Our 10 Favorite Photography Locations In Yosemite

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Photo of Yosemite Valley under soft light at sunset with a still river in the foreground reflecting green vegetation and tall towering granite rock formations

Yosemite National Park is a dream come true for landscape photography lovers. We were utterly blown away by its majestic granite domes, giant Sequoia groves, lush meadows, awe inspiring sunrises and sunsets, powerful waterfalls and mesmerizing viewpoints. It’s the perfect place to learn and improve your photography skills, take home stunning images and bulk out your social media profiles.

In this guide we show you the photo spots you can’t miss in Yosemite National Park, based on our experiences.

Our Experience

Hiker on the back of another hiker for a photo in Yosemite Valley with meadows and tall granite formations in the background
Here we are at Cook’s Meadow Loop with Half Dome views in the background

We visited Yosemite at the end of October 2019 when the meadows had turned a golden yellow, tree leaves had hints of fall foliage colors, and the light was silky soft at dawn and dusk. We’d heard it was a picturesque place, but we didn’t expect it to be so dramatic and strikingly beautiful. For 3 full days we braved the cold from dawn to dusk so we could take home a bunch of fantastic photos of Yosemite.

Back then we had our first ever camera (the old trusty Sony a6000), and we were still learning about photography and improving our skills. Yosemite instantly became one our favorite landscapes because it was unbelievably photogenic. One major downside to our late fall visit was dry waterfalls, but otherwise we hit all the major photo spots in the park. Read more about us.

READ: 40 stunning photo spots in the US

1. Glacier Point

Couple sat together on a log on a flat rocky surface with wide open far reaching views behind of Half Dome from Glacier Point one of the most iconic photo spots in Yosemite California
This was us overlooking Half Dome from the awesome Glacier Point vista

Glacier Point has Yosemite’s best view of Half Dome that’s accessible by car. It was a pain in the neck to reach because we had to drive 16 miles up a narrow, twisting and steep two-lane road to the parking area. But trust us when we tell you it’s well worth the effort to enjoy one of the most iconic viewpoints in Yosemite. The Half Dome view was a side profile, so we could see how it looked as though the granite rock was cleanly sliced in half by a gigantic sharp blade.

From Glacier Point we were looking east-northeast at Half Dome. Depending on the time of year you visit, the sun will rise from behind or next to Half Dome at dawn. But after sunrise until later in the afternoon the front-face of Half Dome will be completely covered in shadow. We visited Glacier Point around an hour or two before sunset, which meant Half Dome was glowing but a huge portion of the valley closer to us was shrouded in a deep and dark shadow. Oh, and Taft Point is another great nearby photo spot you should consider.

2. Tunnel View

Wide open landscape filled with trees in a curving shape leading to towering granite formations at dusk
We were blown away by this scene at Tunnel View

If you want to see the most iconic photo spot in Yosemite, head straight to Tunnel View. It’s located on the eastern side of Wawona Tunnel just a few minutes drive from Bridalveil Falls and the Yosemite Valley Loop, so it’s really easy to access. We saw this location on pretty much every book inside the Ansel Adams Gallery next to the visitor center, so we decided to do it for sunset so the light would be soft.

And what a view it turned out to be. The intimidating El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Falls on the right and Half Dome in the distance. But we also loved how the thousands of evergreen trees curved through the valley like a half-pipe. We only had our 24mm lens at the time, but this is the place to take your telephoto lens so you can compress the three major landmarks (on a phone you should use your zoom camera).

3. Valley View

Still river, green vegetation, trees and tall granite rock formations all in one photo at Valley View in Yosemite
This scene at Valley View with El Capitan reflecting in the Merced River is probably our favorite

We had no idea Valley View existed until we stumbled across it right after hiking to the base of El Capitan. And guess what? It turned out to be our favorite photo spot in Yosemite. The view was extraordinarily beautiful because we could use the mirror-like Merced River in our foreground, trees in the middle-ground and the towering granite formations including El Cap in the background.

This viewpoint is east facing, so the best time to take photos is at sunset because the sun is behind you and it’s lighting up El Capitan. We revisited this spot during the day and it was nowhere near as attractive because the granite rocks were too bright and the sky was blown out. Our top tip is to do Valley View as the sun is setting, then go to the nearby Tunnel View right around sunset.

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4. Yosemite Valley

Golden grass leading to tall granite formations at sunset
We highly recommend just walking around the meadows and valley at dawn and dusk

Yosemite Valley is where you’ll find most of the park’s top hikes, waterfalls, tourist centers and accommodation. But what you might not know is that the entire valley is basically one great big photography location. We encourage you to park at every pullover and turn into every picnic area on the loop road. Trust us, you won’t be able to stop taking photos.

