Αξιοθέατα και μέρη για επίσκεψη Καλιφόρνια - Top 20

Unmissable, yes this sign is legendary! We did the excursion from the Griffith Observatory and the trail is not particularly well indicated. The walk is nice (a little sporty) but at times the path is very narrow, lost in the vegetation and I admit that with the risk of fires you have to be vigilant. Don't forget to bring enough water. Excursion made at the beginning of September 2024, it was a heatwave.

The Mist Trail is much easier to hike uphill in early summer (snowmelt) than downhill because it becomes very slippery. Instead of returning the same way, it's recommended to head a little further upstream, turning right, onto the John Muir Trail—not only because of the slippery descent, but also because this leads to the best vantage point for Vernal Falls (marked on the map). Especially when the Merced River is full, the view is spectacular. The descent on the John Muir Trail is then much easier. Warning for photographers: During snowmelt, only take photos in the "splash zone" with a truly waterproof (submersible!) camera—and pack any other camera in a completely waterproof bag beforehand and only unpack it again at the top. Several careless camera owners have destroyed their equipment on this trail. I once heard a man at the top complaining about a broken Hasselblad – it was in his backpack, but obviously not completely waterproof. The fine mist penetrates everywhere, and even with a rain jacket, you end up wet like you've just taken a shower. On warm summer days, the trail is extremely crowded, with several thousand visitors on just a few kilometers of trail.

Awesome spot for a 360 view! Just note, there's no shade up there. Take your breaks in shade on the road up and then stay for the views and wind.

You get really wet when you go up the steps at Verna Fall

For me, one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done. These gigantic trees are so graceful and beautiful, it smells wonderful - simply fantastic.

Pier 39 is of course not just about the famous sea lions. You can really spend a day hanging out here. Preferably with small children, because then you'll quickly become poor. ;-) Best combined with a trip to Alcatraz. Very exciting!

Hikers first glimpse the massive General Sherman Tree from this spot on the General Sherman Tree Trail. Just around the bend, you can reach the base of the tree, but even from this spot, you can marvel at its immense size and grandeur.

If there is a lot of water in the Merced River (early summer), then it is definitely worth taking the path from Vernal Falls up to the John Muir Trail, as marked on my route: The photo of the waterfall from there is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful photos in the entire park. This return route is also recommended for another reason, especially at this time of year: The Mist Trail leads steeply down slippery, wet steps up to half a meter high - and is not pleasant to walk downhill, especially not at this time of year with a lot of water on it. If you really want to do the fog/rain hike, it is better to go uphill. In terms of photo opportunities, early summer is the best time of year in the entire park. Important: Always pack a rain jacket if you are going on a long tour: The weather can change (even contrary to the weather forecast) faster than you can walk back. I have seen people walk the entire route from Half Dome to the valley (around 4 hours) in shorts and a t-shirt in pouring rain, you should avoid that. PS: I did this hike in 2004, back then there was no (affordable) GPS - so the tracking data is fake, the photos and the paths are not. Just in case someone stumbles across the GPS coordinates that correspond exactly to the Komoot map.