glacier point tour vs valley floor tour

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Last updated: April 21, 2024

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Guided Bus Tours

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See it All, Guided by Experts

Yosemite Guided Bus Tours are the best way to experience all the wonders that the park has to offer. Our expert tour guides will share their knowledge about this remarkable place, with tours that focus on natural history, indigenous peoples, the first non-indigenous settlers and wildlife.

Important Information | Bus & Tram Options

Important Bus & Tram Information

A tour reservation does not include a park entrance reservation, you will need to ensure you also obtain a Peak Hours Plus entrance reservation for the date of your bus tour. Further information can be found at https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm .

For bus & tram options, tour availability and reservation information, please view below.

Yosemite Grand Tour

This tour is currently pending, please stay tuned for an announcement on dates.

The full-day Yosemite Grand Tour combines Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias for a memorable day in Yosemite National Park. Bring your camera for numerous photo opportunities! 

Tour Information

Tour pricing, glacier point tour.

Glacier Point Tour will run from June 15 - August 15, 2024.

Virtually every visitor who comes to Yosemite National Park spends at least some time at Glacier Point, drawn to the breathtaking views. On this four-hour tour, you’ll go from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point—a 3,200-foot elevation gain.  Be sure to bring your camera to capture awe-inspiring photos of Yosemite’s famous waterfalls and the distant High Sierra mountains. 

Tour Information:

Tour pricing:, yosemite valley floor tour.

Available year-round, the Yosemite Valley Floor Tour is approximately 2 hours long and can be enjoyed during the warm months in an open-air tram, and during the colder months from the comfort of a heated motor coach with panoramic windows. Led by park rangers and Yosemite Hospitality naturalists, you’ll get to see all of the highlights at Yosemite, as you learn about the history, flora, and fauna throughout the Park.

Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows Hikers Bus

2024 Operating Dates: June 20 - September 15 (conditions permitting)

Ticket Retrieval 

Tickets will need to be retrieved at the Yosemite Valley Lodge Front Desk at least 15 minutes prior to your tour departure time. Traffic and parking can be challenging in Yosemite Valley during the summer season, so we recommend allowing extra travel time as the tours leave promptly at the scheduled time.

The Hiker's Bus stops at many locations in Yosemite Valley and at all major trailheads along Tioga Pass, and can be flagged for pickup at any trailhead as long as the bus has enough room to pull over. Please indicate your desired pick-up location when making your reservation. If you do not see your desired drop-off location in the list of available tickets, please select the nearest available trailhead and inform the bus driver of your preferred drop-off location upon boarding.

We offer a few easy ways to book:

• Click the " Check Rates " button in the upper-right hand corner of your browser
• or Call  888.413.8869

Cancellation Policy

24 hour cancellation notice required to receive full refund. Cancelling within 24 hours of tour departure will forfeit full value.

How to Visit Glacier Point at Yosemite

Visiting Glacier Point, Yosemite

Betsy Malloy Photography

Don't get all excited when you read Glacier Point, thinking there's a glacier in Yosemite National Park. There used to be one, but that was millions of years ago. 

Today, the name Glacier Point refers to the point you'll be standing on and the glacier-carved valley below it.

Why Visit Glacier Point

To get a better view of the Yosemite Valley than the one from Glacier Point, you'd have to learn how to fly or how to suspend yourself in mid-air.

Standing at 3,214 feet above the valley floor (and 7,214 feet above sea level), you truly get a chance to soak in all the valley has to offer: The panoramic view from Glacier Point takes in Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and three waterfalls. If you go at night (or stay until it's dark), you can see the Milky Way spread across the sky like a diamond necklace.

What to Expect

It's well worth going anytime Glacier Point is open, both for the panoramic views and for a chance to see what the valley looks like from above. 

You'll probably spend a half hour or so looking around and taking photographs. And you're not alone in wanting to have your photo taken here. People have been doing that since President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir posed for a portrait at Glacier Point in 1903, a few years before Yosemite became one of the country's first National Parks.

