Looking for the best place to watch a sunrise in Yosemite? From the famous Glacier Point to iconic Tunnel View, Yosemite is a paradise for sunseekers and hikers alike.
Read on for a list of some of the best places to watch a sunrise in Yosemite!
Glacier Point
Glacier Point is one of the best places to watch a sunrise in Yosemite. Glacier Point is about an hour drive into the park. Glacier Point’s location works to your advantage when you’re chasing sunrises, because many folks don’t make the journey in the dark and you’ll have a quiet, tranquil experience as you watch the sun summit over Yosemite.
Panorama Trail
Where: Trailhead located near Glacier Point Amphitheater
The Panorama Trail runs the length of Yosemite National Park, and is home to many viewpoints and vistas that provide an ideal spot to watch the sunrise. With Glacier Point and the popular Mist Trail at either end, the Panorama Trail is the perfect trail to traverse if you want to watch the sunrise over Glacier Point and then spend your day enjoying parts or all of the 8.5 mile trail.
Tunnel View
Where: East end of the Wawona Tunnel on Wawona Road/Highway 41
Tunnel View has been a popular viewing spot in Yosemite Valley since 1933. Tunnel View is the name for the gorgeous view that awaits visitors at the end of the Wawona Tunnel, the longest highway tunnel in all of California. Tunnel View provides one of the most iconic views in Yosemite, showcasing El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral Rocks, Bridalveil Fall, and Sentinel Rock.
Sentinel Bridge
Where: Over Merced River in Yosemite Valley
Sentinel Bridge is famed for its beautiful sunrise views, and is one of the most accessible spots for seeing a beautiful sunrise in Yosemite. Half Dome is often reflected in the Merced River’s calm waters near the bridge, giving you double the gorgeous sunrise views.
Valley View
Where: Northside Drive, Wawona
Valley View is one of the best places in Yosemite to watch the sunrise, thanks to the views of El Capitan, the Merced River, and Bridalveil Fall. This spot is located right after a viewpoint for Bridalveil Fall and just before Pohono Bridge, so you’re near a myriad of other sights to see once the sun is over the horizon.
Vista Point Big Oak Flat
The Big Oak Flat Road Vista Point is an easily accessible viewpoint in Yosemite, perfect for watching sunrises. From Big Oak Flat Road, you’ll find panoramic views of the sunrise over Yosemite’s beautiful rugged landscape, including the famous El Capitan and Half Dome.
If you’re looking for the best places to watch a sunrise in Yosemite, there are plenty of spots to choose from. Yosemite is known for its beautiful landscapes and unbeatable natural views, meaning a picture-perfect sunrise is never too far away. Rise and shine when you pick from these Yosemite hotels that are located less than 10 miles from Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat entrance and Yosemite’s west entrance.
