Tenaya Canyon

Tenaya Canyon is a granite-walled gorge running through Yosemite National Park with trails that wind through its length. The canyon features sheer rock faces and natural passages carved by water and time.

The canyon was shaped over millions of years by water and glacial action that carved through granite bedrock. In the 1800s, early photographers brought attention to its dramatic form, helping preserve its image for future generations.

The canyon was home to the Ahwahneechee people for thousands of years, shaping how they lived within this rocky landscape. Walking through it today, you can sense the deep connection between the people and the natural features around them.

You can enter the canyon from several points along Tioga Road, with spring and fall providing the best conditions for walking and exploration. Wear sturdy shoes and be ready for elevation changes and steep sections along the way.

The granite walls display visible erosion patterns that reveal millions of years of geological processes in the Sierra Nevada. As you walk through the canyon, you can see the layering and color variations in the rock that tell the story of time and water.