (6 km) west of the central business district of Mariposa, in Mariposa County, California, United States. It is owned by the County of Mariposa.
Lost Arrow Spire is a detached pillar in Yosemite National Park, in Yosemite Valley, California, located immediately adjacent to Upper Yosemite Falls. The structure includes the Lost Arrow Spire Chimney route which is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. The spire is the location for a dramatic and famous Tyrolean traverse, which has since become an equally notable slackline.
Half Dome is a quartz monzonite batholith at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. It is a well-known rock formation in the park, named for its distinct shape. One side is a sheer face while the other three sides are smooth and round, making it appear like a dome cut in half. It stands at nearly 8,800 feet above sea level and is composed of quartz monzonite, an igneous rock that solidified several thousand feet within the Earth. At its core are the remains of a magma chamber that cooled slowly and crystallized beneath the Earth's surface. The solidified magma chamber was then exposed and cut in half by erosion, therefore leading to the geographic name Half Dome.
Ostrander Lake is located in Yosemite National Park, approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of Yosemite Valley and 10 miles (16 km) east of the Badger Pass Ski Area, at an elevation of 8,500 feet (2,600 m). The lake is a popular destination for cross-country skiers during the winter. It is the primary source of Bridalveil Creek, which feeds Bridalveil Falls.
El Capitan (Spanish: El Capitán; lit. 'the Captain' or 'the Chief') is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith is about 3,000 feet (914 m) from base to summit along its tallest face and is a world-famous location for big wall climbing, including the disciplines of aid climbing, free climbing, and more recently for free solo climbing.
Tenaya Lake is an alpine lake in Yosemite National Park, located between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows. The surface of Tenaya Lake has an elevation of 8,150 feet (2,484 m). The lake basin was formed by glacial action, which left a backdrop of light granite rocks, whose beauty was known to the Native Americans. Today, Tenaya Lake is easily accessible by State Route 120 and is a popular lake for water activities.
The LeConte Memorial Lodge, now known as the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center, is a structure in Yosemite National Park in California, United States. LeConte is spelled variously as Le Conte or as Leconte. Built in 1903 by the Sierra Club, it is nearly unique within the National Park Service system as a high-quality example of Tudor Revival architecture, and is an important early expression of the Club's mission. The lodge was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Yosemite Valley ( yoh-SEM-ə-tee; Yosemite, Miwok for "killer") is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California, United States. The valley is about 7.5 mi (12.1 km) long and 3,000–3,500 ft (910–1,070 m) deep, surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan, and densely forested with pines. The valley is drained by the Merced River, and a multitude of streams and waterfalls flow into it, including Tenaya, Illilouette, Yosemite and Bridalveil Creeks. Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America and is a big attraction, especially in the spring, when the water flow is at its peak. The valley is renowned for its natural environment and is regarded as the centerpiece of Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Valley (Yosemite, Miwok for "killer") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mariposa County, California, United States. It consists of the developed area of Yosemite Village and the other areas of the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park. The population was 337 at the 2020 census.
Emerald Pool is the name of several locations.
Bridalveil Fall is one of the most prominent waterfalls in the Yosemite Valley in California. The waterfall is 188 metres (617 ft) in height and flows year round.
Mariposa ( ; Spanish for "Butterfly") is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Mariposa County, California, United States. The population was 1,526 at the 2020 census. Named for the monarch butterflies that overwinter there, the community's history is deeply intertwined with the California Gold Rush of the 19th century.
The Nose is a big wall climbing route up El Capitan. Once considered impossible to climb, El Capitan is now the standard for big wall climbing. It is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America and considered a classic around the world.
Tunnel View is a scenic viewpoint located on California State Route 41 in Yosemite National Park, United States. Since its opening in 1933, it has offered visitors iconic, expansive views of Yosemite Valley, making it one of the park's most renowned viewpoints.
The Wawona Hotel, located in southern Yosemite National Park, California, is a historic late Victorian mountain resort and one of the largest intact hotels of its kind within a national park.: 5 Originally established in the 1850s as Clark's Station, a pioneer stop, it soon evolved into a bustling stagecoach stop and later transformed into a grand New England–style resort, complete with manicured grounds and refined amenities. Its design catered to East Coast and European visitors, aligning with the era’s trend of exclusive grand hotels.
