Glacier Point is an observation area in Yellowstone National Park offering breathtaking views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Yosemite Valley that sits 3200 feet above Half Dome Village. Glacier Point has a parking area, a snack stand and restrooms.
The drive to Glacier Point from Yosemite Valley is about fifty minutes, depending on traffic. It will take longer if you stop along the way. For example, if you did not stop at Tunnel View on your way into the valley, you will want do so at the beginning of your drive.
Glacier Point Views
There is a short path from the parking area to the observation points. It is about half a mile from the restrooms near the parking area at the start of the path to the end of the path at Overhanging Rock. As you can see, you will have incredible views of Half Dome along the way. There is a trailside museum along the way. When you reach the end of the path, there is an observation area that allows you to peer down to Yosemite Valley.
Overhanging Rock
This famous granite slab hangs 3200 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor, making it a popular historical photo spot. President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir stood on the rock for a photo in 1903, when they visited the park.
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls tumbles 2,425 feet from the top of Upper Yosemite Fall to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall. It is the highest waterfall in the park and one of the tallest in North America.
Half Dome
The well-known and frequently photographed granite dome on the east end of Yosemite Valley is prominently visible from Glacier Point.
Glacier Point Hikes to Yosemite Valley
Four Mile Trail – This is a 4.8 mile one way hike from Glacier Point down to the Four Mile Trailhead along Southside Drive in Yosemite Valley. It can also be done as a roundtrip hike but it has a difficulty of strenuous with an elevation gain of 3200 feet. Secure a one way tour bus ticket or have a member of a party drop you off to do it one way.
Panorama Trail – This is an 8.3 mile one way hike down to Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point past Illilouette, Nevada and Vernal Falls. It is listed by the park service as strenuous.
Pohono Trail – This is a 13 mile one way hike from Glacier Point to Tunnel View. It travels west from Glacier Point to popular overlooks such as Taft Point and Dewey Point before descending to Yosemite Valley.
Travel to Glacier Point
The Glacier Point overlook can be reached by car. However, there is limited parking. We were there at midday on a weekday in mid-June and we had to wait for some time to get a spot – probably 15 to 30 minutes. I am sure that it would have been more difficult to find a spot on a summer weekend or holiday. There is a U shaped parking lot so it was not very efficient to find a spot.
Yosemite visitors that do not have a car can get there in the summer via a four hour roundtrip bus tour from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point, departing from the Yosemite Valley Lodge. Reservations should be made in advanced. A one way ticket can also be purchased if you plan to hike down from Glacier Point to the Four Mile trailhead.
Glacier Point Road is closed in the winter, usually reopening in late May or early June. The road will also be closed for all of 2021 as the National Park Service makes improvements to the road.
Accommodations Near Glacier Point
There are no Yosemite hotels or other lodging at Glacier Point. In the winter when the road is closed, backcountry camping permits for the area are available. The nearest campground in the summer is Bridalveil Creek Campground, a first come first serve campground along Glacier Point Road. There are 110 sites available from mid-July to mid-September. It is the only campground along Glacier Point Road.
There were two Yosemite hotels at Glacier Point in history, but they both burned to the ground in July 1969. McCauley’s Mountain House was built in 1872 and Glacier Point Hotel was built in 1917. The park service made the decision to reduce development in the area and did not rebuild them.
Sunrise or Sunset
Glacier Point is an obvious choice for sunset. The color of the sunset on our first evening in Yosemite was stunning, and it would have been amazing to see from Glacier Point (we were in Yosemite Valley instead at the time). Glacier would be a good place to photograph the setting sun shining on Half Dome.
Sunrise at Glacier Point is reportedly less impressive than sunset, because the prominent features (Half Dome) are to the east, the bright sun makes it difficult to photograph in that direction and the sun does not shine into the valley that early. Nevertheless, I have definitely seen a few beautiful photos of sunrises over Half Dome.
Other Yosemite Observation Points
Yosemite National Park has no shortage of incredible breathtaking views. Most people consider Glacier Point a mandatory stop on any first time visit to the park. If you have limited time, there are several other options for impressive views around the park. Other easy to reach, low effort observation points if Tioga Pass is open and you are headed to Tuolumne Meadows include Olmstead Point and Pothole Dome, which do not provide a view of the Valley but are reportedly impressive.
Yosemite National Park
Glacier Point
Hetch Hetchy
Taft Point
Yosemite Airport
Yosemite Firefall
Yosemite Weddings