Glacier Point

Yosemite National Park
Glacier Point - Half Dome

Valley Floor

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Nat'l Park Vacation & Lodging Information

The parking lot on the Valley floor taken from Glacier Point.

Zoomed picture of the parking lot

Ahwahnee Hotel

Yosemite granites cooled miles beneath the earth's surface as early as 100 million years ago. As tectonic forces uplifted the Sierra Nevada, powerful rivers and creeks cut Yosemite's canyons and valleys, carving the landscape into V-shaped canyons.

(10 to 3 million years ago)

As the climate cooled, a series of glaciers entered river-carved valleys-plucking, polishing, and transporting rocks. The largest glaciers filled Yosemite Valley almost to the top of Half Dome.

(3 million to 20,000 years ago)

Repeated glaciations eroded valleys, steepened granite walls, and sculpted many of the dramatic landforms we see today.

(3 million to 20,000 years ago)

As the last major glacier melted and receded, Yosemite Valley filled with water and sediment, turning the Valley floor into a shallow lake. The lake eventually filled with sediment, creating a flat valley floor.

(20,000 to 10,000 years ago)

The extensive work of glaciers is visible throughout the park. Waterfalls leap from hanging valleys, Rockfalls from the glacially-steepened cliffs widen the Valley.

(10,000 years ago to present)