Visiting the greatest viewpoints in Yosemite is the perfect technique to start out exploring the well-known nationwide park.
It is not possible to see all landmarks and hike essentially the most thrilling trails in a single go to as a result of Yosemite is immense. But beginning your exploration by hitting the perfect viewpoints in Yosemite is a good compromise, permitting you to see the large image and provides an thought of how one can plan your subsequent visits.
12 Best Viewpoints in Yosemite
The Yosemite viewpoints supply distinctive views of the world-famous valley, every with its personal distinct options.
While some Yosemite viewpoints are extra standard, all of them present guests with unforgettable views.
1. Tunnel View
When you’re planning a visit to Yosemite National Park, one of many issues it’s important to do is go to the Tunnel View Viewpoint. It’s the park’s most well-known and gorgeous viewpoint, and it’s a good way to get oriented for first-time guests. This spot offers some of the traditional and photographed views of Yosemite Valley. El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall are all seen from this vantage level.
Ansel Adams made it well-known by that includes it in his photographs when Yosemite was not broadly standard. It has turn out to be some of the iconic views in America. The perspective from Tunnel View was even featured on a U.S. postage stamp.
Be warned that it may be fairly busy and crowded, particularly throughout peak season. The parking space is all the time packed. The excellent news is that there’s no mountaineering required to get to the perspective.
To keep away from crowds, the perfect time to go to is early within the morning.
I visited Yosemite on many events however all the time stopped on the Tunnel View, even when just for a couple of minutes. It by no means ceases to amaze me.
How to Get to Tunnel View Viewpoint
3 Yosemite entrances result in the Valley. And the easiest way to get to Tunnel Viewpoint is to take South Entrance by way of the Wawona Road (Highway 41). The drive from the south entrance takes about 45 minutes. Once you attain Highway 41, comply with it till you attain the tunnel.
There is a big car parking zone at Tunnel Viewpoint, and no mountaineering is required.
But in case you are getting into the Yosemite Valley from Big Oak Flat Entrance or Arch Rock Entrance, it’s only a one-mile detour to get to the Tunnel View.
2. Valley View
Valley View is without doubt one of the most well-known viewpoints in Yosemite National Park. It is positioned close to the west finish of Yosemite Valley alongside Northside Drive, not removed from the Tunnel View vista level.
The Valey View perspective is much like the Tunnel View however from the bottom stage of the Valley.
As a photographer, it’s my favourite view in Yosemite. It has all parts of fantastic panorama images composition.
In the foreground, you’ve got Merced River with the logs and rocks positioned randomly throughout. In the background, there’s a nice perspective on each the north and south partitions of the Valley. The point of interest of the South wall is El Capitan, and on the north aspect is Bridalveil Falls. And the Valley connects the foreground and background, making the association simply excellent with all 3 principal compositional parts in place (foreground, middleground, and background).
There isn’t any mountaineering concerned. Just park your automobile and benefit from the Valley View. Please, be aware that the car parking zone is tiny, and also you might need problem discovering a vacant spot through the excessive season.
How to Get to Valley View
The Valley View is positioned on Northside Drive, which has one course. It means that you may entry the Valley View solely from the east course. For detailed information test the Yosemite maps
Over the years, it turned a convention of mine to cease by the Valley View on my manner out of the park. It is my manner of claiming goodbye to the majestic place.
3. Swinging Bridge Viewpoint
The Swinging Bridge in Yosemite National Park is a well-liked and busy vista within the park. The bridge spans the Merced River and provides spectacular views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Yosemite Valley. The bridge is open to pedestrians solely.
The causes for its reputation are distinctive and astonishing views from the ground of the Valley and the acceptability from the car parking zone, which requires virtually no mountaineering.
The Swinging Bridge viewpoint’s uniqueness is that it provides reflections of the Yosemite Falls within the Merced River. And since I’m very keen on together with the reflections in my panorama pictures, I by no means miss alternatives to go to the bridge, attempting to find thrilling reflections.
The negatives of the perspective are that it’s all the time full of individuals, and in summer season, when the Yosemite Fall dries out, the view is much less enticing.
Tip. The greatest time to go to the Swinging Bridge is in April, May, and September, October. Try to indicate up on the bridge as early as attainable within the morning to keep away from crowds and to have a chance to seize softer mild.
How to get to the Swinging Bridge Viewpoint
There is a car parking zone on South Drive subsequent to the bridge. It takes a 2-minute stroll to get to the bridge. Ultimately, you may park at Sentinel Beach Picnic Area a have a half-mile hike to the Swinging Bridge. The hike offers distinctive picture alternatives.
4. Sentinel Bridge Viewpoint
Sentinel Bridge Viewpoint is positioned on the jap finish of the Yosemite Valley. Even although it offers a singular view of Hal Dome with the Merced Rivers serving as main strains, I take into account it the least inspiring vista within the valley.
