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Jerry Pillarelli | profile | all galleries >> Travel and Nature >> US Travel; by Trip, by State >> California >> Yosemite National Park – California >> Yosemite National Park – Yosemite Valley – California (2019) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Yosemite National Park – Yosemite Valley – California (2019)

Images of Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley – central California, taken in June 2019.

Created by the forces of nature including the movement of glaciers, the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park is a seven and a half mile long, 3000 to 3500 foot deep valley cut into granite and still being changed today by the likes of wind, weather and the flow of the Merced River.

There are few places on earth, and none made by man, that can rival the beauty and grandeur of the Yosemite Valley. No building is more stately; no castle more opulent; no church more holy. This is truly one of the most wondrous places in the world. Conservationist John Muir said of the valley “It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.”

I first came here on a whim almost fourteen years ago as a side trip while driving the Pacific Coast Highway from Seattle to San Diego. I was only in the area for two days but knew even then that I would have to someday return. Two years ago, as part of my quest to photograph all the national parks, I was on my way to Yosemite when my RV burned to the ground in Oregon and last year I arrived here just as the Ferguson Fire ignited and was chased away by soul crushing smoke. First I nearly burned then California went up in flames, surely the third time would be a charm. Well it was as clear skies have graced my entire stay here. In fact, the only real hint of bad weather was the day I arrived and that produced a spectacular show over the landscape from the Tunnel View overlook which is represented in the first six images in this gallery. And as if to make up for the disasters of the past two years heavier than normal snowfall has led to snowmelt swelling the rivers and feeding the valley falls creating an even more spectacular scene. Not even John Muir could ask for more.
El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Falls from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Falls from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park		 The Yosemite Valley and Half Dome in the clouds from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
The Yosemite Valley and Half Dome in the clouds from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park		 Clouds envelop Half Dome as viewed from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
Clouds envelop Half Dome as viewed from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park		 The gateway to Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
The gateway to Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park 		Half Dome crowned by clouds as seen from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
Half Dome crowned by clouds as seen from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
The Tunnel View at the entrance to Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park
The Tunnel View at the entrance to Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park		 El Capitan reflected in the Merced River in Yosemite National Park
El Capitan reflected in the Merced River in Yosemite National Park		 Yosemite Falls mirrored in a pool of water in Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls mirrored in a pool of water in Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park		 The 3,500 foot granite face of El Capitan (7,569 ft.) in Yosemite National Park
The 3,500 foot granite face of El Capitan (7,569 ft.) in Yosemite National Park		 Westward view of the Cathedral Peaks over Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park
Westward view of the Cathedral Peaks over Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park
Half Dome as viewed from the valley floor in Yosemite National Park
Half Dome as viewed from the valley floor in Yosemite National Park		 The 2,425 foot Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, tallest in the United States, in Yosemite National Park
The 2,425 foot Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, tallest in the United States, in Yosemite National Park		 El Capitan in afternoon sunlight with the Merced River in Yosemite National Park
El Capitan in afternoon sunlight with the Merced River in Yosemite National Park		 Bridalveil Falls and Leaning Tower (5,900 ft.) in Yosemite National Park
Bridalveil Falls and Leaning Tower (5,900 ft.) in Yosemite National Park		 Yosemite Falls reflected in the flooded Merced River in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls reflected in the flooded Merced River in Yosemite National Park
The Yosemite Valley from Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park
The Yosemite Valley from Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park		 The Cathedral Rocks as seen from the Southside Drive in Yosemite National Park
The Cathedral Rocks as seen from the Southside Drive in Yosemite National Park		 Half Dome as seen from the Northside Drive in Yosemite National Park
Half Dome as seen from the Northside Drive in Yosemite National Park		 El Capitan as seen from near the El Capitan Bridge in Yosemite National Park
El Capitan as seen from near the El Capitan Bridge in Yosemite National Park		 Two climbers on the granite face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park
Two climbers on the granite face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park
The Three Brothers, Lower, Middle and Eagle Peak (7,779 ft.), in Yosemite National Park
