Royal Arches

The Royal Arches are a prominent granite cliff and series of exfoliation features on the north side of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California, rising several hundred feet above the valley floor. The formation is well known to climbers and valley photographers for its sweeping slab face and arch-like features.

The face is a major objective for rock climbers, including the namesake Royal Arches Route which is a multi-pitch climb that ascends the slabby, bolted and traditional sections of the wall. Hikers and photographers see the arches and cliff from viewpoints on the valley floor and from trails on the north side of the valley.

The formation is the product of granite exfoliation and alpine glaciation that shaped Yosemite Valley; it has been a focus of recreational climbing since the early 20th century. Climbing routes were established across the 20th century as Yosemite developed into a global rock-climbing centre.

Located inside Yosemite National Park on the north side of Yosemite Valley near the mouth of Tenaya Canyon, the Royal Arches are within the park roughly 200 miles (320 km) east of San Francisco.

• Climbing route: Approachable from Yosemite Valley floor; notable climbing route named the Royal Arches Route is a long multi-pitch climb following the slabby face.
• Viewing: Best viewed from the valley floor and from viewpoints along the north side of Yosemite Valley, especially in morning to mid-afternoon light.