Why a trip to Yosemite needs to be on your summer to-do list

Why a trip to Yosemite needs to be on your summer to-do list - One of Yosemite National Park's most iconic attractions, the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, is open again after nearly three years. Since its temporary closure in 2015, $40 million worth of restorations have gone into the park's trails, tree protection, and access to the famous California Tree Tunnel, among other improvements. Now is the perfect time to visit. Check out this gallery to find out 30 fascinating facts about one of America's most extraordinary national parks.
Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash

0 / 31 Fotos

The start of it all - Yosemite was officially classified as a National Park in 1890.
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

1 / 31 Fotos

A history of native lands - Before that time, it was home to the American Indian Ahwaneechee tribe for over 4,000 years, according to Soft Schools.
Photo by Elijah Hiett on Unsplash

2 / 31 Fotos

A bloody war - This all changed when trappers and the California Gold Rush came to Yosemite. This conflict over territory eventually erupted into the Mariposa Indian War.
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

3 / 31 Fotos

A waterfall fit for a wedding - Yosemite's iconic Bridalveil Falls received its name because when the water is blown to the side by wind it resembles a bride's veil blowing gently in the breeze.
Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash

4 / 31 Fotos

A world-renowned wonder - The park was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash

5 / 31 Fotos

A positively popular park - Roughly four million people visit Yosemite National Park every year, according to CBS SF BayArea.
Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash

6 / 31 Fotos

Massive falls - With a 2,425-foot drop from its peak, Yosemite Falls is the largest waterfall in North America.
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

7 / 31 Fotos

A hub for redwoods - It has been estimated that the park is home to over 500 giant sequoias, otherwise known as redwoods. These trees can live up to 3,000 years.
Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash

8 / 31 Fotos

A must-see rock climbing destination - From the end of World War II up until around 1970, Yosemite National Park was a modern rock climbing mecca.
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

9 / 31 Fotos

A rock climber's playground - Yosemite's legendary Camp 4 site has been a hot spot for world-renowned climbers throughout history.
Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash

10 / 31 Fotos

The glowing falls - If you catch Horsetail Falls on an evening in late January to mid-February, you'll see the sunset hit the waterfall in such a way that gives the illusion of flowing lava.
Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash

11 / 31 Fotos

Incredible biodiversity - Out of California's 7,000 plant species, nearly 20% of them can be found in Yosemite National Park, according to Soft Schools.
Photo by Cristofer Jeschke on Unsplash

12 / 31 Fotos

An impressive peak - Rock climbers are up for quite the challenge if they want to take on the famous El Capitan rock formation, which is about 3,000 ft tall.
Photo by Paul Robinson on Unsplash

13 / 31 Fotos

A wide range of wildlife - There are over 90 different mammal species living in the park, according to Soft Schools.
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

14 / 31 Fotos

Up in the clouds - The park's elevation ranges between 2,000 and 13,000 ft, according to National Park Reservations.
Photo by Nicolas Moscarda on Unsplash

15 / 31 Fotos

An array of ancient forestland - Yosemite has about 225,000 acres of old-growth forest left, according to Soft Schools.
Photo by Sam Goodgame on Unsplash

16 / 31 Fotos

Perfect paths for exploring - There are over 800 mi of hiking trails for lovers of the outdoors to enjoy.
Photo by Jenn Lopez on Unsplash

17 / 31 Fotos

Even US presidents love it - In 1903 President Roosevelt spent three nights camping in the national park.
Photo by Jenn Lopez on Unsplash

18 / 31 Fotos

World-class waterfalls - The park is home to three of the top 10 tallest waterfalls in the world.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

19 / 31 Fotos

Wild and free - Only a small portion of the national park is open to the public, while the vast majority of it remains untouched by humans.
Photo by Luo Lei on Unsplash

20 / 31 Fotos

The Guardian of Yosemite - Explorer Glen Clark was the first to record data on the park's giant sequoias. Clark used to do this barefoot, and referred to shoes as “cruel and silly instruments of torture," according to Science Wonders.
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

21 / 31 Fotos

Flora and fauna frenzy - The national park has thousands of plant species, some of which are typically rare to the region.
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

22 / 31 Fotos

The park's real giant - Though El Capitan may get all the attention of tourists, the highest peak in the park is actually Mt. Lyell, which is 13,114 ft tall.
Photo by Andrew Charney on Unsplash

23 / 31 Fotos

Mountaintops that never rest - The mountains in Yosemite still grow roughly one foot every 1,000 years.
Photo by Jeff Finley on Unsplash

24 / 31 Fotos

Safeguarding the park - Yosemite National Park was the first area of land protected by the US federal government.
Photo by Tommy Lisbin on Unsplash

25 / 31 Fotos

An unlikely arts destination - Yosemite isn't all about hiking and rock climbing, you know. During the spring and summer, the park actually features several art exhibits at locations like the Ansel Adams Gallery.
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

26 / 31 Fotos

Well-deserved attention - Tourism in the national park shot up exponentially after artist Thomas Ayres painted Yosemite's landscapes and James Hutchings wrote about the park.
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

27 / 31 Fotos

Tremendous trees - “The Grizzly Giant" sequoia tree in Yosemite National Park is one of the largest trees in the world.
Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash

28 / 31 Fotos

Black bear bonanza - There are between 300 and 500 black bears residing in Yosemite National Park, according to Soft Schools.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

29 / 31 Fotos

The park's protectors - In 1899, an army of African American soldiers, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, were assigned to patrol Yosemite National Park. This included protecting the park from poachers and fighting forest fires, according to Mental Floss.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

30 / 31 Fotos