Half Dome and storm clouds at sunset, viewed from Sentinel Bridge.
Horsetail Falls backlit by the setting sun as it cascades down the face of El Capitan, February, Yosemite Valley.
Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring, with a rainbow appearing in the spray of the falls. Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Valley Tunnel View, Storm clouds at sunset, Yosemite National Park
Lembert Dome and late afternoon clouds rise above Tuolumne Meadows in the High Sierra, catching the fading light of sunset.
Yosemite Falls at peak flow in late spring, viewed from Cooks Meadow.
Yosemite Falls and star trails, at night, viewed from Cook's Meadow, illuminated by the light of the full moon.
Townsley Lake (10396'), a beautiful alpine lake sitting below blue sky, clouds and Fletcher Peak (right), lies amid the Cathedral Range of glacier-sculpted granite peaks in Yosemite's high country, near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp.
The Milky Way arches over Half Dome, and the Yosemite High Country, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls and rainbow, Half Dome in distance, viewed from the Yosemite Falls trail, spring.
Perseid Meteor Shower and Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy and the Pleides Cluster, over Half Dome and Yosemite National Park
Cathedral Range peaks reflected in the still waters of Townsley Lake at sunrise, high country near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Falls reflected in flooded meadow. The Merced River floods its banks in spring, forming beautiful reflections of Yosemite Falls. Yosemite National Park.
Half Dome and Clouds Rest, Sunset, Yosemite National Park
Sunset light on Half Dome and Clouds Rest, Yosemite National Park
Half Dome and sunset clouds, evening.
El Capitan reflected in Merced River, Yosemite National Park. Seriously, take a close look, the image as presented here is upside down!
Half Dome and nighttime stars, viewed from Glacier Point.
Vogelsang Peak (11516') at sunset, reflected in a small creek near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp in Yosemite's high country.
Milky Way over Tioga Lake, Yosemite National Park
El Capitan and clouds lit by full moon, stars, evening.
Upper Yosemite Falls and lunar rainbow, moonbow. A lunar rainbow (moonbow) can be seen to the left of Yosemite Falls, where the moon illuminates the spray of the falls.
El Capitan reflection mirrored in the Merced River, Yosemite National Park
Upper Yosemite Falls near peak flow in spring. Yosemite Falls, at 2425 feet tall (730m) is the tallest waterfall in North America and fifth tallest in the world. Yosemite Valley.
Bridalveil Falls at sunset, with clouds and blue sky in the background. Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite drops 620 feet (188 m) from a hanging valley to the floor of Yosemite Valley.
Nevada Falls marks where the Merced River plummets almost 600 through a joint in the Little Yosemite Valley, shooting out from a sheer granite cliff and then down to a boulder pile far below.
Bridalveil Falls with a rainbow forming in its spray, dropping 620 into Yosemite Valley, displaying peak water flow in spring months from deep snowpack and warm weather melt. Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite Falls and tall pine trees, viewed from Cook's Meadow.
Lupine bloom in burned area after a forest fire, near Wawona, Yosemite National Park
El Capitan and Merced River, Yosemite Valley.
Black oaks in autumn in Yosemite National Park, fall colors, Quercus kelloggii
Yosemite Valley and stars lit by full moon, evening.
Yosemite Valley and stars lit by full moon, evening.
Half Dome and the Glacier Point Road, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls reflected in a meadow pool, spring.
Bridalveil Falls at sunset, with clouds and blue sky in the background. Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite drops 620 feet (188 m) from a hanging valley to the floor of Yosemite Valley.
Milky Way over Tenaya Lake, Polly Dome (left), Tenaya Peak (center), Yosemite National Park
Three Brothers and Merced River in spring, Yosemite National Park
El Capitan and the Merced River, early morning, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls, mist and and storm clouds.
El Capitan eastern face, sunrise.
Rainbow in Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite National Park
Sunset light on the face of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park
The Grizzly Giant Sequoia Tree in Yosemite. Giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum), roots spreading outward at the base of each massive tree, rise from the shaded forest floor. Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park.
Black oaks in autumn in Yosemite National Park, fall colors, Quercus kelloggii
Half Dome and Yosemite High Country from Sierra Point
Yosemite Falls in Spring, viewed from Yosemite Falls trail
Zodiacal Light and planet Jupiter in the northeastern horizon, above Half Dome and the Yosemite high country.
