Glacier Point

Trail
0.50 Mile
N/A
N/A
4stars (4.00)4
halfstar (0.75)
halfstar (0.75)
Yes
N/A
N/A
No
Mariposa
More Info

Glacier Points is probably one of the best places to view the park.
Glacier Points is probably one of the best places to view the park.
Glacier Point sports some of the best views of Yosemite Valley in the entire national park. So, you can expect large crowds of people, including many who would not consider themselves hikers. It's a short walk from the trailhead to the overlook and the route is mostly paved. So why bother? Did we mention it has some of the best views anywhere?

From the viewing platform at the end sits 3,000 feet above the valley floor. Half Dome, with its shear wall immediately draws ones attention. It towers over Tenaya Canyon to the left. To the right, lies the grand staircase of Vernal and Nevada Falls which contains one of the best hikes in the park. Yosemite Falls can be spotted on the opposite side of the valley. Snow capped peaks of the high Sierras can be seen in the distance.

There is a large visitor's center along the trail about halfway to Glacier Point that's well stocked for souvenirs or a small bite to eat.

From 1872 up until 1968 Glacier Point was the site of the once popular, and now infamous, Yosemite Firefall in which bark from a large number of red fir trees were set ablaze and raked over the edge of the cliff to the delight of those on the valley floor below. Changing public attitude about what the park was for eventually put an end to the practice.

Photos
Falls
Closer view of Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. (Photo by coppertone)
Glacier Point
Tenaya Canyon and Half Dome as seen from Glacier Point. (Photo by coppertone)
Half Dome and waterfalls
Half Dome on the left and both Vernal and Nevada Falls on the right. (Photo by Austin Explorer)
Half Dome
Half Dome as seen from Glacier Point. The small valley to the left, Tenaya Canyon contains Mirror Lake and its namesake loop trail. (Photo by Austin Explorer)
Yosemite Valley & Falls
Glacier Point is a great place to get a "big picture" overview. (Photo by Blaze)
View of the trail
The trail is paved and easy to walk. (Photo by Blaze)
Another View From The Top
Incredible views everywhere! Yosemite Valley is below. (Photo by Blaze)
Half Dome
A view of Half Dome and the Sierra Nevada Mts. (Photo by Blaze)
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