Last updated: September 30, 2025
Place
El Capitan Meadow
Quick Facts
Amenities
1 listed
Scenic View/Photo Spot
El Capitan Meadow offers a view of both the eastern and western faces of this iconic granite formation, rising over 3,000 feet above the meadow. El Capitan Meadow also provides great views of Lower and Middle Cathedral Rocks as well as the Cathedral Spires. During the full moon, moonlight illuminates El Capitan with an otherworldly glow that can be viewed from this meadow.
In spring, early summer, and fall, rock climbers come from all over the globe to scale El Capitan, one of the most famous big walls in the world. After sunset, you may see climbers' headlamps scattered across the rock face before they go to sleep; their headlamps can look similar to stars in the sky overhead.
The Ahwahneechee name for the rock we now call El Capitan is Tutokanula. The Ahwahneechee legend tells of how the large granite monolith was created in the time of the animal people. As two bear cubs slept on a large flat rock near the river, the rock grew until the bears scratched their faces against the moon. The mother bear called on all the animals to rescue her babies, but none succeeded until the lowly inchworm (Tutokanula) crawled slowly to the top and led the cubs safely down.
Tips & Seasonal Information
El Capitan Meadow can be reached year-round.
Stay on designated trails and in designated viewing areas to protect the meadow's fragile plants and soil ecology.
Accessibility
The path into the El Capitan Meadow is unpaved. There are designated accessible roadside parking spaces along this stretch of road that will grant similar views from your vehicle.