Glacier Point

Love love love this place.

We had to drive through some treacherous mountain roads for more than an hour to get here but the view is totally worth it!

I would suggest setting up your camera and just do time lapse. The photos are absolutely stunning! Must visit if you are in Yosemite. It gives a panoramic view of the whole valley with all the waterfalls.

Half of all the plants in California are found in Yosemite but the main one that is worth seeing is the redwoods that have been growing here for the last couple of thousand years. For meditation among the oldest and largest trees in the world, go to one of the three groves. Mariposa Grove is the largest with 200 trees two of which are among the thirty largest redwoods in the world. Famous trees of the grove are Giant Grizzly, the oldest tree in the park. It is about two thousand years old, Columbia, the highest of 87 meters, Clothespin and Telescope, trees with holes inside after fires and California Tunnel – the only surviving tree in which a hole is cut enough to pass through it by car. This is an example of marketing of the 1895 model the tunnel was made specificially to attract tourists. However, the trees do not benefit from this. The famous tree Pioneer Hut with the same tunnel collapsed after a storm in 2017.

The absolute #1 thing to see here ..the pics are all gorgeous but I promise they can not begin to do it justice. The falls .. the rock formations .. the valley .. it's hard to drive away from somewhere so special. Visit at different times of year .. different times of day.

it is super popular for visitors driving cars or in buses …. you will often have to wait to have your turn to get the pic you want. Naturally weekends are more busy .. and when school is out .. more families on vacation. But i suggest you take your time and get what you are pleased with. If it's a once in a lifetime trip … make the most of it.

If there are five places you want to visit while in Yosemite, Glacier Point has to be the top of your list. The views are magical and epic. You cannot miss this. I am an adventure wedding photographer capturing eloping couples and this location is my spot for many ceremonies and vows. Sunset is beautiful, but sunrise is even better (only because most people are sleeping that early and there's less people talking). If you want to get married, it's a good place to exchange vows. Here are some photos from that location.

So many points of interest in Yosemite and many with no hike at all…except from the parking lot. Glacier point can be enjoyed without having to hike the multi miles. I admire folks who can make those hikes, it's inspiring but my knees aren't fazed by other folks accomplishments. So I was grateful the area could be explored on easy, well maintained walkways.

We visited at the end of September so we still had some lovely wildflowers and the bees that come with that. We had no bee issues, just an observation. The drive was about an hour…and another 30-40 minutes on the winding, narrow road to the parking area. Busy as heck and we were early. Can't even imagine what it's like in summer.

On this day there was a special event to swear in our newest citizens. What a stage to witness this event…and the scenery, man oh man was it spectacular. Certain to be memorable for those new Americans.

Grab your camera, a picnic, an umbrella, walking stick and lots of water. Spend an hour or 4 enjoying the beauty of the Yosemite valley below and the granite giants all around you. But get here before the snow falls because the roads into and out of Glacier Point do close down so the only way in/out is to hike at least 4.5 miles…one way.

Beautiful, beautiful nature, wildlife at Glacier Point and all at your fingertips.

I looked up to Half Dome in Yosemite Valley for so many times that I did not think of different ways to view it. Took many effort to bring me to Glacier Point. I was scared I wont be able to hike because of my bad knee.

Parking lot had plenty of spaces when we arrived. However, I heard it's a nightmare during summer. There were 3 clusters of restroom with compostable toilets. It was horrible in the cold, I could only imagine in the middle of Summer.

I freaked when the sign said 4 miles loop (incline and on unpaved trail). But, I promised my husband to do this today and he made all of sorts of promises to stipulate the hike. So, I pressed on. Well, I have to say I am sorry that "False Evidence Appearing Real " stopped me to come to this place in the past.

The 4 miles loop on unpaved trail was really pleasant. Believe me when I say pleasant. I'm not my husband who said it's an easy trail but I ended up hitchhiked back to the main road.

Today I learn not to be "old and set" about things.

Here is Glacier Point for your perspective

The views are great, but the crowds aren't so great.

We came here after hiking to Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. It's about 10 minutes further down the road past those and a little more than an hour from Yosemite Valley.

We were able to get a parking spot just fine, but I can definitely see parking being a problem in the summer (we were there in October).

It's a short walk to get to Glacier Point from the parking lot. We brought sandwiches with us to picnic, but there were some very aggressive bees so that wasn't very enjoyable.

We definitely enjoyed the views of Half Dome and the surrounding area, but it was a little crowded for me. We tend to prefer hiking that leads to views and is less crowded.

If you're coming to Taft Point/Sentinel Dome, it's definitely worth stopping here.

One of the most famous places to visit in Yosemite valley, it is also the highest point to see everything up high on the mountain. The half dome and waterfall were gorgeous. I think everything would have looked much better during sunset hours. But we didn't take that tour so we just had to appreciate what we got.

