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If you're a fan of breathtaking scenery, you're sure to find a Yosemite tour is right up your street as part of a USA trip. Book a tour to one of the USA's first wilderness parks and find out for yourself what attracts millions of people to the location every year. The Yosemite National Park covers almost 1,200 sq miles of east central California and encompasses a range of natural features sure to leave you awe-stricken, such as waterfalls, valleys, meadows and ancient sequoia trees. The park is popular among hikers and climbers seeking to enjoy the beautiful setting. Enclosed by almost vertical mile-high cliffs, the location provides dramatic views wherever you may be standing, whether it's on flat land or perched atop one of the many peaks. Many areas of the park are designated wilderness, and it is surrounded by much of the same, with the Ansel Adams Wilderness to the south-east, the Hoover Wilderness to the north-east and the Emigrant Wilderness to the north. If you're eager to get active during your USA trip, you'll find plenty of opportunity at Yosemite, which is a top destination among avid climbers and hikers. Its location within the Sierra Nevada mountain range means the park is home to some large cliffs, such as El Capitan, a granite structure pointing 3,000 ft into the sky. Also in the vicinity are a number of granite domes, including the 3,000 ft high Sentinel Dome and the 4,800 ft Half Dome. You can choose to climb either but you might need to make sure you have a permit first. If you're already a seasoned climber, why not take on the biggest challenge the park has to offer - Mount Lyell? Named after the 19th century geologist Charles Lyell, the mountain can be found in the south-east section of the park's Cathedral Range, extending 13,120 ft above sea level. And as you clamber up the peak, keep in mind that you'll be able to see park's largest glacier - Lyell Glacier, discovered in 1871 - on your way up. Even if you choose to stay on flatter land, you can get active by hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs parallel with the Pacific Ocean, offering astounding sea views and the chance to take in the park's many metamorphic rocks, such as Mount Gibbs and Mount Dana, as well as granite cliffs like Mount Conness. If you're a fan of nature, you're sure to be wowed by the Giant Sequoia groves within the area. The redwood trees grow in three parts of the park - Mariposa Grove, which houses 200 trees, the Tuolumne Grove, which has 25 trees, and the Merced Grove with 20 trees. The Giant Sequoia can grow between 165 and 280 ft in height and between 18 and 24 ft in diameter, making it one of the world's largest trees in terms of volume. Record-breaking examples have shot up to 311 ft tall and 57 ft wide. Another spectacular natural feature of the park is its many waterfalls. Yosemite Falls drops 2,425 ft and is made up of three separate waterfalls. Seen from several standpoints within the park, you might want a view from above, in which case you should put on your hiking boots to reach the top. Other falls in the park include the splendid Ribbon Fall at 1,612 ft, while the 1,000 ft Horsetail Fall is famous for looking as though it is on fire when it reflects the orange glow of the sunset. As well as all the natural attractions, you'll find plenty of man-made draws within the park, too. If you're keen to learn about the area's history, don't forget to pay a visit to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, where you can discover how the local landscape was formed as well as how the native creatures have adapted to survive. Next door, you'll find the Yosemite Museum, filled with exhibits displaying how the Miwok and Paiute people lived from 1850 to the present, while the Indian village of Ahwahnee behind the museum highlights how the former village - once established on the parkland - was erected by Indians in the area, which they called Ahwahnee - which translates to place of the gaping mouth. You'll also find the national historic landmark and famous hotel the Ahwahnee - which was built in 1927 in a rustic style - in the park, along with the Ansel Adams Gallery. The gallery was established to showcase the work of the photographer, most famed for his shots of the American West, namely Yosemite Valley.
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USA trip, TrekAmerica tour, Yosemite tour,
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