Yosemite National Park Showcased in 15 Breathtaking Photos

Smithsonian magazine published a photo essay featuring 15 images of Yosemite National Park, captured by various photographers between 2009 and 2025. The park, designated as the third U.S. National Park and first protected by California before federal status in 1890, spans nearly 750,000 acres and attracts over 3 million annual visitors. Iconic landmarks include El Capitan, Half Dome, Glacier Point, Yosemite Falls, and the Merced River. The Ahwahneechee people are the original inhabitants. Ansel Adams famously photographed the valley. Notable images include Bridalveil Falls with a rainbow, Tunnel View sunrise, a wood duck on the Merced River, fog over frosty vegetation, a buck crossing the river, hikers on the Mist Trail, a small waterfall along Washburn Trail, smoke from controlled burns, Half Dome at 8,800 feet, climbers ascending Half Dome via cables, the Ahwahnee Hotel (opened 1927), record snowfall in 2023, El Capitan with first snow, wildfire-hued sunset, and an altered image of Horsetails Falls under a full moon. The essay was edited by Donny Bajohr and Tracy Scott Forson.