Sneak Preview

Dramatic, spectacular Yosemite National Park, California, proves yet again that small is beautiful. The park is only seven miles long and at its widest, one mile, but it sure packs in a punch with its vertical granite cliff walls, verdant forests, lush meadows, gushing waterfalls and abundant wildlife.

If 'bouldering' and 'rapelling' are music to your ears, Yosemite National Park is the place for you. For less enthusiastic mountain climbers, there are treks and hikes to beautiful vistas. For those really lazy, shuttle buses are available to transport you into this spectacular, untouched natural paradise!

You will be amazed to see the Mariposa Grove which lies close to Yosemite National Park. The grove has giant sequoia trees and are 2700 years old.

Historically Speaking

Yosemite's U shaped valley was formed during the ice ages when glaciers moving through the canyon of River Merced eroded the softer layers of stone, leaving behind almost vertical stone cliffs. Early Native Americans lived and hunted here till the mid-19th century when prospectors began arriving here. Major James Savage and his men were the first white people to come here and soon they succeeded in driving the Native American's away. With time, more settlers and prospectors came in and in 1864, Yosemite became the first state park in the country. However, the credit for conserving the Park's bounty and for its attainment of National Park status in 1880 must be given to John Muir, a Scotsman who toured the area on foot and dedicated his whole life to protecting Yosemite.