The Tunnel View: An iconic portal into Yosemite Valley
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’s many ways to spend your time in Yosemite, but for first timers, going to Yosemite Valley is at the very top of the Must Do list. And the first sight you’ll see as you enter the valley is the iconic view through the Wawona Tunnel, a historic, 4,233-foot-long highway tunnel that provides a dramatic entrance to Yosemite Valley and the famous Tunnel View overlook. Completed in 1933, the Wawona Tunnel was blasted through solid granite and was once the longest automobile tunnel in the world. Tunnel View, located at the east end of the tunnel, offers one of the most iconic panoramic views in the park, featuring El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome.
Entrance to the Wawona Tunnel, Yosemite National Park
Wawona Tunnel exit, Yosemite National Park
Parking here… is HARD. We took our time in the morning and didn’t leave the Wildernest cabin until about 11am. The Valley is a scenic 45 min drive from Wawona, and it was packed when we arrived. This is in mid-October, which is considered off-season as well. Many visitors also love to see the sunrise here, so expect it to be busy throughout the day.
However, most people seem to make this a pretty quick stop - park, take pictures, and keep going. So there’s a healthy turn of cars coming in and out of the small lot and we were able to park within a reasonable amount of time. We started with the Artist Point Hike, though we chose not to go all the way to Inspiration Point (4 miles round trip on rocky terrain). For those who are more adventurous, you can take this trail to the Pohono trail, which is a 13-mile hike each way to Glacier Point.
Even though we didn’t climb all the way up the trail, we still got incredible views and the kids really enjoyed their first hike in Yosemite Valley.
El Capitan, Half Dome, Glacier Point, Bridalveil Fall - Yosemite Valley at the Tunnel View, Artist Point Trail
When visiting Yosemite Valley, this is the first of many iconic scenes you’ll experience. You’ll be tempted to sit in awe and spend hours here, but to maximize your time, I recommend staying no more than 30 min, and head to your next stop, which will likely be Bridalveil Falls.