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This celebrated roadside overlook is a natural viewpoint at the western gateway to Yosemite Valley, and it may be the most recognisable vista in the park. It sits at the eastern mouth of the Wawona Tunnel on Highway 41. The tunnel opened in 1933. Drivers come out of its darkness and the whole valley opens in front of them.

The composition is almost architectural. El Capitan’s sheer granite face rises on the left. Bridalveil Fall drops on the right, and its mist drifts on the wind. Half Dome closes the view in the distance, with Sentinel Rock and the Cathedral Rocks between. Glaciers carved this valley over hundreds of thousands of years, and from here you can read that history in a single glance.

The light changes the scene through the day and the seasons. Late afternoon turns the cliffs gold. Fog settles in the valley floor after a storm, and winter snow softens the granite. Spring meltwater strengthens the waterfalls. The platform is low-effort and easy to reach, and it is one of the best places to stop for a first look at Yosemite. Entry to the park requires an admission fee or pass.