Since you'll be spending quite a bit of time taking in the sights and snapping photos, take an extra layer of clothing along. It's always colder at Glacier Point than in the Valley. If you're hungry, you'll find a snack area next to the gift shop, where you can grab a bite to eat while enjoying nature's beauty. 

If you're concerned about getting around to see the views, the short, paved trail to the overlook is wheelchair-accessible.

Hiking to Glacier Point

You can also hike from Yosemite Valley up to Glacier Point, but It's an extreme challenge trek that few choose to tackle. To do it, take Four Mile Trail, which gains more than 3,000 feet (and starts at almost 4,000 feet) — enough to leave most people breathless.

Most hikers travel the four miles from Glacier Point to the valley downhill instead. To do that, you'll need to have two cars, one parked at each end of the trail. An easier option is to buy a one-way ticket for the  Glacier Point bus tour  and hike back down to the Valley.

A longer, six-hour hike from Glacier Point to the Valley follows the Panorama Trail to Nevada Falls and then takes the Mist Trail to Happy Isles in the valley.

Getting to Glacier Point

In Yosemite Valley, you'll be right below Glacier Point. They're separated by only a few miles as the proverbial crow flies, but the road between them is 32 miles long. You can  see where it is on this Yosemite map . You take a paid  bus tour to Glacier Point , but most visitors drive.

To reach it from the valley, expect to take about an hour to get up to the point. Drive out of the valley on Northside Drive, turn left across the Pohono Bridge onto Southside Drive, then take Wawona Road toward Bridalveil Fall and turn off at Glacier Point Road.

On the way, you may want to stop at Washburn Point, which has similar views, but with a more direct look at Vernal and Nevada Falls.

You probably wouldn't travel to Yosemite just to see Glacier Point. If you're planning a trip to the national park, know everything to expect, what to pack, and how to get there . Then you can decide if this is a journey that you too would rate as one for the bucket list.  Use this guide to Yosemite Valley to get tips and find out what else in at Yosemite .

Glacier Point Schedule and Closures

Glacier Point is open from late spring through early fall, with the exact dates depending on when snowfall begins and ends.

From mid-December through March, you can get to Glacier Point on cross-country skis, a 10.5-mile trip each way from the Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area (formerly Badger Pass Ski Area).

Ranger programs are held at Glacier Point in the summer. On selected dates, you can take a  stargazing tour to Glacier Point  from the Yosemite Valley.

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Yosemite Half Dome Guide

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Yosemite National Park Vacation Guide

Yosemite Valley Guide

5 Easy Hikes in Yosemite Valley

Tuolumne Meadows: A Trip Worth Taking in Yosemite

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DownTheTrail.com

hiking guides, gear, and journals

The Drive to Yosemite’s 7,214ft Glacier Point is SO Worth It – 5 Best Hikes

updated: July 3, 2021

complete guide to visiting Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park

!!!!! NOTE THAT THE GLACIER POINT ROAD IS SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE 2022 SEASON !!!!!

With its height of 3,200 feet over Half Dome Village, Glacier Point holds some of the most spectacular views of Yosemite Valley.

The dramatic profile of Half Dome is front and center. You can see straight down to the valley floor, across to Yosemite Falls, and up the Tenaya and Little Yosemite Valleys to the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

You cannot see El Capitan from Glacier Point, but you can get a great view of it from the Tunnel View Overlook. You can also see El Capitan from Taft Point , which is one of the hikes you can do from Glacier Point.

Open in Summer, Closed in Winter

Note that road access to Glacier Point is only open in the summer months, and that the facilities are closed in the winter.

The official opening and closing dates of the road will vary each year, dependent upon seasonal weather conditions. The dates usually fall in the range of opening in mid-May and closing in mid-November , but every year is different.

For more information, the National Park Service publishes a record of each year’s opening and closing dates that stretches back to 1995. The record also includes data for the seasonal Tioga Pass Road and Mariposa Grove.

