优胜美地国家公园：7个必打卡景点、3种住宿、徒步体验｜Yosemite Valley 旅行攻略

This is a place whose very name evokes beauty. Yosemite is a testament to the profound and sophisticated Chinese language, which has perfectly captured the essence of its English name. Its magnificent and ethereal beauty was mentioned in a previous video about the top ten national parks in the US, where it was named the best national park by US News. So what makes Yosemite National Park so unique that it topped the list? Let's explore it together. Welcome to Yosemite National Park! Yosemite's charm stems from its diverse attractions and ever-changing scenery throughout the seasons. In its main area, Yosemite Valley, you can admire the glacial landscape and feel the grandeur of the highest waterfall in the continental United States. You can also drive to Glacier Point at the summit, overlooking the depths of the valley from a thousand-meter cliff. Alternatively, you can stroll through the redwood forest, walking among the nearly thousand-year-old giant redwoods and feeling the weight of time . Or wander through the misty forests of the scenic highway area , encountering alpine lakes shrouded in clouds. You can even hike the secret Hetch Hetchy Valley Experience tranquility away from the hustle and bustle in Yosemite 's mysterious canyon area. Each season has its own unique charm: spring brings the most magnificent waterfalls and vibrant energy to the park; summer sees all attractions open , making it the busiest time to visit; autumn boasts rich colors and the most pleasant weather; and winter offers stunning snowscapes, transforming the landscape into a silver wonderland. Therefore, Yosemite is destined to be a place you can't miss. I've visited Yosemite National Park four times , all during autumn and winter. If I had the chance to choose the best season to visit again, it would be the end of May, because that's when the spring snow melts and the waterfalls reach their peak flow – the most vibrant and lively time in Yosemite. So , in the next few videos, I'll take you through Yosemite National Park, exploring its different areas one by one. First, let's look at its main area, Yosemite Valley. If you prefer a relaxed, check-in style, I've compiled seven classic sights worth stopping at. If you prefer a moderately challenging hiking experience, there are three hiking trails around the waterfalls for you to choose from. Finally , I'll review three types of accommodation in Yosemite Valley for your reference. Now, let's get it started! First, let's look at the stop and see style. Due to the vast area of ​​Yosemite Valley, the main road follows a counter-clockwise single-loop route, so... We stopped at these 7 key points along the driving route , exploring the most classic sights. The first stop upon entering the park was the Tunnel Viewpoint. Built in 1933 to give visitors a stunning first impression, the park envisioned a magical wonderland as they passed through this time tunnel. This viewpoint is the park's main attraction. From the platform, one can enjoy panoramic views of the entire Yosemite Valley, including El Capitan, Half Dome, Cloud Peak, Sentinel Rock , Bridalveil Falls , and Cathedral Rock, among other iconic landmarks. It's often said that the scenery in Yosemite is never exactly the same ; changing seasons , weather , and even different times of day all give it different colors and atmospheres . How did this landscape painting come to be? Imagine that 1-2 million years ago , this area was covered by thick ice... As the glacier slowly moved down the ancient riverbed, it was like a giant bulldozer , gradually carving out the U-shaped canyon we see today. Then, with the uplift of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, granite cliffs rose on both sides, ultimately creating this paradise seemingly sculpted by nature . Continuing along the valley road, our next stop is BridalVeil Falls, the first waterfall visitors encounter upon entering the valley . You can stop just past the falls ; its name itself evokes a sense of beauty, as its water flows lightly and gracefully, like a bride's veil. If you have an extra 20-30 minutes, the round trip is only 0.5 miles , allowing you to get up close and experience the splashing water and gentle mist. The waterfall has a drop of 189 meters , equivalent to a 62-story building, and even in the dry summer, its flow is not interrupted , the Bridal Veil Falls can be seen and heard year-round. It can also be viewed from a distance on the north side of the park's one-way path. Next stop: Yosemite Falls. The most famous waterfall in Yosemite is the one named after the park. It is the tallest waterfall in the contiguous United States, with a total drop of 740 meters, placing it between the world's first and second tallest buildings. However, it is not actually a single, vertical waterfall , but rather a three-tiered waterfall consisting of an upper, middle, and lower section. The falls are so high that they can be seen from many places in the valley. Unlike the Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Falls has a dry season. From July to August each year, its flow gradually decreases or even dries up completely, only slowly recovering in November . Then, in May and June of the following year, when the spring snow melts, the falls reach their peak flow, with a