Yosemite is a park built around views. Some take no effort at all, like pulling over at Tunnel View. Others ask for a short hike, or a long drive up to the rim. Here’s our countdown of the five best viewpoints in the park, with how to reach each one and when you can get there.
The countdown at a glance
| # | Viewpoint | Elevation | Getting there | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Olmsted Point | About 8,400 ft | Roadside pullout on Tioga Road | While Tioga Road is open |
| 4 | Taft Point | About 7,500 ft | 2.2 mi round trip from Glacier Point Road | While Glacier Point Road is open |
| 3 | Sentinel Dome | 8,122 ft | About 2 mi round trip, 400 ft of climbing | While Glacier Point Road is open |
| 2 | Tunnel View | About 4,400 ft | Roadside pullout on Wawona Road (Hwy 41) | Year-round |
| 1 | Glacier Point | 7,214 ft | Drive to the end of Glacier Point Road | While Glacier Point Road is open |
5. Olmsted Point
Olmsted Point sits right beside Tioga Road in the high country, about 8,400 feet up. From the pullout, you look straight down Tenaya Canyon to the back side of Half Dome, a view most visitors never see from the valley. Clouds Rest rises above it, and Tenaya Lake shines to the east. A short walk across the granite from the parking area gets you away from the cars.
- What you’ll see: the back of Half Dome, Clouds Rest and Tenaya Lake
- When: only while Tioga Road is open, usually from about June to November
4. Taft Point
Taft Point is the most dramatic edge in the park. A mostly level 2.2-mile round trip from Glacier Point Road leads to a small railed overlook and open granite that drops up to 2,000 feet straight to the valley floor. Across the gap you get a sideways look at El Capitan and Yosemite Falls. On the way, you’ll pass the Fissures, deep cracks that split the rock down to the cliff below.
- What you’ll see: El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and the Fissures
- Safety: the railing covers only a small section. Stay well back from the edge, and keep a close hand on kids.
3. Sentinel Dome
Sentinel Dome starts from the same trailhead as Taft Point. About a mile of easy trail and a short scramble up bare granite put you on top at 8,122 feet, with a full 360-degree panorama: Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and the high peaks of the Sierra. It’s one of the best places in the park to watch the sun go down. Read about our sunrise hike to Sentinel Dome.
- Getting there: about 2 miles round trip with roughly 400 feet of climbing. Combine it with Taft Point for a loop of about 5 miles.
- Tip: if you stay for sunset, bring a headlamp for the walk back.
2. Tunnel View
This is the classic Yosemite postcard, and it needs no hiking at all. Tunnel View is a large pullout on Wawona Road (Highway 41) at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel. El Capitan stands on the left, Bridalveil Fall pours down on the right, and Half Dome sits at the far end of the valley. It’s also the only viewpoint on this list you can reach all year, though the parking lot fills quickly on busy days.
- What you’ll see: El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome
- Tip: late afternoon light on El Capitan is beautiful, and clearing storms here are spectacular.
1. Glacier Point
Glacier Point takes the top spot. It’s at the end of Glacier Point Road, 7,214 feet up and about 3,200 feet straight above Yosemite Valley. A short paved walk from the parking lot leads to the overlook, where Half Dome fills the view across the canyon, with Vernal and Nevada falls stacked below it and Yosemite Falls across the valley. On a clear day, you can trace much of the park’s history and geology from one railing.
- What you’ll see: Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada falls, Yosemite Falls and the High Sierra
- Getting there: roughly an hour’s drive from Yosemite Valley. You can also hike up from the valley on the Four Mile Trail, or walk down from Glacier Point on the Panorama Trail.
Plan around the road closures
Four of these five viewpoints depend on two seasonal roads. Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road close for winter, usually from November until late May or June, and opening dates change with each year’s snow. In winter, Tunnel View is the only one you can drive to. Glacier Point is still reachable for strong skiers and snowshoers on a 10.5-mile route from Badger Pass.
Driving in late fall or winter? Our guide to chains, closures and what’s still open covers what to expect.
Road opening dates vary from year to year. Check the National Park Service’s current conditions before you go.
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