Yosemite National Park encompasses a spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery in the Sierra Nevada. The park harbors a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest living things. Most famous is the awe-inspiring Half Dome, a massive granite rock face that juts dramatically out of the glacially-carved valley.

There's far more to Yosemite than the Half Dome, as visitors who venture off the paved roads will quickly discover. Hundreds of miles of trails can be explored on foot, horseback, or, in winter, cross country skis. A grove of giant sequoias can be found near the less-visited South Entrance; the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in the equally undervisited north portion of the park is another little-known attraction. Off-season visitors can experience the wonder of snow-dappled cliffs or the brisk clear skies of spring.

Yosemite National Park is located in east central California, 135 miles southeast of Sacramento. Nearby ski resorts include Badger Pass (located within the park), Mammoth Mountain, and Sierra Summit.