powerful torrent of water rushing down. The misty spray and sunlight refracting into a magnificent rainbow fill the valley with life. If you don't want to just admire it from afar, there are two hiking trails that allow you to get up close and experience the breathtaking beauty of Yosemite Falls. In the hiking section of the next video , we'll introduce our next stop: Half Dome Rock, one of Yosemite's iconic landmarks. From Sentinel Bridge, you can see the Half Dome reflected in the river at the eastern end of the valley , especially at dusk when the setting sun illuminates the rock above. This Half Dome granite rock rises 1,500 meters above the valley floor and is 87 million years old. What has made it famous in recent years is the thrilling hiking trail that excites outdoor enthusiasts— a challenging 16-mile climb up nearly 480 stories, taking 12 hours to complete. Of course, this hardcore adventure isn't for everyone. For most visitors, simply viewing Half Dome Rock from a distance is enough to appreciate the wonders of nature. Our next stop is Yosemite, a central activity area and a rest stop for the park. At the village's visitor center , you can get real-time information about the park, get your national park passport stamped dine at restaurants, buy souvenirs at shops, and send postcards from the post office. Visit the museum to see various exhibits and learn about the culture of the Native American tribes who lived here for 4,000 years. From around 2000 BC, the Miwak people, Native Americans, lived in this region for generations. They were skilled basket makers , relied on hunting and gathering nuts for survival, and had their own culture and legends until the 19th century when they were... The gold rush brought a large influx of non-local miners, leading to their expulsion and a significant population decline , eventually resulting in their gradual dispersal. To provide visitors with a simple understanding of the lives of the indigenous people at that time, the park reconstructed these bark houses according to the style of an 1870s Indian village. Therefore, Indians have lived in this area of ​​Yosemite for over 4,000 years . Next stop: El Capitan, the king of granites in the park. As the largest rock in the park, it is a massive monolithic granite rock with a vertical height exceeding 900 meters , equivalent to the height of three Eiffel Towers. Its imposing presence makes it one of Yosemite's most striking landmarks. Its nearly vertical rock face has a smooth surface that shimmers with a silvery-gray luster in the sunlight. What makes El Capitan famous is its legendary status in climbing history. If you visit between spring and autumn, you might be lucky enough to witness top climbers from around the world attempting to climb El Capitan. The most famous climber, Alex Honnold , successfully free soloed it in 2017, a feat that was filmed as a documentary. Solo also won an Oscar , but for ordinary tourists like us, simply standing at its foot and looking up at its sky-piercing height is enough to be awe-inspiring. Here, you can also see the so-called Cathedral Rock on Sentinel Meadow , and the Firefall phenomenon every February, which is the Horse Tail Waterfall on El Capitan illuminated under the sun. For details about my experience blowing the Firefall, you can watch my previous video. Next up is the last stop on the one-way loop: the valley landscape. It's Yosemite's final performance for visitors. This is the best angle to overlook the entire valley from the banks of the Merced River. The shadows add depth to the landscape; every snapshot is postcard-perfect. It's best to come in the early morning when there are fewer people and the light is perfect , or at sunset when the granite is bathed in red light. Different seasons offer different views: spring brings lush green waterfalls, autumn offers golden hues, and winter presents a snow-covered landscape . By now, we've seen all the classic sights of Yosemite Valley. Although we only visited a few of the must-see spots , that doesn't mean there's only this much to see. If you have more time, you can discover many more places to explore. If you want your trip to go beyond just taking photos, you can consider hiking some of the trails. Yosemite, famous for its mountain waterfalls, has many popular hiking trails centered around the falls. First, there's Yosemite Falls, which offers two hiking trails for a close-up experience. The first is the easier Lower Yosemite Trail . You can park at the visitor center parking lot and walk over , or take the free shuttle bus to the falls stop. Once you arrive at the starting point, you can begin your hike. This trail is only 1 mile long. The gently sloping loop trail, a short and easy walk , offers views of Yosemite Falls from both the lower and upper sections. The lower section we explored has a 98-meter drop, and even when the water flow is low, you can still feel the power of nature's cascading force. The power of nature extends beyond this ; it shapes the landscape through sheer force. Everything before us seems tranquil , but imagine what it would be like if the massive boulder on the left rolled down into the valley. These rocks, like nature's sculptors , have created Yosemite's unique landscape over thousands of years due to weathering and erosion. The constant erosion