• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

California Through My Lens

California Travel, Food, Hiking & Road Trips

  • Start Here
  • Explore
    • Beaches
    • Bizarre
    • Caves
    • Food
    • Hikes
    • Historical Structures
    • Natural Wonders
    • Waterfalls
  • Drive
    • El Camino Real
    • Highway 395
    • LA to Las Vegas
    • Pacific Coast Highway
    • Route 66
  • National Parks
    • Channel Islands
    • Death Valley
    • Joshua Tree
    • Lassen Volcanic
    • Pinnacles
    • Redwoods
    • Sequoia & Kings Canyon
    • Yosemite
  • Cities
    • Los Angeles
    • Palm Springs
    • Sacramento
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • Resources
    • Day Trip Ideas
    • Road Trip eBooks
    • Hotels
    • My Favorite Travel Products
    • Travel Videos
  • Browse By …
    • Map Of Locations
    • Cities
    • Counties
    • National Parks
    • State Parks

Yosemite: Half Dome Photography From Glacier Point

Last Modified: November 21, 2019

126shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Yosemite is one of my three favorite spots in all of California. If you have been there, you no doubt have the memories I do of the first time you drive through that tunnel and see Yosemite Valley. It will be forever imprinted on my mind, and over the years, I have had the opportunity to visit many times. The beauty is awe-inspiring everywhere you look. Whether it’s the summer or the winter, and whether you are camping or staying at the Ahwahnee, there is no wrong way to experience Yosemite. I could write hundreds of posts on Yosemite, but this post is on the view you can get from Glacier Point. This post is from 2012, I have a lot more recent posts on Yosemite here.

half dome and vernal falls

What makes Glacier Point stand out from other parts of Yosemite is that it is effortless to drive your car to this area and get out and take in the views. Unlike many of the other beautiful spots in Yosemite, you merely have to drive there and point your camera. This means that your images are not entirely original, and you often have to fight a lot of crowds, but it is ultimately worth it as the view is a direct one of Half Dome and at least three different waterfalls.

bridal falls from glacier point

You can spend hours here taking in the sites, and seeing the way different times of day affect the landscape. As stated on their website, this point offers you views of “Yosemite National Park’s Yosemite Valley, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Clouds Rest.” You can see Clouds Rest in the picture below; it is directly behind Half Dome.

half dome up close

The best time to visit Glacier Point is during the morning and evening, or at least when the sun is starting to set. This will give you the best lighting for photos and seeing a sunset or sunrise while here is a huge plus. I would tend to avoid it in the summertime as there are often entire buses of people being dropped off at this point, but if you are going to Yosemite in the summer, then you know how busy it is to go anywhere in the park.

When photographing a place like Glacier Point, you can bring whatever you would like. I shot these pictures on a Canon 7d with a 28 to 135 lens I believe, but since no hiking is required, you can bring as many or as little amounts of lenses as you would like.

bridal falls black and white

All in all, this is a beautiful place in an even more beautiful national park. If you have never been to Yosemite get it on your bucket list, you won’t regret it.

Filed Under: Central California, National Parks, Waterfalls Tagged With: Mariposa County, spotlight, Yosemite

Interested in supporting this blog?

This blog is simply a hobby and labor of love for me. If you have enjoyed the posts consider sharing it with your friends. I want as many people as possible to explore this state and you can help by letting them know about all of the great spots!

Join the Newsletter

Subscribe for the four day welcome series and to get the latest content every month.

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    About JoshMc

    Thanks for checking out the blog, I am happy to be sharing my adventures with you! You can get to know me by reading my about me, which includes a video and additional information on the site, myself and my full disclosure. Also, follow along on Twitter here or read all of my posts on this blog here.

    Primary Sidebar

    About

    Josh from California Through My Lens I'm a travel junkie strapped down to one state, focused on seeing as much of it as I can and encouraging others to do the same. More about me.

    Popular Posts

    The Big List of Strange, Fun & Unique Attractions in Southern California
    Pacific Coast Highway: Where to Stop on Your Road Trip
    Top Hiking Trails in Southern California
    Fun Stops on the Drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
    24 Things to do in Downtown LA
    17 Things to do in Lake Tahoe
    Donner Pass, Summit Tunnel Hike: Old Abandoned Railroad

    Categories

    Other Resources


    Footer

    Search the site

    Additional Information

    Privacy Policy

    About Us

    Copyright © 2021 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    Coronavirus January 2021 Update: Please note that some information in the posts may have changed and some places may be closed.