Yosemite Valley Top Photo Spots & Points of Interest
I spent this past weekend soaking up the last of the fall colors in Mono County, and no Autumn in California would be complete without a trip to Yosemite (it’s my favorite season at the park). Today we are taking one last trip through Yosemite Valley before Winter and I’m excited to share with you some of my favorite spots and reasons why I know you’ll want to add this valley to your travel bucket list…so without further ado, let’s head out on our weekend adventure!
And make sure to check out my free Yosemite Valley Top 12 Photo Guide, which outlines all the essential info for 12 of my favorite photo op locations in the valley! 😄
Yosemite Valley Chapel
The oldest public structure in all of Yosemite National Park is the Yosemite Valley Chapel. This little New England style church was built in 1879, and in 1901 it was moved from its original location 1 mile down the road to its current location. This is one of the few existing structures built before Yosemite became a National Park that has not been moved to the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. The church is primarily used as a house of worship, but it has become a popular wedding destination, as well as a favorite spot for photographers.
Valley View
Located along the one-way Northside Drive, Valley View is a spot I ALWAYS stop at on my way out of the Yosemite Valley. You can see the vastness of Yosemite here from the edge of the Merced River, and there’s often wildlife grazing along the grass and rocks across the water. This is another popular spot for photographers (once you’ve seen the views here you’ll certainly understand why)…so when you visit, be prepared to share the space with others.
Wildlife
Yosemite Valley is a special place to get close to nature and wildlife. You can’t drive the Yosemite Valley Loop in the evening without spotting deer from your vehicle (if you know where to look). There are hundreds of black bears in Yosemite as well, and if you want to see them for yourself consider exploring areas in the valley that have abundant apple trees or berries. A few spots I’ve had good luck viewing are: the apple trees less than 100 yards to the right of the chapel (when few people are in the area), the apple trees to the north of Southside Drive before just before you reach Sentinel Bridge, the berries on Northside Drive by Eagle Creek (past camp 4), and the berries where the 140 meets Southside Drive.
I absolutely love all the wildlife here and I want to encourage you to please be wise and respectful when encountering the wildlife. I have seen some truly sad things over the years, including people approaching wild animals to photograph or feed, which is incredibly dangerous for the human and the animal. Two special side notes about bears here - they have an incredible sense of smell, so never leave food in your car or unattended anywhere. A sad truth is “a fed bear is a dead bear” in Yosemite. We can protect them by storing and disposing of our food properly. Also please drive slowly and follow the speed limits along the valley loop. I often see cars speeding here, and every year multiple bears are struck and killed on this road. I have seen my fair share of bears crossing here…once I even experienced an untagged bear stop and sit down right in the middle of the road (a ranger had to finally shoot a noise maker to convince this guy to be on his way). You must maintain a distance of 100 yards from bears and wolves at all times here. However, you may encounter wildlife closer than that without realizing. I once had a bear camouflaged above me in a tree and I had no clue it was there until I had passed, and another time a mule deer buck chased a doe right onto the trail in front of me. So knowing proper wildlife edict and how to handle unexpected situations is very important.
Valley Loop
Any part of the iconic Yosemite Valley Loop is sure to delight you – from the abundance of wildflowers to epic views of Half Done, El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks. Just be sure to stay on the maintained paths and beautiful boardwalks. The surrounding vegetation can be easily damaged and the NPS has done an incredible job of rehabilitating and maintaining the meadows here. It is always incredibly disheartening to see someone setting up a picnic or trampling through the fields to take a picture. Please do your research and respect all posted signs so this valley will stay wild and vibrant not only for us, but for generations to come.
Orange skies due to the recent nearby Creek Fire
Trails
Yosemite has over 750 miles of trails to explore. Below are a few of my favorite easy yet beautiful valley trails.
• Sentinel and Cooks Meadow Trail
This easy 2.25 mile hike has no elevation gain, but wonderful views of Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. Spring is magical here because the wildflowers are blooming and the falls are raging. Plus this is a very gentle introduction to hiking in Yosemite.
• Bridalveil Fall Trail
Currently this trail is undergoing a major restoration and is scheduled to open again in 2022, but you’ll definitely want to add this hike to your valley bucket list as soon at it reopens. This is an easy hike at just over one mile with 200 ft in elevation gain and the payoff is awesome! When the snow melts in the Spring the roaring water and mist will make you think you’re visiting a giant water park (just be mindful of wet slippery rocks).