The entire place is not big, most people just walked around and took photos. We looked through the viewing binoculars to have closer looks of the half dome and waterfall. The half dome has started to look like "quarter" dome now, maybe they should change the name already!

There is a gift shop and theater, gift shop wasn't open like it was supposed to. A wedding was going on in the theater but I had no idea how did women wearing long dresses use the horrible restrooms here. There are no real plumbing restrooms up there. They were just nasty holes in the ground so be aware of that!

So basically people come up here is to see the half dome from the highest point and take photos. But I am really not a big fan of any kind of rocks, no matter how big they are. So I wasn't too impressed like most people were. Still if you ever visit Yosemite valley, this is a must see spot. The park busses don't drive up here so you will have to drive and park somewhere and hike some if you are into that!

Ps. Glacier point is closer to Yosemite national park south entrance!

The views are just insane! Glacier Point provides one of the best views within the park. It's quite the drive to get there and there aren't as many facilities as there are in other parts of the park (i.e. restaurants and visitor centers). However, it's definitely worth a trip if you're coming out to Yosemite.

Did an 8 mile hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, and Glacier Point was the starting point. Parking is very limited and it gets hot in the afternoon. I arrived around 9:30 am and was lucky enough to snag one of just a few spots that were left. As I always recommend, come as early as possible to avoid delays with parking.

Glacier Point is a popular tourist destination in the park. It doesn't require any hiking to get to the viewpoint, so it's very ideal for families or for someone who is visiting the park to sightsee. However, it's also a great starting point for several different hiking and backpacking trails.

The view is what makes this part of the park so popular. Several of Yosemite's iconic landmarks can be seen right from this viewpoint including Half Dome, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, and Clouds Rest. You'll also have and amazing view of Yosemite Valley alongside Tenaya Canyon and Mirror Lake. I was able to see snow on the mountains even in late June. It's definitely a beautiful sight to see.

There's an amphitheater that faces the popular viewpoint. Across from the amphitheater is a gift shop selling souvenirs, water, and light snacks (they don't have much of a real food selection, so I'd suggest you bring your own). The cashiers have limited information on the hiking paths, but they were able to help guide me to the starting point of the trail that I was looking for.

If you're looking for hiking trails nearby, Glacier Point connects to the Four Mile, Pohono and Panorama Trail. The Four Mile trail will lead you to Yosemite Valley neat Yosemite Lodge. The Panorama trail will take you to popular hiking destinations such as Nevada and Vernal Falls whereas the Pohono trail will lead you to Sentinel Dome, Taft Point, and the Wawona Tunnel. If you're looking for a moderate to difficult hike with great views, I'd highly recommend the Glacier Point to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop.

Just a side note: there is no shuttle service between Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. There's a small museum near the gift shop, but I didn't get a chance to explore it because it was too crowded. You should definitely expect lots of crowds. There are at least two of three separate restroom facilities (porta-potties). Everyone lines up at the one near the gift shop, but if you walk deeper into the parking lot, there's another one that's way less crowded.

This is definitely one of the most spectacular views that I've seen within Yosemite. Would highly recommend to anyone who is visiting Yosemite.

The views alone are worth the lengthy slow drive up the mountain! It's a glorious view and lovely spot for a picnic!! Definitely go if you can, there's no hike required to see the point, so it's great for all family members whether handicapped or not, there are even wheelchair accessible sidewalks to see the point!

Horrible parking situation. Rangers are unhelpful. Restrooms are closed. Food is scarce. DONT come during the summer.

Glacier point is the best view spot in yosemite and is a must see! Check it out at sunrise to have the whole spot to yourself. You can drive right up and no hiking is required. I especially love the windy little part of the road right before you catch a glimpse of Half dome

Stunning!! Only tip, stop just short of Glacier Point (due to standstill traffic & limited parking at that site). Instead, pull off at Washburn Point. Limited parking there, as well however, extra same vista – no backed up traffic issues.

DEFINITELY worth the extra time and effort to see this area of the park!

It's so beautiful that it's hard to believe it's all real.

Once I got up there after a very winding road it took me a few minutes to wrap my head around what I was looking at.

Don't miss this spot if you ever find yourself in Yosemite. This was the highlight of my last trip.

My pictures aren't enhanced in anyway. This just happens to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Here's a few things to consider when visiting:

1. Located about an hour from the valley. 100% worth the drive.
2. Road is very winding & narrow so drive extra carefully.
3. Open approx from May to Nov only.
4. Overlook is a very short walk from the parking lot.
5. Endless views of EVERYTHING 🙂

There are trails in every direction that'll take you along the cliffs or through meadows & forests. Don't miss the amphitheater which is close to the actual overlook.

