When I was a kid, the ABC Wide World of Sports TV show profiled several professional mountain climbers. They would detail the hundreds of hours of preparation the climbers took planning the route, purchasing their supplies, consulting with their guides and getting into tip top shape. While watching the show, I thought it would be cool to wear the boots with spikes on them and have an ice axe in hand. But then I thought, who would want to go through that much pain in icy conditions and bone-chilling temperatures for days just to stand on top of a rock for a few minutes then climb back down? I never truly understood the feeling that the climbers felt from scaling thousands of feet to stand on top of the world…..until I went to Sentinel Dome.

Now I am fully disclosing that I did not need spiked boots or an ice axe to climb Sentinel Dome and it was a warm 80 degrees in July when I made the 1.2 mile hike. Despite my lack of pain and struggle to reach the summit (I did experience a shortness of breath due to the elevation), I fully understood why climbers get that euphoric feeling rushing through their veins when they are standing on top of the world. Sentinel Dome gives you a spectacular 360 degree view of Yosemite and a unique vantage point to take in Yosemite Valley. For those who do not wish to hike for miles and miles, this is the best view with minimal effort. The hike is not without some challenge as the footing can get precarious on the trail so make sure you are wearing quality footwear. Everyone who I’ve encountered who has made the trek to Sentinel Dome agrees that it is their favorite spot in the park.

Some squirrels love living on top of the world.

Sentinel Dome and Taft Point are located just off the Glacier Point Road with a small parking lot (about a mile from Glacier Point) on the west side of the road. If you walk left from the parking lot you will end up at Taft Point while walking to your right takes you to the path for Sentinel Dome. Both hikes are just over 2 miles (roundtrip) in length.

Taft Point promises views that are hard to come by anywhere else in the world. You can walk to the edge of a cliff and look straight down 3000 feet. To give you some perspective, the Empire State Building is 1454 feet tall so the Taft Point view is like stacking one ESB on top of a second ESB. I willingly admit that I have a fear of heights to I’m not one of those folks who will sit on the edge of the cliff with their legs dangling over the edge.

The sunsets are pretty nice too.

Finally, Glacier Point is one of the most popular sites in Yosemite and is located at the end of Glacier Point Road. This location sports similar views as Taft Point except it’s not a straight down/over the edge/heart stopping view. There is ample parking and almost always dozens or hundreds of tourists admiring the view.

All three of these locations are within a couple of miles of each other and provide amazing perspectives on the park and the world. My favorite is Sentinel Dome. If you’ve been to all three, which is your favorite and why?

For more information about Yosemite National Park, click on the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

As you enter the park, you navigate under a massive rock formation precariously perched above the road. A leisurely drive through the forest tries to calm you but the anticipation keeps you on the edge of your seat. Sunlight finds its way through the limbs of the backwoods to taste the moisture of the soil.

It sneaks up on you, hidden within the forest until it is right on top of you. You never see it coming. It’s like someone jumping out of the birthday cake to surprise you. The first thing people usually say is, “Wow!!!”

El Capitan confronts you as you slowly bear left. There it is in all its glory, 3000 feet of granite. The face is nearly vertical and a major challenge for even the most experienced climbers.

As you continue through Yosemite Valley, protrusions of rock jut into the sky, one stretching higher than the next. Tunnel View is one of the most famous and photographed areas of any national park. Busloads of tourists and school children unload their vehicles and load their cameras with memories of a grand scene.

Although not tame, animals are so accustomed to visitors that they might walk right up to you while you visit. It is important to never feed the animals as they could become sick from the food or become reliant on tourists for their nourishment.

Bridal Veil Falls is the friendliest of the waterfalls. It is a short hike of less than 100 yards to its base from the parking lot. The falls run your round and are flush with flow.

Snow rolls into Yosemite Valley in April 2013

Last but not least is Half Dome. It is the sitting king of the valley. Campers rest in its shadow and it is a favorite of climbers. You must register in advance to climb the side of the granite monarch via a system of cables. Climbing the vertical face should be left to the professionals.

Yosemite Valley is nature’s amusement park for us nature nerds ensuring that everyone has a jaw-dropping experience there.

Have you been to Yosemite Valley? What is your favorite part of the valley and why?

For more information about Yosemite National Park, click the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm