Dewey Point
Cliff Scenic granite viewpoint overlooking Yosemite Valley
A granite viewpoint on Yosemite’s south rim offering wide valley and dome views; visitors reach Dewey Point for photography, short hikes and sunset vantage points.
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Dewey Point is a granite promontory and vista point on the south rim of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. It is known for panoramic views across the valley and surrounding granite features.
From the point visitors can see broad views of Yosemite Valley and adjacent granite cliffs and ridges. The location is used by hikers and photographers seeking wide valley panoramas rather than developed services.
Dewey Point is a natural granite outcrop formed as part of the Sierra Nevada batholith; it has long been used as a viewpoint by park visitors. Trails and informal routes connect it to other rim viewpoints in the Glacier Point corridor.
The point sits on the south rim of Yosemite Valley within Yosemite National Park in the central Sierra Nevada. It is accessed from park trails and overlooks the main valley corridor.
- Viewing: The viewpoint is reached by short hikes on trails branching from the Glacier Point area and is popular with photographers for sunrise and sweeping valley vistas.
How to Get to Dewey Point #
By car: enter Yosemite National Park (pay park entrance fee) and drive Glacier Point Road when it is open (seasonal). By trail: reachable via rim trails that connect from Glacier Point, Taft Point and other overlooks; these are long hikes requiring planning and water.
Tips for Visiting Dewey Point #
- Access via Glacier Point Road when it is open-Glacier Point Road is typically closed in winter (check NPS road status).
- For a quieter visit, aim for early morning-Dewey Point gets afternoon haze from the valley.
- Combine Dewey Point with nearby Taft Point or Sentinel Dome for a longer rim walk with varied views.
Best Time to Visit Dewey Point #
Best visited late spring through early fall for road access; spring delivers waterfalls and fall eases the crowds.
Weather & Climate near Dewey Point #
Dewey Point's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental (Dry Summer) - Warm-Summer Continental (Dry Summer) climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -6°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (859 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -5°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (157 mm).
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of -6°C. Significant rainfall (142 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -5°C. Significant rainfall (122 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm).
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May
May is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 0°C. Light rainfall.
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June
June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 4°C. Light rainfall.
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July
July is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 8°C. The driest month with just 9 mm.
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August
August is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 8°C. Light rainfall.
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September
September is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 6°C. Light rainfall.
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October
October is cold with highs of 17°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of -2°C. Significant rainfall (116 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -5°C. Significant rainfall (128 mm).