Vernal Fall is a 317-foot (96.6 m) waterfall on the Merced River just downstream of Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park, California. Like its upstream neighbor, Vernal Fall is clearly visible at a distance, from Glacier Point, as well as close up, along the Mist Trail. The waterfall flows all year long, although by the end of summer it is substantially reduced in volume and can split into multiple strands, rather than a single curtain of water.
Bootjack is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. The population was 661 at the 2020 census, down from 960 in 2010 and 1,588 in 2000, largely due to reductions in the area of the CDP.
Mariposa Grove is a sequoia grove located near Wawona, California, United States, in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park. It is the largest grove of giant sequoias in the park, with several hundred mature specimens. Two of its trees are among the 30 largest giant sequoias in the world. The grove attracts about one million visitors annually.
El Portal (Spanish for "The Gateway") is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. It is located 11.5 miles (19 km) west-southwest of Yosemite Village, at an elevation of 1,939 feet (591 m). The population was 372 at the 2020 census, down from 474 at the 2010 census.
Ribbon Fall, located in Yosemite National Park in California, flows off a cliff on the west side of El Capitan and is the longest single-drop waterfall in North America. The fall is fed by melting winter snow; while therefore dry for much of the year, the fall is a spectacular 1,612 feet (491 m) in the spring. In exceptional years, an ice cone develops at its base during the winter months similar to that which usually forms beneath Upper Yosemite Fall. This deposit can reach a depth of 200 feet, versus 322 feet for the greatest depth of the ice cone beneath the Upper Fall and Lower Fall.
The Wawona Tree, also known as the Wawona Tunnel Tree, was a famous giant sequoia that stood in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California, United States, until February 1969. It had a height of 227 feet (69 m) and was 26 feet (7.9 m) in diameter at the base.
Glacier Point is a viewpoint above Yosemite Valley in the U.S. state of California. It is located on the south wall of Yosemite Valley at an elevation of 7,214 feet (2,199 m), 3,200 feet (980 m) above Curry Village. The point offers a superb view of several of Yosemite National Park's well-known landmarks, including Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Clouds Rest. Between 1872 and 1968, it was the site of the Yosemite Firefall.
Mount Clark is a 11,527-foot (3,513 m) granite peak in the Clark Range, a sub-range of the Sierra Nevada. It is a popular destination for mountaineers.
Fish Camp (formerly Happy Camp and Berry's Fish Camp) is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. It is located 18 miles (29 km) east of Mariposa, at an elevation of 5,062 feet (1,543 m). The population was 49 at the 2020 census. The ZIP Code is 93623, and the community is inside area code 559.
Buck Meadows (formerly Hamilton's and Hamilton's Station) is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. The community is located 2 miles (3 km) east-northeast of Smith Peak, at an elevation of 2,910 feet (890 m). The population was 21 at the 2020 census.
Wawona (formerly Big Tree Station, Clark's Station, Clarks Station, Wah-wo-nah, and Clark's Ranch) is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. The population was 111 at the 2020 census.
Sentinel Rock is a granitic peak in Yosemite National Park, California, United States. It towers over Yosemite Valley, opposite Yosemite Falls. Sentinel Rock lies 0.7 miles (1.1 km) northwest of Sentinel Dome.
Sentinel Dome is a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, United States. It lies on the south wall of Yosemite Valley, 0.8 miles (1.3 km) southwest of Glacier Point and 1.4 miles (2.3 km) northeast of Profile Cliff.
The Acting Superintendent's Headquarters in Yosemite National Park was built by the U.S. Army at Camp A.E. Wood in the Wawona district of the park in 1904 to house the commander of the military administration that operated the park in the years prior to the establishment of the National Park Service. It was moved to the Yosemite Valley in 1906. The Acting Superintendent's Headquarters is the last remaining structure at Wawona associated with the park's military administration. The cabin followed the military to the Yosemite Valley, remaining there until 1958, when it was moved back to Wawona. It is part of the Pioneer Yosemite History Center.
Agua Fria (Spanish for "Cold Water") is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It is located 5.25 miles (8.4 km) northeast of Catheys Valley, at an elevation of 2001 feet (610 m). Agua Fria is the former county seat of Mariposa County located approximately three miles west of Mariposa, California.
