Artist Point After The Storm

Artist Point is just like Tunnel View – only better!

The legendary GOAT Ansel Adams made Tunnel View famous, in the photographic sense. We drove up to try to re-create some of that magic, and put a modern twist on it. And part of that modern twist would be a half hour hike or so up to Artist Point. The view is similar (just a lot higher up), with NONE of the crowd. Sounds like a win-win to me!

You can see into almost all of Yosemite Valley from here. On the left is El Capitan, then way in the back is Half Dome, and on the right is Bridalveil Fall. If you’re driving into Yosemite National Park along Wawona Road (aka Highway 41), it’s essentially the first stop you’re going to make before you drive down into the valley.

I, and the rest of the Backcountry Journeys squad, hiked up to catch the golden hour, as we figured the lifting storm would create some magical colors not only in the clouds, but in the valley. Pretty safe to say that we were right!