Yosemite: Accessible Paths and Viewpoints
Tunnel View
Perhaps the most iconic view in the park, Tunnel View is on Hwy 41 (Wawona Road) just as you exit the last tunnel before the valley. It’s a jaw-dropping view of El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridalveil Fall. It is virtually always crowded but worth visiting at least once. Parking on both sides of the road, with a paved overlook area and pit toilets.
Lower Yosemite Fall
This paved path starts at Northside Drive, just opposite the Yosemite Valley Lodge, and heads north to a viewpoint and footbridge near the base of Lower Yosemite Fall. During peak spring runoff, the path and bridge can be slick from waterfall spray. There are flush toilets and water fountains at the start of the trail on Northside Drive.
Cook’s Meadow
A short network of boardwalks connects the Yosemite Valley Chapel (on Southside Drive), Sentinel Bridge parking area (on Sentinel Drive), the Yosemite Village area (on Northside Drive), and Northside Drive near the Lower Yosemite Fall path. The boardwalk offers views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Glacier Point.
Olmsted Point
On Tioga Road (Hwy 120) between the May Lake trailhead and Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point has a large parking area with views from Tenaya Lake to the northeast down Tenaya Canyon to the southwest. Clouds Rest and Half Dome are visible south across the canyon. There are pit toilets at the parking lot, and additional pit toilets at the Sunrise Lakes trailhead at the southern end of Tenaya Lake.