Dog Friendly

Leashed dogs are allowed on all of the paved trails at Glacier Point. This includes the one-mile round trip hike out to the railings at the lookout. Dogs are generally allowed on all paved trails throughout the National Park, as well as within the car campgrounds.

Sunrise vs Sunset at Glacier Point

The scene is spectacular at any time of day, but sunrise and sunset are especially dramatic with the added contrast for photography.

Regarding sunrise vs sunset at Glacier Point, I feel that sunset is best with the late afternoon sun shining on Half Dome.

Though you can see the sun come over a wilderness horizon from here, the only reason to go at sunrise is if you are especially averse to the crowding that occurs at other times of day. The best views to the east are otherwise backlit and washed out at sunrise.

Sunset will highlight the extraordinary scenes that Glacier Point is most known for – just be prepared to have some trouble parking, and to share the experience with a lot of other people.

Night Skies

Stargazers will certainly not be disappointed. Glacier Point has wonderful dark skies – at night you can definitely see the Milky Way and much more. Throughout the summer months (June, July, August), it’s not uncommon to see astronomers out there with their telescopes set up on Saturday nights.

Sometimes rangers will do dedicated star programs that highlight Yosemite’s night skies, but these most often take place in Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, and Wawona.

Stars Over Yosemite

Stars Over Yosemite is a special annual “star party” event that takes place each year at Glacier Point. Unfortunately the 2020 and 2021 events have been cancelled (because of covid and then road construction, respectively). However, you can get a great taste of what you’re missing in the middle segment of this wonderful video about Yosemite’s night skies.

How to Get There

You can drive your own car here, take a bus, or hoof it on foot.

Driving Your Car to Glacier Point

The road from Yosemite Valley Lodge (in the heart of Yosemite Valley) to Glacier Point is 30 miles .

It takes about one hour of driving to get there (one way). This is due to traffic and the steep, winding nature of the mountainous road.

Passengers that are prone to getting carsick may want to sit this one out, as the twists and turns can induce nausea on the ascent to 7,200ft in elevation.

Likewise, those passengers that tend to get nervous on mountain roads without guardrails may also want to stay behind in the valley. There’s one spot called Darwin’s Curve that gets some attention, but overall most people will not consider the Glacier Point road to be scary. By comparison it’s no worse than other local roads like route 120 (Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows) or route 41 (Wawona, Mariposa Grove).

Regarding driving directions , Google Maps ( gps address ) will get you to Glacier Point just fine. From Yosemite Valley Lodge you’ll begin by driving west on Northside Road for 5 miles. Turn left on Southside Road and follow it east for almost a mile until you can merge right onto the Wawona Road (CA 41). Follow the Wawona Road south for 9 miles and turn left on the Glacier Point Road at Chinquapin. The road dead-ends at your destination after an additional 16 miles.

Driving an RV

Restrictions are in place for all vehicles on the Glacier Point Road beyond the Taft Point Trailhead. No trailers are allowed, and the maximum vehicle length is 30 feet.

Points of Interest Along the Road

mile 0 – restroom located at the junction of the Wawona Road and Glacier Point Road (Chingquapin)

mile 5 – Badger Pass Ski Area 7,100ft

mile 7.5 – McGurk Meadow Trailhead – 1.8 mile trail leads north (one-way) and connects with the Pohono Trail . An old track also leads south to Westfall Meadow. Area is marked with a “McGurk Meadow” sign – parking is on the wide shoulder of the road here. 6,900ft

mile 7.8 – turnoff for Bridalveil Creek Campground and Bridalveil Creek Trail. 7,000ft

mile 9 – Ostrander Lake Trailhead – 12.5 mile round trip hike to Ostrander Lake – 7,000ft

mile 10 – Mono Meadows Trailhead – after a curve to the north – 7,250ft

mile 13.5 – Taft Point (Sentinel Dome) Trailhead – short trail connects with Pohono Trail . This is the most efficient access to Taft Point (2 miles round trip) and this trail also accesses Sentinel Dome. 7,750ft

mile 15 – Washburn Point – After some winding bends in the road, the view at Washburn Point suddenly presents itself from within your vehicle. You can park and take a very short walk to the overlook. The view is similar in most regards to Glacier Point itself, but with a more southerly perspective.

mile 16 – end of the road at the large parking area for Glacier Point

Riding the Shuttle Bus to Glacier Point

The so-called shuttle bus is actually a bus tour that begins and ends at Yosemite Lodge. Here’s the basics about it.

