Hi, if you are new here, I’m Ellie, one of the founders of The Wildernest Collection. My husband and I were married in Sequoia National Park, and since then, we have always come back to nature whenever we need to unwind and reconnect with each other. In 2025 we purchased a 70 year old cabin in Wawona, nestled deep within Yosemite National Park. We spent the following 8 months renovating it, and now enjoying the beauty of Yosemite, literally in our backyard.
There are so many great spots in Yosemite Valley, but El Capitan Meadow is an absolute must see. The meadow is large and open, so you’ll find space to put down a picnic blanket and enjoy the beautiful scenery. If this is your first stop in the valley, there’s parking right alongside the road, so if you get there early in the day, it should be accessible to bring a picnic basket, maybe even some chairs, and just enjoy your time.
Otherwise, we recommend parking in Yosemite Village, Curry Village, or Yosemite Falls Parking, and taking a shuttle here. The best way to experience the Valley is with the shuttle, as parking in each location can take up a lot of time.
What I love about this meadow is being right beside El Capitan to pause and soak in the scene. After a morning of hiking, it’ll feel like a well deserved break! El Capitan’s face rises over 3,000 feet (≈ 900 meters) above the valley floor. As a former New Yorker, imagine that as 2 Empire State Buildings on top of each other!
The meadow offers views of both the eastern and western faces of El Capitan — so you’re not just seeing one side, but the monumental scale of the formation itself.
The granite of El Capitan is roughly 100 million years old (formed during the Cretaceous) and its near-vertical face is due to the strong, joint-free nature of the rock — which is part of why it stands so boldly.
The meadow itself is lined by oaks and open grassy space — a very nice resting spot in Yosemite Valley where you can just pause and gaze up.
The meadow is very spacious and flat, and our kids loved running around the field. The Merced River is accessible right next to the meadow, and they liked playing near the water as well. We also saw some swimmers nearby - too cold for us in October, but I’m sure it is refreshing!
One very exciting thing to do in this meadow is to bring binoculars and spot the adventurous climbers that will be on El Capitan! Have you ever or would you dare to do this climb?
If you haven’t seen it, check out the documentary, “Free Solo” featuring the world’s first and only free solo climber of El Capitan, Alex Honnold. While searching for parking in Yosemite Village, we saw him gearing up in the parking lot!
What a terrifying and incredible feat!
If you want to see what El Captain looks like right now, you can check out Yosemite Conservancy’s live webcam here:
Frequently asked questions
How tall is El Capitan?
El Capitan rises more than 3,000 feet above El Capitan Meadow, according to the Park Service. From the meadow you can see both its eastern and western faces.
Can you see climbers on El Capitan?
Yes, especially in spring, early summer and fall. Bring binoculars to spot them on the wall, and after sunset look for their headlamps, which can look like stars.
Where do you park for El Capitan Meadow?
There's roadside parking along the meadow, including designated accessible spaces. It fills up later in the day, so arrive early or park elsewhere in the Valley and take the shuttle.
Is El Capitan Meadow open year-round?
Yes. The meadow is open all year. Please stay on designated paths, since the meadow's plants and soil are fragile.
