Olmsted Point
Distance: 0.25 miles (0.4 km) round trip
Elevation at trailhead: 8,300 feet (2,500 meters)
Elevation Gain: 100 feet (30 meters)
Hiking Time: 15 - 30 minutes
Why visit Olmsted Point? Because this is where Clouds Rest, which normally plays Felix Leiter to Half Dome's James Bond, gets its closeup.
Best Time to Visit: It's complicated. Fill out this questionnaire to find the best time for you.
Crowd Factor: You'll find at least as many people in the parking lot as at the end of the trail; the parking lot may actually have more interesting views, with lots of striking glacial erratic boulders lounging on the hillsides there.
Scenery Factor: High for the amount of hiking involved. Looking west, you'll see a closeup view of Clouds Rest, with Half Dome beyond. Looking east, you'll see Tenaya Lake and the granite domes that envelop it. And the Olmsted Point parking lot itself is an interesting stop, with its surrounding slopes dotted with glacial erratics.
Difficulty: Easy; 1 out of 10. Check out the satellite view: any hike short enough that you can measure it in car lengths can't be too tough.
Parking: Large lot at the trailhead that rarely fills up; if it does, there are a few spots along the shoulder where you can park.
Nearest Restrooms: At Tenaya Lake, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east
Nearest Snacks: At the Tuolumne Meadows Grill & Convenience Store, 10 miles (16 km) east
Getting There: From Yosemite Valley, take highway 120 ten miles (16.8 km) to the Crane Flat turnoff onto Tioga Road, then take Tioga Road 30 miles (48 km) east to the Olmsted Point parking lot. From Yosemite's east entrance at Tioga Pass, take the Tioga Road west 18 miles (29 km) to the lot.
The Olmsted Bottleneck: If Tioga Road opens behind schedule next summer, blame Olmsted Point. The avalanche risk here makes this one of the most dangerous parts of the road to clear and usually one of the last areas to be passable. Look at the steep, treeless granite slopes looming over the north side of the road and imagine them covered with snow, and you'll realize why even the bears tiptoe through this area in the winter.
Olmsted Point Photos
 Clouds Rest |
 Tenaya Lake |
 Half Dome |
 The Cover Photo |
 Clouds Rest & Half Dome |
 Glacial Erratic |