Yosemite National Park

This Unparalleled Yosemite Hike Is Only Open For Half The Year

By Kristin Conard

VACATIONS

John Muir introduced the wildly beautiful Yosemite National Park to President William Howard Taft in 1909. They hiked 4 miles from Glacier Point down to the Yosemite valley floor.
During their exploration, they are said to have had lunch at, or near, the point that now bears Taft's name, which you can now get to via trail during the summer and fall.
Reaching Taft Point is a 2.2-mile round trip from the trailhead on Glacier Point Road. It's 3,500-feet above the valley floor, offering some truly breathtaking views of Yosemite.
You'll look down on some of the most legendary landmarks of the park — Yosemite Falls and El Capitan — and onto the valley floor. Plan to stay a while to soak in the sights.
Glacier Point Road closes seasonally because of snow. If you go shortly after the road opens, the trail may still have snow on it, and the granite is slippery when wet.
There's no hard opening and closing dates for Glacier Point Road, but the National Park Service provides frequent updates on the road closures on the website.