Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places that we have ever been. It seems like every place you go is just trying to outdo the previous place you just visited. There is a reason that this park is consistently one of the most visited National Parks. We loved our time there and loved what we got to look at. If you are planning a trip to Yosemite, here are five great Yosemite National Park views you can’t miss.

Tunnel View

We knew we wanted to stop at Tunnel View when we were planning our trip but it still snuck up on us and surprised us. Tunnel View gets its name because it is what you see right after you get out of the Wawona Tunnel. On our trip to Yosemite we stayed outside the park in Oakhurst by the south entrance. One of the reasons why we decided to stay here was because Highway 41 North takes you through some really great places in Yosemite and right through the tunnel.

Right after you get through the tunnel you can see the whole valley. It was such an amazing first look for us. It was our first view of the Yosemite that you see in books and pictures. This view really took our breath away. The sun was rising on the other side of the valley, but it was shining on El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Falls. It was simply stunning.

You do not need to hike to get to this view. Outside of the tunnel there are parking areas on both sides of the road that you can pull over and walk to the observation area. We went first thing on our way to the valley and there weren’t too many people there. This place fills up later in the day after the sun has gotten higher in the sky. Tunnel View is a great spot to grab some pictures and to stop on your trip into or out of the valley.

Yosemite Valley Loop Trail

When people think of Yosemite, most of the time they are thinking of Yosemite Valley. You can check out so much of these views on the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail. This might seem like cheating, but there are just so many awesome Yosemite National Park views down in the valley we are ok with it.

The Yosemite Valley Loop Trail goes through the base of the valley and allows you to do some hiking on a relatively flat surface. There is a full loop and half loop option, though you could drive to and park at some of the major areas. Part of the fun of this trail though is going somewhere that offers a little solitude in the middle of the valley. We went on this trail on July 4th week and felt like we were alone. That was the only time we felt that way on our trip.

We loved this trail and loved the views we got from it. We were down in the valley looking up at El Capitan, Sentinel Rock, Three Brothers, and Cathedral Rocks. You can also see Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls. You just feel so small down there. We also loved our time along the Merced River. It is such a tranquil river that flows through the hugeness of what is above you.

Glacier Point

Glacier Point is one of the most awe-inspiring Yosemite National Park views. This overlook is located about an hour from both the valley and Wawona. There are signs clearly pointing out how to get there from the Wawona Road (Hwy. 41). This place is only open from May to October because of the snow and hazardous road conditions. If you are going in late Spring to Fall, definitely check this place out. It is awesome.

Glacier Point rises to over 7200 feet and is over 3200 feet above Yosemite Village. Because of this, you get some incredible views to the whole valley. This might be the best view Half Dome in the whole park.

A highlight of Glacier Point is the stargazing that goes on during the warmer months. On Saturday nights amateur astronomers meet up there and often set up telescopes and give little talks. A really great experience.

Glacier Point is a really popular place at Yosemite, and rightfully so. Parking can be difficult and the line to get into the parking area can stretch pretty far down the road. Also, these were the worst bathrooms we have ever been to in our lives. We have been to some remote and gross bathrooms, but these took the cake. I would recommend going early just so you don’t have to use these facilities at the end of the day.

Olmsted Point

Olmstead Point is the first of two Yosemite National Park views you need to see on the Tioga Pass Road. The Tioga Pass Road is the highest highway pass in California and takes you to the Yosemite backcountry. This is one of the best drives we have ever been on filled with breathtaking views. It is a perfect place to go when you want to get away from the crowds of Yosemite.

Olmsted Point is about an hour and a half drive out of the valley. It is well worth it. Olmsted gives you a ridiculous view of multiple sites. On one side you can look down into Tenaya Canyon and see Tenaya Lake. This lake is gorgeous, a crystal clear lake high up in the mountains. That was one of the first times we had seen a mountain lake and it did something within us. It was special. On the other side you have a great view of the back side of Half Dome in the valley. It is a view that most of the visitors to the park miss.

The parking area up at the point is pretty spacious and has a really cool bronze map of what you can see up there. There is plenty of room to get out and walk around on the granite mountains. We saw some pretty cool animals up here as well.

Tuolumne Meadows

This is another spot on the Tioga Pass Road heading out the eastern entrance to the park. This is a massive high elevation meadow in the Sierras sitting at 8,600 feet above sea level. We took the road to the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center and hit the trail. This is part of the John Muir Trail.

About a mile from the visitors center is Parsons Memorial Lodge, where John Muir and friends thought up the idea of Yosemite as a National Park. this is a really great lodge with a ton of history. Right outside of the lodge is Soda Springs. Soda Springs is a carbonated, cold water spring that is super cool to look at.

The best part of the trail is hiking along with the views all around you of the mountains. It is a beautiful thing to see and hear the peaceful flow of the Tuolumne River surrounded by the flowers and grasses of the meadow with the sun shining down. This is a great place to relax on the rocks and take a quick swim. There was hardly anyone here when we visited and it was so incredibly calming. A great place to get lost in nature. If you are in Yosemite you have to head up to the high country.

These are our five favorite places to head to for awesome views of Yosemite. There are so many other great places though. Where are your favorites? What do we need to check out next time we are there?

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PS! Do you love visiting National Parks too?! Check out our guide to Fort McHenry National Park for lots of history or Mammoth Cave for more epic nature!