• only operates in-season, May through October
• 4-hour round trip
• departs from the lodge twice daily at 8:30am and 1:30pm
• can be reserved in advance, one-way to Glacier Point for $28.50 per person
• one-way tickets are allow you to hike back to Yosemite Valley

Dealing with driving, parking, and crowding in Yosemite can certainly be a headache, so this day tour isn’t a bad option. The tour guides know their stuff about the park. They generally give you about an hour to explore at the main destination (Glacier Point), and will stop at Tunnel View if there’s time permitting on the return trip.

Go here to make a reservation and see the current schedule (Bus tours are not operating again until 2022).

There is no campground at Glacier Point, nor is sleeping in your car permitted. The nearest campground is located partway up the road at Bridalveil Creek .

Backpacking

Numerous backpacking options exist along the Glacier Point Road, as well as beginning or ending your hike at Glacier Point itself. There’s plenty of options for backpacking in the area, such as along the Pohono Trail or up to Ostrander Lake.

In winter (and maybe even in the summer of 2021) it is possible for backpackers to camp at Glacier Point. Though literally camping on the guardrail-lined point itself is still prohibited, in winter you may be allowed to camp in the near vicinity.

It’s a special treat to have this often crowded and bustling place all to yourself, especially in the quiet of winter. Backcountry permits are given for backpacking to Glacier Point at the Yosemite’s ranger’s discretion. Generally it has to be at a time in winter when there’s little or no snow, when the 4-Mile Trail and/or the Panorama Trail are open.

In wet years the road as far as Badger Pass Ski area remains open, and I suppose a hardy adventurer could get there in winter via cross-country skis or snowshoes.

Historic Hotel

There’s no longer any accommodations at Glacier Point, but the area once held a beautiful historic lodge that operated from 1917 through 1969. It tragically burned down in a fire that started from an electrical problem (Why does this happen to all the National Park lodges?).

The hotel was located on the site of today’s modern amphitheater. It could accommodate about 200 guests and was considered a modern, state of the art facility at the time of its construction.

Yosemite Firefall

The term “firefall” has taken on a new meaning in Yosemite, but its origin is intertwined with the history of Glacier Point. Pioneer James McCauley was the first to develop access to Glacier Point via a toll road in the 1870s (the Four Mile Trail). The new “road” inspired Charles Peregoy to soon build The Mountain House, the Point’s first hotel.

The story has a few variations, but the thread that’s agreed upon is that one night McCauley pushed the burning ashes of campfire into the valley below. The spectacle of the falling embers caught the eye of the valley’s visitors, and a Yosemite tradition was born. Thereafter a nightly “Firefall” was staged as bit of theater for the guests in Curry Village.

The tradition continued until the late 1960s.

For those of you that love your National Park History, the explanation of the historic Firefall in the video below is definitely worth a look.

Today, the term Firefall refers to a play of light that occurs at Yosemite’s Horsetail Falls for a brief period in February of each year. The way the sun hits the waterfall at sunset each evening casts a deep, burning glow on the cascade.

The firefall for 2021 is expected to peak around the dates of February 17, 18, or 19, though the effect may be seen on any day of the week that’s centered around these dates.

It’s sadly fitting that the modern equivalent of such a storied tradition is now little more than a photo-op circus .

The “new” firefall can be seen in the video below.

Glacier Point Trail Map

Here’s a map that shows the hiking trails in the vicinity of Glacier Point, including several more features in the area.

