The Most Beautiful Sunset Spot in Yosemite: Taft Point

Taft Point was the number 1 place I wanted to visit when we went to Yosemite because it is one of the best sunset spots in Yosemite! I had seen photos of the incredible sunsets over the valley from the viewpoint and I knew that we simply could not visit Yosemite without going here.

It did not disappoint. In fact we hiked to Taft Point twice for sunset!

The hike to Taft Point is 2.3miles / 3.7km return with an elevation gain of 354 ft / 108m. It will take you about 1 hour to complete, not including the time spent at the viewpoint.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the hike to Taft Point, including our experience hiking at sunset and back in the dark, twice. You can also find quick links below to some of Yosemite’s best accommodation options, best hiking and photography tours and additional information to help you plan your trip to Yosemite. 

Make sure you don’t miss any of the MUST SEEs in Yosemite: Read our 4 Day Yosemite Itinerary

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Everything You Need to Know About Hiking to Taft Point

📍 Where is Taft Point

Taft Point is located in Yosemite National Park in California and is one of the best short hikes to do in Yosemite. In fact, I think it is one of the best things to do in Yosemite.

Driving times to the Taft Point Trailhead from different locations in the park:

Yosemite Valley Lodge: 50 minute – 1 hour
Glacier Point: 7 minutes
Tunnel View: 40 minutes
Wawona Campground: 45 minutes
Yosemite National Park (South Entrance): 50 minute – 1 hour

🙋‍♀️ Is Taft Point worth it

Taft Point in Yosemite National Park is SO SO worth it! The views exceeded my expectations and watching the sunset from so high up, overlooking Yosemite Valley made it feel like we were in a dream. So yes, I would say, without any hesitation at all, that Taft Point is 100% worth it!

As I said earlier, we hiked to Taft Point for sunset twice because we wanted to get even more photos up there. It was my favourite photo spot in the park!

⌚ How long does the hike to Taft Point take

The hike to Taft Point should only take you around 30 minutes one way. It is 2.3miles / 3.7km return with an elevation gain of 354 ft / 108m.

🥾 How hard is the hike to Taft Point in Yosemite

The Taft Point hike in Yosemite National Park is quite short and pretty easy. For the majority of the hike, the trail is pretty flat and well maintained. If you are afraid of heights, you might not be a huge fan of the actual viewpoint but there is plenty of space to enjoy the incredible views without getting too close to the edge.

🚶‍♀️ Hiking to Taft Point with a tour

If you are unsure of whether you feel confident hiking to Taft Point, this tour is the perfect way to stop yourself from missing out. Believe me, you do not want to miss out on this hike! It’s so so pretty! This hiking tour takes you to Taft Point and Sentinel Dome and is the perfect intro to hiking for the whole family!

👉 Book a Taft Point Hiking Tour here

🌲 Leave no trace

The 7 Leave No Trace principles are important to be aware of to help keep places like Yosemite National Park beautiful. To remind yourself of the 7 Leave No Trace principles, check out the LNT website.

🎫 National Parks Pass

If you are visiting Yosemite National Park, you will need a National Parks Pass. The best deal is usually to purchase an annual America the Beautiful pass which is $80 and will enable you to visit as many USA national parks as you want for a whole year. Alternatively, you could just get day passes from the Yosemite entrance gate.

🌞 Hiking to Taft Point for sunset or sunrise – everything you should bring with you

Hiking to Taft Point for sunset or sunrise, means that you will be hiking in the dark one way or another. Make sure you bring the following with you in addition to your normal hiking gear.

• Headlight
• Offline maps or GPS device
• Warm jacket
• Mosquito repellent – omg they were SO bad right before sunset when we were hiking in the forest. We were eaten alive!

🚶‍♀️The trail to Taft Point

One of the reasons we hiked to Taft Point twice while we were in Yosemite, was because the trail was so enjoyable. It takes you through a picturesque forest before you emerge at the edge of the forest where it opens up to a wide open area with smaller shrubbery. This is where you hike down to the fissures and the valley overlook.

The trailhead

There are two places to start the Taft Point hike from. The best one is the second one you will come to when travelling back down the road from Glacier Point. Use the map below to find the 2 trailheads.

Hike through the forest

The majority of the Taft Point Trail, will take you through a forest of towering pine trees. To me, it felt like I had stepped into a movie. It was an absolutely gorgeous trail except for the fact that the mozzies were eating us alive. I think this is because of how close it was to sunset, so they might not be as bad if you were to do Taft Point as a day hike.

Ignoring the mozzies, it was absolutely beautiful seeing the golden light stream through the trees as we got closer and closer to sunset.

The Fissures

You’ll see the fissures as you approaching the view of the valley. They are giant cracks in the granite wall.

📷 Looking for more photo spots in Yosemite? Check out this blog post!

Walking back in the dark

This wasn’t the worst night hike that we have done. We left before it got completely dark because we had a long drive back to our campsite afterwards so we didn’t even need to use our headlights straight away. We also walked super fast because it was such a short hike and we both tend to get a bit of adrenaline when hiking in the dark with potential bears around!

📷 Explore the different photography spots at Taft Point

The thing that I loved most about Taft Point, was that there was not only one classic photo spot, but multiple!

First you will get to a few viewpoints along the wall before the official Taft Point viewpoint. From here, you can see the official viewpoint, outlined by a safety chain enclosure.

Next make your way up to the official viewpoint. You will be able to tell it’s the official viewpoint because of the safety enclosure. I actually found this spot quite terrifying standing there even with the fence because it was SO high up!

The next spot that you should check out is behind the official viewpoint. This is where a lot of elopement photographers like to take their photos because there is a large flat area with plenty of space.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Are dogs allowed on the Taft Point Trail in Yosemite?

Dogs are not allowed on the Taft Point Trail in Yosemite National Park.

Is Taft Point or Sentinel Dome better for photos?

There is a reason we picked Taft Point over Sentinel Dome and then chose to hike it again instead of trying out Sentinel Dome. However, in saying that, I now have not actually seen the viewpoint at Sentinel Dome so I’m not going to pretend that I know for sure that Taft Point is better.

What I do know, is that if you pick Taft Point over Sentinel Dome like we did, you will not be disappoint with the views or the photo opportunities that you get up at the viewpoint.

Is sunset of sunrise better for photos at Taft Point?

We hiked Taft Point twice for sunset and I can confirm that it was a good choice! I’m sure sunrise would be absolutely incredible too but it would be a very early wake up as all accommodation is about a 1 hour drive from the trailhead and then you would need to add on the hiking time of around 30 minutes to reach the viewpoint.

Is there a shuttle that goes to Taft Point in Yosemite?

There is a free shuttle that you can get to Taft Point which starts at 10am. The shuttle leaves from Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area every 20 minutes. Stops include: Sentinel Dome/Taft Point trailhead, Washburn Point and Glacier Point. The last shuttle from Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area leaves at 4:30 pm and service ends at 5:30 p.m.

Can I bring my drone to Yosemite?

No, drones are not permitted in Yosemite National Park, unless you apply for a commercial drone license and it gets approved.

Can I hike to Taft Point in the Winter?

The road up to Glacier Point closes from mid-December to the end of March, which means that you cannot get to the Taft Point Trailhead. The only way to get there in the Winter months is by cross-country skiing or snowshoeing but it is a long way and is only recommended for advanced skiers or snowshoers.

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• Best Photo Spots in Yosemite
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