Overview

Glacier Point Yosemite is likely the most famous lookout spot in the park, with its incredible vantage point at an elevation of 7,214 feet and more than 3,000 feet above Curry Village.

Location & Information

You can reach Yosemite Glacier Point by traveling 18 miles north from the southern entrance or 8 miles south of Yosemite’s Wawona Tunnel entrance on California Highway 41 to Chinquapin Junction and taking Glacier Point Road to the lookout.

Glacier Point Road is only open from June through October, but you can access Glacier Point by skis or snowshoes in the winter from Badger Pass.

Contact Information:
Yosemite National Park
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
209-372-0200

Activities

Glacier Point is a great place to get views of Yosemite National Park, as well as a starting point for some excellent hiking.

• Viewing the Magnificent Vistas
  Look out north and east to see cliffs, domes, meadows and forests. The mountaintops towering over the valley are impressive. You’ll be able to see Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, Venal Falls, Nevada Falls and much more.
• Hiking
  A Glacier Point hike is really a must when you visit. Four Mile Trail takes you down a number of switchbacks into Yosemite Valley, with unbelievable views along the way. This is a 4.8-mile one-way trek. It might be best to park in the valley, take the hiker’s bus to Glacier Point, and then pick up your car once you are finished the hike. Another Glacier Point trail very popular with outdoor enthusiasts is the Panorama Trail, an 8.5-mile one-way hike that joins up with the Mist or John Muir Trail.

Fun Facts

From 1872 to 1968, Glacier Point was the site of the famous Yosemite Firefall. This summer ritual provided some incredible views of a glowing waterfall, created by dropping hot embers from the top of Glacier Point to the valley below. The event was discontinued because it wasn’t a natural occurrence in keeping with Yosemite’s spirit and purpose.