Yosemite Valley, West to East

Wawona Tunnel (3)

Valley View (3)

Bridalveil Falls (2)

El Capitan Meadow (7)

Leidig Meadow (7)

Chapel Meadow (6)

Cooks Meadow (3)

Yosemite at Night (2)

Yosemite Lodge (3)

Base of Yosemite Falls (3)

Yosemite Falls Trail (7)

North Rim Viewpoints (7)

Yosemite Village (7)

Ahwahnee Meadow (4)

The Ahwahnee Hotel (5)

Southside Road (2)

Stoneman Meadow (4)

Camp Curry (4)

Pines Campgrounds (2)

Mirror Lake (2)

Happy Isles (3)

Vernal Falls (7)

The Horse Trail (4)

Nevada Falls (6)

Hetch Hetchy

Lower Tuolumne River (5)

O'Shaugnessy Dam (3)

Hetch Hetchy North Shore (9)

The Tioga Road

Crane Flat and Vicinity (5)

Tioga Road Forests (8)

Yosemite Creek (2)

May Lake (3)

Olmsted Point (5)

Tenaya Lake (4)

Cathedral Range (3)

West Tuolumne Meadows (5)

Tuolumne to Glen Aulin (8)

Below Glen Aulin (6)

Waterwheel Falls (4)

Tuolumne Meadows (8)

Tioga Pass (9)

North Yosemite Backcountry (4)

West of Yosemite Valley

Merced River Canyon (5)

El Portal (3)

The Big Oak Flat Road (5)

Cascade Valley (1)

South of Yosemite Valley

Glacier Point Road (5)

South Rim Viewpoints (6)

Sentinel Dome (3)

Glacier Point (4)

Wawona and the Mariposa Grove

Wawona (5)

The Lower Mariposa Grove (3)

The Upper Mariposa Grove (6)

(see also the Fullscreen versions)

Yosemite Valley, from West to East

Turtleback Dome and the Wawona Tunnel

Yosemite Valley from Turtleback Dome.

On Turtleback Dome above Cascade Valley.

The famous view at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel.

Valley View and Bridalveil Meadow

Valley View, medium high water in the spring.

Valley View on the Merced River, late in the afternoon.

Bridalveil Falls from the Bridalveil Moraine viewpoint.

Bridalveil Falls

Bridalveil Meadow, early summer.

At the base of Bridalveil Falls.

Bridalveil and Ribbon Falls, from the Bridalveil Moraine.

El Capitan Meadow

Grove of black oaks at the west end of El Capitan Meadow.

El Capitan Meadow, between El Capitan and the Cathedral Rocks.

Prescribed burning fills the valley with smoke.

El Capitan Meadow on a summer afternoon.

El Capitan Meadow on a bright winter day.

On El Capitan Bridge over the Merced River.

High water in the Merced River, Cathedral picnic area.

Leidig Meadow

Near the east end of vast Leidig Meadow.

Sentinel Rock and Sentinel Falls from Leidig Meadow.

The so-called "swinging" bridge over the Merced River.

The pedestrian bridge to Leidig Meadow.

Opposite Sentinel Beach on the Merced River, swimming and raft take-out.

The Merced River at the west end of Leidig Meadow.

The deep green Merced River near Eagle Creek.

Yosemite Chapel Meadow

Chapel Meadow boardwalk in winter.

Yosemite Falls and the Merced River, Chapel Meadow.

Yosemite Falls and the Merced River in winter.

A painter at work near the Yosemite Chapel.

The non-denominational Yosemite Chapel.

Merced River bridge at the site of the old village.

Cooks Meadow and the Black Oak Grove

Cooks Meadow, the best view of Yosemite Falls.

The south edge of Cooks Meadow in winter.

An area of oak forest restoration near Cooks Meadow.

Yosemite at Night

Yosemite Falls from Cooks Meadow by winter moonlight.

Stoneman Meadow and the lights of Camp Curry by winter moonlight.

Yosemite Lodge

One and two story apartment units at Yosemite Lodge.

The central courtyard, Mountain Room, and amphitheater at Yosemite Lodge.

The swimming pool and ice cream stand at Yosemite Lodge.

At the Base of Yosemite Falls

Viewpoint next to the former parking lot at Yosemite Falls.

Observation area at the base of Lower Yosemite Falls.

