El Capitan, Yosemite National Park - vertical rock in California

El Capitan, Yosemite National Park 

           Ei Capitan is elevated at approximately 7,500 ft in Mariposa County of Yosemite National Park. Nowadays, El Capitan makes news as the site where popular and well-respected rock climbers make their ascent. El Capitan, though, is for everybody, whether serious rock climbers are not. Many travelers choose El Capitan as an attraction that you should not miss when visiting Yosemite National Park.  

 Image from flickr

   And for a good reason. The sheer granite wall that is about 3,000 feet from its base to its top is an imposing slab of rock. Travelers are often in awe of El Capitan. Some of the words used to describe it are fierce, monumental, and thrilling. The attraction is a granite monolith capped with white rugged sheets from glacial activity millions of years ago. If you are not looking at scaling the rock, you can still enjoy the views from Tunnel View which is close to State Highway 41. You can, however, take any of the western roads in the park and go to the Bridalveil area as El Capitan is close to Bridalveil Fall. 

You can visit El Capitan in any season and at any time of day because the view changes. Still, some travelers recommend that it is best to visit in February for a spectacular view of the mountain and the lights.  

 Image from flickr

           For hiking, you can take the El Capitan trail. It’s a 15-mile hike towards the top of El Capitan. If hiking in the summer, bring water as any nearby water may have dried out. In winter, the trail is still open, but make sure to take precautions. The first few miles are thought to be the most challenging, but you will be rewarded with the best views once you get to the summit. 

The El Capitan trail can be a day hike for travelers looking at really exploring El Capitan. A lot of tour companies arrange these hikes, but you can also do it yourself. The base of the trail is Tamarack Flat Campground, and you can simply follow the directions from there.  

 Image from pixabay

          For more adventurers who are looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush, El Capitan is the site for rock climbing whether rope climbing or free rock climbing or BASE jumping. You do not need to pay any fees for climbing in El Capitan but it should be undertaken thinking of the risks in mind. Climbers take many routes in scaling El Capitan but among the elite, 

The Nose is perhaps the most difficult and rated as the best climbing routes in the world. BASE jumping is another form of activity, but it is illegal to BASE jump in any national park in the country. BASE jumpers do so illegally and are fined when caught.  

  Image from pixabay

Still some more laid-back travelers hike and enjoy the views of El Capitan from afar. You can bring your binoculars and spot climbers across the Merced River. Whatever activity, it is that you do in El Capitan, it is important to just take it all in. The attraction is one of the most magnificent works of nature after all.

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  ( All images found in google image search and I added images source with the website name. These images are not mine. if there have any false details in this article , please accept my apologies )