(16 miles--8 hours)
The Glacier Point excursion is a most scenic one-day trip and this is
the most widely used of Yosemite trails. Parties are advised to take
the reverse of this trip (Trail Trip 1) thereby obtaining views of the
falls which are unnoticed on the down trip. The ascent is also more
gradual and therefore less tiring.
The ~Short Trail to Glacier Point~ starts from the Bridalveil Road 1.3
miles west of Yosemite at the site of old Camp Awahnee and of the more
ancient Indian village of Loi'-ah. Turning southward we ascend
abruptly thru a dense forest of oak, mountain laurel, scattered pines,
cedar and Douglas fir. As the trail climbs rapidly by switchbacks,
broad-leaved trees disappear, their places being taken by sugar pines
and true firs from above. Frequently the trail emerges at vantage
points from which are obtained especially fine views of ~Half Dome~
and the north end of the valley. A climb of 2350 feet takes us past a
balancing shaft of granite, ~Agassiz Column~, to ~Union Point~ (Alt.
6314). At this fine view-point are a government shelter cabin and
telephone (Central 1 ring.)
The remaining 900-foot climb to Glacier Point is thru a dense forest
with some vast views to the northeast. A short level stretch near the
end leads to ~Glacier Point~ (Alt. 7214). The view from the vicinity
of the overhanging rock is without doubt the vastest and most
awe-inspiring sight readily accessible to tourists. The Yosemite Tribe
called this lookout point Patill'ima. Yosemite is 3250 feet below. An
inclined shaft elevator thru solid granite from the foot of the cliff
is being planned. For trips from Glacier Point see Trail Trips 16 to
23.
The ~Glacier Point Hotel~ and cottages are but 200 yards distant. The
panorama of the ~High Sierra~ from the hotel balcony is especially
fine. Accommodations are excellent and it is recommended that the
tourist remain over night if possible to see the sunrise.
Passing the hotel the trail descends gradually along granite ledges
revealing a most impressive profile of ~Half Dome~ across the canyon.
During the descent into the canyon of the Illilouette several patches
of fallen trees and prostrate brush are passed. These are caused by
the frequent snow slides from the ~Illilouette Ridge~ above (Alt.
8250. Fine view). At a trail forks, the ~Buena Vista Trail~ (Trail
Trip 22) branches south up the ~Illilouette Canyon~. An abrupt descent
by zigzags takes us to a point from which is obtained a good view of
the lace-like ~Illilouette Fall~. The name is a corruption of the old
Indian name Too-tool-a-we-ack. A few feet below we stop at the lip of
the fall (Alt. 5850). The canyon above abounds in glacial phenomena
and will well repay a side trip for those interested in geology.
Fishing is good up the canyon.
A climb of 375 feet takes us to ~Panorama Point~ (Alt. 6224), from
which is an imposing view of the upper end of the valley and the mouth
of ~Tenaya Canyon~. To the right is the sheer edge of ~Panorama
Cliff~, along which our trail now follows almost level for about a
mile. In the canyon below can be seen our route of about two hours
hence. At a trail forks the ~Mono Meadow~ and ~Merced Pass Trail~
(Trail Trip 23) turns right into the ~Illilouette Creek Basin~.
Now begins an abrupt descent of 700 feet by switchbacks to the ~Merced
River~ which, above this point, was called by the Yosemite Tribe the
Yo-wy-we-ack or "twisting rock" branch. A few steps from the bridge is
the top of ~Nevada Falls~ (Alt. 5910, Drop 594 ft.). Nevada is Spanish
for snow and replaces the old Indian name Yo-wy-we. Many claim that
the view from the overhanging ledge is the most fascinating
water-vista of Yosemite. Note especially the shooting spray rockets.
These are most wonderful when painted by the first rays of sunshine at
7:30 to 8 a.m.
About a quarter of a mile upstream the trail crosses a small bridge
and is joined by the ~Clouds Rest~, ~Sunrise~, ~Lake Merced~ and
~Little Yosemite Trail~ (Trail Trips 5, 8, 7 and 13). Here is a
government telephone (Central 1 ring). Fishing is good about two miles
upstream in ~Little Yosemite~. In the following abrupt 500-foot
descent by zigzags some fine profile views of ~Nevada Falls~ are
obtained. When white men first visited Yosemite part of the Merced
cascaded down the steep slope where the trail is now built. As the
trail crosses ~Snow Flat~ at the foot of Nevada Falls, the ruins of
the old "La Casa Nevada," or "Snow House," are seen at the right of
the trail. The old register, which dates back to 1871, is in the
Yosemite Museum. ~Liberty Cap~ (Alt. 7072), which the Indians called
Mah'ta or "Martyr Mountain," towers above to the right. It may be
ascended from the east and good rock climbers will find an interesting
scramble up the deep defile between this dome and ~Mount Broderick~
(Alt. 6705) just northward. The talus of huge rocks above the trail
fell from the face of Liberty Cap in 1918.
A bridge across the Merced takes us directly over the ~Diamond
Cascade~. Below is the ~Silver Apron~. From the bridge upstream is
fair fishing. A short distance beyond the crossing is a fork where the
main or "horse trail" turns to the left and climbs 350 feet up the
canyon wall in order to pass Vernal Falls. Pedestrians should turn to
the right and take the far more scenic ~Mist Trail~, thereby saving a
half hour and several hundred feet climb. Following down the river we
pass the ~Silver Apron~ and ~Waterwheel~, below which is a perfect
glacial tarn called ~Emerald Pool~. Near its mouth is the rim of
~Vernal Falls~ (Alt. 5049, Drop 317 ft.). From behind the natural
breast-high granite parapet we have another excellent outlook. The
fall was called by the Indians Yan-o-pah, or "water cloud," which term
was also applied to the canyon below. By climbing along the rim
southeast of the falls we find a ladder and hanging trail descending
to a ~grotto~, from which is a good view of ~Glacier Point~.
Nearer the fall the ~Mist Trail~ suddenly drops over the edge of the
cliff and follows down a steep, narrow ledge which is well guarded by
chains and iron posts. From here and from the zigzags just below we
obtain excellent profiles of the fall. We now enter the mist, passing
down thru a luxurious growth of grasses and flowers, which caused the
fall to be given its present name. Between 10 and 12 a.m. the
beautiful ~circular rainbows~ may here be seen. Use extreme caution on
slippery wet rocks! Following around the base of a cliff on a narrow
ledge, the trail again enters a forest and parallels the river. We
stop at ~Lady Franklin Rock~, where is obtained one of the best vistas
of the falls (good photograph). A short distance downstream the two
trails reunite just before crossing ~Vernal Bridge~, from which is a
good distant view of the falls. In the canyon below was the old Indian
camp of Ap´-poo-meh.
The trail now mounts about 200 feet above the riotous Merced and in
rounding the base of ~Grizzly Peak~ offers a clear perception of the
deep recess below ~Illilouette Falls~.
Again approaching the river we pass a spring and water trough where
the ~Sierra Point Trail~ (Trail Trip 12) joins from the right. The
~Happy Isles Bridge~ on the main road is a quarter of a mile distant.
We have the choice of descending by the main trail or crossing the
foot-log to ~Happy Isles~, and thence by several bridges and footpaths
to the main road.
The road to the right leads to Mirror Lake. We turn left. Camp Curry
is one mile distant and Yosemite Village 2.3 miles.