Explore the top spots in United States Yosemite National Park
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Top places to photograph in Yosemite National Park in 2024

These are the very best Yosemite National Park Instagram spots, curated by the PhotoHound team. If you've got limited time here, these are the must-see locations to shoot while you're in Yosemite National Park!

El Capitan- Merced River View

This is a great spot to see El Capitan looming above El Capitan Meadow with the Merced River in the foreground. From here you are looking directly at the nose of El Capitan giving you a view of the whole massive.
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Valley Marker V-13

Walking down the trail on the left side of the parking lot you will be down at the river with El Capitan in the background in just a few minutes. If you look to the east (your right) there is a great view of the Three Brothers and looking west (left) you can see the formation known as Cathedral Rocks and Spires. This is a wide spot in the river and the water slows down giving you a good reflection of the rock faces.
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Yosemite Falls from Swinging Bridge

The bridge is named such because the foundation is made to flex with the raging waters of spring runoff in the Merced River, so it is easy to feel the movement of the water when walking on the bridge. During the high water of late May and early June, the river slows and gets really wide here, forming many large backwater areas that offer the best reflections of Yosemite Falls. The area to the right of the bridge usually offers the best reflections. Wander the shoreline and find the best spot!
Learn more about Yosemite Falls from Swinging Bridge

Yosemite Falls View and Sentinel Boardwalk

This spot is so popular the park service built a boardwalk leading from the roadway to the river edge to prevent the trampling of the meadow. The view of Yosemite Falls is excellent from either the boardwalk or just along the roadside.
Learn more about Yosemite Falls View and Sentinel Boardwalk

Yosemite Chapel

The Yosemite Chapel was built in 1789 and is the oldest building in Yosemite Valley. The chapel was originally erected about a mile down the valley near the base of the Four Mile Trail and was moved to its current location in 1901. The chapel has been serving the Yosemite community for over 130 years. Yosemite Chapel is situated at the base of the cliffs with Half Dome to its east.
Learn more about Yosemite Chapel

Glacier Point

Glacier Point is one of the most iconic, famous vistas in the park. From here you are approximately 3,000 ft. (914 meters) above the valley looking down on Half Dome Village, historically known as Curry Village.
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Horsetail Fall (El Capitan Picnic Area)

There are two very good locations for shooting Horsetail Fall, when the setting sun lights it, in February. One here and one off the Southside Drive near the Four Mile Trail park spot. From this spot you see the waterfall from closer up and more of a side view and do not get the full length of the fall. Both locations are very good and offer unique views.
Learn more about Horsetail Fall (El Capitan Picnic Area)

Lembert Dome and Tuolumne River

This wide spot in the river offers the best reflection of Lembert Dome and is easily accessible off the campground road.
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Lower Yosemite Falls Trail

From the start of the trailhead to the bridge over Yosemite Creek the one way hike is 0.5 mile (0.8 km) of level walking on a paved trail. The best views are at the beginning and the end of the hike with no views of the falls in the middle. This is one of the busiest locations in the park, so be prepared for crowds.
Learn more about Lower Yosemite Falls Trail

Sentinel Bridge

Sentinel Bridge is one of the most popular places to photograph Half Dome, the most iconic feature in Yosemite. The bridge is so popular that the Park Service needed to widen the road and build a bigger walkway area about a decade ago.
Learn more about Sentinel Bridge

We hope you enjoy photographing these great Yosemite National Park Instagram locations. We love seeing your images of the most Instagrammable places in Yosemite National Park, so make sure to share your images on PhotoHound and tag us on Instagram @photohound and hashtag #photohound for a chance to be featured.


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