7 Absolute Best Yosemite Sunset Spots
Yosemite National Park is a bucket-list destination for most with countless things to do, and if you’ve been fortunate enough to make it here, you cannot miss the opportunity to witness Yosemite’s moody and ethereal sunsets.
Whether you experience any of these Yosemite Sunset spots as a photographer or not, just being in the moment while Mother Nature puts on her finest work is a memory of a lifetime you will never forget.
During Summer and Fall, Taft Point is the best place to view sunset in Yosemite. Year-round you can view an incredible Yosemite sunset from Sentinel Bridge.
Best Yosemite Sunset Spots:
Keep in mind, some of these locations cannot be accessed in winter when Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road are closed.
Yosemite Sunset Spots
Always check the current conditions before entering Yosemite National Park. Roads and trails frequently close on a day to day basis.
1) Glacier Point - Yosemite Sunset or Sunrise
Glacier Point during the fires - August 2017
While there are countless iconic viewpoints inside Yosemite National Park, Glacier Point has to be one of the most incredible to watch the sunset or rise.
If you’ve ever hiked Half Dome, this is a great place to see the entire trail you’ve accomplished and marvel at this bucket-list climb.
Typically by June Glacier Point Road opens and you can drive or take the park bus to view the sunset at Glacier Point.
It is a 1-hour drive along a long and windy road from Yosemite Valley to the Glacier Point parking lot.
If you are prone to car sickness, definitely take Dramamine beforehand.
The road to Glacier Point is closed during winter and spring due to snowfall and can only be accessed by backcountry skiing from the Badger Ski area.
This is a very popular location to view a Yosemite sunset and the parking lot is only so big (it’s illegal to park along the side of the road up here) so make sure to get there 1-2 hours before the sun actually sets.
Once you do find parking, Glacier Point’s ledge extends far down and there are multiple spots for you to set up for sunset.
The best spot is the furthest north point of Glacier Point or the Geology Hut.
If you do get there too late and the parking lot is full, you can also park at Washburn Point just before Glacier Point and the views will be almost as good.
Sunrise at Glacier Point - June 2019
In all honesty, I do think this location is better for sunrise over sunset because there is 1/10th of the crowd, typically only photographers, and you will get to experience something I cannot even put into words.…. euphoric, if any.
There is pure silence during sunrise as everyone glares in awe at the first rays peaking out behind Half Dome. We loved sunrise at Glacier Point so much we actually got married here.
2) Tunnel View - Yosemite Sunset
If you have never been to Yosemite, it honestly doesn’t look much different than any other forest in the Western U.S. when you first enter the park.
That is, until you arrive at the tunnel just before entering Yosemite Valley.
I was actually warned before my first trip to Yosemite that I should record going through the tunnel to get my reaction to what we would see coming out of the tunnel.
Even with the hype, I can honestly say my expectations were far exceeded! I had no idea what type of fairyland I had just entered, but I knew I never wanted to leave.
Now imagine getting to experience Tunnel View during sunset or sunrise and you have an entirely new perspective of Yosemite Valley as the sun reflects its colorful rays against those notorious granite walls.
Because of the popularity of this viewpoint, you will want to arrive 1 hour early for both sunset and sunrise.
There is parking right at the viewpoint or you can walk up to a short, 1-mile trail to Inspiration Point for a less crowded showing.
3) Taft Point - Yosemite Sunset
Another iconic sunset viewpoint located off Glacier Point Road is Taft Point. If Glacier Point Road is open, this is a must-see location!
Even if you don’t go during sunset, this bird’s eye view of the valley floor is worth seeing during the daytime.
You may even be able to watch some daredevils set up to slack line here 3500 feet above the valley floor.
To get to Taft Point, it is an hour drive (without traffic) from Yosemite Valley to the Taft Point parking area.
There is a small parking area off the road. If you aren’t lucky enough to get a parking spot, there are a few places within a quarter-mile of the trailhead off the side of the road that you can park.
It is an easy 2.3 mile round trip hike. While a mainly flat trail, you will be hiking back in complete darkness, do not forget a headlamp.
I would suggest getting to the trailhead at least 2 hours before the sunset so you have time to hike in, see the shockingly deep fissures throughout Taft Point, and find a nice spot to capture the setting sun.
Don’t be surprised if you are here with a hundred other people, I even witnessed a wedding take place here. Even with the crowds, it’s 100% worth going and a memory you will always look back on.
Please be careful of getting too close to the edge, sadly it is common for people to go too far for their Instagram shot and fall to their death. No one is going to be liking that photo.
4) Cathedral Lakes - Yosemite Sunset
photo courtesy of @rockclimbing_eevee
If you are looking to earn your sunset view and don’t mind a semi-challenging hike, Cathedral Lakes is an awesome spot to check out.
This 8 mile roundtrip trek from Tioga Pass Road to both lower and upper Cathedral Lakes rewards hikers with a new and stunning view of Yosemite.
