Valley View — El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks from Valley View, Yosemite

New Year in
Yosemite

Valley Loop Trail  ·  Southern Half  ·  Yosemite Valley
January Month
13.7 Miles
1,100 Feet Gained
✦✦✦✦✦ Arête
Map Layer

Yosemite on January 1st — welcome to the new year. We drive in through early morning rain, and the valley is fully awake with water. Ephemeral falls appear on every surrounding rock face, Yosemite Falls swells to spring levels, and the Merced rages with rain and snowmelt.

I dress for the rain and head out on the southern half of the valley loop. It's my favorite trail in Yosemite — flat miles, solitude, and incredible views in equal measure. I soak in the moody gray skies, but they quickly part and warm sun floods the valley, and the light turns dramatic: sun-lit granite faces, snow-capped peaks, muddy water suddenly reflecting blue sky.

I finish the loop having had one of the best New Year's Days I can remember.

The moody gray skies quickly part and warm sun floods the valley, and the light turns dramatic: sun-lit granite faces, snow-capped peaks, muddy water suddenly reflecting blue sky.

Rain is pouring as we drive in on New Year's morning. Ephemeral waterfalls quickly appear on El Cap's face.
Rain is pouring as we drive in on New Year's morning. Ephemeral waterfalls quickly appear on El Cap's face.
Yosemite Falls at full power is unusual for January.
Yosemite Falls at full power is unusual for January.
Yosemite Valley
Valley Loop Trail, with Clouds Rest and Half Dome in the background.
Valley Loop Trail, with Clouds Rest and Half Dome in the background.
A swollen Merced River provides a backdrop for Half Dome and Clouds Rest.
A swollen Merced River provides a backdrop for Half Dome and Clouds Rest.
Clouds Rest.
Clouds Rest.
Sentinel reflected in the Merced River.
Sentinel reflected in the Merced River.
El Capitan reflection from El Cap Bridge.
El Capitan reflection from El Cap Bridge.
Valley View — one of the best views in the valley.
Valley View — one of the best views in the valley.
Ribbon Falls, appeared and quickly disappeared, on El Cap's west face.
Ribbon Falls, appeared and quickly disappeared, on El Cap's west face.
Valley Loop Trail headed toward Bridalveil Fall.
Valley Loop Trail headed toward Bridalveil Fall.
My favorite view of El Cap.
My favorite view of El Cap.
Horsetail Fall on January 1st. By the time of the FireFall in February, it will be gone.
Horsetail Fall on January 1st. By the time of the FireFall in February, it will be gone.
Yosemite New Year in Yosemite
Yosemite Falls from the Swinging Bridge.
Yosemite Falls from the Swinging Bridge.
Yosemite Falls from Cook's Meadow.
Yosemite Falls from Cook's Meadow.
A quick stop at the chapel.
A quick stop at the chapel.