The vista is positioned on a busy Sentinel Drive that connects the Southside and Northside Drives not removed from the principle customer middle.
The greatest time to {photograph} the Half Dome from the Sentinel Bridge is sundown. The solar units behind you on the western finish of the valley, illuminating the Half Dome with tender and worm mild.
But it’s important to be able to combat for the spot on the bridge at sundown. The bridge is all the time full of photographers dragging their tripods with them.
As I mentioned, it isn’t my favourite spot to go to.
It jogs my memory of the Canyon Junction Bridge in Zion, which offers an iconic view of the Vergine River with the Watchman mountain within the background, however you may take an image from a transferring automobile with out even stopping.
The similar goes for Sentinel Bridge; the view is iconic however not the expertise. I like to recommend visiting it as soon as in your first go to to test the field however spending your useful time on extra inspiring viewpoints.
How to get to the Sentinel Bridge Viewpoint
After crossing the Sentinel Bridge when driving from Southside Drive, parking is on the left aspect. It takes a few minutes to stroll again to get to the bridge.
5. Cook’s Meadow
Cook’s Meadow in Yosemite is without doubt one of the greatest locations to expertise the great thing about Yosemite Valley. The uniqueness of Cook’s Meadow is that it offers unobstructed views in all instructions from the ground of the valley, supplying you with a limiteless variety of picture alternatives. But it’s most well-known for its gorgeous view of Yosemite Falls.
Cook’s Meadow was named after a enterprise household from New York who settled in Yosemite in 1880 and was the primary proprietor of Yosemite Lodge.
The greatest strategy to expertise Cook’s Meadow is to take a simple 1-mile hike that takes you thru the Meadow and previous a number of different viewpoints. When mountaineering alongside the path, don’t neglect all the time to go searching to keep away from lacking something.
The greatest time to go to Cook’s Meadow is in April and May. This is when the Meadow is filled with colours and the Yosemite Falls are filled with water.
How to get to Cook’s Meadow
After crossing the Swinging Bridge on the valley’s east finish, the car parking zone on the left aspect is the perfect place to start out Cook’s Meadow exploration.
6. El Capitan Meadow
El Capitan is without doubt one of the most well-known landmarks within the Yosemite Valley. It is a 3000-foot-tall single piece of granite rock formation positioned on the valley’s northern wall at its western finish.
The El Capitan Meadow is the perfect place to know the magnitude of the well-known rock. The mixture of ground-level perspective and proximity means that you can perceive the precise scale of the scene.
El Capitan is standard vacation spot amaong rock climbers. From spring till the center of fall, climbers from all over the world come to Yosemite, intending to overcome the well-known rock.
And El Capitan meadow just isn’t solely the perfect place to look at and {photograph} El Capitan but additionally to look at the rock climbers cling on its vertical partitions.
On my first go to to El Capitan Meadow, I mistaken vacationers with binoculars for birdwatchers. I used to be improper; that have been rock climber watchers.
How to Get to El Capital Medow
You can entry the El Capitan Meadow from Northside Drive. You can discover loads of single parking spots alongside the drive.
7. Glacier Point
Glacier Point is essentially the most well-known vista outdoors of the Yosemite Valley. The viewpoint is positioned on the valley’s south wall and offers a shocking 3,000-foot drop to the valley ground beneath. It provides panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.
When visiting Yosemite Vally vistas, you all the time search for; from Glacier Point, you look down. The change in perspective provides utterly totally different views.
The principal problem when planning to go to Glacier Point is it isn’t accessible yr round. Because of a a lot increased altitude on the level, Glacier Point Road is roofed with snow for six months of the yr, generally even longer. As a end result, you may solely go to Glacier Point from May to October/November.
To make the matter much more complicated, Glacier Point Road was closed for your entire of 2022 on account of renovations.
How to Get to Glacier Point
If you come from the valley, drive in direction of the Tunnel View and after passing the tunnel, take a left flip to Glacier Point Road.
When driving from the coast, take Highway 41 and use the South Entrance to entry Yosemite. Before getting into the valley, take the correct flip to Glacier Point Road.
It is a 1.2 miles spherical journey from the car parking zone to Glacier Point.
8. Washburn Point
Washburn Point is a lesser standard vista in Yosemite National Park, overshadowed by Glacier Point. The level is positioned on the north aspect of Glacier Point Road, lower than 1 mile from Glacier Point.
Washburn offers a panoramic view of the jap aspect of Yosemite. The Glacier Point shields the western aspect.
The point of interest of the Washburn Point viewpoint is the staircase of waterfalls: Nevada, Vernal, and Illilouette Fall. At the identical time, the Yosemite Falls will not be seen from right here.
From my standpoint, Washburn Point has the perfect ratio of high quality of views, accessibility, and crowds.
The view from the vista serves as a preview of what to anticipate from Glacier Point. It has a decent-sized car parking zone and takes a number of steps to get to the purpose. Plus, many vacationers keep away from it, anticipating the strategy of Glacier Point. It is a must-see vista and received’t take a lot of your time.