The Ahwahnee is a grand hotel in Yosemite National Park, California, on the floor of Yosemite Valley. It was built by the Yosemite Park and Curry Company and opened for business in 1927. The hotel is constructed of steel, stone, concrete, wood, and glass, and is a premier example of National Park Service rustic architecture. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Badger Pass Ski Area is a small ski area located within Yosemite National Park. Badger Pass is one of only three lift serviced ski areas operating in a US National Park (Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area in Olympic National Park and Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park are the others). It is situated five miles (8 km) south-southeast of the Chinquapin intersection of Wawona Road (HWY 41 continuation) with Glacier Point Road in the southern area of Yosemite National Park. Glacier Point Road provides the access to this ski area. During high snow level and/or ski season, Glacier Point road terminates at Badger Pass Ski Resort. Under these conditions, the remainder of Glacier Point Road is used for cross-country skiing access to Glacier Point and other destinations in the high country.
Bagby (formerly Ridley's Ferry and Benton Mills) was an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It was located on the north bank of the Merced River 9.5 miles (15 km) northeast of Hornitos, at an elevation of 830 feet (253 m). Lake McClure covers the original town site.
Ben Hur is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It is located 9 miles (14 km) south of Mariposa.
Briceburg (formerly, Bear Creek) is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It is located on the Merced River near the confluence with Bear Creek, 5 miles (8 km) north-northwest of Midpines. It is accessed via a bridge over the Merced River that connects Highway 140 with Briceburg Road. The bridge is a 160-foot (49 m) suspension bridge built by the US Forest Service in 1937 and constructed by 30 Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees. Forest Service Engineer J. W. Nute was in charge of construction. The community name honors William M. Brice, who built a store at the location in 1926.
The California State Mining and Mineral Museum exhibits and interprets the state's mineral resources and mining heritage. It is part of the California state park system, and is located near Mariposa, a town in central California, on the premises of the Mariposa County fairgrounds.
The Chris Jorgensen Studio is a one-room log building, built in 1904 as an artist's studio for Chris Jorgensen in the Yosemite Valley. Jorgensen, an instructor and assistant director of the California School of Fine Arts, arrived in Yosemite in the 1890s. Jorgensen studied and depicted local Native Americans from 1899, collecting native basketwork. The National Park Service acquired the Jorgensen Studio in 1919, calling it the Yosemite Museum. Jorgensen donated his basket collection to the museum in 1923. Jorgensen's widow, Angela Ghiardelli, donated many of Jorgensen's works to the museum following his death in 1935.
Clearing House (formerly, Clearinghouse) is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It is located on the north bank of the Merced River 5 miles (8 km) west of El Portal.
The Crane Flat Fire Lookout in Yosemite National Park was built in 1931. An example of the National Park Service Rustic style, the lookout is a two-story structure with a lower storage or garage level and an upper observation level, with an overhanging roof. Design work was carried out by the National Park Service Landscape Division.
Camp Curry, now known as Curry Village, was established in 1899 at the base of Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. Developed as an alternative to the first-class Sentinel Hotel, it offered a more affordable, rustic lodging experience. The camp became an iconic part of Yosemite's history, known for its family-oriented atmosphere, nightly campfires, signature tent cabins, and the reinstitution of the Yosemite Firefall. Camp Curry’s success helped lay the foundation for modern park accommodations and had a lasting influence on the development of national park concessions.
Dogtown is a former settlement in Mariposa County, California, United States. It was located on Maxwell Creek 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Coulterville, at an elevation of 2582 feet (787 m).
Eagle Peak is the highest of the Three Brothers, a rock formation, above Yosemite Valley in California. This independent peak is located just east of El Capitan. John Muir considered the view from the summit to be "most comprehensive of all the views" available from the north wall.
Foresta (formerly, McCauley and Opim) is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) in Mariposa County, California, within Yosemite National Park.
The Glacier Point Trailside Museum was one of the first projects in Yosemite National Park by Herbert Maier in what would become the National Park Service Rustic style. Located at Glacier Point, it was funded by Laura Spelman Rockefeller's estate as a project for the Yosemite Museum. It was the first "trailside museum" in the National Park system and was a prototype for enhanced visitor interpretation services in the parks.
The Grizzly Giant is a massive giant sequoia located in Mariposa Grove within Yosemite National Park. Famous for its impressive size and age, the Grizzly Giant has been a symbol of the park since tourism began. The Grizzly Giant stands out with its enormous trunk, which is much larger than typical giant sequoias, and its unique, uneven branches shaped by centuries of weather and environmental factors. Its name comes from its imposing presence, reminiscent of a California grizzly bear.
