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Tunnel View is a scenic viewpoint located on 
Wawona Tunnel’s east end lies less than 1,500 feet from of Artist Point, where Thomas Ayres drew the first picture of Yosemite Valley in 1855.
California State Route 41
State Route 41 (SR 41) is a state highway in the U.S. State of California, connecting the Central Coast (California), Central Coast with the San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevada. Its southern terminus is at the Cabrillo Highway (California ...
in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park ( ) is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in California. It is bordered on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The p ...
, United States. Since its opening in 1933, it has offered visitors iconic, expansive views of Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley ( ; ''Yosemite'', Miwok for "killer") is a U-shaped valley, glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California, United States. The valley is about long a ...
, making it one of the park's most renowned viewpoints.
The large viewpoint area is located directly east of the Wawona Tunnel portal, as one enters Yosemite Valley from points south. The view looks eastward into Yosemite Valley, and includes surrounding features, such as the southwest face of El Capitan
El Capitan (; ) is a vertical Rock formations in the United States, rock formation in Yosemite National Park, on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The El Capitan Granite, granite monolith is about from base to summit alo ...
on the left, Half Dome on axis, and Bridalveil Fall on the right.
For many arriving by road, this is the stunning first view, upon suddenly exiting the long and dark tunnel, of Yosemite Valley and its setting. A turn out with parking lot accommodates leaving vehicles behind, to take it all in. The trailhead, for the hiking trail up and south to Inspiration Point, is located here.
Wawona Tunnel’s east end lies less than 1,500 feet from of Artist Point, where Thomas Ayres drew the first picture of Yosemite Valley in 1855.
See also
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Yosemite National Park * Index: Yosemite National ParkReferences
External links
* History of Mariposa County, California Tourist attractions in Mariposa County, California National Park Service rustic in Yosemite National Park 1933 establishments in California {{Yosemite-stub