and collapse, the freezing and melting of water in the cracks , and the growth of plant roots such as moss in the rocks all contribute to the fracturing and flaking of the rocks, resulting in rockfalls that continue to this day. Furthermore, the glaciers of the Ice Age acted like giant bulldozers , cutting and transporting the granite, making the canyon even steeper. Later, as the glaciers receded , this "hanging valley" was left behind, and the streams within it transformed into spectacular waterfalls. Yosemite Falls, one of these is right before your eyes. If you want to see the upper section of this waterfall, you can hike the Yosemite Falls trail, a direct hiking route to the top of the falls. If you choose the hard mode and reach the top, the round trip is 7.2 miles with an elevation gain of 823 meters, requiring 6-8 hours to complete. Of course, if your time and energy are limited, you can choose the medium difficulty mode and hike one-third of the way to Columbia. The round trip to Columbia Rock is 3 miles round and takes 2 to 3 hours. You can park or take a bus to the parking lot below the falls, cross the road to the campsite on the other side, and the hiking trail starts here. This Yosemite Falls trail is one of the oldest historic trails in the park , built in 1873. Although you only complete 1/3 of it, the difficulty is moderate , but it still requires constant back-and-forth ascents of over 300 meters , which is quite a test of physical strength. The constant back-and-forth climbing uphill, like climbing 100 floors, is no joke. After climbing dozens of winding, upward-sloping gardenia trails, the long trail winds through the forest and over steep slopes. The valley below gradually unfolds, and with the increase in altitude , the view becomes more and more expansive until you reach the first viewpoint of the trail, Columbia Rock, where Yosemite's classic landscape unfolds before your eyes. I just came up from this parking lot; over there is Half Dome, so beautiful! We've already passed Columbia Rock. If you keep walking, you should be able to see the waterfall. Actually, we can continue for another 0.5 miles. This short stretch is not only downhill but also offers views of the upper part of Yosemite Falls. We can already hear the roar of the falls! Wow, I've finally reached the falls! Even in winter, the snow in Yosemite hasn't melted, and the falls are still flowing. Yosemite Falls cascades down from the top of the valley , the water crashing against the rock walls , turning into mist that drifts and falls on the white snow, as light as a wisp of white sand in the cold wind. If you climb to the top of this hiking trail, you can get a close look at the rushing water and feel the power of the falls cascading down the cliff. The sunlight warms the frozen mountain peaks, and the stream leaps down the cliff face, creating this magnificent waterfall. The ruggedness of the rock walls and the gentleness of the water create a striking contrast , and the rainbows refracted by the sunlight add a touch of dreamlike beauty to the scene. Here, time seems to slow down , leaving only the echoing sound of water. I've been hiking for almost two hours now, and it'll take another hour to get down. Maybe next time we can challenge ourselves to complete the entire route and climb to the top of the falls to see the even wider view. Besides Yosemite Falls , there are two other hiking trails in the valley, including the popular Mist Trail, where you can see two more falls and experience the misty spray. However, this trail isn't open year-round; some sections are frequently closed in winter or when conditions are poor. In recent years, it's only fully open on summer weekends and holidays. While you can take an alternative route, the difficulty level here is moderate if you want to see the falls, regardless of which route you choose. When I went on the difficulty level , I really underestimated the challenge , so I didn't reach the foot of the falls. Yosemite is also a bear-prone area, and there are signs everywhere in the park warning you what to do if you encounter a bear. The hike starts with a simple paved path; you just need to walk upstream against the flow of the falls. This squirrel is really fat! I really didn't expect it to be all uphill and climbing; it's not easy. After about a mile, you'll reach a wooden bridge. If I hadn't looked at the photos online later, I wouldn't have noticed it. From the bridge, you can see the gentle waterfall nestled among the trees in the distance . From this bridge, you enter the most popular route. When the trail is open, you can continue along the Mist Trail to the first waterfall , standing at the top to admire the roaring Vernall Fall . If your stamina allows , you can continue climbing to the second waterfall, reaching the highest point of the trail, Nevada Fall , and then returning along the John Muir Trail, forming a clockwise route change that is 6.4 miles long with an ascent of about 600 meters and takes five or six hours to complete. Since some sections were closed when I went , I only followed the alternative route to Clark Point viewpoint. Now we're going to cross a hill and take a detour to see that waterfall. Why are so many people climbing this trail? This is the scenery along the way! Wow, we've finally arrived! I've been