There are few places in the world that can compare to California’s Yosemite National Park! Many adventurers, naturalists, artists and others before me had also fallen in love with this majestic valley of wonderment! Here in this post, we will cover a few of the more iconic and well-known areas to visit in the park and fortunately enough, many of them aren’t but a few steps from your vehicle, while a couple others are a little bit of a trek! In this article you will see images from Spring, Fall, winter and even a little bit in between. So, with that please allow me to introduce you to a few of my favorites within this great park!
This year held something very unique and ever so elusive, you just had to be there to bear witness to Yosemite National Park’s sheer beauty. With record rainfall in the state of California, Yosemite had a once in fifty-year flood! For most people this is not something to be elated about, however I had a vision, as most landscape photographers have with their ideas of the perfect shot, and I could only imagine the endless photographic compositions possible given the flooded conditions. After quietly slipping away from all of the hustle and bustle of life, I drove through the night to capture some truly remarkable images of one of California’s most iconic State Parks!
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “YOSEMITE SPRING” LIMITED EDITION OF 50
Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in not only Yosemite National Park but also in all of North America. The waterfall is a total of 2,425 feet from the top of the falls to the base. This attracts many travelers, especially in the spring season when the water flow has reached its peak. These falls are very easily accessible, once you arrive in the park it is off of the main road. The Yosemite Falls hike round-trip is 7.4 miles to the top and back, the trail starts behind Camp 4 and there is about a 2,700 feet elevation gain ending at the top of Upper Yosemite Fall. Once you arrive to the top of the falls, you will be able to see into Yosemite Valley and gain access to the northern rim. You don’t have to stop here, this vantage point makes getting to Eagle Peak, El Capitan, Yosemite Point and North Dome accessible.
In the artwork above I was elated to capture a moment that for me is a Yosemite Valley first. With many visitors coming to the park each year, there are inevitably a lot of photos taken. Since I knew it was going to be flooded, I packed my waders for this moment and stood in waist deep water in order to get into position to capture these Western Azaleas in full bloom along the Merced that you see here.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “MORNING LIGHT” LIMITED EDITION OF 100
Valley View is another truly iconic location in Yosemite National Park with unbelievable scenic charm. This vantage point is also very easily accessible as there is a pull out off of the main road. Here you are able to see the mountain peak of El Capitan, the Merced River, and the incredible Bridal Veil Falls! This view is one that you simply cannot miss during your visit and is especially magical during the winter when big storms drop a lot of snow in the lower part of the valley giving it a magical winter wonderland feel. During the spring and the summer months if you visit during the right time, you may be lucky enough to catch the beautiful blooming dogwoods along the banks of the rushing Merced river.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “HALF DOME REFLECTIONS” LIMITED EDITION OF 100
Half Dome is perhaps the most recognizable mountain peak of Yosemite Valley. Nearly rising 5,00 feet, Half Dome is one sought-after hike or rock-climbing destinations in all of the Valley. You will need to draw a permit to hike the Half Dome Trail, the Park Rangers want to make sure the trail is not overcrowded as a safety precaution. This is a 14-to-16-mile hike round trip, most hikers take an average of 10 to 12 hours to reach summit and return back down off of the mountain. In this case, if you’re planning on hiking Half Dome starting around sunrise would be the best plan of action to ensure you give yourself enough time to reach summit before sunset. There is a total elevation gain of 4,800 feet, on your way to the top, you will be able to see spectacular views of Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap and once you’ve reached the shoulder and summit there are stunning panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra. The Half Dome Cables is one of the most famous part of the hike, there are two metal cable that allows hikers to climb the remaining 400 feet to the summit. Relatively few people have fallen and died on the cables since 1919, however if you are acting irresponsibly injuries are not uncommon. The cables are down from the day after Columbus Day until Memorial Day, as they are down throughout the winter. Do not ascent if there are storm clouds or with recent rain, most accidents on the cables happen during wet conditions.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “YOSEMITE GLOW” LIMITED EDITION OF 100
Just east of El Capitan and facing Cathedral Spires, there are three sloping granite peaks called the Tree Brothers. A famous view within Yosemite National Park, the uppermost “brother” is called Eagle Peak. John Muir considered the view from the top of Eagle Point to be the most idyllic view Yosemite Valley has to offer. Some of the best views of the Three Brothers comes from the moderate hike of Valley Floor Loop. This hike takes about 5 to 7 hours to complete the full loop, however if you are only planning on doing the half loop it will only take 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Whether you decide to do the full or half loop, you will be able to see stunning views of Sentinel Rock, El Capitan, Three Bothers and much more of the Valley! To reach the summit of Eagle Peak, take Lower Yosemite Fall Trail with a round trip of 7 miles and 2,730 feet of elevation gain to reach the commanding views loved by John Muir.
It’s said that this mountain is named for the three sons of Chief Tenaya, a chief of the Ahwahneechee tribe. His three sons were Indian scouts who were taken prisoner in 1851 when the Mariposa Battalion went into Yosemite Valley in search of Native Americans to relocate out of the valley to reservations. The legend states that Chief Tenaya’s three sons were captured at the base of this rock formation.
During the fall, the trees really put on a show of spectacular proportions in this location! To see the three brothers reflecting in the Merced with all of the color is truly remarkable, with golds, oranges and yellow hues adorning the riverbanks. I chose the shot above as my composition because of the river grass and the leaves that were resting peacefully atop the mirrored waters.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “PROMINENCE” LIMITED EDITION OF 100
The dawn wall of El Capitan is revered by many as one of the most difficult and challenging climbs in the world! However, for many of us, it is simply one of the most beautiful and dramatic slabs of granite we will ever see in our lifetimes! During the winter it is ideal to photograph as the canyon can fill with soft white snow that really creates a clean palette with endless compositions. When the glow of the first signs of sunrise begin to cast warmth along the wall, it illuminates in a most spectacular fashion and you get what you see here above! El Capitan is easily seen from many different vantages thought the canyon road, simply by driving through the valley.
ARTWORK BY MARLON HOLDEN “FIRE AND ICE” LIMITED EDITION OF 100
This last one is a favorite of mine! This image is the famed Horsetail Falls that flow off of the flanks of El Capitan. Each year, given that there is enough precipitation, it is warm enough and there is a clear Western sky, you might be fortunate enough to see this truly magical event. Generally, the best time to see this event is during the month of February on and around the early part of the third week. Some years when it is extremely cold the falls will not run, and the event will never actually occur. Likewise, if it is not a good snowfall year or the sky remains cloudy on the horizon, you will get skunked from seeing this amazing wonder of the world.
I have chased this moment for several years with a mixed bag of mediocre results. On this year however, I was fortunate to see a beautiful coating of fresh snow on the mountain, with good flow from Horsetail Falls and a perfectly clear Western sky! When everything comes together, it truly is a moment you won’t soon forget!