Page 6 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – March/April 2019

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Explore California’s
Magnificent National Parks
By Judie Karhan
The state of California is blessed with many beautiful National Parks – each intriguingly unique in their geological formations and environmental habitats. A tour of these designated parklands reveals startling contrasts in landscape and affords magnificent scenic views, such as Yosemite National Park’s famous Half Dome and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park’s giant sequoias.
A pictorial favorite of photographer Ansel Adams, hikers and tourists, Yosemite National Park is indeed one of the most beautiful places on earth. For outdoor enthusiasts, the region offers a vast selection of trails, from easy to challenging. East
of the Yosemite Falls, the valley divides up into spectacular glacier-carved valleys and granite basins, providing trails in all directions. Dominating this area is the iconic Half Dome, its rounded summit looking 5,000 feet down to the valley ground. The Half
Dome vertical north face is a titanic-size wall above the Tenya River as well as the sheerest cliff on the continent. Other scenic natural features of Yosemite include the mighty El Capitan, a granite monolith that rises 3,000 feet from base to summit, as well as Cathedral Rocks, Tuolumne Meadows, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Falls and Vernal Falls.
In stark contrast to Yosemite, Death Valley National Park sprawls across the Mojave Desert, straddling the California/Nevada border. Death Valley encompasses a diverse environment of salt-flats, sand dunes, valley, canyon and mountains. It is the hottest, driest and lowest of all National Parks in the United States. But while this sounds quite ominous – as implied by its name – life thrives in this valley, which lies in large part below sea level. For visitors, park rangers are always on the ready to explain the geology, wildlife and plant life in the region.
Approximately 200 miles from Death Valley, along scenic Highway 395, lies Mammoth Lakes. Due
to its high elevation, this majestic region attracts snowboarders and skiers from fall through spring, and in the summertime becomes a playground for
fishermen, hikers and bicyclists. Ride up the Scenic Gondola to the top of Mammoth Mountain for 360-degree views of the magnificent Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Venturing farther north along the same route, over Minaret Summit, lies another scenic highlight, the basalt columns of Devils Postpile National Monument, where there is access to Ansel Adams Wilderness.
This monument, established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot-high Rainbow Falls and pristine mountain
scenery. With columns towering 60 feet high, this rare geologic sight ranks as one of the world’s finest examples of columnar basalt.
Another California treasure is Sequoia/ Kings Canyon National Park. This combined park spans over 400,000 acres and contains in its area the highest point in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney, which soars 14,505 feet above sea level. Kings Canyon National Park is home to the General Grant Tree, the largest living tree in the world.
Visitors to Sequoia/ King Canyon National Park discover magnificent scenery found very few places on earth, and enjoy more than 800 miles of hiking trails, including
the famous John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and Big Trees Trail. Stargazing is one of the favorite pastimes here, and naturalists are available to guide you through the constellations.
The California National Park system protects one of California’s greatest assets, its natural beauty. These are places in which you can step away from the everyday trappings of city life, immerse yourself in the pioneer history of the Old West, and take
in the serene pleasures of alpine-fresh air and wondrous sights. This a trail worth following!
From the iconic to the unexpected, go beyond the guidebooks and truly connect to people, places and experiences.
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MARCH/APRIL 2019 – DISCOVERIES EDITION
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