Yes, yes, I know, there’s more to Yosemite National Park than just the Yosemite Valley. But when you’re in San Francisco visiting family and have only a single day to see this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s important to make the most of the limited time you have. Although the Yosemite Valley is just a small part (just 1% of the total area) of the much larger park, it is the most popular part, and there are plenty of famous sights packed into this one valley loop. Everywhere you turn beautiful mountains, cliffs, forests and waterfalls smack you in the face. It’s one of the most photogenic places I’ve ever been to, and there are plenty of Yosemite Valley photo spots to take advantage of, no matter how much or little time you have.
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Big Oak Flat Road Viewpoint
About three and a half hours after leaving San Francisco I reached the entrance to Yosemite National Park. I was so excited to hop out of the car and take a photo at the park sign, and couldn’t wait to start exploring. Little did I realise that I had another forty-odd minutes of driving along Big Oak Flat Road to go until I reached the actual Yosemite Valley. The road continued to climb higher, even passing through an area with a dusting of fresh snow, until suddenly I turned a corner and there was the valley stretched out below me.
It was a beautiful view, with the Merced River catching the light below me, the valley filled with forest, the sharply rising mountain slopes becoming rocky as they rose to the sky.
Tunnel View
This is THE view of the Yosemite Valley, and as such, you won’t be alone here. Even in March it was packed with people. It may take a few minutes or laps of the carpark to find a space, then another few minutes to get a good spot to take it in but it’s worth it. This is where you’ll get that postcard photo. The little bit of height gives you a clear view all the way down the valley to Half Dome, with Bridalveil Fall and El Capitan to the right and the left. If you have a little more time, you can hike up behind the viewpoint to find a bit of space to yourself.
As Yosemite Valley photo spots go, Tunnel View was the perfect place to start my loop around the valley because it just got me so excited to see everything in this view up close.
Bridalveil Fall
The second-most well-known waterfall in Yosemite National Park, in spring Bridalveil Fall is a rushing torrent of meltwater that makes the short and easy trail to the bottom of the falls slippery and wet. Nearly 200 metres high, the waterfall is very impressive as it falls down over the sheer cliffs above. This is the waterfall seen from the two beautiful viewpoints above, and getting to see it up close is a lovely experience.
Wheelchair-accessible and pet-friendly (as long as the pet is on a leash), the Bridalveil Fall Trail is good for everyone and is a Yosemite Valley photo spot definitely not to be missed.
Swinging Bridge
So the Yosemite Valley Swinging Bridge doesn’t actually swing… But the bridges in this spot were swinging bridges until 1965 when a more solid and lasting one was built after the previous ones kept getting washed away in spring floods. Right in the heart of the valley, Swinging Bridge has 360 degree views as it crosses the Merced River, with Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Rock and many other sights in view from this spot. It’s a popular picnic and swimming spot, but it’s possible to get a shot of an empty bridge with a little patience.
Yosemite Valley Chapel
Though everyone comes to Yosemite National Park for the splendour of nature, the history within the Yosemite Valley is also interesting. This lovely little chapel was built in 1879 and sits all alone near the river’s edge. Because of the difficulty in getting to the Yosemite Valley, early tourists often stayed for weeks or months at a time, so along with the hotels and shops, the chapel was built for their use and is still in use today. It’s easy to see why it is a popular wedding venue – who wouldn’t want to get married surrounded by all this amazing nature?
Near the chapel is another cute wooden bridge, which is certainly quieter than Swinging Bridge, so it makes for a great photo shoot location. It was one of my favourite Yosemite Valley photo spots because I had it all to myself for a time.
Half Dome View
Half Dome is THE iconic feature of Yosemite National Park, but it’s actually quite hard to get a good view of it from the loop around the valley floor. The best angle, if you’re not planning to hike any closer, is from the meadows at the east end of the valley, near the campgrounds, along the Happy Isle Loop Road that diverges from the main loop. It’s hard to miss, because there will be a lot of cars parked along the road, with many others looking for that view too. A boardwalk from the road into the nearby forest provides easy access for walkers without damaging the important ecosystem of the meadow. This is one of the only Yosemite Valley photo spots not on the main loop drive.
