Olmsted Point — Attraction in Mammoth Lakes

lovely place to stop! right behind the parking lot there is a little viewpoint area with a stone wall and some seating options. a yosemite conservancy volunteer was there when i arrived and was sharing information with folks as well as letting people look through their telescope to take a peek at the hikers climbing up a particularly challenging part of half dome. there are also two short trails/ walks starting directly from the parking lot (detailed below).

i unfortunately didn’t have time to wander down the trail that goes down from the view point but it looked great and was told that it was a quick and easy walk through the trees with great views.

i did walk up the dome-type structure that is just across the street behind the parking lot for the viewpoint. definitely recommend doing that. it is probably a 20-40 minute walk up and back down to the parking lot depending on your pace. there were great views of half dome in the distance, numerous other peaks, and if you looked out in the opposite direction from the top of the “mini dome” you can see a beautiful alpine lake nearby and a few other bodies of water. there were lots of neat california-native alpine plants growing out of the rock, which is so remarkable, especially because the conditions are so harsh up there at that high of an altitude. definitely recommend stopping here, especially if you don’t have a ton of time or aren’t looking to do any big hikes but are driving through and want to see some cool views/plants/ experience the nature...

Located high on California’s Highway 120/Tioga Road (Tioga Pass is at 9,943 feet in elevation), this Yosemite National Park viewpoint looks into Tenaya Canyon. Prominently across the valley is the mountain ridge line of the Sierra peak Clouds Rest (9,930 ft). Off in the distance, to its right (west) sits the granite monolith Half Dome (8,840 ft). In the distance to the east is Tenaya Lake (8,150 ft). Like Half Dome and Clouds Rest, it is an alpine lake also created by glacial action.

The viewpoint is named after Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) who was a leader in the early conservation movement in the United States. A notable landscape architect and designer (New York Central Park), he joined with others in a national call to protect Yosemite and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove. Becoming the first public lands set aside by Congress, Olmsted served as a commissioner for the California State Reserve for one year. His report in 1865 to Congress called for increased public lands and protections with “value to posterity.” He emphasized that it wasn’t just about a single “waterfall, cliff or tree” but public lands should also protect the surrounding...

Awesome place to visit especially if you have not been here yet. Most people don't venture out of the parking lot. Absolutely stunning view as the sun sets here. West facing granite faces turn orange as you look as far as you can see down Tenaya Canyon. These pictures are from 2018. I was there last month and the whole point has been re-constructed with easier access and some short trail access below for those who want to see more. For that matter the entire Tuolumne Meadows area has been upgraded over the last four years. Fantastic improvements have been made. Tuolumne Meadows Campgrounds will not open this year per Yosemite Park as the reconstructing is not quite finished yet. You can still drive through the entire Tioga Road area and see what's new. In one of the photos I took a picture of my buddy while he was flat on the rock and rotated the picture to make it look like he is climbing. Minus the trees in the picture growing...