The bridge at the base of Lower Yosemite falls is wet in spring and crowded all year.

Yosemite Falls Trail and Upper Yosemite Falls

Evening at Columbia Point.

The view from Columbia Rock, part way up the Yosemite Falls trail.

The dramatic first view of Upper Yosemite Falls.

Upper Yosemite Falls from the base of the cliff.

Switchbacks alongside Upper Yosemite Falls.

The bridge across Yosemite Creek just above the brink of the falls.

At the top of Upper Yosemite Falls.

Viewpoints on the North Rim of Yosemite Valley

At the very summit of Eagle Peak, highest of the Three Brothers.

Looking off the south edge of Eagle Peak.

On the north side of Eagle Peak.

In the saddle between Eagle Peak and the north valley rim.

Ponds in Eagle Creek Meadow.

The ridgetop just above Yosemite Point.

Cliff-edge viewpoint at Yosemite Point.

Yosemite Village and the Visitor Center

Galen Clark's grave in the historic cemetery at Yosemite Village.

The re-created Miwok Indian village behind the museum in Yosemite Village.

The Yosemite Visitor Center in Yosemite Village.

In front of the Visitor Center in Yosemite Village.

The Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite Village.

The west entrance to the Yosemite Village Store.

Yosemite Falls from the parking lot at Yosemite Village.

Ahwahnee Meadow

Employee housing along the west edge of Ahwahnee Meadow.

At the soutwest corner of Ahwahnee Meadow.

Bike path and road on the south edge of Ahwahnee Meadow.

The Ahwahnee Meadow offers a great view of Glacier Point and Half Dome.

The Ahwahnee Hotel

Royal Arches Cascade and the Ahwahnee Hotel.

The Wedding Lawn at the Ahwahnee Hotel.

West side of the Ahwahnee Hotel.

Northwest side of the Ahwahnee Hotel.

South of the Ahwahnee Hotel, in winter.

Southside Road

The Sierra Club's Le Conte Memorial Lodge in Yosemite Valley.

The housekeeping cabins, best value accomodations in Yosemite Valley.

Stoneman Bridge and Meadow

Rafts are rented and launched next to the Stoneman bridge.

A great view in all directions from the middle of Stoneman Meadow.

Stoneman Meadow is directly in front of Camp Curry.

Stoneman Meadow in front of Camp Curry with winter snow.

Camp Curry

Parking in the old apple orchard, bear-proof food boxes for those staying in tents.

Between the Lounge and the dining pavilion, center of Camp Curry.

Tent cabins are traditional accomodations at Camp Curry.

Duplex cabins at the base of Staircase Falls, Camp Curry.

The Pines Campgrounds

The bridge over the Merced River at Pines Campground.

Tenaya Creek runs just behind Pines Campground.

Mirror Lake and Tenaya Canyon

Half Dome from a marshy area at the mouth of Tenaya Canyon.

The traditional viewpoint up Tenaya Canyon over Mirror Lake.

Happy Isles

Shuttle bus on the Happy Isles Bridge.

Bridge to the islands at Happy Isles.

On the upstream end of the islands in the Merced River at Happy Isles.

Vernal Falls and the Mist Trail

Midday crowds on the Vernal Falls Bridge.

Evening on the Vernal Falls Bridge.

Vernal Falls viewed from photographers' rock in the Merced River.

Alongside Vernal Falls on the Mist Trail.

Vernal Falls in the autumn.

The top of Vernal Falls, a chance to dry out after climbing through the mist.

The Silver Apron is a smooth cascade over polished granite, between Nevada and Vernal Falls.

The Horse Trail and Clark Point

Pack trains use the "horse trail" to reach the high country.

Nevada Falls from the trail junction above Clark Point.

Clark Point directly above Vernal Falls.

Approaching Nevada Falls on the ledge section of the John Muir Trail.

Nevada Falls

Snow's Hotel once stood on this site at the base of Nevada Falls.

Switchbacks climb steeply up next to Nevada Falls.

On the bridge at the top of Nevada Falls.

The bridge at the top of Nevada Falls.

On the south side of the brink of Nevada Falls.

At the brink of Nevada Falls.

Hetch Hetchy

The Tuolumne River Below Hetch Hetchy

Rim of the World Vista over the Tuolumne River Canyon near Buck Meadows.

