Yosemite Landscapes: Pure Mountain Magic


Capturing Yosemite Landscapes is an exercise in patience. In fact, I planned and waited an entire year for some of these shots! Please enjoy this selection of my favorites, and by the way…all photos can be pinned.


Yosemite Valley


Dramatic black and white scene with Half Dome and Snowy Hi Sierra Peaks - Yosemite Landscapes
Half Dome & High Country Clouds – B&W from Yosemite Point

I love blue skies…but sometimes the most striking way to present them is without color! For example, in the above photo of Half Dome, the clouds really pop with the darker sky behind them. Here are more of my Black and White photos.

I found this lucky Manzanita tree above Yosemite Valley’s stunning “Tunnel View”.

Manzanita Tree Framing Bridalveil Falls

Although Pohono Bridge is beautiful in all seasons, October’s fall colors were the highlight of the year. Here are more bridges I photographed.

Fall Colors at Pohono Bridge, a scenic roadside attraction along the Merced River - Yosemite Landscapes.
Pohono Bridge over Merced River – Autumn Landscape

Below you can see the view from the edge of Vernal Falls. Though there’s still a decent flow of water in summer, springtime is when this waterfall is truly at it’s peak.

Long exposure water cascading over the top of Vernal Falls, with valley floor below - Yosemite Landscapes by Nathan Allen
Top of Vernal Falls, plummeting to Valley Floor

For instance, this photo of Yosemite Falls at peak flow was taken in May. It doesn’t get any better than the lush, green valley in spring. Here are more waterfall photos.

Yosemite Falls flowing above spring meadow & Walking Path - Yosemite Landscapes
Yosemite Falls Flowing Above Sentinel Meadow in Spring

Often overlooked is the Carlon Falls Trail, which many people pass when entering the park from Highway 120. Particularly beautiful when the creek is blanketed in winter snow!

Long Exposure of South Fork Tuolumne River, covered in Winter Snow - Evergreen Road near Carlon Falls
South Fork Tuolumne River in Winter Snow

Ah, Tunnel View…undeniably the most iconic of Yosemite scenes. Regardless of how many times I visit, it never gets old.

High contrast B&W Yosemite Valley landscape, with El Capitain hiding in Clouds - Yosemite Landscapes
El Capitan & Bridalveil Falls View, With Incoming Storm

Yosemite Landscapes – Glacier Point Road


Glacier Point Road features sweeping views of Yosemite Valley. Surely, witnessing a pink sunset on Half Dome is the highlight for many park visitors.

Pink Sunset and Half Dome Closeup, taken from Glacier Point Road - Yosemite Landscapes
Pink Sunset on Half Dome

Late summer brings the monsoon thunderstorms. As a result, photographers can capture some incredible brooding skies over Yosemite Valley.

Monsoon Season Clouds over Half Dome Valley View, taken from Glacier Point Road - Yosemite Landscapes
Dramatic Half Dome Landscape in Monsoon Season

Tioga Pass


Immediately after hiking to Cathedral Peak, I reached the bottom…turned around, and snapped this photo. It’s one of my favorite landmarks in the park, and a great hike to boot. This was taken in early summer, with patches of snow leftover from the previous winter.

Cathedral Peak with June Snow, taken from Tioga Road at Tuolumne Meadows - Yosemite Landscapes
Cathedral Peak’s Perfect Cone, taken from Tuolomne Meadows

Granted, Indian Rock may not be the highlight of your time hiking the high country, but it certainly is well worth a brief stop on the way to North Dome or Upper Yosemite Falls.

Natural Bridge known as Indian Rock - Yosemite Landscapes along Tioga Pass
Indian Rock Natural Bridge

In addition to being one giant granite rock playground, Tioga Road’s high country also offers many stunning sunset views.

Fading sunset over the high country along the Mt Hoffman Trail - Yosemite Landscapes
Dusk view on the hiking trail from May Lake To Mount Hoffman

Even though most of my Yosemite landscapes feature mountains and waterfalls, the park has plenty more to offer. Pictured here is the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoia Trees. It’s a short hike off of Tioga Pass Road.

Giant Sequoia Trees Basking in the Warm Summer Sun – Tuolumne Grove

Finally, I offer you this sweeping granite landscape – taken from above Olmsted Point. In the distance you’ll see Tenaya Lake. Undoubtedly, the High Sierra is one of the beautiful and fascinating places I’ve ever been.

Tenaya Lake and Surrounding Granite Mountains, Taken From above Olmsted Point, Tioga Pass
Granite Mountain landscape with Tenaya Lake

Looking for lodging? Check out my Yosemite Hotels page.

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About My Photos

The images on this website are available for licensing and/or sale as framed prints. If you’d like to purchase them for a blog, news article, or gift, feel free to contact me with the specifics. This way you’re supporting photographers such as me directly (as opposed to buying from a faceless stock photo corporation).

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– Nathan Allen

About Me

Photographer Nathan Allen

I’m Nathan Allen, photographer / creator of YosemiteParkPhotos.com (Yosemite Photos) and international travel site I Dreamed Of This. In truth, I lived in San Francisco, New York, & Singapore…but nothing compares to life in the mountains. I share my experiences HERE.