Yosemite Valley

Ribbon Falls area. Photo by Blitzo.

Description 

This area is new for Mountain Project, and is just getting started. Feel free to contribute!

Yosemite Valley is THE PLACE for many rock climbers. A literal mecca for climbers across the globe, the crags and walls of "The Valley" see thousands of climber-days in the course of a year. During the height of the season, it's typical to hear climbers on El Capitan yelling back and forth in English, German, Japanese, Russian and many other languages. In this one place, many factors come together to form a nearly perfect arena for rock climbing; mild weather, beautiful scenery, and incredible granite walls perfectly suited to climbing. On a rest day, visit the many tremendous waterfalls, hike some of the beautiful trails, and breathe in one of the most incredible places in the entire country.

Getting There 

Yosemite Valley can be reached from the west, south or east via highways 120 (west), 140, 41 or 120 via Tioga Pass. The Tioga Pass drive through Tuolumne Meadows from the east side is normally closed from sometime in the fall through mid to late May due to snowfall.

Traffic is an ongoing issue with Yosemite Valley during the tourist season. On especially busy days, cars are even stopped from entering the park once its determined that capacity has been reached. Plan accordingly.

Featured Route For Yosemite Valley

Direct North Buttress (DNB) 5.10b  CA : Yosemite National Park : Middle Cathedral Rock

Hard to squeeze more climbing in a day. The first pitch sets the stage - the 5.7 chimney is umm, not fast climbing. The 3rd pitch crux is, umm, difficult, but bolt protected. The 4th pitch includes some 5.9 R climbing, but from there on out route finding and moving quickly are the major difficulties. Spectacular views of the captain, plenty of company with all the swallows. I don't know why anyone would complain about this route. Don't just ...[more]

Add Photo Photos of Yosemite Valley

Troy Johnson on "Lightweight Guides" 5.10a. Photo ...	Pool, Lower Yosemite Falls. Photo by Blitzo.	Bill Price on "The Phoenix", the first 5.13. Photo...
Steve Bosque on Lost Arrow Spire, 1975. Photo by B...	Mountain Kingsnake. Photo by Blitzo.	Snowplant. Photo by Blitzo.
Most handsome ditch on the globe.	Rainbow-Vernal Falls. Photo by Blitzo.	Sunrise over the Clark Range. Photo by Blitzo.
Bridelvail Falls and Leaning Tower. Photo by Blitz...	Fixed head on Leaning Tower.	Valley rim-winter. Photo by Blitzo.
The Valley-Winter 1975. Photo by Blitzo.	Mossy Boulder, behind Camp 4. Photo by Blitzo.	The Nose
Muir Wall...	Muir, spring...	East end of Yosemite Valley and the high country ...
Uh, where's the road? Pay attention to the weather...	Merced River. Photo by Blitzo.	Just another beautiful day.
Sunset looking back towards Wawona.	A beautiful day in November.	Bored in Yosemite.
Panoramic shot from the Five Open Books area.	Prescribed burn 7-19-07	Shot taken from Yosemite Village.
1/2 Dome	Happy times!	The view from the top of Half Dome, looking west d...
BETA PHOTO: The Leaning Tower	The mist trail on the way to half dome	Out in the meadow. Photo by Blitzo.
El Cap...	Clouds lifting over the falls.