After visiting a bunch of amazing areas and national parks across America last summer, I really thought I had seen the best. Arches. Monument Valley. The Grand Canyon. What could possibly top those?
Well, Yosemite may have just blown all the other national parks I've seen out of the water. There's a reason, I think, that so many people list this park as their favorite.
I usually reserve this full-size photo layout for my Photo of the Day posts. But Yosemite National Park is just so amazing and breathtaking, that I feel like this collection of photos deserves the full-size treatment.
I'll be doing a later post covering the facts and tips associated with visiting Yosemite. But, for now, just enjoy the view.
Continue on to read about how to visit Yosemite in one day!
Which of these photos is your favorite?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Beautiful photos! I’ve long wanted to visit Yosemite, and want to even more after seeing these.
My favorite park so far has to be Glacier National Park. Have you been there? Definitely recommend if you haven’t yet visited. I’m looking forward to more info/pictures from Yosemite. Thanks!
No I haven’t been to Glacier National Park yet! But I’ve seen photos – it looks incredible!
[…] Yosemite National Park (2012) […]
[…] During the summer, thousands of people crowd around her and enjoy her splendor snapping one Yosemite photo after another for the scrapbook. With the blues and greens of summer adorning Yosemite’s granite, you can enjoy a summer Yosemite photo essay or Yosemite pictures in Spring. […]
[…] photos of Yosemite from Amanda of A Dangerous Business and the beautiful shots of Yosemite from yTravelBlog have me […]
The Glacier Point photo is absolutely gorgeous. Such great views!
I was blown away by the views! So amazing.
[…] If you want to see more photos from this amazing park, check out my Yosemite photo essay. […]
Gorgeous photos! This is the second place I wish I hadn’t missed on my trip to the States (the first being Yellowstone). Your photos definitely make me want to go back to California to visit Yosemite.
Thanks! Yellowstone is high up on my list, as well. Though I have a funny feeling Yosemite is going to end up being my favorite!
These are great shots of some amazing landscapes! Have you been to Zion NP? You will get the same majestic sweeping vistas that just takes your breath away.
No, I haven’t been to Zion yet! Next summer, hopefully. I’ve heard it’s also amazing.
Wow, Amanda! These photos are incredible! Damn, I really want to go now.
Thanks, Lauren! You should definitely go to Yosemite sometime if you can!
Wow, these are some amazing photos. I think my favourite is the tunnel view one 🙂
Every time I see photos like this of Yosemite it makes me want to go more and more. Keep up the good work, and hopefully I will get out there one day 😉
I hope you do get out that way, Wez! It’s an amazing park – definitely a natural wonder!
Really nice pictures. I recently wrote of my admiration with pics here http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Yosemite-National-Park/Yosemite-Valley/blog-716180.html
It certainly is a place worthy of admiration! And of course it’s much better in person, too!
Wow wow and wow. I wasn’t able to make it to Yosemite when I was in the US because of the snow, but these photos so make me want to get there as soon as I can! What a fabulous set of photos!
Thank you, Laurence! It is absolutely a park worth visit next time!
Gorgeous! I think making those photos full size was the right decision 🙂
Thanks, Andrea! I think so, too. 🙂
We drove through Yosemite for a few hours years ago — I can’t believe we didn’t stay longer! We only got to see some of these views from the main road, but I would have loved to go hiking or search out a mountain top vista. 🙂 Lovely photos, as always!!
You will definitely need to spend longer next time!
These photos totally took my breath away, amaaaazing!!!
Aww, thanks Andi! They take my breath away, too. 🙂
Wonderful! It took me back! I was in Yosemite just recently and I didn’t realize that Ansel Adams and a whole crew of photographers actually used Yosemite as a place of great political activism — for the environment as well as humans rights!
Yes! They even have an Ansel Adams museum/gallery inside the park!
These are some fantastic photos. I wish I could visit this place myself one day. Unfortunately, flights of such distance are expensive. 🙁
Well, if you ever get the chance, definitely take it!
