Yosemite vs Yellowstone, which is the best? These are the two most beautiful national parks in the United States, and it is hard to decide which one to go to first.
Founded in 1872, Yellowstone was the first national park in the world and undoubtedly among the most significant national parks in the USA.
Located largely in Wyoming, Yellowstone crosses the Rocky Mountains into neighboring Idaho and Montana.
It is known for its Grand Canyon and breathtaking natural wonders, and many hiking trails, waterfalls.
Geothermal hot spots and wildlife such as bison, bears, and wolves are the main reasons people come here.
Yosemite National Park is located in the heart of California, it is a landscape of diversity. From high cliffs and giant & amazing waterfalls to massive trees and peaceful meadows.
Moreover, Yosemite is beautiful. It has so much to see and do; this place is like nowhere else on earth, and you can spend weeks exploring here.
Whether you are a nature lover or a geology nerd, or a happy camper, Yosemite is an awesome place to come and check out.
There are miles of roads, and you can literally pull over everywhere and go wandering off into the wilderness; it would be so easy to get lost here.
Below we have put together some of the best things to do in both national parks so you could get a better idea of which one to choose, Yosemite vs Yellowstone.
Let’s Find Out Yosemite vs Yellowstone
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is America’s most emblematic national park that attracts visitors around the world.
Located in east-central California in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It enjoys over 4 million visitors each year.
It is a place of countless waterfalls, breathtaking mountains and the incomparable valley called Yosemite.
Also, Yosemite is one of the most accessible and famous national parks in the united states, full of exotic secrets, elusive creatures, landscapes, hikes, scenic meadows and an entire pack of nature activities.
One of its beautiful geographic parts is Yosemite Valley. Here you can find lush meadows, calm rivers cascading waterfalls and acres of deciduous forests; that is home to things like black bears and grazing deer.
What is Yosemite National Park Famous for?
Yosemite National Park is known for its incredible mountain shapes, valleys, forests, its meadow and clashing waterfalls.
The national park has four distinct geographic regions spread across over three million acres.
1- The valley, 2- Sequoia Groves, 3- Granite Cliffs and 4- High Sierra. That is why this national park is like no other in the world.
Each region offers spectacular views to the visitors, which amaze them and lure them to visit again.
It is one of the most popular destinations in the United States, if not the world. People come here to see the waterfalls, Half Dome and El Capitan.
And they want to get up close and personal with that granite which is striking and spectacular.
What is the best time to Visit Yosemite National Park?
Probably the most popular question when it comes to Yosemite is when is the best time to visit.
So, plan your trip for the shoulder seasons, which means the spring, the fall and winter.
In these seasons, you have a much quieter time and a much richer experience of Yosemite.
If you can plan your trip for a day hike in Yosemite and into its wilderness, then you will have even a richer experience because of fewer people and more Yosemite.
And the busiest time is always summer, like towards the end of May, June, July and August.
Anytime is the best time to go to Yosemite; it depends on what you like, what you want to see and what you want to do.
Things to do in Yosemite National Park
As I mentioned earlier, there is no shortage of things to do in Yosemite National Park, but to make it shorter and quicker, below are these top and most visited attractions in Yosemite.
Tunnel View:
Yosemite comprises probably the most well-known landscape found on the whole planet, the Tunnel View.
Having an ideal over loop across the valley with on left side El Capitan, the cathedral rocks on the right together with the overflowing water of Bridal veil Waterfalls.
The trees near the tunnel view lead all the way across the valley and to the Half Dome in the distance behind the tunnel are the most visible and picture-perfect.
Elements such as rays of sunlight, low clouds, snow, rain, or fog add more beauty to this area. That’s the reason it’s among the greatest places to see at Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Valley View:
Another magnificent view in Yosemite National Park is what is called the valley view.
It’s fundamentally the same as what the tunnel view offers but from a lower view.
You still possess El Capitan and Cathedral stones into the left and Bridal veil Waterfall into the right.
The foreground has shifted radically, though; you still have a couple of beautiful views to soak in, but the Yosemite River is the primary part attraction in the area.
Glacier Point:
To locate Glacier Point, you’ll need to drive from this valley, passing tunnel perspective, and take a left towards Glacier Point.
Glacier Point closes down because of snow around the start of November and doesn’t open up again before spring.
There is a lot of different compositions to have a Glacier point and there is even a small plateau for dare devils.
Lower Yosemite Falls:
One of the tourist highlights of Yosemite National Park is the Yosemite Falls. The fall are divided into two sections the upper and the lower.
This is also the great way to start off your Yosemite journey. This hike is about a mile very accessible.
It is flat, it is short, and its handicap accessible, and you can see lower Yosemite Falls and upper Yosemite Falls.
Depending on the time of year because with waterfalls, you do want to be careful. They can be dry and like late summer or early fall, so keep an eye on that.