El Capitan
El Capitan is so large and overwhelming it’s hard to take in from directly underneath. The best view of the imposing vertical rock face is actually across the river. The extra distance allows you to see the entirety of the famous feature in all its glory. Famous for its sheer size and the difficult rock climbing ascents that have drawn adrenaline-junkies for decades, El Cap is one of Yosemite’s biggest attractions. It’s possible to hike to the summit, though at 27 km return, it’s not for the faint-hearted.
I was content to see El Capitan from the valley floor, and just kept driving along Southside Drive until I was happy with the angle of El Capitan for my photo. Though there are many places in the Yosemite Valley which give you a view of El Cap, this one was very quiet, making it one of my favourite Yosemite Valley photo spots.
Lower Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls is made up of three sections: Upper Falls, the Middle Cascades and the Lower Falls. Seeing the Upper Falls up close requires a long day hike of 6-8 hours, but the Lower Falls is just a short walk through a pretty, boulder-strewn forest. It’s busy, with a lot of other people enjoying this famous spot, but with a bit of patience, it’s possible to get a photo with very few others in it.
Even though Lower Yosemite Falls is just the final 98 metres of the tallest waterfall in North America, it’s impressive enough by itself, especially in early spring when it’s at its strongest. It’s not recommended to go beyond the path onto the boulders beneath the falls for safety reasons, but I couldn’t find any information saying it’s forbidden (because you should always obey signs in nature, especially in national parks), so like many others around me, I decided to carefully venture closer to the bottom of the falls. Some people even swim in the plunge pool during the summer.
Practical Information:
Getting to Yosemite Valley: Four hours driving from San Francisco, three from Sacramento, the Yosemite Valley makes for a do-able, but very long day trip, so spending longer at the park is a good idea. Having your own vehicle will make things very easy, but it is possible to take public transport, though multiple connections are involved. The Yosemite Area Regional Transport System (YARTS) provides bus routes into the park from several nearby towns. There are five different entrances into the park, three to the west, one to the south and one to the east. The most direct route from the Bay Area is the Big Oak Flat Road entrance or the Arch Rock entrance. The Tioga Pass entrance in the east is only open during the summer months.
Park Fees: At $35 per vehicle, Yosemite National Park is definitely on the pricey side if you’re travelling solo, but get a group together and it becomes very budget-friendly. The pass is valid for 7 days, so if you’re going for longer than a day trip, it becomes even better value. An annual pass is $70, so if you plan on going more than twice in a year, it’s worth getting. There are several days throughout the year where entrance to the park is free; to find out more visit the National Park Service Yosemite fees page. (Prices accurate as of October 2020)
Getting around the park: the Yosemite Valley is managed really well, which is good considering how busy it can be. Almost all of the main sights are accessible from the loop road on either side of the valley, and a one-way system is in place to prevent traffic jams. The loop goes anti-clockwise, so you’ll be driving along Southside Drive before crossing the river onto Northside Drive at the far end of the valley. Which means if you miss a spot, you will need to do the whole loop again to get back to it, but it’s really not that long at all if you’re not stopping. Don’t want to drive? No problem, as there is a very handy shuttle bus system that runs regularly around the loop drive, stopping at all the major Yosemite Valley photo spots and trail heads.
Yosemite Valley Amenities: There is a supermarket/large souvenir shop in the village, though prices are sky-high, so it’s better to stock up before you arrive. There’s also a post office, museum, art gallery (with some really beautful art), several restaurants and a cafe, all within the small, walkable village.
Where to stay: Ranging from basic campgrounds to deluxe rooms at the historical Ahwahnee Hostel, there is accommodation to suit every budget in the Yosemite Valley. Some campgrounds are reservable, while others are first-come, first-served. Sleeping in an RV or in your car (free-camping) outside of the campgrounds is not allowed.
Disclaimer: this website contains affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase or booking, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me to continue this blog and help wildlife around the world!
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Photos are stunning! My favorites are those wherein depicting nature with a person. Through them, I can feel the majesty of nature. Thank you for great post.
Thank you so much Hannah! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment! Nature really is amazing 🙂
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