Vernal Falls and Merced River in complete spring flood, heavy flow due to snow melt in the high country above Yosemite Valley.
Cathedral Rocks is reflected at sunrise in a sidewater of the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California.
Panorama of Vogelsang basin, surrounding Vogelsang Lake in Yosemite's High Sierra, viewed from near Vogelsang Pass (10685').
Half Dome reflected in the Merced River
Mammoth Peak over Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls rises above the Merced River, viewed from the Swinging Bridge. The 2425' falls is the tallest in North America.
Star trails appear over Yosemite Falls in this 40 minute time exposure, Yosemite Valley, California.
Upper Yosemite Falls is reflected in a flooded meadow created by heavy spring water levels in the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California.
Upper Yosemite Falls and lunar rainbow, moonbow. A lunar rainbow (moonbow) can be seen to the left of Yosemite Falls, where the moon illuminates the spray of the falls.
Mammoth Peak (12,117') reflected in small tarn pond at sunrise, viewed from meadows near Tioga Pass.
Mammoth Peak and meadow tarn reflection, sunrise, Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park.
Cathedral Rocks at sunrise, reflected in a spring meadow flooded by the Merced River.
Mountain dogwood, or Pacific dogwood, Yosemite Valley. Cornus nuttallii.
Cables guiding hikers to summit of Half Dome.
El Capitan.
Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring, viewed from the Mist Trail
The Tuolumne River flows serenely through Tuolumne Meadows in the High Sierra. Lembert Dome is seen in the background.
Bridalveil Falls plummets 620 feet (200m). Yosemite Valley.
El Capitan rises above the Merced River, Yosemite Valley.
Nevada Falls, with Liberty Cap (center) and Half Dome (left). Nevada Falls marks where the Merced River plummets almost 600 feet through a joint in the Little Yosemite Valley, shooting out from a sheer granite cliff and then down to a boulder pile far below.
Bridalveil Falls and Yosemite Valley on a misty spring morning. Yosemite National Park, California.
Unicorn Peak at sunset, seen from Tuolumne Meadows. Cockscomb Peak rises in the distance.
Fern Springs, a small natural spring in Yosemite Valley near the Pohono Bridge, trickles quietly over rocks as it flows into the Merced River.
Thunderstorm Forming over Half Dome and the Yosemite High Country, from Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park
Glacial erratics atop Olmsted Point. Erratics are huge boulders left behind by the passing of glaciers which carved the granite surroundings into their present-day form.
A giant sequoia tree soars skyward from the forest floor. Sequoiadendron giganteum. Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park.
Mammoth Peak over Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Park
Panoramic view of the Cathedral Range from the summit of Vogelsang Peak (11500'). The shadow of Vogelsang Peak can be seen in the middle of the picture, Yosemite National Park, California.
Fletcher Peak is reflected in Vogelsang Lake at sunset viewed from near summit of Vogelsang Peak.
Yosemite Falls reflected in a meadow pool, spring.
The Bachelor and Three Graces. Giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum), roots spreading outward at the base of each massive tree, rise from the shaded forest floor. Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park.
Upper Yosemite Falls near peak flow in spring. Yosemite Falls, at 2425 feet tall (730m) is the tallest waterfall in North America and fifth tallest in the world
Mountain dogwood, or Pacific dogwood, blooming in spring in Yosemite Valley
Bridalveil Falls and Cathedral Rocks, Sunset, Yosemite National Park
Panoramic view of Half Dome at sunset, Tenaya Canyon and Yosemite High Country, Yosemite National Park
Fletcher Peak (11410') reflected in Townsley Lake, at sunrise, panoramic view, Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Falls and double rainbow, full on and all the way, viewed from the Yosemite Falls trail, spring.
Half Dome at sunrise, viewed from Glacier Point.
Mammoth Peak (12,117') rises above grassy meadows and granite boulders near Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Park, California.
Half Dome and pre-dawn light, sunrise, viewed from Glacier Point.
Glacial erratic boulders atop Olmsted Point. Erratics are huge boulders left behind by the passing of glaciers which carved the granite surroundings into their present-day form. When the glaciers melt, any boulders and other geologic material that it was carrying are left in place, sometimes many miles from their original location.