The Rainbow Pool and waterfall on the South Fork of the Tuolumne River.

Spring flowers in a mountain meadow on the Evergreen Road.

Early Intake diversion weir, Tuolumne River.

Gauging station above Early Intake on the Tuolumne River.

O'Shaugnessy Dam

High river flow at O'Shaugnessy Dam, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

O'Shaugnessy Dam on the Tulomne River, floods Hetch Hetchy Valley.

The lodge at Hetch Hetchy is used by city of San Francisco employees.

Hetch Hetchy North Shore Trail

On the north shore of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

The Hetch Hetchy trail follows a broad ledge along the north shore.

Wildflowers and ephemeral streams enliven a springtime walk along Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

On the first bridge over the base of Wapama Falls, Hetch Hetchy.

An interesting spectral effect at Wapama Falls.

Between the second and third bridges over the base of Wapama Falls.

Several bridges span the base of Wapama Falls.

Past the waterfalls the Hetch Hetchy trail climbs high above the lake.

A panoramic view of Hetch Hetchy from the high point of the north shore trail.

The Tioga Road

Crane Flat on the Tioga Road

Helicopters at the Yosemite Helitack Base, Crane Flat lookout.

Inside the old firewatcher's tower at Crane Flat Lookout.

Crane Flat Meadow covered in snow.

Crane Flat Meadow in mid-summer.

Coneflowers in the meadow at Crane Flat.

Tioga Road Forests

North edge of the huge Foresta forest fire, on the Tioga Road.

Western white pine and red fir forest.

Red fir forest near Siesta Lake.

Siesta Lake, a forest pond formed by a glacial moraine.

Lodgepole pine and red fir at the edge of McSwain Meadow.

Lost Lake, in a loop of the Tioga Road.

Exfoliating granite on the Tioga Road above Yosemite Creek valley.

Clouds Rest from the Tioga Road at Porcupine Creek.

Yosemite Creek

The trail leading down Yosemite Creek towards the valley.

Potholes in the bed of Yosemite Creek.

May Lake and Vicinity

May Lake, east shore, looking across at Mount Hoffmann.

May Lake High Sierra Camp.

On the trail from May Lake to Glen Aulin.

Olmsted Point

Glacial features west of Olmsted Point.

Glacial erratic boulder near Olmsted Point.

Patches of glacial polish on the granite near Olmsted Point.

Looking towards Tenaya Lake from the peak above Olmsted Point.

On the ridge above Olmsted Point.

Tenaya Lake

Rocky outcrops on the northwest shoreline of Tenaya Lake.

Tioga Road along the north shore of Tenaya Lake.

On the north shore of Tenaya Lake.

The beach at the east end of Tenaya Lake.

Cathedral Range

On the rocky shore of Lower Cathedral Lake.

Rust stains the granite at Cathedral Lake.

An alpine meadow at Lower Cathedral Lake.

Western Tuolumne Meadows

Wet alpine meadow at the west end of Tuolumne Meadows.

On the east slope of Pothole Dome.

Looking over Tuolumne Meadows from the summit of Pothole Dome.

The broad lower expanse of Tuolumne Meadows.

At the westernmost edge of Tuolumne Meadows.

Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin

Looking out over the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne , on the Glen Aulin trail.

Bridge over the Tuolumne River on the Glen Aulin trail above Tuolumne Falls.

The Tuolumne River above Tuolumne Falls.

At the base of Tuolumne Falls, above Glen Aulin.

Whitewater below Tuolumne Falls, near Glen Aulin.

The White Cascade at Glen Aulin.

The unnamed cascade below Glen Aulin.

Late afternoon at the cataract below Glen Aulin.

Tulumne River Below Glen Aulin

The swampy flats below Glen Aulin camp.

California Fals on the Tuolumne River below Glen Aulin.

At the bottom of California Falls.

An unnamed cataract below California Falls on the Tuolumne River.

Near the middle of Le Conte Falls on the Tuolumne River.

Le Conte Falls, from the trail.

Waterwheel Falls

At the top of Waterwheel Falls.

Near the middle of Waterwheel Falls on the Tuolumne River.

In the open forest alongside Waterwheel Falls.

Bridge over Register Creek at the Tuolumne River.

Tuolumne Meadows

Mid summer on the banks of the river in Tuolumne Meadows.

