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Taft Point

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.6 (51)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …High Sierra
  4. Yosemite National Park
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“A short trail from the Glacier Point Road to an excellent perch to view the valley and the sunset. ”

schleppy schlepenstien
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Map Key

2.3

Miles

3.7

KM

Out and Back

7,721' 2,353 m

High

7,502' 2,287 m

Low

276' 84 m

Up

276' 84 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (3°)

25%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly An easy trail with a highly exposed ending. Children should be fine as long as they are well supervised. There are no railings!

Glacier Point Road closes for the winter, limiting access. Parking at the trailhead can be an issue since the trailhead parking lot on Glacier Point Road is shared with the trail to Sentinel Dome Trail. On popular weekends, parking can be a premium, and cars will end up parking along the road. Please park responsibly and legally.

Overview

The views of El Capitan and Half Dome are just as amazing from Taft Point as from the hectic Glacier Point, but you'll actually get to see more of the Valley. Besides the added benefit of fewer people to contend with, you also experience the mind-bending vertigo of The Fissures.

Description

The view from Taft Point is probably the most popular spot to view the sunset in the Valley. You'll also see Mount Conness, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan up close and personal.

From the Sentinel Dome Tailhead and parking area, the Taft Point trail wraps its way roughly westward through stunted white pines over mostly level ground. After joining the Pohono Trail, the route descends onto the exposed slabs near Taft Point. Passing the dramatic "fissures", huge clefts disappearing like elevator shafts into the abyss, and gazing between them is not for the squeamish. The top is reached after a quick 1.1 mile jaunt from the car. Be very careful here as there are no rock walls or railings to keep you back from the edge and a fall would be fatal.

History & Background

This dramatic viewpoint was named after President William Taft who visited Yosemite in 1909. The story goes that he planned to use horses to descend from Glacier Point to the valley floor, but they were not strong enough to carry his 300 pounds. Instead he hiked down and had lunch as what is now called Taft Point.

This is the place that BASE jumpers Dean Potter and Graham Hunt flew from wearing wing suits and fell to their deaths, chutes unopened.

Contacts

Land Manager: NPS - Yosemite

Shared By:

schleppy schlepenstien with improvements by Jack M
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 51 votes

#4

in Yosemite National Park

#219

Overall
  4.6 from 51 votes
5 Star
63%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
4%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#4

in Yosemite National Park

#27

in California

#219

Overall
9 Views Last Month
6,488 Since Sep 24, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate
5%
16%
77%
2%
0%
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Photos

Slack-liner Shows Off 3'000ft Above The Ground At Taft Point.
Nov 18, 2018 near Yosemit…, CA
Taft Point on the left with El Capitan across Yosemite Valley
Dec 10, 2017 near Yosemit…, CA
El Capitan and Yosemite Valley from Taft Point
Dec 10, 2017 near Yosemit…, CA
Overlooking Yosemite Valley at the edge of Taft Point as accessed by the Pohono Trail.
Dec 17, 2015 near Yosemit…, CA
El Capitan, the Three Brothers, and Yosemite Falls from Taft Point.
Mar 8, 2016 near Yosemit…, CA
Yosemite Falls from Taft Point.
Mar 8, 2016 near Yosemit…, CA

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