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Sights Overview

With 1,189 square mi of parkland -- 94.5% of it undeveloped wilderness accessible only to the backpacker and horseback rider -- Yosemite is a nature lover's wonderland. The western boundary dips as low as 2,000 feet in the chaparral-covered foothills; the eastern boundary rises to 13,000 feet at points along the Sierra Crest. Yosemite Valley has many of the park's most famous sites and is easy to reach, but take the time to explore the high country above the Valley and you'll see a different side of the park; the fragile and unique alpine terrain is arresting. Wander through this world of wind-warped trees, scurrying animals, and bighorn sheep, and you'll come away with a distinct sense of peace and solitude. Sequoia and Kings Canyon share a boundary and are administered together. They encompass 1,353 square mi, rivaled only by Yosemite in rugged Sierra beauty. The topography ranges from the western foothills at an elevation of 1,500 feet to the towering peaks of the Great Western Divide and the Sierra Crest. The Kings River cuts a swath through the backcountry and over the years has formed a granite canyon that, in places, towers nearly 4,000 feet above the canyon floor. From Junction Overlook, on the drive to Cedar Grove, you can see the 8,200-foot drop from Spanish Mountain to the Kings River, as well as the confluence of the Middle and South forks of the Kings River. Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, is the crown jewel of the eastern side.