Old Tioga Road bridge over the Tuolumne River at Soda Springs.

Soda Spring, historic heart of Tuolumne Meadows.

The Tuolumne River at the base of Lembert Dome.

Tuolumne Meadows Ranger Station on the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail.

Tuolumne Meadows High Sierra Camp.

Tent cabins at the Tuolumne Meadows High Sierra Camp.

Cascade on the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River at the High Sierra Camp.

Tioga Pass

The Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River runs right beside the Tioga Road.

A shallow pond in lodgepole pine forest.

Typical open high elevation lodgepole pine forest.

Timberline meadow just west of Tioga Pass.

Timberline tarns and whitebark pines west of Tioga Pass.

Avalanche damage near Tioga Pass.

Tarn in alpine meadow near Tioga Pass.

Alpine meadows and tarns near Tioga Pass.

Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park.

Northern Yosemite Backcountry

Morning on the beach at Benson Lake.

One of the tarns at the summit of Seavey Pass.

On the west shore of Peeler Lake.

Green Treble Lake, near Mount Conness.

West of Yosemite Valley

Merced River Canyon

Bear Gulch, in the chaparral belt of the foothils.

The suspension bridge at Briceburg, where the All-Year Highway reaches the Merced River.

Merced River whitewater rafters, just below Slate Creek Bridge.

Merced River, opposite Clearing House, below El Portal.

Rapids and pool in the Merced River at Dry Gulch.

El Portal

Turntable from the Yosemite Valley Railway Company, locomotive from Hetch Hetchy, El Portal.

Merced River in flood, from a motel room in El Portal.

The Merced River in spring, at Arch Rock.

The Big Oak Flat Road

Regrowth after the 1990 fire at Big Meadow.

The Elephant Rock overlook in winter.

Portal View, up Cascade Valley to Bridalveil Falls, from the New Big Oak Flat Road.

On the upstream side of the New Big Oak Flat Road bridge over Cascade Creek.

Looking downstream from the bridge over Cascade Creek.

Cascade Valley

The first waterfall seen on the approach to Yosemite is usually Cascade Falls.

South of Yosemite Valley

The Glacier Point Road

Regrowth after forest fire, near Chinquapin Junction.

Old cabin at McGurk Meadow, near Bridalveil Creek Campground.

Shooting stars in McGurk Meadow.

The downhill ski area at Badger Pass.

Nordic skiing and snowshoeing on the Glacier Point Road.

South Rim Viewpoints

Crocker Point, 2000 feet above Bridalveil Falls, on the south rim of Yosemite Valley.

Under a Jeffrey pine at Dewey Point.

Dewey Point, on the south rim of Yosemite Valley above Bridalveil Creek.

Just west of Dewey Point, south rim of Yosemite Valley.

Open forest of red fir and Jeffrey Pine, Dewey Point.

Taft Point, as a thunderstorm closes in.

Sentinel Dome

Yosemite Falls seen from Sentinel Dome, across the valley and far below.

The northeast side of Sentinel Dome affords a view of the Giant Staircase.

A dead Jeffrey pine crowns Sentinel Dome.

Glacier Point

The ultimate viewpoint at Firefall Cliff on Glacier Point.

The view east from Glacier Point, just below the Geology Hut.

Lane Amphitheater, on the site of the old Glacier Point Hotel.

Washburn Point, half a mile south of Glacier Point.

Wawona and the Mariposa Grove

Wawona

Wawona Pioneer Village gathers together historic structures from around the park.

The covered bridge at Wawona, built by Galen Clark.

Lupines are a spring glory on the sandy flats around Wawona.

The fountain in front of the historic Wawona Hotel.

The golf course at Wawona.

The Lower Mariposa Grove

The California tunnel tree is still standing.

Parking lot at the lower Mariposa Grove in winter.

The Three Graces and the Bachelor, melting snow in January.

The Upper Mariposa Grove

On the edge of the upper Mariposa Grove.

Giant Sequoias ring the meadow in the upper Mariposa Grove.

The museum in the Mariposa Upper Grove.

The famous drive-through Wawona Tunnel tree, now fallen.

The Wawona Tunnel Tree fell in the winter of 1969.

Wawona Point overlooks the South Fork Merced valley.

Next Guidebook: The Monterey Peninsula