Yosemite National Park, one of the outstanding gems of the National Park Service, offers more variety than most other American parks. Inspirational landmarks include one of the tallest granite monoliths in the world, some of the tallest waterfalls, an alpine scenic byway, groves of giant sequoias, access to the High Sierra backcountry and one of the most majestic valleys ever seen. The park centerpiece, Yosemite Valley, has thrilled visitors for the last 140 years.
   With a majority of the park's four million visitors arriving in the valley during the summer, it's become a challenge of how to protect one of the world’s most scenic treasures. Along with shuttle buses, timed entry passes are required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park from 6 am to 4 pm each day during peak season.
   Outside the very busy valley, a grove of giant sequoias at Mariposa Grove, near the southern entrance, continues to impress its visitors. Just to the north of the grove park visitors will find two historic structures at Wawona. Here, crossing over the South Fork of the Merced River you'll find the Wawona Covered Bridge. One of a small number of covered bridges in California, which is one of the reasons why this bridge is special. Dating back to 1868, Galen Clark built the bridge shortly after moving to Wawona. Clark was also one of the proponents in the effort to preserve the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley. When the Washburn brothers moved into the valley to erect the Wawona Hotel, they also dried in the bridge with roofing and side panels in 1878. Raised in New England (Vermont), the brothers recognized the importance of preserving the bridge timbers. Remaining in remarkable condition, the bridge is still supported by the original hand-hewn Ponderosa Pine trusses. Unusually high for a covered bridge, the Yosemite Historic Center landmark extends 130 feet as it crosses the South Fork of the Merced River.

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