The next map is a general schematic of the Glacier Point complex, highlighting its individual points of interest like the amphitheater, gift shop, restrooms, trailheads, and more.

You can right-click on either of the maps to view a larger version or download them.

The 5 Best Hikes at Glacier Point

Here’s a run-down of the best easy day hikes you can do at Glacier Point.

1) The Glacier Point Trail

DISTANCE: 1 mile round trip

This one may barely qualify as a true “hike,” but by the time you work your way out of the parking lot and walk to Glacier Point’s proper overlook (and back), you’ll put in a solid mile at an elevation of 7,000 feet.

2) Sentinel Dome

DISTANCE: 2.7 miles round trip from Glacier Point (2 mile round trip from Taft Point trailhead)

Sentinel Dome is like a younger brother of the famed Half Dome, so here you can get a good taste of hiking on Yosemite’s classic solid granite. There’s also reportedly a “famous” fallen Jeffrey Pine tree on its summit (which is still exceptionally photogenic), but I didn’t know to look for it on the day of my visit.

The summit of Sentinel Dome tops out at an elevation of about 8,130ft. You’ll gain almost 1,000 feet up it from Glacier Point, whereas from the Taft Point Trailhead it’s a gain of only about 400ft.

It’s also possible to do loop hike around Sentinel Dome that begins and ends at Glacier Point, passing the Taft Point Trailhead along the way. The total distance for this hike is 6 miles, with a jaunt to the summit of the dome included.

Refer to the trail map above to see how it works out.

3) Hike to Taft Point

DISTANCE: 7 miles round trip from Glacier Point (2.2 miles from Taft Point Trailhead)

For more information about hiking to Taft Point (and the newly engaged-to-be-married couple that fell to their deaths there), check out this post about the Pohono Trail .

4) Little Yosemite Valley Trail

DISTANCE: 8.5 miles

The trail from Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley is called the Panorama Trail . The mileage listed above is the one-way complete distance to finish at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley, but it’s certainly possible to do a shorter out-and-back hike. An example of this is a day hike to Illilouette Falls, which is about 5 miles round trip.

For more about continuing through to Little Yosemite Valley (and the waterfalls that may be seen along the way),  check out this post about the Panorama Trail.

5) The Four Mile Trail

DISTANCE: 4.7 miles one way

The 4 Mile Trail is the original toll access “road” that led from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point.

If you’re looking for a day hike that packs a punch (in both challenge and views), then the Four Mile Trail is the way to go. Along the way you’ll see varying perspectives of most of Yosemite’s famous rock formations, as well as changing views of Yosemite Falls (when it’s flowing in Spring).

One-way elevation gain is 3,200 feet.

My Photos & Trip Notes

Here’s a few more images taken at Glacier Point from my visit to Yosemite in September of 2009.

Related posts:

About Jamie Compos

I'm the guy behind DownTheTrail.com. I love the outdoors, and the Grand Canyon is my favorite destination. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter (at the bottom of the page), or else I'll slip a rock into your backpack when you're not looking.

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Vehicle Reservations are required to enter Yosemite NP 7 days a week from 5 am to 4 pm until August 18. After, reservations are required on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Learn More

Yosemite Valley Floor Tour

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley, CA, United States

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Available year-round, the Yosemite Valley Floor Tour is approximately 2 hours long and can be enjoyed during the warm months in an open-air tram, and during the colder months from the comfort of a heated motor coach with panoramic windows. Led by park rangers and Yosemite Hospitality naturalists, you’ll get to see all of the highlights at Yosemite, as you learn about the history, flora, and fauna throughout the park.

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Yosemite National Park

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• A Nature Guide

Organized Tours in Yosemite National Park

The park offers a number of ranger-guided walks, hikes, and other programs. Check at one of the visitor centers or in Yosemite Guide for current topics, start times, and locations. Walks may vary from week to week, but you can always count on nature hikes, evening discussions on park anomalies (floods, fires, or critters), and the photography program aimed at replicating some of Ansel Adams's works. (All photo walks require advance registration at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village.) The evening programs outside at LeConte Memorial Lodge and Yosemite Lodge are great for young and old alike. There are also nighttime stargazing tours at Glacier Point.

