Yosemite National Park

YOSEMITE. One of the genuine treasures of the American National Park system, Yosemite was founded in 1890 and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1984. Home to towering sequoias, enchanting waterfalls, pristine mountain streams, surreal meadows, and a veritable cornucopia of wildlife, the Yosemite Valley remained unexplored by American pioneers until the 1850s, when a battalion swept through the valley in pursuit of Indians during the Mariposa Indian War. Highlights include Budd Lake, Cathedral Peak, Half Dome, and the sequoias found in the Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Merced Groves. Reservations are not needed (nor are they available) to enter the park.