Top 5 Sights in Yosemite You Can Drive To
14 Sep, 2020
Yosemite is one of the most-visited national parks in the United States. It wasn’t surprising as this park is truly magnificent with unique rock formations, gorgeous waterfalls, tall sequoia trees and plenty of interesting hiking trails to explore!
Here is a list of top 5 sights you can just drive to:
Tunnel View
For many people this will be their first-time seeing the Yosemite Valley. Right after driving through the Wawona tunnel, the whole Yosemite Valley will unfold before your eyes. It is really impressive and you can clearly see the famous sights such as Half Dome, El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls.
Three Brothers
Tips: If you really want to see something in Yosemite, make sure to research ahead of time and find out how to get to the exact spot to see it. The Three Brothers is a unique rock formation, and the best view of it is taking the trail from Lower Falls Trailhead. We didn’t know better and only rely on Google to take us to the area. Although we didn’t see the legendary view, this area is calm, beautiful, and a lot cooler than many places in the Yosemite Valley.
Tuolumne Meadows
Yosemite is huge. From the Yosemite Valley to the Park’s eastern entrance can take more than an hour by driving. Nevertheless, Tuolumne Meadows is a beautiful area that shouldn’t be missed! These vast, open meadows are gorgeous and calming. Plus, while Yosemite Valley is blazing hot in the summer, Tuolumne Meadows are cool and pleasant to hang out.
Glacier Point
Glacier Point is a super popular spot in Yosemite. Similar to the Tunnel View, once you park your car, you will find this amazing view of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley right at your footstep. This amazing view is accessible to all. You probably can recognize this sight right away as this is one of the most photographed spots in Yosemite. In fact, you often can find quite a few photographers stationed here to take their perfect pictures.
Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove, located in the southern part of Yosemite, is another popular destination where you can admire the giant sequoia trees!
Warning: Unfortunately due to Covid-19, the shuttle to the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area wasn't in service. We ended up parking further away and had to hike 3-mile in and 3-mile out. At a 90-degrees hot summer day, and the tall trees prevented any sort of breeze, this hike was very brutal. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend this if the closest parking lot isn't available.
Tips: There is still parking available next to the Arrival Area for handicap.
