#1 of 52 sights in Yosemite
Sight · Yosemite National Park
The valley opens in one huge panorama beyond the tunnel.
Overview
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Plan your stop
“You're approaching Tunnel View, where El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and distant Half Dome share one view into the Valley.”
Yosemite Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Yosemite National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Yosemite audio tourRecorded for this place
Tunnel View“You're approaching Tunnel View, where El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and distant Half Dome share one view into the Valley.”
Plays as you drive up to Tunnel View in the Parkwolf Yosemite Tour Guide.
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“We just drove through Yosemite and it made our trip listening to this app as we drove through. Like having a tour guide in the car with you.”
Guide
Tunnel View is the roadside overlook at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel on Wawona Road (Highway 41), where Yosemite Valley opens below. You can take in the panorama from the parking area or follow the short paved approach to the pedestrian viewing area. This is an easy stop for the valley's best-known composition, with no trail commitment.
When visibility is clear, El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall rise from the valley while Half Dome sits farther back; Sentinel Rock and Cathedral Rocks complete the familiar skyline. El Capitan's near-vertical face stands about 3,000 feet above the valley floor. For a phone photo, use a wide horizontal frame to keep El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome together.
The parking area is immediately beyond the tunnel, so watch for moving traffic as you enter or leave. It can be crowded at popular viewing times; spaces do turn over, but you may need to wait or circle. Designated accessible parking serves the short paved approach, and the panorama is also visible from the lot. A bronze tactile model of Yosemite Valley sits near the overlook. Restrooms, drinking water and food service are not confirmed at this stop, so plan those elsewhere if you need them.
The Wawona Tunnel began construction in 1931 and opened to public travel in 1933. Crews blasted nearly a mile through granite using about 230 tons of dynamite. The tunnel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized for its design within the National Park System; the view begins as soon as you emerge from it.
Most of Yosemite's granite formed underground from magma about 105 to 85 million years ago. Much later, repeated glaciers widened and deepened the valley; the Tioga Glaciation began roughly 26,000 years ago and reached its greatest extent around 18,000 years ago. Ice left hanging tributary valleys above the main valley, and their streams form waterfalls such as Bridalveil Fall. El Capitan's relatively unfractured granite helps it hold its sheer face.
Sunset and the clearing air after a storm can make the cliffs especially striking, but changing cloud and light alter the view throughout the day. Check visibility before you make this the reason for a detour; a low cloud can hide the panorama, while a clearing sky can reveal it in stages.
Wildlife
732 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,747 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
332 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
11 sightingsPeregrine FalconMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
276 sightingsPikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
677 sightingsYellow-bellied MarmotMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Yosemite. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateArtist Point Trail2.2 mi · 1.5 hr · At the trailheadA quieter perch beyond Tunnel View, reached along the old stagecoach road.
ChallengingStanford Point Trail7.6 mi · 6 hr · At the trailheadA steep south-rim climb ends at a granite valley overlook.
ModerateInspiration Point Trail2.6 mi · 2 hr · At the trailheadA steep climb to a quieter Yosemite Valley viewpoint
EasyBridalveil Fall Trail0.5 mi · 20 min · 1.4 mi awayA short paved walk to the base of Bridalveil Fall.
EasyTurtleback Dome Trail1.2 mi · 1 hr · 1.8 mi awayA short climb ends on granite above Yosemite Valley.
ChallengingFull North Rim Traverse29.1 mi · 17 hr · 3.3 mi awayCross four granite summits on a true North Rim traverse.
ChallengingEl Capitan from Tamarack Creek16 mi · 10 hr · 3.9 mi awayA long forest climb to El Capitan's broad summit views.
ChallengingTamarack Flat to Yosemite Valley Trail17 mi · 10.5 hr · 4 mi awayCross the north rim, then descend Yosemite Falls to the Valley.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayValley ViewGranite cliffs and Bridalveil Fall framed across the Merced River.
Sight · 1.6 mi awayBridalveil FallA 620-foot fall up close, with a short paved approach.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayDewey PointEl Capitan anchors a far-reaching view from the granite rim.
Picnic area · 2.1 mi awayThe Cascades Picnic AreaA shady lunch stop with a waterfall just across the road.
Sight · 2.3 mi awayEl Capitan MeadowA 3,000-foot wall, dotted with tiny climbers.
Beach · 2.9 mi awayCathedral BeachA shaded picnic with El Capitan reflected in the Merced.
Picnic area · 3.2 mi awayEl Capitan Picnic AreaPicnic tables and February access to Horsetail Fall’s elusive glow.
Entrance station · 3.6 mi awayArch Rock EntranceDrive beneath the boulder arch at the Highway 140 entrance.Parkwolf’s Yosemite ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
