What to do in Harden Flat, CA

Yosemite Valley is the emerald green heart of Yosemite National Park. Marvel at the soaring granite walls, including some of the park’s most iconic landmarks, flanking this 8-mile (13-kilometer) canyon.

Yosemite National Park is an area of extraordinary natural beauty in the center of California. It has abundant flora and fauna in addition to majestic mountains, giant trees, vast valleys and peaceful lakes. Every year, millions of travelers visit the park, which stretches across 747,956 acres (302,687 hectares). Glaciers formed the fascinating landscape about 1 million years ago.

El Capitan is one of Yosemite National Park’s best-known features, rising sharply from the valley floor in a spectacular precipitous formation. Translating to “the captain” in Spanish, El Capitan looks out over the magnificent valley and dares rock climbers and hikers to reach its dizzying peaks. See the mesmerizing rock face from one of several roads that wind through the western part of Yosemite Valley or grab your climbing equipment and tackle “El Cap” yourself.

Appreciate the grandeur of nature at Tunnel View, one of Yosemite National Park’s most famous sights. This scenic lookout has a post-card perfect panorama of Yosemite Valley, attracting as many as 6,000 visitors each day in summer.

Discover waterfalls, wildflower meadows, dramatic cliffs and soaring granite peaks at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. This vast lake sits amid the natural beauty of Hetch Hetchy Valley in the northwestern corner of Yosemite National Park. Stretching for 8 miles (13 kilometers), it is the longest lake in the Yosemite region. Visit Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to enjoy hikes to some of the park’s most isolated and photogenic landscapes.