Artists, climbers, and nature enthusiasts have long found Yosemite to be a source of inspiration. Ansel Adams' magnificent black-and-white photos of Yosemite National Park, which began in the 1920s, brought the park's majestic vistas and iconic landmarks to the forefront like never before.
Climbers descended to the area after WWII, pondering how to scale the beautiful steep cliffs. They developed a cult following in Yosemite unlike any other climbing location in history via their efforts, failures, and ultimate triumphs.
Campers and hikers have been coming here for years to get lost in the park's breathtaking mountains and valleys.
Yosemite National Park, the park's most renowned and picturesque area, is home to well-known tourist attractions such as Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls.
Glacier Road and Tioga Road offer seasonal access to other parts of the park outside of the valley. Glacier Road provides breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley. Tioga Road travels east-west across the park, passing through alpine terrain and offering beautiful, and typically less crowded, hiking routes. Tioga Road opens later in the spring than Glacier Road due to its higher elevation.
Hiking, bicycling, climbing, and visiting museums and galleries are just a few of the activities available throughout the park. Check out our list of Yosemite National Park's best attractions for additional information.
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1. Yosemite Falls (Yosemite National Park)
Yosemite Falls is one of the most distinctive and stunning sights in Yosemite Valley, cascading down a granite wall and smashing the rocks at the cliff's foot. As you travel down the valley, the falls appear over treetops and around bends, and they seem different from every perspective, making it hard to pull your gaze away.
You don't have to walk or even get out of your vehicle to enjoy this waterfall, but the greatest view of the falls is from the beginning of the Yosemite Falls hike, along the non-handicapped path on the left side of the river. With little effort, you may go straight to the foot of the falls and experience the mist rushing over you.
Another fantastic viewpoint is from the Swing Bridge picnic area.
2. Half Dome
Half Dome is one of Yosemite's most well-known sights, and it's especially well-known in the climbing community as one of the first "big climbs." Depending on the angle from which you see this granite symbol, it appears to be very different. Looking up from the valley, the sheer size of the rock face is apparent, and it's easy to see why climbers have been attracted here.
Half Dome may also be seen in the distance from Tunnel View, but the greatest view is from Glacier Point's viewpoint. From this vantage point, you can see the rock's full size, how it towers over the valley, and how much taller it is than the surrounding mountains. The dome form is obvious, and it's easy to understand why it's known as Half Dome.
The Mirror Lake walk is the greatest choice for close-up views. You can nearly see straight up the granite face from this path.
Hikers with a sense of adventure can climb Half Dome. The trek concludes with a climb up the barren backside of the formation. This isn't your typical walk, and it isn't appropriate for everyone. It is regarded as one of Yosemite's finest treks, but make careful to research the specifics before trying it.
3. El Capitan
El Capitan is a 3,000-foot sheer granite wall on the north side of Yosemite Valley that is famous among climbers. El Capitan is 1,000 feet taller than Half Dome's face, despite appearances to the contrary.
The free solo ascent of Alex Honnold in June 2017 sparked attention, as did the Academy Award-winning documentary film Free Solo. He was the first person to climb El Capitan without the use of ropes or any other assistance. It took three hours and 56 minutes to complete the ascent.
El Capitan is seen from the Tunnel View viewpoint as a huge cliff on the left side of the valley, towering above anything else visible from this vantage point.
The wall may be seen as you drive through Yosemite Valley, but many visitors stop to admire or photograph it from El Capitan Meadow, which is located off the North Drive. It's better to see this one-way road on your way out of the valley since it's a one-way road. Rangers set up in the meadow at certain times of the day to provide lectures about El Capitan.
You may park on the right side of the road, past the El Capitan picnic area, and walk up to the wall if you wish to go near to it or even touch it.
The short path leads to an open field near the face, and from there, primitive tracks continue up through woods and rocks to the foot of the cliff. Almost usually, climbers are put up here. The park does not advertise this path.
4. View from the Tunnel
Tunnel Vista offers the most iconic view of Yosemite Valley. Most tourists will recognize this view, which includes El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Fall on the right, Half Dome in the distance, and the verdant valley at the foot of the massive granite cliffs.
Even though it's a spectacular sight at any time of day, the walls are mainly in shadow in the morning. In the afternoon, when the walls are drenched in sunshine, this sight is best appreciated.
As you approach Yosemite Valley from Wawona Road, the parking lot is immediately past the tunnel. If you're driving out of the valley to Glacier Point, you'll pass Tunnel View shortly before entering the tunnel.
5. Glacier Point
When driving through Yosemite Valley, it's common to glance up to take in the sights. At a height of nearly 7,200 feet, Glacier Point offers a panoramic view of the valley as well as many other sights beyond, giving you a whole new viewpoint. This is one of Yosemite National Park's most spectacular vistas and a must-see attraction.
It takes approximately an hour to drive from Yosemite Village to Glacier Point, although there are other hikes and other lookouts worth seeing in the vicinity.
The Four Mile Trail descends 3,200 feet from Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley, ending near Sentinel Rock. The path is nearly five miles long, despite its name. It's also a steep incline that's in bad shape.
Washburn Point, not far from Glacier Point, is another magnificent viewpoint with great views of Vernal Fall.
6. Bridalveil Falls
Bridalveil Fall, on the south side of Yosemite Valley, is another iconic site in Yosemite National Park. This is a simple waterfall to access on foot, with a short path leading directly to the base.
You can feel the spray on your face and hear the thundering water as it smashes on the rocks from here. Tunnel View provides a great view of the falls from a higher vantage point.
7. Yosemite Falls' base
It's difficult to imagine visiting Yosemite without taking a hike on some of the finest routes. The park offers a variety of treks, ranging from short and simple to full-day or multi-day excursions, some of which are wheelchair accessible. Hiking to waterfalls and high views are the most popular routes, but you may also walk to alpine lakes and meadows.
The valley's shorter and simpler paths are usually the busiest, but you can avoid the crowds by doing some of the longer treks or ones with greater elevation gain. Hikes along the Tioga Road are also less crowded, although they are only available during the summer.
The walk to Half Dome, a massive day trip with 4,800 feet of elevation gain and an open portion with cables, is one of the park's most well-known hikes. Mirror Lakes, the walk to the Vernal Fall Footbridge, and the Mist Trail beyond the footbridge are all easier, family-friendly excursions.
When Tioga Road is accessible in the summer, you may walk through some stunning alpine landscapes. The Sentinel Dome and Taft Point treks along the Glacier Road are other popular sunset routes, although with a longer season.
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