Dora Liu

Although Yosemite National Park is open year round, some areas are covered in snow during the winter and spring months. For this reason, the subalpine area of Yosemite along Highway 120, or Tioga Road, is closed from around November to May. The same goes for Glacier Point Road. When these areas open, you are rewarded with awesome views and great hiking trails to explore.

I never get tired of seeing Half Dome. A giant rock sliced in half is just a true phenomenon. Well, that’s not its true origin but it sure looks that way. I can’t help it that I want to see Half Dome from every vantage point. I hiked the North Dome Trail to get as close to it without having to scale it. This trail was accessed from Tioga Road. The hike was difficult given the distance and altitude. All the hard work of hiking 9 miles at 8000 feet was worth it. The view of Half Dome, so close I felt like I could touch it, was breathtaking.

The Taft Point Trail is accessible from Glacier Point Road. I was fascinated by the fissures on this trail. The cracks in the cliffs extended a frighteningly long way down. Railings were in short supply here. My knees were wobbly from being close to the edge not tired from the hike. From Taft Point I looked down to El Capitan. From this angle, I could see that it extended far beyond what I saw at street level. It was massive in all directions. 

The opening of these two seasonal roads was delayed beyond May or June in the Summer of 2023 due to the historical amount of snowfall. Both are estimated to open in July. Waiting for the opening of Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park is well worth it.