The preservation of the natural resources that contribute to the exquisite beauty of Yosemite National Park is its primary reason for being. The other is to make the park accessible for the enjoyment of all. It succeeds admirably on both counts.

More than 3.5 millions visitors come to Yosemite each year to be awed by its natural beauty. With 750,000-acres it is one of the largest habitat blocks in central Sierra Nevada, home to 2,000 varieties of plants, including rare giant sequoia groves, and animals, from black bears to bighorn sheep. There are literally thousands of lakes and ponds, 1,600 miles of streams, geysers and hot springs, 800 miles of hiking trails, and 350 miles of roads.

Come in any of the four seasons to have a completely different experience. Summer is wildflower season, marked by warm temperatures and prime wildlife viewing. Fall is cooler, perfect for hiking, a time when leafy trees show their colors. In winter freezing conditions invite magnificent ice crystal formations. Spring is for waterfalls, the time when snow runoff is at its peak and even the smallest creeks become rushing torrents.

For more information go to: www.nps.gov/yose/ or www.yosemite.national-park.com.