6 and a half miles southwest of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center is one of the greatest scenic views anywhere in the world. That vista is Tunnel View. Located at the lower end of the Wawona Tunnel on the Wawona Road (Highway 41) is a large pullout and parking area with some trails where you can see Yosemite Valley in all her beauty. From the lookout you can see El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks, Bridalveil Fall, and more. When you exit the tunnel while heading into the valley it is one of the best surprises I’ve ever seen. Obviously, it’s best to see it at sunset or sunrise but it is a treat at any time of the day, truly.

The tunnel is truly a modern marvel in and of itself but it’s easy to be too distracted by the view to take notice. It took two years to build and was completed in 1933. They had to use 230 tons of Dynamite to bore the one mile long hole in the pure granite rock.