From mid to late June, the meadow along the side of Upper Cathedral Lake is in full bloom with colorful wildflowers.
While still a popular hike since it’s a part of the John Muir through trail and a highlight of Tuolumne Meadows, it has nowhere near the crowds of Yosemite Valley or Glacier Point.
To get to Cathedral Lakes Trailhead you will need to drive along the Tioga Pass Road which is only passable from June to October.
It is 50 miles (1 hour and 15 minutes) from Yosemite Valley to the trailhead parking. It’s a rather small parking lot so you will see a lot of cars parked along the road as well.
If you can, I highly suggest trying to grab a backcountry campsite here.
As with any backcountry camping in Yosemite, reservations go quickly. You will need a backcountry permit for Cathedral Lakes, which can be reserved on the NPS website up to 24 weeks in advance.
Grab your backpacking gear, because Cathedral Lakes is one Yosemite sunset that you don’t want to miss.
5) Merced River - Yosemite Sunset
If you want a simple way to capture the sunset without having to hike a 3000 foot mountain or drive a long windy road to the summit, then the Merced River is the sunset spot just for you.
Located right in the Yosemite Valley along the Merced River are a few places to catch the “alpine glow” where the sun sets at the top of the granite walls, such as El Capitan, and radiates a deep red glow.
If you’re really lucky and there is no wind, you can catch the reflection of El Capitan in the Merced River for print-worthy photos.
I would suggest putting in Google maps a well-known spot called “Yosemite Valley View” if you want this view pictured here and you will find nearby parking too if you look closely on the map.
If for some reason this spot is crowded, Cathedral Beach is also another spot where you can capture a very similar view of El Capitan
Please keep in mind to stay on the trail as best as you can. Be mindful of where you are stepping and disrupting nature. If you think you may leave an imprint on the land, it’s not the right spot.
6) Firefall at Horsetail Fall - Yosemite Sunset
If you want an epic experience that only happens during a week or two of the year, then you should plan to visit Yosemite in February to see the mesmerizing Firefall at Horsetail Fall on El Capitan.
This wild phenomenon known as “Firefall” is when the unlikely, yet perfect timing of Horsetail Fall glows fiery orange from the setting sun.
It is so rare for this perfect collision of clear skies, enough water, and sun’s location to happen that your only chance of seeing it is from Feb 10th-28th.
And even then the Firefall only lasts for about 3 minutes, but man are those 3 minutes absolutely incredible.
You can view this bucket-list show that nature puts on just outside the base of El Capitan, along the Merced River.
During February the sun sets around 5:30pm. Because of how popular this event has become you will need to make a reservation to enter the park during this time and plan to arrive at the Yosemite Falls parking lot around 3-4pm to get a parking spot.
Because parking can be so difficult, it is recommend to park at the visitor center and ride the shuttle bus to Yosemite Falls stop.
There are multiple places to walk to and set up along the Merced River. Near the El Capitan picnic area is a very popular closeup view, or if you want a wider angle with more of the valley then you may want to find a spot closer to Sentinel Beach, just make sure you can spot Horsetail Fall.
Please remember to be mindful of the impact on the land and rivers when large groups are standing together.
When hundreds of people crowd a riverbank it will eventually cave in and ruin the natural landscape.
There is plenty of room to spread out and get an amazing photo. Be respectful of Mother Nature.
7) Sentinel Bridge - Yosemite Sunset
Another great Yosemite sunset location that requires barely any walking to get to is located at Sentinel Bridge. Here you will have breathtaking views of Half Dome and its reflection in a calm Merced River.
Some magical evenings will even showcase pink and purple cotton candy skies.
Be aware, because it is so much easier to get to, it is crowded with photographers lining the bridge.
You will need to arrive at least an hour before sunset depending on the day and time of year, summer weekends being most popular.
Sentinel Bridge is located in the center of Yosemite Valley. You can actually park right beside Sentinel Bridge in the small designated parking area or if the parking lot is full, you can park at the visitor parking along Northside Drive by the Yosemite Village Visitor Center.
We personally found the best photo of ours, with the perfect alpine glow, about 20 minutes before the weather app marked the time of sunset.
Tips for Viewing Yosemite Sunset
Look up sunset times. The sun will set differently at Glacier Point than it will at Tunnel View.
Check the weather, too many clouds is just as bad as no clouds.
Bring a Headlamp especially at Taft Point and Cathedral Lakes since you’ll be walking back in the dark.
Download offline maps. Yosemite has barely any cell reception. Use Google Maps to download an offline map of Yosemite, Wawona, and Big Oak, also download hiking trails from All Trails.
Arrive Early for Sunsets. the park is very crowded, especially during summer. You will want to arrive 1-2 hours prior to sunset at popular locations like Glacier Point, Taft Point, and Tunnel View. I would even suggest sunrise for a better photo of Glacier Point and Tunnel View.
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