Glacier/Washburn Point and Yosemite Valley

In between my two nights at the Summerdale Campground I did the main excursion into the National Park, driving from the Campground to Washburn Point in about 40 minutes and another 5 minutes to Glacier Point. Then I doubled back to the main highway and spent the rest of the day in the Valley.

If you have not been to either or both of these high Points, you simply MUST visit them. They are an easy 10-15 minutes from the Highway on well maintained roads and the scenic vistas, especially with the Falls flowing, are just incredible.

Washburn Point

Above is a panorama, stiched together from 3 stills. In it you can see Half Dome, Nevada and Vernal Falls, and a good spread of Yosemite National Park. These scenes are just TOO big to fit in a camera!

Inasmuch as this was my first real view of the Valley, and you come upon the Scenic point more or less blindly out of a curve in the road, it is hard to describe the shock and awe I felt when first experiencing it. I laughed out loud in the first seconds at the instantaneous realization of my own insignificance, or at least my inability to grasp what I was seeing. Powerful.

I stayed at Washburn Point for nearly 30 minutes taking pictures and just looking at everything. Then I hopped in the Van and drove 5 more minutes to Glacier Point.

Glacier Point

A nice short walk from the Parking Area to the Point itself. I'm embedded off and on with bus loads of folks being shuttled in, so the people come and go in waves. I took a lot of pictures from the point. Below is Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.

Later in the day, I make a small hike to the lower falls. For now tho I just spend some time looking around. There is so much to take in.

Tunnel View

I drove back to the highway and entered the Valley thru the Wawona Tunnel. Just after you exit the Tunnel, on the left is the most famous view of all. Discovery View (also called "Tunnel View") shows the whole valley. I have a lot of good shots of this. Below is one of Bridalveil Falls.

Continue onto the next page of my Yosemite Trip ..