Tunnel View
Wawona Road, Yosemite National Park, California
Tunnel View is the most visited scenic overlook in Yosemite and the site of Ansel Adams’ famous shot. When driving into Yosemite National Park from the south, Tunnel View offers your first glimpse into Yosemite Valley. At the end of a tunnel, a magical valley is revealed, with towering granite peaks and domes, and waterfalls spilling over cliffs.
There's a parking area right at the end of the tunnel, so you can pull off the road and enjoy the view. At Tunnel View, you’ll find educational exhibits, several viewpoints, and the trailhead for the Pohono Trail and the hike to Inspiration Point.
Most Yosemite Valley tours stop at Tunnel View, so you can grab that quintessential photo. Day trips to Yosemite Valley are offered from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe, and San Jose, and include many of the park highlights, such as Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and the Tuolumne Grove of giant sequoias.
The vista of Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel View overlook is a must-see for first-time visitors.
Hike up from the viewpoint to escape the crowds and get an unimpeded view of the valley.
Tunnel View offers a wheelchair-accessible viewing area.
The Tunnel View scenic viewpoint is located at the end of the Wawona Tunnel. If you’re driving into Yosemite Valley from the south you can’t miss it. From Yosemite Valley, head south on Highway 41 toward Wawona and pull into the parking area just before the tunnel. The Yosemite Park Shuttle no longer runs to Wawona, so you can only visit Tunnel View by car, on a guided tour, or via YARTS public bus during the summer months.
Certain Yosemite National Park roads are closed during the winter months, but Highway 41 is open year-round, making the Tunnel View overlook accessible in any season. Tunnel View is best in the spring, when Bridalveil Fall is at peak flow and the valley is shrouded in mist, and it's also one of the best places in Yosemite to catch the sunset. The view is ideal in the afternoon or evening, when the sun is at your back.
Several hikes begin from the Tunnel View parking area. If you want to photograph Tunnel View without the crowds, take the 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) round-trip hike to Inspiration Point. To see all of Yosemite Valley’s iconic landmarks on a single route, hike along the entire south rim of Yosemite Valley via the 13-mile (21-kilometer) Pohono Trail from Tunnel View to Glacier Point.
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