walking for almost two hours! From here, you can see the second waterfall on the trail. I didn't continue from here; I think I'll complete the entire hike when it's fully open again. Now we're going downhill. Of course, the hiking trails here are far more than this, ranging from easy to difficult to backpacking overnight trails. Yosemite National Park boasts over 800 miles of hiking trails, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature and appreciate unparalleled spectacular scenery. That descent alone took me an hour! Now I know why there's drinking water here. Accommodation in Yosemite National Park is also diverse, from campsites to tent cabins to hotel rooms. Although there seem to be many options , it's very difficult to find a room during peak season. I strongly recommend booking in advance. Reservations for certain time slots are now open up to a year in advance. If you can't book accommodation inside the park , you can consider staying outside. Now, let's experience the different accommodations within the park one by one. First, the most comfortable and also the most expensive: the Yosemite Valley Lodge. It's the top choice for people staying here. It's close to Yosemite Falls and located in the heart of the valley's activity area. Now, let's go inside the cabin we'll be staying in. Let's check it out. The wooden building gives it a mountain cabin feel , allowing us to stay close to nature without sacrificing comfort. The room facilities are the same as a regular hotel. The price fluctuates depending on the season, but it's generally between $200 and $300 per night . We booked this room, and we can see Yosemite Falls from behind. It's snowing in Yosemite today! Let's take a look at the snow scene.The second type of accommodation is somewhere between a hotel and camping . Tonight I booked a heated tent cabin at Curry Village , also known as the Curry Community. It's a canvas tent. Let's see what's inside. There's a standard double bed, a safe, some towels, and a trash can. This rustic accommodation option combines camping and hotel facilities. It's not as rugged as camping , nor as expensive as a hotel. The price is around $120 per night. This blanket is so thin! Luckily, I brought an extra blanket . There's also a power outlet for charging. Let's see if it'll be cold in this heated tent tonight. I feel okay; the current temperature is around 10-20 degrees Celsius. The room temperature is quite comfortable, as you can adjust the heating. It's an upgraded tent. The most important thing when sitting in this tent is that you need to put your food in the food tray. So, put all your food in the locker . There's a metal box outside the tent that you need to lock securely. They tell you what to do if your food attracts a bear. First, shout loudly to scare it away! They keep emphasizing that you must keep your food safe, otherwise you'll be fined , or in more serious cases, you'll attract a bear. The next morning, I looked outside and wow! I arrived so late last night that I had no idea what the surroundings were like. This morning, I saw so many people! I'll go wash up and get ready. It's quite well-equipped. There are only two places to shower in Yosemite : Curry Village and Housekeeping. Overall, it felt quite warm. With the heater on full blast, it was really warm all night, not cold at all. Actually, these tents aren't soundproof at all at night. At two or three in the morning, the kid next to me was still making noise. Bringing earplugs was quite useful. Wow , the most beautiful snow mountain! So pretty! This is the parking lot. If you come by electric car, there are free charging stations here. The breakfast at Curry Village was pretty good, super plentiful. When you check out , return the key to the front desk. Of course, there are also camping options popular with outdoor enthusiasts. There are 13 campgrounds throughout Yosemite National Park, and bookings are very popular from April to October. Upper Pines Campground, a popular camping option in the park's valley area , offers standard accommodations for $36 per night. Reservations can be made up to five months in advance. During peak season, campgrounds typically sell out within a minute of opening for booking at 7:00 AM. When I visited in November, the situation was relatively good . My favorite part of camping is the tranquility of the early morning; it feels like the hustle and bustle of the city and the worries of life are purified in that moment. Yosemite isn't too cold in late autumn or early winter , but due to the high canyons on both sides , the valley only feels warm when the morning sun shines in. Of course, besides the three types of accommodation mentioned above , there are many other options available. For details on advance booking, price fluctuations, etc., please refer to the Yosemite National Park website. Yosemite's scenery is not limited to this. In this video , we only explored its main valley area. There are also glacier viewpoints , scenic highway areas , mysterious Valley, and giant redwood areas. These places are not as crowded as the valley area , but they still allow you to appreciate Yosemite's beauty from different perspectives . I invite you to join me in the next few videos to experience the unique features of each area. Remember to subscribe! See you in the next one!