Olmsted Point, Granite viewpoint in Yosemite National Park, US
Olmsted Point is a bare granite platform in Yosemite National Park, set along the Tioga Road corridor in the park's high country. The open rock surface faces east toward Tenaya Lake and offers a direct line of sight to Half Dome and Clouds Rest from an angle most visitors never see.
The point takes its name from Frederick Law Olmsted, who wrote an early report in the 1860s arguing for the protection of Yosemite Valley. His son, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., also worked in the park decades later and helped carry similar ideas forward across the national park system.
A touchable relief model of the surrounding peaks stands at the viewpoint, letting visitors trace the ridgelines and valleys with their hands. It is aimed at anyone who wants to understand the shapes of the land before looking out at the real thing.
Access is via Tioga Road, which is typically open from late May through November and closed in winter due to snow. Parking is available directly at the rock platform, so no long walk is needed to reach the view.
From Olmsted Point, Half Dome looks almost unrecognizable because the view comes from the east rather than from the valley floor. Many visitors stand here not realizing they are looking at the same peak seen in all the classic park photos.
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