A lone Lodgepole Pine growing near Olmsted Point. Trees at this elevation are smaller and more sparse, with stands broken by areas of exposed granite. The climate in these habitats is harsh and the growing season is short.br/br/Yosemite National Park reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chainis in central California. It is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams and Giant Sequoia groves. Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals, with almost 95% of the park being designated wilderness.