The Yosemite Rim section details three Overlooks on the Glacier Point Road:
Glacier Point and Washburn Point on one page, and Taft Point on its own page.
These three Points offer spectacular views of Yosemite Valley and the surrounding
area, including Little Yosemite Valley and the Western Sierra Nevada Mountains.

This Yosemite Rim Overview page has selected captioned
sample images and Display Composites linked to each page.

Click an image to open a larger version.
Use your back button to return to this page.

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Yosemite Collection page where a Gallery can be selected.

There are 15 Galleries in the Photoshelter Yosemite Collection

For convenience, Galleries containing the images of Wildlife, Plants,
Sequoia National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and Mariposa
have been copied to the Yosemite Collection from their normal locations.

Half Dome Tenaya Canyon Washburn Point X6295
(508 KB)

The view from Washburn Point in Autumn (this shot was taken in mid-October).

From left: North Dome, Basket Dome, Tenaya Canyon and Half Dome from Washburn Point.

Washburn Point offers the first views of Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon on the Glacier Point Road.
It also offers better views of Nevada Fall, Vernal Fall and the Little Yosemite Valley than can be seen
from Glacier Point, although Yosemite Valley itself is obscured. Half Dome is in profile when viewed
from Washburn Point. You can see the flat face caused by slabs of rock sheared off by exfoliation.

Washburn Point View 3803
(514 KB)

The view from Washburn Point in spring. At left is Tenaya Canyon and Half Dome,
in the center is Vernal Fall, Liberty Cap and Nevada Fall. At right above Nevada Fall
and behind Liberty Cap is Little Yosemite Valley, the Cascade Cliffs and Bunnell Point.

In the 1870s and 1880s, the Washburn Brothers drove visitors from the Wawona Hotel
to Glacier Point and Washburn Point. Washburn Point offers a spectacular view of upper
Yosemite National Park and the High Sierras (Yosemite Valley is visible from Glacier Point).

Half Dome Tenaya Canyon Glacier Point X6305
(637 KB)

From left: North Dome, Basket Dome, Tenaya Canyon and Half Dome from Glacier Point.

This is the view from the beginning of the short trail leading to Glacier Point.
On the right, Half Dome rises above Ahwiyah Point, overlooking Tenaya Canyon
below and North Dome and Basket Dome on the opposite side of Tenaya Canyon.
Between Half Dome and the Domes is Mirror Lake. This image was taken in October.

Half Dome Tenaya Canyon Glacier Point X6310
(625 KB)

Royal Arches, Indian Ridge, North Dome and Basket Dome, Tenaya Canyon and Half Dome
(from left) at mid-afternoon in October. In autumn, Mirror Lake (directly below Half Dome) is dry.

Nevada Fall Vernal Fall Glacier Point 2656
(591 KB)

Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall in spring from Glacier Point.

Vernal Fall Washburn Point 3811
(570 KB)

A detail shot of Vernal Fall from Washburn Point (note the mist below the fall). Those tiny specks to the right are people.

Nevada Fall Washburn Point 3808
(569 KB)

A detail shot of Nevada Fall from Washburn Point. These were taken in the spring, when the water volume was high.

Half Dome Glacier Point Sunset 3118
(529 KB)

Half Dome, Ahwiya Point and Cloud’s Rest overlooking Tenaya Canyon at sunset in May.

Click the Display Composite above to visit the Glacier Point and Washburn Point page

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Yosemite Collection page where a Gallery can be selected.

There are 15 Galleries in the Photoshelter Yosemite Collection

For convenience, Galleries containing the images of Wildlife, Plants,
Sequoia National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and Mariposa
have been copied to the Yosemite Collection from their normal locations.

Forest Scene Taft Point Trail X6789
(606 KB)

An exceptionally attractive forest scene on the Taft Point Trail.

Wolf Lichen Taft Point Trail X6809
(512 KB)

Wolf Lichen covering tree branches on the Taft Point Trail.

Forest Scene Taft Point Trail X6778
(1297 KB)

This forest scene just above Taft Point includes a fallen Red Fir covered with Wolf Lichen.

Taft Point Fissure 3409
(606 KB)

Rocks trapped in the narrow crevice of a Taft Point Fissure. Photography students in the background provide scale.

Taft Point Fissure X6735
(515 KB)

A wide view of the Fissure with the wedged rocks in Autumn, taken with a 20% setting of a circular polarizing filter.

Taft Point Fissure X6701
(571 KB)

The gaping maw of one of the more highly layered Fissures at Taft Point.

Taft Point Fissure FE X6705
(813 KB)

An extreme wide-angle oblique of the Fissure shown in the previous image,
taken with a Fisheye lens. The perspective is due to the 180 degree angle of view.
Below are two more fisheye shots of the Fissure with the wedged rocks, shown earlier.

Profile Cliff Taft Point 3040
(617 KB)

With a little imagination, you can see the face etched into Profile Cliff.

As you can see, there are no railings protecting the edges of the Fissures or cliffs
(except for the railing at the promontory over Yosemite Valley). Taft Point is dangerous,
and if you have a fear of heights you would be well advised to stay away from the edges.
The drop is more than 1000 feet in some places, and over 3000 feet to the valley floor in
others. Your friends would lose sight of you long before you were squished like a bug
at the bottom, then they would have to walk all the way back to the valley because
you had the only set of car keys. Be careful around the edges at Taft Point.

Awestruck Aussie Taft Point 3468
(637 KB)

Mark Bedson, one of my students from Australia, reacting to the spectacular view from
the naked overlook atop the Taft Point rock. Note the overhang above a sheer 3000 foot drop.
Also note the hardy little Juniper growing out of a crack in the rock. Amazing where some things grow.

Click the Display Composite above to visit the Taft Point page

Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Yosemite Collection page where a Gallery can be selected.

There are 15 Galleries in the Photoshelter Yosemite Collection

For convenience, Galleries containing the images of Wildlife, Plants,
Sequoia National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and Mariposa
have been copied to the Yosemite Collection from their normal locations.

Click the Display Composite above to visit the Yosemite Select page

Click the Display Composite above to visit the Yosemite Section Index page