El Portal View: See Merced River Canyon from here

El Portal View * is a vista point on Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park, that lets you see miles and miles of the Merced River Canyon. An...
El Portal View
El Portal View, Yosemite National Park

El Portal View * is a vista point on Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park, that lets you see miles and miles of the Merced River Canyon.

An information board here says that on a clear day the view takes you over the Central Valley and all the way to the Coast Range. That’s a view of over 190 miles of landscape from this point.

It was also nice to know — from that board — that since the late 80’s the visibility from here has only been getting better thanks to the new air quality rules and regulations, and lesser pollution from vehicles.

Now that’s something to smile about. 🙂

Go California!

Vista Point on Glacier Point Road, Yosemite National Park

Where exactly is this viewpoint?

El Portal View is an easy-to-miss point. It’s a couple of miles away from the place where Glacier Point Road and Wawona Road intersect. It will be on the left side of the road, in case you want to make a stop here on your way up to Washburn and Glacier Points.

A tip for the stop at El Portal View:

Let me let you in on a little secret here. The best view from this point is not where the board is. Walk up the hill a few steps and keep looking into the canyon till you find the gap between two trees that will show you the top of the rocky landscape that looks like a painting with several shades of blue as far as your eyes can see.

Merced River Canyon in Yosemite National Park.
Merced River Canyon from El Portal View
Merced River Canyon from El Portal View.
Can you spot the Merced River at the bottom of the canyon?
El Portal View, Sierra Nevada Mountains

Have you made a stop here at El Portal View? If yes, how lucky did you get as far as the views are concerned?

* Not to be confused with El Portal, CA – a small town you pass when you take Highway 140 to Yosemite National Park.

Also from Yosemite:

Yosemite – A scratch on the surface

A rainbow at Bridal Veil Fall?

Exploring Yosemite Valley

Unbeatable Views: Washburn and Glacier Point 

Linking to — Our World Tuesday
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CaliforniaCatching the lightLithic LandscapesMountainsNatureScenic RoutesVisual Treats

Dee (Divya): Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. | 📸 Loves tripping.🛣 Tipsy from every TRIP!😬🫣 | 🏞Follow > for intoxicating virtual trips!🥂😉
26 Comments on this post.
  • magiceye
    3 June 2019 at 6:00 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Marvelous vistas captured!

    • dNambiar
      4 June 2019 at 7:15 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Magiceye. 🙂
      Yosemite is a place with several marvelous vistas. I can’t get enough of it. 🙂

  • Lady Fi
    3 June 2019 at 9:35 pm
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    How very beautiful!

    • dNambiar
      4 June 2019 at 7:15 pm
      Leave a Reply

      🙂
      Yosemite <3 🙂

  • Eileen Wise
    4 June 2019 at 3:52 am
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    Hello, gorgeous views and photos. It is a beautiful place! Have a happy day and week ahead.

    • dNambiar
      4 June 2019 at 7:16 pm
      Leave a Reply

      I can never get enough of Yosemite. 🙂
      You too — have a great week, Eileen. 🙂

  • Photo Cache
    7 June 2019 at 4:22 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Yes, these spectacular views are familiar. However, it has been ages since the last I have visited. Probably will return soon as we have an annual National Parks pass this time.

    • dNambiar
      9 June 2019 at 5:56 pm
      Leave a Reply

      The road to Glacier Point (and Washburn Point) should be open, soon. 🙂
      Enjoy Yosemite! An annual pass sounds like a great idea. 🙂

  • rupam { xhobdo }
    10 June 2019 at 12:52 am
    Leave a Reply

    Amazing views. So beautiful photos.

    • dNambiar
      10 June 2019 at 10:30 am
      Leave a Reply

      I liked seeing the shades of blue.
      Thank you, Rupam. 🙂

  • Jyotirmoy Sarkar
    10 June 2019 at 5:43 am
    Leave a Reply

    Loved the shots…amazing.

    • dNambiar
      10 June 2019 at 10:30 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Jyotirmoy. 🙂

  • Anita
    11 June 2019 at 3:29 am
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    The best view is from the top of the mountain. But, for that one sure has to invest time & effort & take the pain!
    Great pics!

    • dNambiar
      11 June 2019 at 1:27 pm
      Leave a Reply

      This place is blessed with some amazing sights.
      Thank you, Anita. 🙂

  • Durga Prasad dash
    11 June 2019 at 3:50 am
    Leave a Reply

    Nice to have breath taking views through your photos.

    • dNambiar
      11 June 2019 at 1:44 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Yosemite is one of those places that can take your breath away even when you are not visiting there for the first time.

  • Niranjan R
    12 June 2019 at 5:41 am
    Leave a Reply

    Such gorgeous views! Lovely frames, Nambiare. Remember seeing something similar at Zero point in Binsar, Uttarakhand.

    • dNambiar
      14 June 2019 at 11:07 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you, Nomad.
      The views of mountain tops always make you feel good, alle? Ah! and those shades of blue!!!!

  • Amit Pattnaik
    14 June 2019 at 6:18 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Beautiful… very scenic and colourful

    • dNambiar
      17 June 2019 at 9:40 am
      Leave a Reply

      Yosemite is a breathtakingly beautiful part of California. 🙂
      Welcome here Amit. Do come back. 🙂

  • Carol
    19 June 2019 at 2:03 am
    Leave a Reply

    Yosemite is one of our great natural wonders and your photos are beautiful!

    • dNambiar
      19 June 2019 at 9:27 am
      Leave a Reply

      It sure is.
      I can never get tired of Yosemite.

      Thank you so much, Carol. 🙂

  • joshi daniel
    24 June 2019 at 2:31 am
    Leave a Reply

    Beautiful 🙂

  • is el portal road yosemite worth seeing – bankschools.com
    15 July 2022 at 3:10 pm
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    […] See Merced River Canyon from El Portal View | Tipsy from the TRIP […]

  • Snowliage: Fall Color and Snow in Yosemite | Tipsy from the TRIP
    13 December 2022 at 2:40 pm
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