Our top tips in Yosemite Valley are to use the Merced River for reflection photos of granite formations and to walk around Cook’s Meadow Loop. When we visited in October, Cook’s Meadow Loop was a gorgeous ocean of long golden-yellow grass. But the best part is the view you’ll have of Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America. Just know the waterfall will be dry in summer and fall.

5. El Capitan Meadow

Huge granite rock formation with some faces in direct sunlight and others in deep shadows
This is the amazing view we had from El Capitan Meadow at sunset

You probably know about El Capitan from rock climbing documentaries like The Dawn Wall and Free Solo, but did you know it’s also one of the most photographed formations in the park? Both Tunnel View and Valley View are great places to take photos of El Capitan, but our favorite spot was El Capitan Meadow.

After hiking to the base of El Capitan in late afternoon to look up at the immense climbing route, we took a walk around El Capitan Meadow to watch the iconic granite cliffs illuminate under soft yellow light at dusk. It was getting cold but the awesome sunset view was more than worth putting up with bone-chill. We think sunrise would also be fantastic here so you can see the Dawn Wall light up.

6. Vernal + Nevada Falls

Couple stood together for a photo on a hiking path next to a log and below a thin waterfall cascading over a flat rock at Vernal Fall, a popular photo spot in Yosemite National Park
Here we are at the base of the very wispy Vernal Fall

If you only do one hike in Yosemite, make it the Mist Trail and John Muir Trail Loop. It’s a fantastic hike that follows half of the Half Dome Trail, but it also leads to two picturesque waterfalls called Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. You’ll reach the 317-ft tall Vernal Fall first, which is a single drop waterfall that plummets over a right-angled rock formation. Then much higher up you’ll see the 594-ft tall Nevada Fall sliding down a giant rock-face.

If you visit Yosemite in winter or spring when there’s more water in the falls, you definitely shouldn’t miss these two famous photo spots. But if you visit later in summer or fall like we did, it’s less important because the waterfalls are almost dry. The difference in quality of image when the water is in full flow is noticeable!

7. Lower Yosemite Fall

Looking up into dry granite rock formations where a waterfall flows in winter and spring
This was the bone dry Lower Fall viewpoint in October

Carrying on the waterfall theme, another place you should absolutely prioritize if you visit Yosemite in winter or spring is Lower Yosemite Fall. It’s a piece of cake to access and it’s one of the best viewpoints in the park. When the water is fully flowing, you’ll find a small wooden bridge crossing Yosemite Creek to be packed full of people with smartphones and cameras.

During our visit in late October there wasn’t a single drop of water in the creek. And it was at the exact moment we stood on the wooden bridge looking up at the dry waterfall that we felt the most disappointment on our trip. We did see a cougar cub on the trail, but we quickly left the area in case the momma cougar was around!

8. Tuolumne Meadows

Photo of a hiker stood on a sloping granite rock dome looking at evergreen trees and distant rock formations on a clear day in Yosemite
Here’s Kristen hiking Lembert Dome near Tuolumne Meadows on Tioga Road

If you have time, we highly recommend you visit the north portion of Yosemite along Tioga Road. And Tuolumne Meadows is one of the more popular places to stop. It’s a large subalpine area at 8,600 ft above sea level and it encompasses hikes, a visitor center, granite domes and of course lush meadows.

We hiked to Dog Lake and Lembert Dome summit which was a spectacular photo spot in its own right, but you can also hike to Cathedral Lakes for more excellent views. This whole area is attractive and it’s much quieter than Yosemite Valley, so you have more opportunity to find isolation with your camera.

9. Olmsted Point

Cracked rock surface leading to trees and distant views over granite formations covered in shadows on a sunny day
Half Dome is in the top right of this view from Olmsted Point

Olmsted Point is another top Yosemite photo spot you can’t miss if you plan to drive up Tioga Road because it has sensational (and completely unexpected!) views over Half Dome. From here you’ll be looking at Half Dome from almost the opposite side that you would be from Glacier Point. Olmsted Point is much further away but you can see more of Half Dome’s front face.

We stopped at Olmsted Point a little after lunch time on a clear day and the sun was directly ahead of us as we looked at Half Dome, so it was very hard to take a decent photo. But the view is much better early in the morning or late in the afternoon. We walked out on the cracked rocky surface as far as we could to get as close as we could to Half Dome. Oh, and don’t forget to stop at nearby Tenaya Lake for another quick photo.

10. Mariposa Grove

The base of a giant sequoia tree in a forest surrounded by other thinner trees
The base of a Giant Sequoia Tree we saw in Tuolumne Grove

Yosemite is home to three different Giant Sequoia Groves: Mariposa Grove, Tuolumne Grove and Merced Grove. We walked around Tuolumne Grove, saw the Dead Giant Tunnel Tree along with 20 or so mature Giant Sequoias and the whole area was very photogenic. Now, Mariposa Grove is the best place to see Giant Sequoias in Yosemite, but it’s almost 2 hours south from Yosemite Valley.

Our advice is to do Mariposa Grove for Sequoia photos as long as you’ll be entering or leaving the park through the south. Otherwise, go to Tuolumne Grove because it’s easier to access from the valley and it’s located on the western entrance road from San Francisco. The trees are enormous, so you can create some really fun perspective photos.

Yosemite Photo Spots Map

Click or touch the map below to activate. Zoom in and out, move around the map and you’ll see the locations of each photography location mentioned in this guide. You can also click on the view larger map icon in the top right to expand the map, which is much easier to see.

Map key:

  • Red – Photo spots

As you can see, our favorite photography locations are spread across the park but the majority are located within Yosemite Valley. Our top tip is to combine the viewpoints as efficiently as possible so your itinerary runs smoothly.

More Yosemite Photos

We took a bunch of photos during our trip to Yosemite! Here are more of our favorites (read the captions so you can see the locations):

Wide open and deep canyon with tall walls surrounding the valley floor and a small bird perched on the edge of a rock on a clear day
This was our awesome view from Taft Point
Photo of a hiker doing a handstand on a wooden boardwalk in the middle of Yosemite Valley with golden grass
Here’s Kristen cracking off a solid handstand in the valley meadows
Sun beaming into a valley filled with evergreen trees from above a granite rock formation
We took this one early in the Mist Trail hike as the sun was rising
Trees with fall foliage colors reflecting in a mirror like river in Yosemite
We loved finding trees and granite rocks reflecting in the mirror-like Merced River at various picnic sites
Photo of a tall rock formation with a thin wispy waterfall Bridalveil Fall in Yosemite
Here’s the iconic but almost dry Bridalveil Fall
Two hikers crouching in a gap at the base of an enormous upturned tree with long roots
Here we are stood inside an upturned tree in Tuolumne Grove

The Morgan Conclusion

What we like: Yosemite’s staggering natural beauty truly blew us away. We’ve seen a lot of the world so it takes something special to really make us say wow, and Yosemite was one of those special places. We absolutely must go back again armed with better equipment, knowledge and skills. We’d love to add photos from Yosemite to our print store.

What we don’t like: From a photography perspective there’s not a whole lot to dislike. The most obvious issue is dry waterfalls in summer and fall, which does put a dampener on things. We visited the park in late October but we can imagine it would be pandemonium in the peak months of July and August, which would make it harder to get to the photography locations.

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We hope our guide to the most amazing Yosemite photo spots helps with planning your trip to California!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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6 thoughts on “Our 10 Favorite Photography Locations In Yosemite”

  1. Went to Yosemite the 80’s. Hiked up the mist trail and the stet were icy,and slippery , Ended crawling on hands and knees or die! Took longer trail and safer trail back. Never made it to Nevada Falls, So close, yet So…..

    Reply
  2. After arriving in California as a young bride, my native born Californian husband took me to Yosemite. We are began our visit – and my discovery of Yosemite – in Mariposa Grove. I was enchanted!

    Fast forward a few years, I was alone raising a young son. A subsequent long term relationship took me again to Yosemite, to discover more, while seeing the beauty of this rarest of places through new eyes.

    Years later, my fiancé and I went to Yosemite. Among other memories, I carry a vivid memory of a fall late afternoon, sipping hot buttered rum on the rear flagstone patio of the Ahwanee. The experience was magical! We later traveled from Washington, D.C. for our honeymoon in Yosemite.

    Through 32 years of living in California, we returned many times to Yosemite, introducing a new generation of admirers to it’s magnificence. Forty years later, it remains my favorite place on earth.

    Reply
    • Thank you for sharing such a lovely story with us, Andrea. We hope you are able to enjoy the park for many more years to come. Yosemite is a place we intend to visit again as soon as possible but next time we will spend a full week.

      Reply
  3. I’m so glad I found your blog! These info are incredibly helpful. I planned most of my itinerary based on the tips you give here. Very grateful for everything you shared!

    Reply

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