The Yosemite You Don’t Know

Tunnel View, El Capitan, Half Dome, The Mist Trail. The names are all staples that are familiar to many, but for those taking a second, third or fourth visit there are plenty of new perspectives that are worth the return trip.

Tunnel View is easily reached by car, but by taking a short walk up a trail from the same lot, Artists’ Point provides a view down Yosemite Valley from a few hundred feet above Tunnel View and a quieter experience. The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is a stunning walk-through time. However, it is just one of three groves of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite. The Merced and Tuolumne Groves in the north portions of the park are unknown in comparison. A hike near the top of everyone’s list is the Mist Trail but you’ll enjoy it with many other people. The Chilnualna Falls hike near Wawona climbs along nearly 700 vertical feet of cascading water where one can have a personal Yosemite experience.