Yosemite – Inspiration Point Hike
Is it just me, or is there an “Inspiration Point” at more than one national park or city? There is an inspiration point in Santa Barbara (where I am based), Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and more. I suppose an expansive landscape view is indeed inspirational! But for that reason, I will refer to this hike as Yosemite Inspiration Point – haha! Yosemite Inspiration Point is a lovely little hike leading you away from the chaos of the Tunnel View parking to a peaceful view of the Yosemite Valley. This is a professional photographer hot spot with many of the most popular images of Yosemite taken here.
The view is at a higher elevation, but not terribly different from the Tunnel View turnout. For that reason, I recommend it for people who have been to Yosemite before and done the iconic trails and sights. Or, this hike would make a nice pairing with another Yosemite Valley activity and head to this location for sunrise or sunset.
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Yosemite Inspiration Point Hike
The trail starts from the uphill side of the Tunnel View parking area and is steep. There will be casual tourists on the trail, looking for a slightly better view, but unaware of the hike. For this reason, I am happy it is steep at the start to deter wanderers. The steep climb lasts for about a half-mile. If it helps, I sing “the first part is the steepest” to the tune Cheryl Crow’s “The First Cut is the Deepest” in my mind. Mentally prepare yourself for the switch-backs and keep an eye on the trail. There was a moment when we briefly lost the trail, but we backtracked and continued on our way.
Trees surround the trail for the duration of the hike, giving you lovely shade, but also obscuring the view. Every now and there will be a small clearing, where you will get a peek of the valley and see your progress. At exactly halfway (0.6 miles), you’ll cross an old road, which is the Old Wanona road. If you were to take this road downhill, you would get to the Yosemite and Bridalveil Falls. Cross the wide path to continue on the trail.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 3 (out of 4) stars, maybe not my first choice for hikes in Yosemite, but was a different way to experience the iconic viewpoint
- Intensity: Hiking shoes, athletic clothes, day pack, plenty of water
- Location: Trailhead starts at Tunnel View
- Cost: National Park entry fee (consider getting a National Parks Annual Pass)
- Restrooms: At the park entrance or the Glacier Point Road turnoff
- Timing: 1 – 3 hours
- Distance: 2.6 miles roundtrip
Highlights:
- Enjoy a less-crowded or empty version of Tunnel View
- Feel like a professional photographer capturing the Yosemite Valley
- It’s a hiking option that doesn’t involve going all the way into the Yosemite Valley if you want to avoid afternoon crowds on busy days
- The initial ascent is very steep, which deters casual tourists
Lowlights:
- It is essentially the same view of the Yosemite Valley, without the crowds
- Best if visited with *photographic* conditions – a little snow on the mountains, post-storm, sunrise or sunset
The Viewpoint
After the first half-mile, the trail still climbs, but at a more friendly grade. Continue climbing the second half of the trail until you reach a wide clearing. Yosemite Inspiration Point is not marked but is a large granite slab on the view-side of the trail. I was initially disappointed to see the overgrown trees, but take some time to explore the granite slab area before giving up completely. Some of my better shots came from a shelf below the main granite slab. There will still be some trees surrounding the view, but they add nice context. The photos from the lower slab are the ones with obvious rocks at the edge where our feet are.
Some of my other favorite photos came not from the Yosemite Inspiration Point, but in various clearings along the way. This is one of those cases in which the “Journey is the Destination” or however those inspirational wall-hangings go. Very cheesy, but accurate in this case. If you missed some viewpoint spots on the way up, you’ll have another chance on the return trip as it is the same trail back down.
When we returned to our car it was extremely crowded, but we thought it would be nice to find a picnic spot in the Yosemite Valley for lunch. We immediately hit traffic leading into the Yosemite Valley and decided to turn around and not get caught in any more traffic. Be prepared for this if you head to the park on weekends and even weekdays in summer. Doing the Yosemite Inspiration Point was nice to have peaceful views of the Yosemite Valley without dipping into the traffic and chaos.
Getting the perfect shot
I took all the photos in this post on an iPhone between 11 am and 1 pm on a casual hike with my parents. Although these are lovely, if you have a serious interest in photography, I would suggest the following:
- Pay attention to haze conditions – there are times when I visit Yosemite and there is a little haze making Half Dome fade a little. Other times, it is a crystal clear day with fantastic visibility.
- Utilize the weather – before or after a storm would be particularly dramatic from this viewpoint. After the storm, you have the added benefit of more water running over the falls. Or if not storm season, perhaps some puffy clouds would create dimension.
- Sunrise or sunset – You will be facing east, so consider capturing sunrise or sunset for dramatic light slowly lighting up different areas
- Snowpack – Snow in the high country is a fantastic contrast to evergreen Yosemite Valley. Try going in winter, spring, or early summer to capture that snow.
- Season – this could be an excellent hike in winter when you no longer have access to many of the trails. Each season will provide a little different flavor to the photos.
(Very) Brieft History of Tunnel View
Tunnel View is at the base of a long tunnel as you enter the Yosemite Valley from the southern entrance on the Wawona road. This tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in California! Before the tunnel, the road went over the hill and down a steep grade into the Yosemite Valley. There was a roadside feature on this route called Inspiration Point – where this hike roughly leads to. After the first visitors used the road, leaders determined the grade was too steep and would cause damage to the domes in the area, so they had a lower route surveyed and ultimately decided a tunnel was best.
Completed in roughly 1933, the tunnel had it’s very first drive-through in 1932. To replace the scenic viewpoint which was Inspiration Point, construction crews added Tunnel View (once called Discovery View) at the base of the tunnel. When you visit Inspiration Point, you are visiting an old-timey roadside viewpoint. The old road still exists as the Old Wawona Road that you will pass on this hike. It was still somewhat functional until a flood damaged the road in 1937. For the last 80+ years, the old road has slowly decayed but is still visible.
Get to the Trailhead
The trailhead is on the hill-side of the Tunnel View parking lot. The Wawona Road is open throughout the year, so you should not have difficulty accessing it nearly-round. The trail itself might be a little different, depending on rain and the snowpack. Check weather conditions before you go and prepare appropriately!
Other Activities in the Yosemite Valley
Taking your time and enjoying the Illilouette Falls hike is a wonderful day trip. If you’d like to add a little more to your day, consider one of the following activities in the Yosemite Valley:
- Raft the Merced River in the Yosemite Valley
- Rent or bring bikes to ride around the Yosemite Valley
- Walk over to the bottom of Yosemite Falls
- Hike to the bottom (or top) of Vernal Falls
- Glacier Point Road – Hike the Taft Point and Sentinel Dome Loop
- Glacier Point Road – Hike to Illilouette Falls
Overall Thoughts: Yosemite Inspiration Point Hike
All in all, Yosemite Inspiration Point is a lovely hike. Peaceful and short, you’ll get some moments alone while you huff and puff up the trail. At the “top”, you have an opportunity to photograph the iconic view of the Yosemite Valley, like the pros. Like Illilouette Falls, I would put Yosemite Inspiration Point into the second tier of Yosemite Hikes. For first-timers especially, I think there are better ways to experience the Yosemite Valley. However, if you’re looking for a little solitude, a nice view, and pairing it with another activity, this could be the call.
Keep this hike in mind if you are making a winter trip to Yosemite. I feel the views would be better with a dusting of snow and more attainable sunrise, than in the summer. I have yet to do this hike at sunrise or sunset, so you’ll have to let me know how it goes.
Which is your favorite hike in Yosemite?? I’ve done many of the popular ones, even if I haven’t gotten them up on the blog yet, but I am curious if I am missing any. Let me know the comments and follow me on Instagram for more updates!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