Grizzly Peak in Yosemite Valley is a promontory on the southwest wall below the popular Half Dome. It can be seen on the hike to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, from northeastern Glacier Point, and various other locations in the Yosemite Valley. The top is not accessible by any trail, although rock climbers frequent the peak.
The Henness Ridge Fire Lookout in Yosemite National Park was built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which was a public work relief program for unemployed men age 18–24. The CCC provided unskilled manual labor related to the conservation and development of natural resources in rural areas of the United States.
Hites Cove (also called Hite's Cove, less commonly Hite Cove) was a former settlement in Mariposa County, California. It was located on the South Fork of the Merced River, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west-southwest of El Portal. It is accessed via Hites Cove Road.
The Hodgdon Homestead Cabin was built by Jeremiah Hodgdon in 1879 in the Aspen Valley area of what became Yosemite National Park. The two-story log cabin, measuring 22 feet (6.7 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m), was located in an inholding in the park, owned by Hodgdon's descendants. In the 1950s the family proposed to demolish the structure. The National Park Service acquired it and moved it to its Pioneer Yosemite History Center at Wawona, where the restored cabin is part of an exhibit on early settlement and development of the Yosemite area. In addition to housing Hogdon, the cabin housed workers on the Great Sierra Wagon Road in the 1880s, as a patrol cabin for U.S. Army troops who managed the new national park in the 1890s, and as a historic landmark at the old Aspen Valley Resort.
Hornitos (Spanish for "Little ovens") is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. It is located on Burns Creek 25 miles (40 km) by road south of Coulterville, at an elevation of 843 feet (257 m). The population was 38 at the 2020 census, down from 75 at the 2010 census.
Indian Gulch (formerly, Indiangulch and Santa Cruz) is a former settlement in Mariposa County, California. It lies at an elevation of 968 feet (295 m).
Jerseydale is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It is located 9 miles (14 km) south-southwest of El Portal, at an elevation of 3779 feet (1152 m).
Lake McClure is a reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills of western Mariposa County, California, United States.
The Leaning Tower in Yosemite National Park is a popular destination for rock climbers. It is located west of, and adjacent to Bridalveil Fall, on the south side of the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. The rock is considered to be a strenuous climb, requiring approximately three days to climb to the summit. It is said to be a 700-foot (210 m) climb.
Midpines is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California. It lies among the Sierra Nevada foothills of the central part of the state at an elevation of 2,585 feet (788 m), 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Mariposa, the county seat, and 22 miles (35 km) by road southwest of El Portal. It is composed of scattered residential areas along both sides of State Route 140, which is one of three principal routes to Yosemite National Park, some 30 miles (48 km) to the east of Midpines. The population was 379 at the 2020 census, down from 1,204 in 2010, when the CDP was drawn to cover significantly more area.
May Lake is a lake in Yosemite National Park, as well as a High Sierra Camp where backpackers can stay in tent cabins located near the lake. There are eight cabins that accommodate a total of thirty six guests. The hike to May Lake is from a parking area off Tioga Pass Road and is 1.2 miles (1.9 km). The lake is overlooked by Mount Hoffmann.
The McGurk Cabin in Yosemite National Park was the seasonal home of Yosemite cattleman Jack McGurk from 1895 to 1897. Located on the edge of McGurk's Meadow, just to the north of the Glacier Point Road, the cabin was used by a series of owners beginning with Hugh Davanay, from whom McGurk bought the property in 1895. McGurk was evicted by the Army in 1897 after a dispute over title to the land. The log cabin is a one-room structure, about 14 feet (4.3 m) square, with saddle-notched peeled lodgepole pine logs. The only opening is a low door on the south side. The cabin was stabilized in 1958 by Sierra Club volunteers. It is one of the few structures left in the park that remain from the pre-park era.
McGurk Meadow is a meadow in Yosemite National Park located near Bridalveil Fall. It is located at 37°40′48″N 119°37′55″W.
The Merced Grove Ranger Station in Yosemite National Park was designed by the National Park Service and completed in 1935. The station is located near the Merced Grove of giant sequoias in the Crane Flat region of the park. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
The Middle Cathedral Rock is a prominent rock face on the south side of Yosemite Valley, California. El Capitan lies due north of Middle Cathedral. Middle Cathedral's East Buttress Route is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America.
