Yosemite National Park is defined by its massive stone cliffs and the legacy of early conservationists. This quiz digs into the stories behind its famous landmarks.
You will see questions about iconic climbs on El Capitan, the photography of Ansel Adams, and the history of legal protections like the 1864 act. Some questions ask for specific names or dates, while others focus on geography and geology.
Browse more of our collections to find mountain landscapes, discover natural wonders, or check out our guide on historic places.
Which prominent Yosemite granite monolith is famous for its distinct, sheer face that looks as if it has been sliced in half?
Half Dome
Half Dome
Mount Watkins
Mount Watkins
El Capitan
El Capitan
Sentinel Rock
Sentinel Rock
Which naturalist and author was a primary force behind the establishment of Yosemite National Park in 1890?
Stephen Mather
Stephen Mather
John Muir
John Muir
Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
What is the name of the most famous giant sequoia located within Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove?
General Sherman
General Sherman
Hyperion
Hyperion
Grizzly Giant
Grizzly Giant
President Tree
President Tree
Ansel Adams is best known for which style of photography, which he frequently used to capture the grandeur of Yosemite?
Fashion photography
Fashion photography
Street portraiture
Street portraiture
Underwater macro photography
Underwater macro photography
Black and white landscape photography
Black and white landscape photography
Which famous route on the southwest face of El Capitan was first ascended by Warren Harding, Wayne Merry, and George Whitmore in 1958?
The Salathé Wall
The Salathé Wall
The Nose
The Nose
The Regular Northwest Face
The Regular Northwest Face
The Dawn Wall
The Dawn Wall
Which iconic Yosemite location offers a vista including El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall, immortalized in many photographs by Ansel Adams?
El Capitan Meadow
El Capitan Meadow
Olmsted Point
Olmsted Point
Glacier Point
Glacier Point
Tunnel View
Tunnel View
Which piece of legislation, signed by Abraham Lincoln, protected the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove for public use?
1916 National Park Service Organic Act
1916 National Park Service Organic Act
1906 Yosemite Recession Act
1906 Yosemite Recession Act
1864 Yosemite Grant Act
1864 Yosemite Grant Act
1890 Yosemite National Park Act
1890 Yosemite National Park Act
What primary geological process is responsible for the characteristic U-shaped form of the Yosemite Valley?
Volcanic eruption
Volcanic eruption
Granite exfoliation
Granite exfoliation
Tectonic uplift
Tectonic uplift
Glacial carving
Glacial carving
Who became the first person to free climb The Nose on El Capitan, completing the feat in 1993?
Lynn Hill
Lynn Hill
Tommy Caldwell
Tommy Caldwell
Alex Honnold
Alex Honnold
Royal Robbins
Royal Robbins
Which conservation organization was co-founded by John Muir in 1892?
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
Sierra Club
Sierra Club
Audubon Society
Audubon Society
What unique biological adaptation allows giant sequoias to withstand the frequent, small fires common in their forest ecosystem?
Fire-resistant bark
Fire-resistant bark
Ability to store water in leaves
Ability to store water in leaves
Symbiotic fungal roots
Symbiotic fungal roots
Photosynthesis efficiency
Photosynthesis efficiency
Who was the first person to reach the summit of Half Dome in 1875 by drilling holes into the granite?
John Muir
John Muir
George Anderson
George Anderson
James Hutchings
James Hutchings
Galen Clark
Galen Clark
What exposure technique did Ansel Adams co-develop to achieve perfect tonal balance in black and white photography?
HDR Technique
HDR Technique
Color Grading System
Color Grading System
Zone System
Zone System
Digital Processing Method
Digital Processing Method
In 2017, Alex Honnold completed the first free solo climb of El Capitan, meaning he climbed without what type of equipment?
Climbing shoes
Climbing shoes
Climbing harnesses
Climbing harnesses
Chalk bags
Chalk bags
Safety ropes
Safety ropes
Geologically, the rock formations of the Sierra Nevada, including El Capitan, belong to what large formation?
A sandstone mesa
A sandstone mesa
A volcanic caldera
A volcanic caldera
A metamorphic massif
A metamorphic massif
A granite batholith
A granite batholith
Who was the first appointed guardian of the Yosemite Valley, tasked with its protection after the 1864 act?
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Stephen Mather
Stephen Mather
James Mason Hutchings
James Mason Hutchings
Galen Clark
Galen Clark
Which statement best describes the record-holding characteristic of giant sequoias?
They are the most massive trees in the world.
They are the most massive trees in the world.
They are the oldest living organisms in the world.
They are the oldest living organisms in the world.
They have the largest leaf surface area of any conifer.
They have the largest leaf surface area of any conifer.
They are the tallest trees in the world.
They are the tallest trees in the world.
Which legendary walk-in campground is historically famous as the epicenter of countercultural climbing in 1960s/70s Yosemite?
Yosemite Falls Lodge
Yosemite Falls Lodge
Camp 4
Camp 4
Curry Village
Curry Village
The Ahwahnee Hotel
The Ahwahnee Hotel
What is the name of the feature that looks like a series of curved, massive granite layers on the wall near the Ahwahnee Hotel?
Royal Arches
Royal Arches
Glacier Point Apron
Glacier Point Apron
Sentinel Rock
Sentinel Rock
Cathedral Rocks
Cathedral Rocks
Which organization managed Yosemite National Park between 1905 and 1916 before the creation of the National Park Service?
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society
U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Army
U.S. Army
Ansel Adams primarily used which type of camera equipment, prized for its extreme image detail and sharpness?
Infrared photography
Infrared photography
Large format photography
Large format photography
Tungsten photography
Tungsten photography
Polaroid instant photography
Polaroid instant photography
Which climber was the first to complete the ascent of the Dawn Wall on El Capitan in 1958, a climb that sparked significant media attention?
Warren Harding
Warren Harding
Yvon Chouinard
Yvon Chouinard
Tom Frost
Tom Frost
Royal Robbins
Royal Robbins
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
If you enjoyed this, explore our other trivia pages featuring famous artists, look through our entries on architectural details, or visit our famous landmarks section.
