There are a few spots that everyone will recognize, even if they've never heard of Yosemite before! This bending road, with Half Dome in the background, is easily one of them. It's just a short walk up the road from the Glacier Point Parking and a must-see in Yosemite National Park.

On our final morning in the Valley, we headed out for one final sunrise at this famous viewpoint.

It's a bit of a drive, no matter where you're staying, which means you need to leave extra early. This also means that there won't be many others up there with you and you'll get to experience one of the most popular places in Yosemite Valley without the crowds.

After walking for just a couple of minutes we reached the famous spot. We sat by the side of the road as the few other early risers drove around the bend and down to Glacier Point.

It wasn't long before the light started to appear on the horizon and continued to paint the Valley in different colors for the next 2 hours.

From a deep purple and gold...

To touches of pink and yellow...

To the bright burst of sunlight as it crept over peaks of the distant mountains...

It was quite a spectacle.

The view constantly transformed in front of our eyes as we sat back and enjoyed the show.

It was a dream come true and more than we ever expected. A very special way to end our adventure in Yosemite Valley.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

Yosemite National Park was the ninth stop on The Big Trip. Read all of our stories from the Valley here. Follow us to see the rest of our journey as we spend 3 months exploring America’s most beautiful National Parks.