Yosemite Falls is one of the natural icons in the Yosemite National Park Tour, but it can be hard to photograph given how massive it is.
Take the paved hiking trail to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall. This short hike provides amazing views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. Best seen during spring and early summer, Yosemite Falls often slows to a small trickle by August.
El Capitan’s striking granite face dominates the west side of Yosemite Valley in the Yosemite National Park Tour, and continues to inspire rock climbers from around the world to summit its 3,000 feet granite walls.
It obviously commanded respect from Miwok people as they originally named it “The Chief”, which was loosely translated into El Capitan by the Spanish. Enjoy superb views from places like Tunnel View, El Capitan Meadow, or the bridge that crosses the Merced River, and bring your binoculars to spot rock climbers on the wall.
Giant Sequoias are the biggest trees in the world, combining tremendous height with enormously thick trunks. Within the Yosemite National Park Tour, there are three groves where you can walk among these giants and you’ll find the largest and best collection of sequoias at Mariposa Grove.
Several hiking trails wind through these massive, ancient trees including the iconic Grizzly Giant. It’s estimated to be over 2,700 years old, making it one of the largest and oldest trees in the world.
Glacier Point offers one of the best panoramic views across Yosemite Valley in the Yosemite National Park Tour.
Hence it’s also one of the busiest as professional photographers and general admirers try to recapture the scene, and it’s especially wondrous at sunrise or sunset. The view of Half Dome and the entire valley is stunning and it’s an easy short walk from the parking area to the main viewpoints.
Looking for a less crowded part of Yosemite to explore on the Yosemite National Park Tour?
Once known as Yosemite Valley’s gorgeous twin valley, Hetch Hetchy Valley was flooded in 1923 to provide drinking water to the San Francisco Bay Area, but this quiet corner of the park is still worth a visit. You can visit the dam and learn about the controversy that surrounds its construction, hike to several roaring spring waterfalls, and fish for trout in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
