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Did you think our post on Half Dome was going to be the only Yosemite adventure we would share? Surely not! No trip to Yosemite is complete without a visit to the top of Glacier Point, one of the most famous of all lookouts in Yosemite:

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The hike to the top of Glacier Point, also known as the 4 mile trail, is 4.6 miles one way and ascends over 3,200 feet. Now if that doesn’t sound like too much fun, especially the day after summiting Half Dome, a great thing to know is that the summit can be accessed by car as well! It’s a 33 mile, 1.5 hour drive along Glacier Point Road from the Yosemite Valley, which is usually open June through October.

This hike is ranked as being moderate to strenuous, and even though we didn’t get started until 11am, Drew and I found it to be quite pleasurable. Most of the trail was shaded under a canopy of pine trees and other lush shrubbery:

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As the elevation began to rise, we were gifted with incredible vistas of Yosemite Valley, the view was so beautiful I could have sworn we were walking along side a ginormous painting:

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About 2 hours in and we had almost made it to the top, we shared a Cliff Bar for a little added fuel and continued along with our new friends that we met on the trail:

Before we knew it we had arrived! The dirt trail we had been traveling along soon turned into an asphalt path leading straight up to the famous peak:

A bit of history to highlight the significance of this peak: In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt posed with John Muir for pictures on Glacier Point’s Overhanging Rock (photographed above) and camped in a hollow there to awake to five inches of snow on top of their blankets! Roosevelt stated that these were some of the fondest memories of his life, and the time he spent with John Muir, father Yosemite, lead Roosevelt to becoming the most influential conservationist president in history.

Back in the old days, people used to be able to stand and pose on the famous ledge! Unfortunately, nowadays it is off limits. The original Mr and Mrs Adventure?!:

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One of the most incredible sites to behold from the top of Glacier Point is Half Dome. This 8,839-foot chunk of granite protrudes from the Valley floor like a sore thumb… definitely one of the most beautiful sore thumbs we have ever seen:

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“We were right here yesterday!”

If you explore a bit, you can find a nice quiet nook to enjoy a picnic and the priceless view:

Tips:

Bring at least 1 gallon of water per person for the hike up.
There are restrooms, a souvenir shop and snacks available at the top.
Most people start this hike early in the morning, but we started at 11am and still had a great experience!
Please be sure to check the weather before going because lightning, snow and other conditions can turn this simple hike into a serious nightmare.

Take a look at the epic time we had hiking up Half Dome if you haven’t seen it yet!

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