Mirror Lake is a small, seasonal lake located on Tenaya Creek in Yosemite National Park. Situated in Tenaya Canyon directly between North Dome and Half Dome, it is the last remnant of a large glacial lake that once filled most of Yosemite Valley at the end of the last Ice Age, and is close to disappearing due to sediment accumulation.
The Mist Trail is one of the most popular short hikes in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. The steep hike follows the Merced River, starting at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley, past Vernal Fall and Emerald Pool, to Nevada Fall.
Mormon Bar is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It is located 2 miles (3.2 km) south-southeast of Mariposa, at an elevation of 1772 feet (540 m). Mormon Bar is located near State Route 49.
Mount Bullion (formerly, Princeton and La Mineta) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mariposa County, California, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 154.
Mount Hoffmann is a prominent peak in northeastern Mariposa County in the center of Yosemite National Park, California, United States. It rises above May Lake and is a day hike of 6.2 miles (10.0 km) (one-way) from Tioga Pass Road. The mountain is named for the cartographer Charles F. Hoffmann, who was part of the California Geological Survey of the Sierra Nevada.
Mount Starr King is a symmetrical granite dome in Yosemite National Park, whose highest point is 9,096 feet (2,772 m) above sea level.
Olmsted Point is a viewing area off Tioga Pass Road in Yosemite National Park which offers a view south into Tenaya Canyon, giving, in particular, a view of the northern side of Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and a view of Tenaya Lake to the east. The granite slopes immediately south and southwest of the parking lot feature numerous glacial erratics scattered about, as well as a short 0.125 mi (0.2 km) trail leading south - through a small grove of trees - to the top of a small granite dome where the view of Clouds Rest and Half Dome is clearest.
The Rangers' Club is a building in Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park that was donated by the independently wealthy first director of the National Park Service, Stephen Tyng Mather. He intended it to be used by the newly hired park rangers who were taking over from the departing army troops. He specifically intended it to blend into the natural environment. Its use of rustic stylings was part of a trend to the use of rustic design and natural materials in Park Service buildings until the 1940s.
The Royal Arches is a cliff containing natural occurring granite exfoliation arches, located below North Dome and rising above Yosemite Valley, in Yosemite National Park, California. (37.74840°N 119.569°W / 37.74840; -119.569). These are not literal arches, but rather arch shaped indentations in the cliff face.
Sentinel Falls is a long series of cascades descending into Yosemite Valley, in the U.S. state of California, alongside Sentinel Rock. It is a tiered waterfall consisting of 6 major drops totaling 1,920 feet (590 m), the longest single drop being 500 feet (150 m). It ranks on many lists as the twelfth-highest waterfall in the world, although in truth it is roughly the sixtieth-tallest, as most weaker waterfalls do not make it into such lists. Despite its immense height it has a relatively low drainage and is usually dry by July.
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Rectory and Cemetery is a historic church, rectory, and cemetery located at 4983–4985 Bullion Street in the city of Mariposa, in the Sierra foothills of Mariposa County, California.
Swinging Bridge is a popular destination for swimming in Yosemite Valley, California, United States. The land in the area resembles that of a beach. Although official policy does not allow visitors to jump off the bridge, this is sometimes disregarded. The area on both sides of the bridge has mostly shallow water with a few areas from 6 feet (1.8 m) to 12 feet (3.7 m) deep.
Tenaya Canyon is a dramatic and dangerous canyon in Yosemite National Park, California, USA, that runs from the outlet of Tenaya Lake 10 miles down to Yosemite Valley, carrying water in Tenaya Creek through a series of spectacular cascades and pools and thence into a deep canyon below Cloud's Rest, a giant granite mountain adjacent to Half Dome. Waterfalls on the creek inside the canyon include Pywiack Cascade (named for Pywiack Dome) and Three Chute Falls, near Mirror Lake.
The Three Brothers is a rock formation in Yosemite Valley, California. It is located just east of El Capitan and consists of Eagle Peak (the uppermost "brother"), and Middle and Lower Brothers.
Three Chute Falls (also known as Hidden Falls or Tenaya Creek Falls) is a waterfall on Tenaya Creek in Yosemite National Park, in the U.S. state of California.