And lastly, thought of Bob Ross and his stunning paintings. The view looked like so many of his pieces of art.

I'd better be giving 5 stars to Glacier Point! My fianc茅 and I decided to get married here after visiting over Labor Day weekend with some friends. We looked at a few other options that were underwhelming, so Glacier Point was our last stop and last hope. It was absolutely breathtaking and lived up to all the reviews.

The route to get here smelled of burning trees, unfortunately, but it was an organized process to get to Glacier Point itself, and that area had more lush greenery. We walked around the trails and ended up at the amphitheater, where the ceremony will be.

Arranging for a permit was easy, thanks to the National Parks people coordinating with us. Lots of restrictions to doing events at Glacier Point but understandable for the sake of preserving the site. We can't wait to be back in a year to say "I DO" in front of this expansive beauty!

This place was absolutely heavenly! From huge trees & gigantic stone hedges would surely take your breath away. There was an upward path leading towards a brick structure overlooking to an even greener & more bountiful gifts of nature. The view was a perfect beauty filled with serenity as if you were looking on a canvas. You could just spend your whole time here in pure relaxation by yourself, family or friends. Make sure not to miss this when you visit Yosemite!

Amazing is all I can say. We had a group of kids ranging from 8 to 10 and took tour bus to summit before hiking down. If you plan on hiking up good luck. Read my review of Panorama Trail! But take a bus or drive up if you do not want to hike. It is well worth it.

Glacier point and Washburn point are two of the most absolutely breath taking views in Yosemite. I can not stress this enough. My husband and I drove into the park from the southern end and this was our first stop after entering the park. We were questioning whether we should make the drive which to us felt out of the way from the main sites in the Yosemite valley and we were a bit limited on time. We decided, yolo, and we did it. THANK GOODNESS WE DID.

The drive to Washburn point was lined with the tallest pines and some of the biggest pine cones I have ever seen. The road was long and at times windy. When we arrived, we parked in a large lot. There is plenty of parking there and a few bathrooms. There is also a small shop if you need to pick anything up.

The Washburn point stop was what we came to first and quite literally took our breath away. You are much higher up so it is a lot cooler up there than in the valley. You are afforded a view of the half dome, vernal falls, upper and lower yosemite falls, and the valley below. It is truly stunning and just doesn't feel real. It's so absolutely gorgeous. My husband and I looked at each other incredulously that we were seeing what we were seeing. It just seemed fake because it was so truly beautiful.

We drove down the road a bit more to Glacier point (where the bathrooms and store are) and were equally as impressed. There are 2 lookout points and the views will stop you in your tracks. I can not stress this enough: make the drive to come out to this part of the park. You will not be disappointed. This is the best way to take in nature's majesty.

Amazing and breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley, Half dome, and upper/lower Yosemite falls. Loved that they have a small cafeteria shop here, we were able to get some ice cream which was so refreshing since it was hot! When we first arrived we had to wait at the bottom of the drive up to glacier point for about 15-20 minutes but it is very organized and the rangers let a few cars go every so often. This is to minimize cars being lined up the mountain to park at the top. Luckily it wasn't too crowded when we went first week of June but I can only imagine later this summer the line being a lot worse. Overall so glad I got to see Yosemite from this "top view" before exploring the park itself.

I lucked out. Due to the low snow pack this past winter, Glacier Point Road was open in early May. This is the place to go to get the best view of Half Dome. Plus you get a nice view of Yosemite Falls – all 3 tiers.

I'm tempted to say this is the best view of the Valley.

One of the Rangers told us to get up there by 9/20 AM if we had any hopes of finding a parking spot. He was right.

People tend to linger here. Unlike at Tunnel View where people don't stay long – they are anxious to get to the Valley. Here it's a destination – you've reached the end of the road and you have a long return trip.

There is access to quite a few hiking trails here. From Glacier Point itself or from other access points on the road.

I'm told this is an amazing place for sunset.

What breathtaking views! You will want to go here if the road is open, as it is closed most of the year. We just happened to be there when it was clear to go. You can get incredible pictures and see the whole valley with all the main parts of Yosemite. Don't miss this!

Glacier Point offers one of the most magnificent views of Yosemite! Many people believe that it is the most beautiful vista point in the world. I consider it a must-see part of Yosemite National Park. Any trip to Yosemite will be incomplete without it!

From the height of over 7,200 feet above Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point offers vistas that include Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls (to the NNW) and, even more sweeping vistas of Half Dome, Tenaya Canyon, Liberty Cap, Little Yosemite Valley, Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall.

One of the best parts of Glacier Point (and the drive to it) is just how less crowded it feels compared with the more popular Valley attractions. I've visited Yosemite on numerous occasions. Some of those visited happened on days with enormous numbers of visitors. Even on those days, Glacier Point was just not excessively crowded. It has become a bit more popular in recent years. However, it still feels less crowded than the rest of the park ESPECIALLY if you go later in the day.

