Glacier Point
Glacier Point delivers one of the most dramatic viewpoints in North America, perching you 3,200 feet directly above Yosemite Valley with Half Dome front and center, Vernal and Nevada Falls visible in the canyon below, and the High Sierra spreading out to the horizon. The main overlook railing gives you the classic Half Dome composition, but walk left toward the rocky outcroppings for a cleaner foreground and more depth in your frame. A 24-70mm handles the wide valley shots well, while a telephoto lets you isolate Half Dome's sheer face or compress the layered ridgelines behind it. Sunrise is exceptional here, with alpenglow turning Half Dome pink and orange before the valley fills with light; arrive at least 30 minutes early to claim a spot on the rocks. The road typically opens from late spring through fall, and the parking lot fills fast on summer mornings, so get there well before dawn. (Yosemite National Park, California, United States)
