Springtime in Yosemite

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — Often called "The Incomparable Valley," Yosemite is a wonder to behold and a must-see in the National Park System.

However, even though portions of the park are open year-round and there are four seasons here, one single season — spring — stands out as the prime time.

Summer is usually too crowded, fall lacks the booming waterfall action, and winter is cold and sometimes snowy.

Spring is simply Yosemite at its best. It's a time when finding a parking spot isn't difficult and when you can actually have some solitude and quiet.

The only two disadvantages to a spring visit are (1) the high country — including the Tioga Pass road — the most direct connection for Utah drivers — may be closed and (2) the high backcountry of Yosemite will mostly be in accessible, due to snow. Some 95 percent of Yosemite is designated as wilderness.

This 9,945-foot pass, California's highest paved road, doesn't open until late May.

(The Tioga road cuts off 100 miles for Utah drivers vs. the Sacramento route, and in the past 29 years this highway has opened as late at July 1 — in 1998 — and as early as April 29 — in 1988.)

Imagine a wider Zion National Park with thunderous waterfalls, huge sequoia trees and several world-renowned rock monoliths, and you've essentially got Yosemite Valley.

This is a photographer's delight in any season.

The valley is the centerpiece of the 1,200-square-mile Yosemite, with El Capitan and Half Dome, two of the most photographed features in the park. It also has major waterfalls, such as Yosemite Falls, America's tallest falls at 2,420 feet in three sections; it's the seventh highest in the world. (But by August, it will dry up to slow to a trickle before returning in November after the winter snows come.)

The valley, with some open meadows, is where most visitors congregate.

But there are plenty of less-visited features here, too. There's Hetch Hetchy Valley, a flooded sister of Yosemite Valley to the north.

There's the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees to the south.

Glacier Point, open by late April, is 30 miles — or one hour — from Yosemite Valley and offers commanding views of the valley.

While most of Yosemite Valley is about 4,000 feet above sea level, the tallest peak in the park is Mount Lyell at 13,114 feet above sea level.

There are 11 major hiking trails in Yosemite Valley. They range from the easy — but must-see — 0.5-mile walk roundtrip to the Bridalveil Fall drop; to the one-mile loop to Lower Yosemite Falls; to the two-mile roundtrip to Mirror Lake; to the 14-mile hike to Half Dome and back.