Geology
The Park's most prominent features resulted from ancient volcanic action, erosion, continental uplift, and Ice Age glaciers.
Plan Around Geology
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Geology Details
The geology of the Park is fascinating. With the Ice Age that retreated 10,000 years ago, slow-moving ice scraped and carved El Capitan and Half Dome, polished solid granite into smooth domes, created lakes, and left massive boulders strewn across the landscape. Not all of this is ancient history, however. The Happy Isles rockfall in 1996 sent 80,000 tons of rock down to the valley floor at 160 miles per hour. Also, the Ahwahnee Hotel was evacuated in 2009 after being threatened by a rockfall from the cliffs behind the premises.
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Learn About the Park
Nearby Parks Around Geology
Compare nearby parks around Geology when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Geology
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Geology while the map context is still fresh.
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Jessie Benton Fremont
An early advocate of the Park, without her work behind the scenes, Yosemite might not exist today.
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ZERO LANDFILL IN THE PARKS:
THE YOSEMITE, GRAND TETON AND DENALI PROGRAM
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30-Minute Helicopter Ride
Fly rim-to-rim in a half-hour.
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50-Minute Airplane Tour
The ultimate Canyon airplane tour.
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50-Minute Helicopter Tour
Offering aerial tours of the North and South Rims as well as the Grand Canyon's East Rim.