Vernal Falls:
Vernal Falls is a 96 meters tall waterfall located two kilometers from the trailhead. The trail is one of the popular in Yosemite but it is actually quite steep at some places.
Where to Stay in Yosemite? Find Out the Best Hotels and Camps Near Yosemite
Yellowstone National Park
Yellow stone is a huge place reaching from the north west corner of Wyoming into Montana and Idaho.
Each year Yellowstone is host to over three million visitors. It was also the US’s first national park, established in 1872.
Within the park alone there are three hundred miles of paved roads and trails taking you to the world’s greatest thermal features.
It is a place of unfolding wonders. Old Faithful Geyser, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Falls, Yellowstone Lake, Lamar Valley natural phenomena that has become part of the American experience.
What is Yellowstone National Park Famous for?
Yellowstone is a creation of fire and water. Its thousands of square miles of forest and Meadow, lakes, rivers and waterfalls, mountains, canyons, and the largest super volcano on the continent (still active).
It is also known for its geysers, hot springs, fountains, wildlife, and geothermal landmarks; it is even designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.
What is the best time to Visit Yellowstone National Park?
Its name is celebrated over the years but hasn’t always been that way. The park is incredible during every season, but it depends on what you want to do and see.
If you would like to avoid the crowds, spring is the quietest time of the year around here.
Between mid-March and the beginning of May, only a few services are available, but the roads in the northern end of the park are plowed, and spring skiing is popular.
July and August are the summer months in the park, and visitation begins to pink-up, and the weather finally warms.
Most of the hiking trails and all of the visitor services are open. These months are great for hiking and camping, but these are also the busiest season to visit the park.
While August is a great season to spot the Bison, it is their rutting got mating season. No matter when you come you are likely to have a great time.
Things to do in Yellowstone National Park
There are many amazing things you can do in Yellowstone National Park but let’s take a look at the main attractions of the giant national park.
Mammoth Hot Spring:
The hot springs were created over thousands of years, continually changing terraces, pools, and colorful formations grow out of a massive discharge of thermally heated water.
Each day over two tons of Calcium Carbonate suspended in water creates ever-changing structures.
Norris Geyser Basin:
It is the oldest and most dynamic thermal area in the park. It’s been boiling and gurgling for at least a hundred and fifteen thousand years, and it is the hottest.
At a thousand feet below the surface 459 degrees Fahrenheit, these subterranean super-hot waters break through the earth’s surface as geysers, hot springs, steam vents.
Grand Prismatic Spring:
At over 300 feet across is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone. A spot in Yellowstone that alone attracts hundreds of people around the globe to see its majestic beauty.
It has owned the title of largest hot spring in America and the third-largest on the earth.
Its blue-looking water body is may be deadly, but its edges are not hot, and you can see plenty of life on the edges.
The colorful Prismatic spring looks like a work of art that is a must-see in Yellowstone.
Yellowstone Lake:
For visitors to the park, the lake is the place for exploration, fishing, and boating.
The lake is the crown jewel in Yellowstone; taking the boat ride around the lake is one of the sweet experiences of the trip to Yellowstone.
Upper Yellowstone Waterfall:
A dramatic outpour of spray and foam can be a witness from the cliff edge viewing platform.
The taller still is the Lower Yellowstone Waterfalls, almost twice as high as Niagara Falls.
Wildlife in Yellowstone:
Yellowstone is one of the world’s foremost wildlife sanctuaries, home to the most significant number of wild animals per square mile in all the lower 48 states.
Mating, giving birth, growing up, Yellowstone is a protected home for hundreds of kinds of mammals.
Creatures of the water and creatures of the air, renowned for their bears.
Black bears and Grizzley bears both are native Yellowstone. Furthermore, Yellowstone has always been a photographer’s paradise.
Lamar valley:
This is the place where you will spot most of the animals in Yellowstone. Few places in the world are as beautiful as Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley.
It is the kind of place that when you first lay eyes on it, your ability to put words in complete sentences just sort of disappears.
If pristine landscapes and wildlife are why you come to Yellowstone, this is where you go.
Where to Stay in Yellowstone? Check Out these Best Hotels
Conclusion Yosemite vs Yellowstone:
So, Yosemite vs Yellowstone, which one to go first? Now you have an idea to choose from in terms of wildlife, adventure, camping, waterfalls, and history.
Both of these national parks are amazing to explore, and if you are a nature lover, you could easily spend months here.
I would suggest that you take your time in the park because you need to be relaxed, take in the scenery and take a few days just to unplug and observe nature.
That is what these parks are were built for. So, take your time and enjoy the beautiful nature of the United States.
I hope you get a chance to visit Yellowstone and Yosemite very soon, it is absolutely worth it, and it’s gorgeous; you will be blown away.
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