The Three Brothers, Lower, Middle and Eagle Peak (7,779 ft.), in Yosemite National Park		 The open skies over Half Dome from the valley floor in Yosemite National Park
The open skies over Half Dome from the valley floor in Yosemite National Park		 Yosemite Valley’s granite walls mirrored in a pool of water on Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley’s granite walls mirrored in a pool of water on Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park		 The Cathedral Spires and Rocks in Yosemite National Park
The Cathedral Spires and Rocks in Yosemite National Park		 Granite formation at the mouth of the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park
Granite formation at the mouth of the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park
View driving out of the Wawona Tunnel in Yosemite National Park
View driving out of the Wawona Tunnel in Yosemite National Park		 Close up of Bridalveil Falls from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
Close up of Bridalveil Falls from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park		 Sweeping landscape of the western Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
Sweeping landscape of the western Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park		 El Capitan’s granite face in the early evening from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
El Capitan’s granite face in the early evening from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park		 Silhouette of rock formations and shadows of trees cast on El Capitan as seen from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
Silhouette of rock formations and shadows of trees cast on El Capitan as seen from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
Close up of the Cathedral Rocks Spires as seen from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park
Close up of the Cathedral Rocks Spires as seen from the Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park		 El Capitan, The Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Falls as seen in late afternoon from the Valley View in Yosemite National Park
El Capitan, The Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Falls as seen in late afternoon from the Valley View in Yosemite National Park		 View from the base of Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite National Park
View from the base of Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite National Park		 The Valley View over the flooded Merced River in Yosemite National Park
The Valley View over the flooded Merced River in Yosemite National Park		 Deer near the El Capitan Bridge in Yosemite National Park
Deer near the El Capitan Bridge in Yosemite National Park
Ribbon Falls in late afternoon from the park road in Yosemite National Park
Ribbon Falls in late afternoon from the park road in Yosemite National Park		 Spires of the Cathedral Rocks in Yosemite National Park
Spires of the Cathedral Rocks in Yosemite National Park		 The Cathedral Rocks over a meadow in Yosemite National Park
The Cathedral Rocks over a meadow in Yosemite National Park		 Yosemite Falls cascades down into the valley as seen from over the Merced River in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls cascades down into the valley as seen from over the Merced River in Yosemite National Park		 Ducks on a pond skirt the reflection of Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park
Ducks on a pond skirt the reflection of Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park
Distant view of Vernal Falls over boulders in the angry Merced River in Yosemite National Park
Distant view of Vernal Falls over boulders in the angry Merced River in Yosemite National Park		 Spray clouds the area around Vernal Falls from the Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park
Spray clouds the area around Vernal Falls from the Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park		 Red winged black bird perched on a stick in a pond in Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park
Red winged black bird perched on a stick in a pond in Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park		 Nevada Falls as seen from the Vernal Falls Trail in Yosemite National Park
Nevada Falls as seen from the Vernal Falls Trail in Yosemite National Park		 Early morning view of Yosemite Falls over the swollen Merced River in Yosemite National Park
Early morning view of Yosemite Falls over the swollen Merced River in Yosemite National Park
The 1,430 foot drop of Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park
The 1,430 foot drop of Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park		 Mounted Park Ranger in Yosemite National Park
Mounted Park Ranger in Yosemite National Park		 Afternoon reflection of Yosemite Falls in a Cooks Meadow pond in Yosemite National Park
Afternoon reflection of Yosemite Falls in a Cooks Meadow pond in Yosemite National Park		 A California Squirrel munching on grasses in Yosemite National Park
A California Squirrel munching on grasses in Yosemite National Park		 Upper Yosemite Falls from across Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park
Upper Yosemite Falls from across Cooks Meadow in Yosemite National Park

comment | share
Guest 02-Jul-2019 18:19
Awesome pics Jerry!!
Pam Shanahan 27-Jun-2019 15:52
Wonderful photos, as usual! Yosemite is such a special place.
Greg Temple 24-Jun-2019 03:05
Holy Moly!! I’m sure we have all seen Yosemite images before, but honestly these are the best I have EVER seen.
This is extra special for me, as my parents met in Yosemite as waitstaff and were married 6 weeks later. We visited many times over the year and have never seen such perfect conditions. Well done and thanks!
Dale Gentry 22-Jun-2019 16:54
Beautiful
Guest 21-Jun-2019 14:51
Beautiful, great pics! Thanks for sharing!!
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