Glacier Point -

July 3, 2001

September 23, 2008

View of Half Dome from Glacier Point, 2008

Glacier Point is about a 40-minute drive from Yosemite Valley. You must exit the valley to California Highway 41 heading south towards Wawona. On the way, you pass both Bridal Veil Falls and through the Tunnel (with the "Tunnel View" to your back) before you reach the turn-off to Glacier Point. From here, you have another 16 miles until the end of the road parking area.

I first visited Glacier Point in 2001 on my initial visit and right after my hike out to Vernal Falls and back. We were on our way out of the Park and this was our last stop. I believe the sun was beginning to set or it was close to that time. In my 2008 visit, I'd also wanted to do some hikes at Sentinal Dome and the Fissures, which are about 1 mile shy of the parking area. However, there is a definite lack of parking at the trailhead to those hikes and I was unable to find what I considered to be suitable parking. So I did not complete either of those hikes.

In 2001, I took a picture of Nevada and Vernal Falls because I'd just done the hike, I was tired, and, darn it, I'd just the hike! In July, 2001, there was a lot more water in the Falls than in 2008, as you can see by the pictures below. The other object that screams to have its picture taken (even moreso than Nevada and Vernal Falls) is Half Dome. You cannot escape it - it is just right there in front of you when you walk from the parking area to the view point. Beyond Half Dome (at least in the picture I took above) you can see a thin ridge right behind it. That is Cloud's Rest and a hike I have not yet taken. Beyond that is the Yosemite Wilderness near the area of Tuolumne Meadows.

Nevada (upper waterfall) and Vernal (lower waterfall) Falls from Glacier Point, 2001

Nevada (left) and Vernal (right) Falls from Glacier Point, 2008

Beyond sitting at the view point and taking many (MANY!) pictures of Half Dome, there really isn't much to do out at Glacier Point. The views are pretty, don't get me wrong, but unless you are hiking in the area, you don't really stay there all that long. There is a shop and you can buy food, and I think there was even some sort of exhibit near the view point in 2008. Still, after about 1/2 hour, I was done and I left.

View from Glacier Point towards Half Dome, 2008

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