Bridalveil Creek

Bridalveil Creek just beneath Bridalveil Fall is a great place for creative close photography. While the tourists beeline straight to the fall, I rarely make it up to the Bridalveil Fall view area because there's just too much to photograph among the creek's rocks and cascades. Following the paved trail from the parking lot, you are immediately faced with a choice: continue straight, or take the right fork to the fall. The short trail to to fall features some nice open views of the creek framed by trees. If you opt to forego the path the the fall, the trail soon crosses three closely spaced bridges over different branches of Bridalveil Creek. You'll find good shooting in both directions from each bridge, and even more great stuff if you walk the creek in either direction. (I suggest that you allow enough time to photograph both sections of the trail.)

Bridalveil Fall usually runs year-round, though it slows to a trickle by fall. Fortunately, that trickle is enhanced by autumn yellows that make beautiful accents for the rocks, trees, and tumbling cascades. By autumn of a typical year, only the third branch of Bridalveil Creek flows. Spring is a stark contrast, each branch of the creek is a raging torrent. During spring's peak flow, areas near the fall are so wet that it is almost impossible to photograph. In winter conditions will vary considerably with the weather, from exposed trees and rocks to a frigid blanket of ice or snow.

Bridalveil Creek is best photographed in overcast or shade--once the light reaches the creek, it's virtually impossible to photograph the extreme range of highlights and shadows. The creek's location in the shadow of Yosemite Valley's south wall, this is one of the last places in the valley to receive sunlight each day, making it my go-to place for photography on sunny mornings. Once the sun gets in there, I won't return until full shadow returns late in the day.

I usually photograph here with a moderate telephoto lens, either my 24-105 or 70-200, which allows me to isolate individual elements of the scene.

How to get there

About one mile after the Pahono Bridge at the west edge of Yosemite Valley, turn right onto the Wawona/Fresno road (Highway 41). The Bridalveil Fall parking area appears immediately on your left. Northbound on Highway 41 from Fresno, the Bridalveil Fall parking area is on the right, at the bottom of the hill, about two miles beyond Tunnel View. Once you park, a short paved walk takes you to a fork; follow the right fork to the Bridalveil Fall view point, with many great views of the creek along the way. The real fun begins for me when I scramble among the rocks and cascades on the way to the Bridalveil view.