The area was used for granite mining in the 19th and 20th centuries, and there’s even a short trail off the main path that leads to old mines. Start from the El Capitan Open Space Preserve ...

After parking, most visitors use the Valleywide Shuttle to get to the El Capitan picnic area at stop No. 8. This area is accessible via the Valley Loop Trail and offers a restroom. For more ...

Spending time in Yosemite Valley at Yosemite National Park in California is a great introduction to this national park. But ...

eating trail mix. The sun is bright, the sky without a cloud, and the view is huge. In front of me—I am facing roughly south—I am looking down on the jagged spine of El Capitan, a mountain ...

Often described as Glacier Point without the guardrails, Taft Point affords spectacular views of Yosemite Falls and El Capitan. The 2.2-mile round-trip hike travels through forest and summertime ...