Half Dome View

Half Dome View is a roadside turnout on Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120), on the descent from Crane Flat toward Yosemite Valley, just after the Foresta Road junction and before the road ducks into the tunnels near the valley floor. No trail, no permit, no jockeying for tripod space — you pull off, step out, and the view is right there.

Getting There

Coming down from Crane Flat toward the valley, watch for the marked turnout on the right, just past where Foresta Road splits off; heading up from the valley, it's on your left before you reach the tunnels. It's a paved parking area, not a trailhead — the viewpoint is a short walk from the car, not a hike.

What You'll See

From here, El Capitan and Half Dome line up almost side by side across Yosemite Valley, a pairing that's harder to get from Tunnel View or the valley floor. The National Park Service has run rehabilitation work here over the years to fix erosion and improve circulation and accessibility around the viewing area, since so many visitors make this their first stop coming in from the Big Oak Flat entrance.

Good to Know

• No separate permit or fee is required beyond your regular Yosemite park entrance.
• Pair it with Tunnel View or Valley View on the same trip for a fuller set of El Capitan and Half Dome perspectives.
• Parking is limited and there are no restrooms or facilities here — treat it as a quick stop, not a destination with amenities.