Leaning Tower

The Leaning Tower is the sheer granite formation beside Bridalveil Fall on the south side of Yosemite Valley, part of the Cathedral Rocks group and directly across from El Capitan. Its summit sits roughly 2,500 feet above the valley floor, and the wall itself has carried its name since 1883 for a dramatic forward lean — the lower section overhangs at about 110 degrees, the upper section at around 95, making it one of the most continuously overhanging granite walls in the world. There is no hiking trail to the top; this is a landmark to look up at, not a hike to take.

A Climber's Wall, Not a Trail

Reaching the summit means multi-day technical big-wall climbing up roughly 700 feet of consistently overhanging rock — among the steepest sustained climbing terrain in Yosemite Valley. The West Face route is often cited as a solid introduction to big-wall climbing for those working up toward El Capitan, but it still demands real rope skills, a full rack, and typically a couple of nights spent hanging on the wall. General park visitors experience the Leaning Tower purely as scenery, not as a destination to reach on foot.

Where to See It

The best views are from the valley floor near Bridalveil Fall, where the Leaning Tower rises just beside the falling water, and from Tunnel View along Wawona Road, where it forms part of the classic panorama alongside El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks.