California is a unique state, featuring everything from high mountain peaks, to the lowest point in North America, a full 282 feet below sea level. No road trip through the state is complete without sampling both of California’s extreme terrains.
Starting at the peak of things, the Tioga Road and Big Oak Flat Road take visitors through some of the country’s most exquisite mountainous regions. Yosemite National Park is the nation’s oldest federally recognized nature preservation. Set aside by Abraham Lincoln in 1864, Yosemite National Park features breathtaking views and multiple opportunities to get out and enjoy nature.
If you enjoy experiencing the wilds of nature first-hand, be sure to try some of the recreational activities in the area. The Merced River is the perfect place to take a rafting trip, or stop for a swim at one of the sandy riverside beaches. Hikers can enjoy a glorious 14 mile trek to and from Cloud’s Rest, where you get a spectacular view of Yosemite’s granite domes and the evergreen forest that surrounds them. If rock climbing takes your fancy, be sure to stop at Camp 4 at the base of El Capitan, the tallest piece of granite in the world. There are a multitude of excellent sites for mountain climbers. The Badge Pass Ski Resort offers winter skiing and snowboarding for those who prefer to hit the slopes.
A trip through Yosemite is not complete without a stop in Mariposa Grove. Walking through the towering 1000-year-old sequoias is enough to wow even the most jaded visitor. Take the time to get out of the car as you travel, and experience the beauty of Yosemite first-hand.
At the other end of the elevation chart runs the Death Valley Scenic Byway. At first glance Death Valley strikes many as a forsaken land, without life or excitement. However, the arid landscape has its own unique beauty that must be experienced first-hand.
Taking you through Death Valley National Park, the scenic byway is a geological treasure trove of creatively named landmarks. Start your journey by traveling to Dante’s View, a peak in the Black Mountains that is deceptively only a mile above sea level. From this vantage you will be exposed to the deep, wide western valley, which stretches all the way to Telescope Peak.
Below Dante’s View lies the lowest point in North America, Badwater. The choppy rocks of Badwater Spring frame the salt-laden water at the edge of Death Valley’s salt flats. This inhospitable expanse of land is traced with erratic, yet intricate geometric patterns, left behind when all traces of potable water have dried from the surface.
Don’t miss a trip along Artist Drive, to get a spectacular view of the Black Mountains. The incredibly varied palette of golds, greens, lavenders, and reds are the result of ash deposits from ancient volcanoes. Those with artistic talent or a love of photography can see why Death Valley attracts so many visitors, despite its apparently desolate nature.
California is a beautiful state filled with glorious places to visit. To learn more about what you can do when traveling in California, try visiting one of the many websites available to help you plan your trip.
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