Yosemite National Forest

 

California offers the ultimate paradox: as the most densely populated state in the nation, it is also home to some of the country’s largest and most beautiful national parks. That’s especially true of Northern California, where the stark, jagged peaks of the Sierra Mountain Range are home to some of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the United States.

 

Yosemite National Park encompasses 747,956 acres or 1,169 square miles, with 800 miles of hiking trails and 350 miles of road. Known for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves and biological diversity, it is the place of legend for climbers, mountaineers, photographers and adventurers.  Even though you can drive right through the middle of the park, over 95% of it is designated wilderness, home to hundreds of wildlife species and thousands of Yosemite plants. Hard to believe a wilderness Mecca like this can be found a mere 195 miles from San Francisco or 313 miles from Los Angeles.

The park is also known for it’s two wild rivers, Tuolumne and Merced, that begin within Yosemite and flow west into the Central Valley. A wide variety of animal species exists at the different elevations and individual ecosystems that exist in the park. Yosemite supports more than 400 species of vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. There are a lot of insects as well, including two species not believed to exist anywhere else in the world.

Visitors should be aware: Yosemite National Park is home to hundreds of American black bears. These bears have a big appetite, are very curious and have a keen sense of smell. Failure to store your food properly may result in impoundment of your food or car and/or a fine of up to $5,000 and/or revocation of your camping permit.

 

From Stanford Sierra Conference Center it is a scenic drive down Highway 395 to the entrance to Yosemite over Highway 120's Tioga Pass.  Check out Yosemite National Park during your visit to our Northern California Conference Center.