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5 California State Parks
Mono Lake
By Ashley Tittle, California State Parks Foundation
Astonishing Side Trips near Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is an amazing place unlike no other, certainly worth the visit. But if you are considering a trip to Yosemite, you should also consider visiting some of the lesser known state parks nearby. California has 279 state parks, and some of the best ones are within a few kilometres of Yosemite. Discover one, or all five, on you next trip to Yosemite.
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1. Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserves - 21 km (13 mi) east of Yosemite National Park
To say that Mono Lake is memorable is an understatement. It provides an otherworldly experience and a kind of strange natural beauty that is unmatched anywhere else. The lake is over a million years old, making it one of the oldest lakes in North America.
The state park was established to preserve the “tufa towers” which are calcium-carbonate spires and knobs. The underwater springs rich in calcium mix with lake water rich in carbonates. This mixture creates a chemical reaction that builds a calcium carbonate limestone. If you enjoy salty, this lake is about two and a half times saltier than the ocean.
At this park you can enjoy a variety of activities. Not to be missed is the 1.6 km (1 mi) self-guided nature trail at south tufa, where you will learn about the natural history of the lake. In addition, there are other hiking trials, bird watching, and boating. Be sure to enjoy a unique buoyant swimming experience in that salty water. Don’t forget your camera, as photographers come from all over the world to get a shot of this exceptional location.
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5 California State Parks
Bodie State Historic Park
2. Bodie State Historic Park - 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Yosemite National Park
If the Gold Rush and Old West appeal to you, than look no further than Bodie State Historic Park. This ghost town will have you intrigued from the moment you arrive. It was once known as the most lawless, wildest and toughest mining camp in the West and was home to 10,000 people. Now you can see abandoned cars and iron machinery rusting around the town. There are homes, a school, a church, bars and shops all eerily left behind. To keep the undisturbed historic feeling of the town there are no commercial facilities.
Daily tours are available and more information on times during the day can be found at the park museum. The tours last for 50 minutes and take you through the machine shop, electrical room, amalgam tables, and Stamp Mill. This Stamp Mill is one of the most intact in California. You will also learn about gold and how it was extracted from quartz.
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5 California State Parks
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
3. Calaveras Big Trees State Park - 137 km (85 mi) northwest of Yosemite National Park
If you liked Yosemite’s Wawona Tree, you will most certainly like Calaveras Big Trees State Park’s Pioneer Cabin Tree, which has a large hole through the base you can walk through. At this state park you will be among the largest organism on earth, the Giant Sequoia. In the North Grove there is the “Discovery Tree” which is the first Sierra redwood noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852. This tree was 7.5 m (24 ft) wide and 90 m (300 ft) tall.
If you only have a short while to stop here, be sure to see the North Grove, the original portion of the park. There is a 2.4 km (1.5 mi) self-guided loop where you can walk among the magnificent giants. This park also provides two large camping grounds if you are looking to stay the night.
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5 California State Parks
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
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5 California State Parks
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
4. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park - 170 km (105 mi) northwest of Yosemite National Park
At Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park you will see the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America – marbleized limestone with around 1,185 holes! Along with the mortar holes you can also see petroglyphs, which are thought to be two or three thousand years old. The two together, the holes and petroglyphs are unique in California.
There is also a museum that features exhibits and a large collection of Sierra Nevada Indian artifacts. The museum was designed to reflect the architecture of a traditional roundhouse. During multiple times a year local Native Americans hold ceremonies in the roundhouse.
5. Grover Hot Springs State Park - 290 km (180 mi) north of Yosemite National Park
Stop for a soak in the natural hot springs at Grover Hot Springs State Park. Take time to relax in one of the pools and gaze at the beautiful granite mountain peaks surrounding you. This water can be up to 65°C, but the park regulates this temperature at about 39°C. Fortunately, there is little sulfur in these hot springs, and they do not have the rotten smell at many other natural hot springs. The pools are open year round, weather permitting.
If hot springs are not your thing, there are many hikes throughout the park. Hikes of varying distances, one of which leads to a waterfall and another to Burnside Lake. If you feel like staying the night there is a campground with 76 sites.