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El Capitan, Yosemite National Park

Geologic Formation · Nature / Park
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The largest monolith of granite in the world, El Capitan, serves as one of the most popular rock climbing spots in Yosemite Valley. Located inside Yosemite National Park, the rock face extends some 900 m (3,000 ft) from base to summit. It can be seen from numerous popular spots in the park, including Tunnel View, the Bridalveil Fall area, and El Capitan Meadow. Rock climbing at El Capitan requires serious skill. The average visitor enjoys hiking around the rock or admiring it while taking a dip in the Merced River nearby. Keep an eye out, however, for serious climbers. Tourists often pull off near the rock and use binoculars to spot climbers on its granite face. A visit to El Capitan represents just the start of the adventure when you use our Yosemite National Park holiday maker tool to plot your vacation.
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El Capitan reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 5.0
1,376 reviews
Google
4.8
TripAdvisor
  • This was one of the best trips I’ve ever had. Experiencing Yosemite and El Capitan we’re just fantastic; an experience that I will cherish forever. 
    This was one of the best trips I’ve ever had. Experiencing Yosemite and El Capitan we’re just fantastic; an experience that I will cherish forever.  more »
  • It's hard to get the true scale, even when you are standing near the base but it's impressive none the less. It's so large, you almost lose context of how it compares against other large structures.....  more
    It's hard to get the true scale, even when you are standing near the base but it's impressive none the less. It's so large, you almost lose context of how it compares against other large structures.....  more »
  • Being a climbing interested family, visiting El Capitan was a must for us. The walk to the bottom of the rock took 15-20 minutes from the parking lot and it was a fun hike. You will be able to come... 
    Being a climbing interested family, visiting El Capitan was a must for us. The walk to the bottom of the rock took 15-20 minutes from the parking lot and it was a fun hike. You will be able to come...  more »
Google
  • Photos don’t do this place justice!!! As soon as you get closer to El Capitan it is in your face and just fills you with so much awe. A definite must visit ❤️❤️❤️ For reference visited in 7/12/21 around 10am.
  • Majestic El Cap is amazing and will leave you speechless. Highly recommended you add a Yosemite visit to your bucket list You won’t be disappointed
  • I came to Yosemite National park many times but this time I was able to see Alex Honnold climbing in person. Amazing.
  • OMG such a huge. I see people climbing rocks here, lot of activities near by to go for hiking, biking, picnic area
  • A must visit place in Yosemite. There is a 15 mile strenuous hike to reach the top.

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