Tresidder Peak is a mountain in Yosemite National Park, California. The mountain has two summits (peaks or arêtes), about half a mile (800 meters) apart, with the southern peak being the highest. The elevation of the south peak has not been exactly determined but is given as between 10,605 feet (3,232 m) and 10,645 feet (3,245 m). The northern peak is identified on maps as Peak 10,450 and has an elevation of 10,450 feet (3,185 m).
The Wawona Covered Bridge is a covered bridge spanning the South Fork Merced River near Wawona, California, in Yosemite National Park. The open bridge (without the covering) was built by Galen Clark, the steward of what was then called the Yosemite Grant, in 1868, without its cladding. The open bridge was a component of Clark's proposed new road from Wawona to the Yosemite Valley. Clark was unable to complete the road, which he sold to the Washburn Group of investors along with his stopover lodging (Clark's Station) in 1874. In mid-1875 the Washburn Group completed the road to Yosemite Valley. It is one of twelve remaining covered bridges in California.
The Wawona Tunnel is a highway tunnel in Yosemite National Park. It, and Tunnel View just beyond its east portal, were completed in 1933.
Wildcat Falls is located in the western quarter of Yosemite National Park alongside Highway 140, approximately 2.8 miles inside the park from the Arch Rock Entrance. It consists of a relatively thin string of falls and cascades totaling 720 feet (some sources list 630 feet), and only flows until about May or June. There are a total of seven drops in the waterfall, the longest being 120 feet. The base of the waterfall is a mossy grotto that is easily reached on foot and is a popular location among photographers.
Yosemite Creek is a 15-mile-long (24 km) creek of the Sierra Nevada, located in Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, California, United States.
Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, often referred to informally within the Park as "The Lodge" is located in western Yosemite Village, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, California. The lodging accommodation is close to Yosemite Falls.
The Yosemite Museum is located in Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park in California. Founded in 1926 through the efforts of Ansel Franklin Hall, the museum's displays focus on the heritage and culture of the Ahwahnechee people who lived in the valley. The collection also includes both utilitarian and made-for-sale baskets dating from c. 1870 to present and is one of the only existing collections encompassing this depth and time span for any group in California.
The Yosemite Transportation Company Office, also known as the Wells Fargo Office, was built in the Yosemite Valley of the U.S. state of California in 1910 to house facilities of motor stage and horse stage services between the nearest rail terminal at El Portal and Yosemite National Park. The rustic log structure also provided telegraph and express services.
The Yosemite Valley Chapel was built in the Yosemite Valley of California in 1879.
The Yosemite Village Historic District encompasses the primary built-up section of the Yosemite Valley as it was developed by the National Park Service for Yosemite National Park. The district includes visitor services areas, park personnel residences and administrative facilities. It is located to the north of the Merced River. The district includes the National Historic Landmark Rangers' Club.
Yosemite West is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) of resort homes located just outside the southern area of Yosemite National Park, just off Wawona Road, a continuation of State Route 41 from Fresno. It is a census-designated place (CDP), with a population of 47 as of the 2020 census. It is situated one mile (1.6 km) south of the Chinquapin intersection of Wawona Road with Glacier Point Road, at an altitude of 5,100 to 6,300 feet (1,600 to 1,900 m). The elevation reported by the USGS is 5,866 feet (1,788 m). The community is part of Henness Ridge, nearly 3,000 feet (910 m) above the southern banks of the Merced River and State Route 140 from Mariposa. Addresses in this area are shown as "Yosemite National Park, CA 95389".
Liberty Cap is a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, California, United States which lies at the extreme northwestern margin of Little Yosemite Valley. It lies adjacent, to the north of Nevada Fall, on the John Muir Trail. It rises 1,700 feet (520 m) feet from the base of Nevada Fall to a peak elevation of 7,080 ft (2,158 m). A smaller, mesa-like dome called Mount Broderick stands immediately adjacent to Liberty Cap.
Four Mile Trail is a moderate to strenuous trail leading from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point. The trail begins at the valley floor west of the Swinging Bridge recreation area, and climbs the south side 4.8 miles (7.7 km) up to Glacier Point, an elevation change of 3,200 feet (1,000 m).
Hetch Hetchy Railroad no. 6 is a standard gauge three truck Shay locomotive built for the Hetch Hetchy Railroad by Lima Locomotive Works in 1921.
