Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park, located in California and managed by the National Park Service, spans over 1,100 square miles across four counties. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, it is world-renowned for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, giant sequoias, clear rivers, meadows, mountains, and biodiversity. Nearly 95% of the park is protected wilderness, making it one of the largest intact natural areas in the Sierra Nevada.

Yosemite’s dramatic landscape was formed by uplift, erosion, and massive glaciers that carved the famous U-shaped valley over millions of years. Indigenous peoples lived in the region for thousands of years before European arrival in the 1800s. Yosemite played a key role in the birth of the U.S. national park idea, beginning with the Yosemite Grant in 1864 and its official designation in 1890, inspired by John Muir’s conservation efforts.

Today, Yosemite welcomes over four million visitors each year, most of whom explore the iconic Yosemite Valley.