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We loved visiting Yosemite National Park! Though overcrowded and overdeveloped, the park is just beautiful. Some of the most breath-taking views I have ever seen! We first visited the valley floor, the most popular spot in Yosemite. Our entrance was by Highway 140, through "El Portal" and the Arch Rock. We emerged right onto the valley floor, which feels just like a narrow opening underneath the towering mountains on either side. The mountains are just sheer drops of gray cliff, it was all very dramatic and for someone who loves wilderness views, very exciting! I was eager to take pictures everywhere along the way but sometimes it is hard to find parking in the crowded valley floor! There are two excellent waterfalls in the valley, Bridalveil Falls and Yosemite Falls. Both are easily viewed by paved paths leading up to them - easy walks, and excellent views!
One of the best views of the valley is at Tunnel View, on the road to Glacier Point. Before you drive through the tunnel there is an excellent viewpoint overlooking the entire valley - it is impossible to get a bad picture there!
We also hiked Taft Point & the Fissures. The trail head is located off the road to Glacier Point, close to the end of the road. The Taft Point hike took us about 90 minutes round trip. Though there isn't much elevation gain during the hike, it is at about 7750ft as so it is easy to feel out of breath! At the point there are just amazing views of the valley. Half Dome and El Capitan look almost like they are drawn in, they are so fantastic to look at! I really couldn't use enough adjectives to describe how stunning the scenery is! We also appreciated this viewpoint because there were no crowds here - you may have to work for the view, but you have it all to yourselves!
Next we drove up to Glacier Point. Pros: not only do they sell ice cream there, but the views are perhaps the most magnificent in all of Yosemite! Cons: it is full of tourists, I mean really, really, full of people all jockeying for pictures. Ah, well. Visiting the park is worth it, no matter how many people are there!
previous travel blog entry
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