• Mirror Lake Trail
Mirror Lake is no giant impressive body of water, but in under 2.5 miles you can hike to some great up close views of Half Dome with beautiful water reflections. During the Summer it is a popular swimming destination, but in the Winter you can hike here to enjoy solitude and stunning Half Dome scenery.
• Lower Yosemite Falls Trail
This one mile loop will take you to the base of North America’s tallest waterfall, and to some of its best views too. This is a short and easy walk, but if you visit in the Spring you’ll see these falls in all their overwhelming glory...and if you make it to the footbridge plan on getting wet! If you come in the Summer things calm down and you can enjoy the falls gently cascading, but by mid August the falls will completely dry up. So if it’s water you want to see, don’t wait until Autumn to visit (although this is when the trail will be quiet without crowds of tourists).
Bridges
I love the history and nostalgia of a time gone by that Yosemite’s bridges conjure up. While my favorite bridge in this National Park isn’t actually located in the valley, there are many wonderful bridges here, and below I’m sharing some of my favorites.
• Sentinel Bridge
Known for its amazing views of Half Dome and Upper Yosemite Falls, this bridge has long been a favorite spot for photographers (Ansel Adams loved to shoot here). This spot gets busy throughout the day and can get quite crowded at sunset, but I’ve have this bridge all to myself more than once for sunrise.
• Pohono Bridge
Built in 1928, this single arch bridge connects the two sides of the valley and spans over 80 feet. I love admiring the local stone it was faced with almost a century ago, but I’d encourage you to visit earlier in the day if you want to shoot this bridge. It gets busier as the day goes on…also you can go down below on the east side of the bridge to shoot up at it.
• Yosemite Creek Bridge
This is the oldest of the stone-faced concrete arch bridges in Yosemite National Park. Built in 1922, the "rustic style" bridge beautifully blends into its setting near the base of Yosemite Falls. Spanning 50 feet and faced with local granite, it is a wonderful piece of Yosemite history.
• Happy Isles Bridge
This 75 foot bridge was built in 1929 and it’s part of the short but sweet Happy Isles Trail, which leads to a pair of small isles in the Merced River. You can start this hike at the trailhead for a 1/2 mile hike, or go from Curry Village for a 2.5 mile hike. It is relatively quiet in the Fall and Winter.
• Yosemite Valley Swinging Bridge
This bridge is not to be confused with the Wawona Bridge (my personal favorite bridge in all of Yosemite), but this bridge is located along the Sentinel and Cooks Meadow Trail Loop. Why the name “swinging bridge” if it doesn’t swing? Until 1965 this was a swinging bridge that could rock and sway so much you could get thrown off! But after repeated and significant flood damage, the old wood plank bridge was replaced with the current sturdy one. The bridge has an ample parking area, but it fills up fast in the Summer. This is a popular place to enjoy the Merced River and the views are awesome...whether you’re taking pictures or just relaxing and taking in the sights and sounds of nature.
Tunnel View (a bonus stop)
While technically not a part of the valley loop, Tunnel View is located on highway 41 less than 5 minutes from the valley floor, and it’s a favorite stop for first time and return visitors. Ansel Adams made this vista famous with his iconic photographs showcasing Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan and Half Dome. This spot is never empty (I’ve been here at 5 am to capture pre-dawn and sunrise, as well as numerous sunsets, and it’s always filled with people). There is plenty of parking, and if you want to explore more (rather than stop for a quick photo) head out on the 2 mile Artist Point Trail here for all the incredible views without the crowd factor.
Know Before You Go
• Please be considerate of the Leave no Trace Principles to help keep this place wild and beautiful.
• While much of Yosemite National Park becomes inaccessible by car during the Winter, you can enjoy the Yosemite Valley year-round.
• From the luxury of The Ahwahnee to family friendly Yosemite Valley Lodge to camping at Curry Village, there are plenty of lodging options in and around the valley.
• Always do your research, plan ahead wisely, and tell others where you are going.
• Don’t rely on phone service here for GPS or to reach anyone. Cell coverage is nearly non-existent and very spotty at best, no matter what carrier you use.
Other Yosemite Points of Interest
• Pioneer Yosemite History Center
• Mariposa Grove
• Wawona Swinging Bridge
In Summary & Behind the Blog Video
Thanks for exploring wonderful Yosemite Valley with me today. For more information, see my Behind the Blog video below, and until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
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