Incline (formerly, Indian Flat) is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It is located on the south bank of the Merced River and on the Yosemite Valley Railroad 4 miles (6.4 km) west-southwest of El Portal, at an elevation of 1519 feet (463 m).
Little Yosemite Valley is a smaller glacial valley upstream in the Merced River drainage from the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park. The Merced River meanders through the 3.5 mi (5.6 km) long flat valley, draining out over Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall before emptying into the main Yosemite Valley. It can be reached by a day hike from the main valley, and is the most popular area in the Yosemite Wilderness. The Valley provides access to nearby destinations such as the back side of Half Dome, Clouds Rest and the High Sierra Camp at Merced Lake.
Midnight Lightning is a 7.62-metre (25.0 ft) high granite bouldering route on the Columbia Boulder in Camp 4 of Yosemite National Park. When first solved in May 1978 by American rock climber Ron Kauk, it was graded at V8 (7B/7B+), which was the world's second-ever boulder route at that grade, and the first in North America. Even today, the route is still considered a "hard" V8 grade. Midnight Lightning is the most notable bouldering route in climbing along with Dreamtime, and its ascent is considered an important moment in the history and the development of bouldering as a sport in its own right.
New Exchequer Dam is a concrete–faced, rock-fill dam on the Merced River in central California in the United States. It forms Lake McClure, which impounds the river for irrigation and hydroelectric power production and has a capacity of more than 1,000,000 acre-feet (1.2 km3). The Merced Irrigation District (MID) operates the dam and was also responsible for its construction.
Sierra Point is an elevated viewpoint on a rocky outcropping of Yosemite National Park, at the eastern end of the valley, below Grizzly Peak, which was accessible through a now-closed trail.
Columbia Boulder is a 30-foot-tall (9.1 m) boulder located in Camp 4 at Yosemite National Park. It is the largest boulder in Camp 4 and easily seen from the campground. According to Mike Borghoff, there are no easy bouldering problems on Columbia Boulder. There are several bouldering problems on Columbia including the iconic Midnight Lightning. Other famous routes on the boulder include: Robbins Eliminate, named after Royal Robbins; Bates Problem, named after Barry Bates; and Ament Arête, named after Pat Ament. In attempts to improve relations between climbers and park rangers, discussions over free coffee usually take place once a week from spring to autumn beside Columbia Boulder.
Matthes Crest is an approximately mile-long fin of rock with two summits separated by a deep notch. It is a part of the Cathedral Range, which is a mountain range in the south-central portion of Yosemite National Park. The range is part of the Sierra Nevada.
Vogelsang Peak is a peak in the Cathedral Range of Yosemite National Park, located in northeastern Mariposa County, California. Though Mount Florence is higher, at 12,567 feet (3,830 m), at 11,498 feet (3,505 m) the summit rises higher than most of the surrounding peaks, and offers sweeping panoramic views in every direction.
Echo Valley is a valley in Yosemite National Park, at an elevation of 7,021 feet (2,140 m). It is located along Echo Creek, about 3 miles (5 km) west of Merced Lake, at 37°44′38″N 119°26′03″W. It is bounded on the south by the Merced River.
Alder Creek is a stream in Mariposa County, California, in the United States. It is a tributary of the South Fork Merced River.
Babcock Lake is a lake in Yosemite National Park of California.
Basket Dome is a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, United States.
Bernice Lake is a lake in Yosemite National Park, United States.
Boothe Lake is a lake in Yosemite National Park, United States.
Bunnell Point is a summit in Mariposa County, California, in the United States. With an elevation of 8,172 feet (2,491 m), Bunnell Point is the 978th highest summit in the state of California.
Mount Broderick is a summit in Yosemite National Park, United States. With an elevation of 6,696 feet (2,041 m), Mount Broderick is the 1573rd highest summit in the state of California.
The Pioneer Yosemite History Center is an assembled collection of historic buildings from Yosemite National Park that is located in Wawona, California. Visitors can walk around the buildings year round, and the interiors are open in the summer on a limited basis. There are also special programs and carriage rides in the summer.
Pywiack Dome is a prominent 600 foot granite dome in Yosemite National Park, located 0.7 miles (1.1 km) north-east of Tenaya Lake, 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Tuolumne Meadows and 200 feet (61.0 m) from the Tioga Road. It is quite near Harlequin Dome, and North and South Whizz Domes are north.