Nameless Lake (10709') surrounded by glacier-sculpted granite peaks of the Cathedral Range, Yosemite National Park, California.
Last light on the Tuolumne River, flowing through Lyell Canyon and Tuolumne Meadows, sunset. Yosemite National Park.
Black Oaks below El Capitan, Quercus kelloggii, El Capitan meadow, Yosemite Valley
Burned tree trunks, charred bark, burnt trees resulting from a controlled burn fire.
Tenaya Peak and Tenaya Lake lie below spring clouds in Yosemite National Park's high country. Yosemite National Park.
Black Oaks below El Capitan, Quercus kelloggii, El Capitan meadow, Yosemite Valley
Milky Way over Tuolumne Meadows, Mount Dana (left), Mount Gibbs (center), Mammoth Peak and Kuna Crest (right), Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River.
View from Summit of Mount Hoffmann, Ten Lakes Basin at lower left, looking northeast toward remote northern reaches of Yosemite National Park, panorama
Black Oaks below El Capitan, Quercus kelloggii, El Capitan meadow, Yosemite Valley
Merced River and Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls rises above the Merced River, viewed from the Swinging Bridge. The 2425' falls is the tallest in North America
Upper Yosemite Falls near peak flow in spring. Yosemite Falls, at 2425 feet tall (730m) is the tallest waterfall in North America and fifth tallest in the world
Mammoth Peak at sunrise, grass and small reflecting pool, Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park.
Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs reflected in the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park, California.
Sunrise reflections in Tioga Lake. This spectacular location is just a short walk from the Tioga Pass road. Near Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite National Park.
Visitors admire Yosemite Falls from the Swinging Bridge, Leidig Meadow.
Merced River reflections and textures, Yosemite Valley.
Hikers atop Summit of Half Dome, view of Tenaya Canyon.
Yosemite Falls and star trails, at night, viewed from Cook's Meadow, illuminated by the light of the full moon.
Trees, overcast sky and El Capitan.
Yosemite Falls and star trails, at night, viewed from Cook's Meadow, illuminated by the light of the full moon.
Hanging Basket Lake (10601'), with Fletcher Peak (11410') rising above on the right, panoramic view.
Merced River and full moon.
Tuolumne River reflections, Yosemite National Park.
Glacial erratics atop Olmsted Point. Erratics are huge boulders left behind by the passing of glaciers which carved the granite surroundings into their present-day form.
El Capitan and star trails, at night, illuminated by the light of the full moon.
Bridalveil Falls at Night, lit by full moon with a rainbow forming in its spray, dropping 620 into Yosemite Valley, displaying peak water flow in spring months from deep snowpack and warm weather melt.
Clouds Rest viewed from Olmsted Point. Clouds Rest is one of the most massive -- if not the singlemost massive -- granite monoliths in the world. A vast lobe of Mesozoic-era granodiorite magma cooled to rock and was gradually uplifted to its present altitude of 9926 ft. Later, glaciers cut it into its present shape.
Trees cling to the granite surroundings of Olmsted Point.
Star trails over Yosemite Valley, viewed from Tunnel View, the floor of Yosemite Valley illuminated by a full moon. El Capitan on left, Bridalveil Falls on right, Half Dome in distant center.
Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, near Tioga Pass.
Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, near Tioga Pass.
Mammoth Peak, stones, pond and meadow, Tuolumne Meadows.
Vogelsang Peak (11500') and the shoulder of Fletcher Peak, reflected in the still morning waters of Fletcher Lake, in Yosemite's gorgeous high country, late summer.
Mammoth Peak, meadow grasses in fall, granite boulders, Tuolumne Meadows near Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Park.
A Sierra Nevada Peak reflected in small tarn (pond), near Tioga Pass. Yosemite National Park.
Blooming mountain dogwood, or Pacific dogwood, Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite Falls at night with faint lunar rainbow, Yosemite National Park.
Mountain dogwood, or Pacific dogwood, Yosemite Valley.
Mammoth Peak and alpine meadows in the High Sierra, viewed from the Tioga Pass road just west of the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Late summer.
Giant Sequoia tree.
Ferns and Lodgepole Pines in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California.