AS YOU navigate your way along the intriguingly named Mist trail, the 8,842ft-high pinnacle, Half Dome, looming in the distance is your constant and reassuring guide.
Despite its description, the Mist trail offers a mix of spectacularly clear mountain vistas, an alpine wilderness and groves of giant sequoia trees.
And the Half Dome never leaves sight, even as you dip into the sprawling meadows. It is, in fact, a huge granite rock that presides over the route to beautiful Vernal and Nevada Falls.
The Mist trails is one of the many hiking trails in California’s Yosemite National Park, where the terrain ranges from 2,000ft above sea level to more than 13,000ft for the more serious enthusiast.
It is no surprise that this is one of the world’s most popular national parks, with 4m visitors a year snaking along its trails.
The journey from the valley floor is a reasonably gentle four-mile round-trip to Vernal Falls and an overall eight-mile trek to Nevada Falls. Whatever effort you put in, you are left feeling exhilarated.
At least three days are needed to explore just a small part of Yosemite’s contrasting landscapes. There are more than 800 miles of both easy and tougher, well established trails in most areas.
But you could easily spend a week in the park, such is its sheer size and diversity and potential for outdoor activities.
Guided pursuits include rock-climbing, horse-riding, kayaking, and wildlife and geology tours. Bikes and kayaks are also available for hire, and horse rides can be booked from one hour to a full week.
In winter, Yosemite is also a popular area for cross-country and downhill skiing.
For those who only have time to spend just a day in the park, head straight for the Yosemite Valley Visitors’ Centre to find out which tours are being operated on the day, get some general advice about the area and stock up on the maps that are available.
Most USspecialists feature stays in Yosemite, either as part of a pre-arranged self-drive itinerary or independently.
Accommodation within the park boundaries includes 13 camp grounds, where tents and campervans can be installed; a range of lodges with fully serviced hotel rooms; and tented cabins with shared shower blocks.
The largest location is Camp Curry, which also features a shop, restaurant and evening entertainment.
Wherever visitors stay, they should always take all food out of their cars and tents and store them in the bear-proof lockers provided. Bears have been known to destroy cars to get at food.