Several organizations also host guided trips. The Evergreen Lodge offers tours of the park; also check out Incredible Adventures (tel. 800/777-8464; www.incadventures.com), which offers 1- and 2-day day tours of Yosemite from San Francisco for about $150 to $200 per day per adult. Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides (tel. 800/231-4575; www.symg.com) runs hiking, backpacking, fishing, and rock-climbing trips. A day hiking trip usually runs $365 or $395 for up to six people. DNC's Yosemite Mountaineering (tel. 209/372-8344; www.yosemitemountaineering.com) offers a variety of guided hikes covering 2 to 6 miles for $10 to $40 per person.

Discover Yosemite Tours (tel. 800/642-4400 or 559/642-4400; www.discoveryosemite.com) conducts scheduled tours as well as customized trips. Costs run about $112 for adults, $56 for kids 3 to 15, and free for kids 2 and under. Tours are operated on small air-conditioned buses with huge picture windows; lunch is included. The sightseeing destinations include Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Valley, and Glacier Point. Geology, flora, and fauna are pointed out along the way. Stops are scheduled for lunch, shopping, and photo opportunities. Pickup can be arranged from various motels throughout Oakhurst and Bass Lake, as well as Mariposa and El Portal.

A variety of guided bus tours is also available. You can buy tickets at tour desks at Yosemite Lodge, the Ahwahnee, Curry Village, or beside the Village Store in Yosemite Village. Advance reservations are suggested for all tours; space can be reserved in person or by phone (tel. 209/372-4386; www.yosemitepark.com). Always double-check at tour desks for updated departure schedules and prices. Most tours depart from Yosemite Lodge, the Ahwahnee, or Curry Village, and adult prices range from $25 for a 2-hour tour to $92 for a full-day trip with lunch. Children's rates are usually half that, family rates are available, and discounts are offered for seniors.

The 2-hour Valley Floor Tour is a great way to get acclimated to the park, providing a good selection of photo ops, including El Capitan, Tunnel View, and Half Dome. This ride is also available on nights when the moon is full or near full. It's an eerie but beautiful scene when moonlight illuminates the valley's granite walls and gives visitors a rare picture of Yosemite. Blankets and hot cocoa are provided. Dress warmly, though, because it can get mighty chilly after the sun goes down.

The Glacier Point Tour is a 4-hour scenic bus ride through the valley to Glacier Point. Tours also depart from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows. The Mariposa Grove trip takes 8 hours and is especially popular with hikers who want to explore the high country without relocating their camp from the valley floor. New in 2011, the Immersion Excursion focuses on a different topic, from geology to history. The trip lasts 2 hours; call for an up-to-date schedule.

If you're staying in the valley, the National Park Service and DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite present evening programs on the park's history and culture. Past summer programs have included discussions on early expeditions to Yosemite, the park's flora and fauna, geology, global ecology, and the legends of the American Indians who once lived here. Other programs have focused on Mark Wellman's courageous climb of El Capitan -- he made the ascent as a paraplegic -- and major threats to Yosemite's environment. Inquire about current programs upon check-in at your hotel or at the information booth outside the visitor center. Although most programs are held in the valley, a few campgrounds offer campfire programs in the summer. There are also nighttime walks when the moon is full.

Spring through fall, the Yosemite Theater offers inexpensive theatrical and musical programs designed to supplement Park Service programs. They tend to repeat from year to year, but old favorites include a conversation with noted John Muir impersonator Lee Stetson, films on Yosemite, and musical performances.

The nonprofit Yosemite Conservancy (tel. 209/379-2317; www.yosemiteconsercancy.org) offers dozens of Outdoor Adventures , covering subjects from backpacking to natural history to photography. Most of the programs are multiday, with charges of about $100 per person per day (not including lodging and meals), and often include hikes or backpacking trips.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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