LEAVING SO SOON?

2 More Cool Things

There’s so much to do in the park but don’t miss these deep dives into the history of the area.

› The Mariposa Museum & History Center

A massive and eclectic collection of artifacts and exhibits interpreting Native American, Spanish Settlement, California Gold Rush, Yosemite and Mariposa County History. mariposamuseum.com

› The Yosemite Climbing Museum

Yosemite was where modern climbing was invented. From the famed Camp 4 camping area in Yosemite Valley, a group of rebellious climbers made the first accents of the giant granite walls thought previously unassailable, including Half Dome. Founder Ken Yager was a young climber during some of the most daring portions of this rich history and has dedicated his life to celebrating and honoring “the Dirtbags of Camp 4” with a museum in Mariposa dedicated to their history making accomplishments. yosemiteclimbing.org >>>

Getting there

Fresno International Yosemite Airport is a quick flight from SLC and a 65-mile drive to Yosemite’s South Entrance.

5. The Little, Medium, Big and Really Big Hikes

Every national park has the hike, in Yosemite, it is the Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Trails, also known as the “Mist Trail.” And it comes in easy, medium and hard stops. The easy stop is to the footbridge below Vernal Falls but don’t stop there. Climb the giant staircase and walk through the eponymous mist to the top of Vernal Falls. Keep going and you’ll get to the top of Nevada Falls. For the really hardcore you can make the 10- to 12-hour hike to the famed “cable route” to the summit of Half Dome. To actually climb the cable route and summit, you have to luck out with the daily lottery for permits