Polly Dome is a prominent granite dome rising 1,640 feet (500 m) above the northwest side of Tenaya Lake and Tioga Road in the Yosemite high country. The dome, more than 3 kilometers (~2 miles) long, is a substantially intact mass of granitic rock that has withstood heavy glaciation and exfoliation. Forest clings to the less-steep parts of its north and west slopes. The southwest end of Polly Dome consists of the Stately Pleasure Dome, 740 feet (230 m) lower than Polly Dome, but rising very steeply 900 feet (270 m) from the shore of the lake. Polly Dome's summit has unobstructed views east to the Cathedral Range, north over Tuolumne Meadows to the Sierra crest, northwest over the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and southwest to Half Dome.
Stately Pleasure Dome is the unofficial name for the prominent south-southwestern portion of Polly Dome, a granite dome on the northwest side of Tenaya Lake and Tioga Road in the Yosemite high country. Stately Pleasure Dome consists of glaciated and exfoliated granite rock that rises steeply 900 feet (270 m) from the lake shore; the very steep east side of the dome is popular with rock climbers, who gave the dome its name.
Tenaya Peak is a mountain in the Yosemite high country, rising above Tenaya Lake. Tenaya Peak is named after Chief Tenaya, who met the Mariposa Battalion near the shores of the Tenaya lake. In 1851, the Mariposa Battalion under Captain John Boling expelled Chief Tenaya and his people from what was to become Yosemite National Park.
The Panorama Trail is a marked hiking trail in Yosemite National Park that descends along the south wall of Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point, past several major waterfalls, to Happy Isles. The trail derives its name from the panoramic vistas visible along the route, most notably Panorama Point.
The Mariposa Grove Cabin, originally built in 1864 by Galen Clark, Yosemite's first guardian and discoverer of the Mariposa Grove, stands as an iconic symbol of Yosemite National Park. Located near the General Grant and General Sheridan trees, the cabin has been rebuilt three times on the same site, with the current structure dating to 1931. Although not an exact replica of the original, the cabin reflects a blend of Rustic style and minor Art Deco styles, showcasing natural materials and skilled craftsmanship.
Mariposa County High School is a public high school located in Mariposa, California. The school is part of the Mariposa County Unified School District.
Fletcher Peak is an 11,410-foot-elevation (3,480-meter) mountain summit located in Yosemite National Park, in Mariposa County, California, United States. It is situated south of Tuolumne Meadows in the Cathedral Range which is a sub-range of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The mountain rises one mile (1.6 km) south of Tuolumne Pass, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) northeast of proximate parent Vogelsang Peak and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) northwest of line parent Parsons Peak. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,250 feet (380 meters) above Fletcher Lake in 0.38 miles (0.61 km). Precipitation runoff from this landform drains south to the Merced River via Fletcher Creek.
Rafferty Peak is an 11,110-foot-elevation (3,390-meter) mountain summit located in Yosemite National Park, in California, United States. It is situated on the common border shared by Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties. It is set south of Tuolumne Meadows in the Cathedral Range which is a sub-range of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The mountain rises one mile (1.6 km) northwest of Tuolumne Pass, 1.4 mile south of Johnson Peak, and 2.5 miles east of Matthes Crest. Tuolumne Pass is the low point of the saddle between Rafferty Peak and Fletcher Peak. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,500 feet (460 meters) above Nelson Lake in one mile.
Cockscomb is a mountain, in the area of Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California.
Dozier Dome is a granite dome, in the Tuolumne Meadows region of Yosemite National Park. It is named after Jeff Dozier.
Harlequin Dome is a granite dome, quite near Tenaya Lake, in the Tuolumne Meadows region of Yosemite National Park.
Washington Column is a roughly 1800-foot high rock formation, arising from Yosemite Valley. It is east of the Royal Arches, behind the Ahwahnee Hotel. North Dome is above it. Washington Column can be viewed from many points in Yosemite Valley, including the trail to Mirror Lake.
Vogelsang Pass is a mountain pass in the Cathedral Range of Yosemite National Park, at 10,680 ft (3,260 m). It lies between the cirque containing Vogelsang Lake and the valley with Lewis Creek. The pass also lies on the ridge between Fletcher Peak (11,410 ft or 3,480 m) and Vogelsang Peak (11,498 ft or 3,505 m).
Mount Watkins is an 8,497-foot-elevation (2,590-meter) mountain summit in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Mariposa County, California, United States.