Yosemite National Park Sights - Taft & Glacier Points

The first fissure at Taft Point. The drop is 1000 ft from the edge at this point.

Taft Point, located in Yosemite National Park near Glacier Point is very much like Glacier Point in that it offers wide views of the valley and other attractions like Yosemite Falls and El Capitan. However, the main attraction of Taft Point are the giant fissures in the mile high granite rock beneath you. The fissures are breaks/cracks in the mountain that drop directly down to the valley floor at some points. There is only a railing on the last fissure which makes Taft Point much more dangerous than Glacier Point. The fissures allow daring partipants to venture out to the edge where even the most adventurous will feel butterflies in the stomach.

Hiking Trail

The Taft Point trailhead is located about 5 minutes before the end of Glacier Point road. The trail itself is a one mile (2nd half of mile is downhill) hike from the trailhead. While being a short hike and awe inspiring, Taft Point is fairly remote and unpopulated. The trail begins somewhat unguarded from the sun but transitions into a shaded flat walkway through a green meadow. The final approach of the hike is slightly downhill on a rocky surface. One can expect the trip from the trailhead to be somewhere between 20 to 30 minutes.

Destinations Nearby

Travel times via car

• Sentinel Dome (Trail)
• Glacier Point (5 Min)
• Ostrander Lake Trailhead (10 Min)
• Bridalveil Creek Campground (14 Min)
• Yosemite Valley (50 Min)