DRIVE: The road to Glacier Point is fantastic! Depending upon where you're coming from, you'll have plenty of places to stop for some photo ops or just to take in the vistas. Most people drive from Yosemite Valley, so you'll probably want to stop at some of the iconic spots (like Tunnel View) and have your camera ready!

IMPORTANT: Glacier Point Road is closed for much of the winter and snow season. I've noticed that there are exceptions (e.g., roads clear of ice and snow, special permission from NPS, etc.). Just check in advance! You don't want to drive to the base of Glacier Point Road only to be turned back. ALSO, you'll want to load your GPS maps when you have a signal. You might not get a chance during a drive up to a remote 7000+ feet.

PARKING: Whereas parking is often a problem at most of the iconic areas around Yosemite Valley, I've never experienced a problem at Glacier Point.

ACCESSIBILITY: This is NOT an actual hiking spot. Whereas the terrain is somewhat inclined, it isn't very far from the parking lot to the vista spots. The vista areas are well-maintained and flat. It is accessible for young and old as well as both disabled and foot walkers. The wheelchair path is a bit longer than the regular (and a bit more difficult) foot terrain path; however, they both arrive to the same place (and magnificent views).

WEATHER: You'll definitely want to check the weather before your trip. The National Parks website for Yosemite includes detailed weather information. The temperature and conditions at Glacier Point can be different from the rest of the park. For instance, I once visited during August and the temperature in the Valley was in the upper 80's (Fahrenheit). The temperature at Glacier Point was actually in the 60's (and there was still melting snow in the shade).

BATHROOMS: There are some standard restrooms available at the parking lot. If you're headed to the vista points, just make sure you "go" before you go.

GAS: This is something that some people don't take into account. You'll be driving UPHILL during your trip up to Glacier Point. This means you'll be burning more gasoline. Please take that into account! There are some (overpriced*) gas stations in the park. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

FOOD: You can bring your food with you…and this is a wonderful place for a picnic (as long as you clean up properly). Otherwise, there is a nice little store that sells (overpriced) food and souvenirs.

PLAN YOUR TRIP!!! I wouldn't recommend Yosemite on the federal and state holidays. Those days are just too crowded and don't offer the relaxed enjoyment that you might otherwise expect or hope for. It is just too closely located from places like the San Francisco Bay Area which attracts visitors from day trips.

According to most travel websites, the Spring is the best time of the year to visit. I'd add that you should consider taking school calendars into account too — and avoid times when most children will be out of school. I've visited during every season and the spring and fall were by far the least crowded. A visit during the spring will also allow you to see the waterfalls at their highest yearly capacities!

*REMEMBER: As California's gas prices are typically the highest in America, the gas prices in Yosemite gas stations are even higher. As of today (January 30, 2018), the current average gas price for a gallon of regular unleaded in the U.S. is $2.34. The current average gas price for a gallon of regular unleaded in California is $3.35. The current price per gallon at Yosemite is $3.96.

I hope this helps! Don't forget to bring a camera!

Breathtaking doesn't even begin to describe this viewpoint that offers birds-eye views of Half Dome and the valley around it. Depending on the time of year, there are shuttles coming in here, but if you're here during non-peak times, it can be as easy as driving up to the adjacent parking lot and walking the several hundred feet to the overlook. Gorgeous views and a tranquil atmosphere all around, no matter how many tourists there might be.

I worked here for about 5 months, give or take. Smoke, snow, rain, fog, bears, weddings. I've seen it all here. If you absolutely can't get to the east side of the park, this is the most worthwhile view hands down.

***IF YOU HIKE UP, YOU EITHER HIKE DOWN OR HITCH A RIDE WITH STRANGERS***

If you drive up, go during the week on a date as close to a new moon as you can get. Try to be parked 30-60 minutes before the estimated sunset and bring a camera. My friends and I brought a jet boil and made hot dogs :p Plan to stay for dusk so you can see the divine night sky. Sunrise is best to avoid crowds, if you're into that sort of thing.

If you hike up, Godspeed. As I said, there are NO SHUTTLES BETWEEN THE POINT AND THE VALLEY.

Go. Go now.

Hint: get there before sunrise to avoid crowds. Busses start coming around 10. AND you can scramble down to secluded spots just watch your step…3,000 foot drop 😉

Enjoyed a blissful time from 6am-9:45am. The visitors that are there early from my experience are wonderful human beings; witnessed a proposal, met an engaging Swede, talking to couple on their honeymoon…good vibes with a gorgeous backdrop.

I live in and explore CO extensively…this was better than anything I've seen.

Go. Go now.