Hike to Taft Point

Photographed By So Many For A Reason

You just have to go. The pictures do it a good justice but still. When you're up there looking at the valley, it really puts the magic of Yosemite into perspective. The hike is easy, doesn't take long nor is there a challenging elevation gain. Chances are there will be multiple people setting up for sunset photos or time lapses. There is a hike near by that I don't recall the name of but we did a quick 4 miles before returning for sunset.

Unique view into the Valley

Love the view from Taft point, and the exposure as you look down the thousands of feet of granite to the Valley floor! Still shocked that I didn't get up to Taft Point until my 7th visit to the valley.

A place in my Heart

I did some trail work on this trail back in 2012 and 2013 with the Youth Conservation Corps. I great hike and amazing view form the point!

Look west, at least once

I think a lot of the iconography of Yosemite faces east in Yosemite Valley towards Half Dome and Cloud's Rest, and for good reason. But any amount of time on the south rim will show you the utter beauty of the western valley. El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks, Old Inspiration are all worth seeing—especially from Taft Point at sunset. Don't leave until the sun has gone down. Go beyond the photo-op railing to the un-boundaried rock face where you can experience the open air with nothing between you. It's worth it.

Sunrise & Sunset Are No Joke

Seriously, I cannot overstate how incredible the views are here. Wake up early or hang out till dark, it will always be worth it.

Great Short Hike, Big Views

We did this hike in July in the late afternoon and it was amazing! The trail was nice and there is lots of shade and the boulders everywhere are beautiful. This trail is downhill at the beginning and uphill on the way back. The crevices were dizzying and beautiful to look at, just don't get too close! There are guard rails at one small area of the viewpoint, which I appreciated. The view of the valley and El Capitan are amazing. Overall it was an easy hike for a novice hiker like me. We were going to try to stay until sunset but we didn't want to hike back in the dark so we left a bit early. It was a good idea, too, because it was creepy walking back when it was getting dark. Also the mosquitos were relentless and we had on insect repellant. There is one bathroom at the trailhead, but no water. Also, we had to drive around a bit and wait for someone to leave to get a parking spot. Expect it to be busy at sunset, we saw several people running on our hike back with tripods to try to make it to photograph it before the sun went down.

What a View

Not for the faint of heart once you get to Taft Point, it's a sheer wall straight down. But the views are amazing and the hike itself is moderate to say the least. Go for sunrise or sunset. Definitely worth it!

Perfect dinner hike!

One of our favorite hikes in Yosemite--perfect for a dinner hike and sunset watching!

Epic Views!

Oh man, this was probably my favorite part of Yosemite. We went in the wintertime, and since this was my first time, it was really tricky to navigate as there is no cell coverage and no clear trail. We followed and old cross country ski marking and a hunch, and set out. The hike itself was absolutely lovely, but nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of Taft. We had the spot all to ourselves and as the rays of light flooded the valley, there was no better time to be alive.

Afraid Of Heights

The trail was really nice. We actually saw a few bears on our way back up the trail. I'm rather afraid of heights, which I became increasingly aware of during my trip to Yosemite. I did eventually make it out to the point to look out at the valley. In all honesty, there are so many lookouts from Glacier Point's Road that this trail isn't necessary for a great view- but it is a different view than you will get in any other place in the park. What's cool is that the rock used to be connected to El Capitan, which is now across the valley.

Beautiful views - not too strenuous - sunrise solitude.

Hiked this last weekend. It was so serene. Decided to head up for sunrise. Since it's a short hike, it is very doable early in the morning. Although the sun rises on the other side of the valley you still get incredible colors in the sky. Even better... solitude. We were the only ones out there. Not a bad spot to enjoy breakfast. More people started to arrive around 9 am but it was still not crowded like Glacier Pt. Definitely recommend this!

Possibly the coolest place I've watched the sunset. It's a pretty easy 1 mile hike to the point - there is a small creek crossing. If you're afraid of heights, there is one part of the viewing area that area has a guard rail installed, so rest a little easier.

This is one of the lowest effort/highest reward views in Yosemite. A short hike, suitable for all levels brings you to a spectacular photo op at the sheer Taft Point. Definitely recommend hitting up the nearby Sentinel Dome (a short hike in the opposite direction) as well!