If you think this is beautiful check out Glacier National Park. Other favorite parks I would suggest are Zion National Park and Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Parks. I haven’t been to Yosemite yet, but it’s on my list. 🙂
I would like to visit all those parks you’ve listed! And I will, eventually. Slowly making my way through all the U.S. national parks!
Yosemite does offer some amazing landscapes, I really like the shots you got from up high, like Half Dome from Glacier Point
Thanks, Sam! Glacier Point was amazing for photos. I still kind of can’t believe I took some of these!
A beautiful set of photos. I’d love to get into the backcountry of Yosemite one September once the bulk of the tourists have gone home.
The best times to visit are definitely spring and fall, when the park isn’t so crowded. I’m SO glad I went when I did!
I like the last photo. Yosemite is high on my list of places to visit in the US.
It definitely deserves a spot high on any list. It’s spectacular!
Terrific captures! Would surely love to see such beauty in person someday! Till then, your photos are the best thing to satiate my travel cravings 🙂
Thanks, Arti! I’m glad you feel like you can travel vicariously through my photos. 🙂
It has been Way too long since visiting Yosemite so your excellent photos bring buried memories out of my brain file.
Good to hear, Gaelyn! Yosemite is a pretty amazing place!
Wow what a spectacular landscape. Great photos!
Thanks, Dean!
Gorgeous pictures of an incredible park! We love visiting Yosemite but especially during Spring. It’s definitely the best time to visit and you look like you had the perfect weather. The tunnel view always takes my breath away no matter how many times we’ve visited. We’ve never made it to Glacier Point so these pictures are a treat. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit and looking forward to your posts.
I don’t think I’d go any other time of year, to be honest. We had perfect weather, but avoided the crowds by going a couple weeks before Memorial Day. And, because they had fairly light snowfall this year, we arrived at the best time of year for the waterfalls in the park!
If you go back again, I highly recommend making your way up to Glacier View. It’s amazing!
Man, I am so jealous! What beautiful weather and awesome photos. These are spectacular! I really do like all of them but if forced to choose I like the Valley view and Tunnel view. I really hate that I only pick two. These are awesome! I went hiking this past weekend but makes my hike look like a waste of time compared to these! 🙂
Thanks for such kind words, Jeremy! I think the Valley View photo may be my favorite… but it really is hard to choose! Hence why there are 12 huge photos in this post. Lol.
When I cancelled my trip to America this year, Yosemite was one of the things I know I was going to be the most bummed about missing out on. Consequently, I know it’s going to be one of the first things I go to experience when I arrive next year! How long did you spend in the park?
I had no idea it would be so amazing! We only spent 1 day there, but I’d definitely like to go back again and do some of the shorter hikes. Hopefully you’ll have an awesome visit next year!
Beautiful pictures!!! The first one is just gorgeous!
I am dying to visit Yosemite!! Next time I get to the US, it is definitely on my list! Have seen so many beautiful pictures from there this week…seems like everybody is Yosemite bound! 🙂
Yosemite is a great spring destination, so all those people headed there this time of year have got it right! Hopefully you’ll be able to visit someday, too!
Incredible pics!
Thank you! I’m really proud of them!
LOVE Yosemite! Beautiful photos.
It may be my favorite national park now, too!!
This is incredible. I don’t really have words to describe it. Shame on me because I haven’t visit this park.
If you ever get the chance, GO! It really is an incredible place.
Stunning photos! You must be loving that new(ish) camera of yours!
Thanks, Jeremy! And yes, I am in LOVE with this camera!! It takes really great photos for its size.
Beautiful photos. I’ll be honest I never really thought of travelling to Yosemite before, but these photos have definitely put Yosemite higher on my radar. I love the photo of the giant sequoia at Mariposa Grove.
Yosemite should absolutely be put on your list! It’s one of the most awe-inspiring places I’ve been in the U.S. so far!
You had perfect weather for such amazing pictures.
We really did! The weather could not have been more perfect.