It was named after Washburn’s brothers, who constructed the primary highway from the south entry (Wawona) to Yosemite Valley.
How to Get to Washburn Point
When driving alongside Glacier Point Road, you can’t miss the Washburn Point car parking zone on the correct aspect, not removed from the ultimate vacation spot, Glacier Point.
9. Taft Point Overlook
Taft Point is positioned on the South Rim of Yosemite Valley, simply west of Glacier Point.
The viewpoint is part of a granite cliff that overlooks Yosemite Valley. Taft Point is without doubt one of the greatest locations to expertise Yosemite from a excessive vantage level. Visitors can observe the well-known landmarks of Yosemite – El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall as a part of a sweeping panorama.
Out of all viewpoints alongside the South Rim, Glacier Point is essentially the most well-known, however Taft Point offers a a lot better view of Yosemite Valley and an unlimited space of Sierra Nevada mountains.
Taft Point is accessible by a brief hike from Glacier Point Road. The path to Taft Point is about 3 miles spherical journey and is rated as average. The trailhead is positioned simply earlier than the turn-off to Sentinel Dome.
Since most park guests are lazy and don’t transcend Glacier Point, you’ll expertise a lot lesser crowds at Taft Point.
How to Get to Taft Point
Take the Glacier Road and drive to the ultimate vacation spot, the Glacier Point car parking zone. Visit Glacier Point first, and comply with the indicators to Taft Point.
10. Hetch Hetchy Valley View
Hetch Hetchy Valley is positioned within the northwest a part of Yosemite. It is the least visited a part of the park. The principal cause is that the valley is separated from the remainder of the park and is fairly removed from the park’s principal points of interest, similar to Yosemite Valley and Groove.
In its present state, Hetch Hetchy Valley was shaped in 1923. When the O’Shaughnessy Dam was accomplished, the valley was stuffed with water from the Tuolumne River, making it a reservoir for San Francisco’s water provide.
Think about Hetch Hetchy Valley as Yosemite Vally with one enormous distinction; it’s stuffed with water.
As you may think about, such a water reservoir provides some distinctive and unprecedented views, usually not present in nature.
There are loads of gorgeous vistas round Hetch Hetchy Valley. But in case you are brief on time, even the view from the O’Shaughnessy Dam will make you speechless.
How to Get to Hetch Hetchy Valley
The quickest strategy to entry the Hetch Hetchy Valley is from Highway 120. Before getting into Yosemite from Big Oak Flat Entrance, take a left flip in direction of Hetch Hetchy.
11. Big Oak Flat Road Half Dome Overlook
Whenever I traveled to Yosemite National Park, I took the Big Oak Flat Entrance as a result of it’s the quickest route for driving from San Francisco. And simply earlier than getting into the Yosemite Vally, there are two lesser-known overlooks I by no means miss visiting.
The first one is Half Dome Overlook. It is positioned simply earlier than the tunnel, which signifies the doorway to the Yosemite Valley.
The overlook is a small rundown turnout with only some parking spots. But it offers a singular view of Half Dom from outdoors of the valley. At the identical time, it’s a one-trick pony; there’s nothing else to do or see on the vista. But it’s value it to cease by the perspective for a couple of minutes with the hope of getting fascinating photographs of the Half Dome.
2022 Update. According to National Park Services, the $800.000 renovation of the Half Dome Overlook was accomplished in the summertime of 2022. It has a much bigger car parking zone with a lot better views. Let’s hope it was value virtually 1,000,000 {dollars}.
How to Get to Half Dome Overlook
When you drive alongside the Big Oak Flat Road, cease by the turnout on the correct aspect earlier than getting into the Yosemite Vally by way of the tunnel.
12. Big Oak Flat Road Merced River Overlook
After visiting Half Dome overlook, driving Big Oak Flat Road towards Yocemity Vally is the Merced River Overlook. It is positioned simply after you cross the tunnel and begin descending to Yosemite Vally.
It offers a large panoramic view of the valley’s west finish, with the Merced River working on the backside of the deep canyon. When the canyon will get wider, it turns into the Yosemite Vally.
The solely problem with the Merced River Overlook is it has virtually no parking. There are only some spots on the aspect of the Big Oak Flat Road, and they’re all the time full through the day. My recommendation is to go to the overlook as early as attainable.
How to Get to Merced River Overlook
After visiting the Half Dome overlook and driving for a few kilometers, you will have to cross by way of the slim tunnel. And as quickly as you exit the tunnel, begin on the lookout for a vacant parking spot.
Best Viewpoints in Yosemite | Conclusion
I’m assured that my assortment of the 12 greatest viewpoints in Yosemite National Park will equip you with a wide range of methods to expertise the majestic place.
Each of those viewpoints provides one thing distinctive and particular you don’t wish to miss. So make sure that so as to add them to your record of issues to see when visiting Yosemite National Park.