Yosemite Valley tour: See the valley through the eyes of writer John Muir

Take in Yosemite’s iconic landscape through the eyes of its most famous explorer, writer and naturalist John Muir.

On this driving tour through the valley, you'll hear descriptions of what you see around you plucked from the pages of Muir’s book, The Yosemite. In this book, Muir writes in detail about Yosemite’s beauty, from its majestic waterfalls and towering grey rock faces, to the various flowers and tree species that populate the landscape.

On this tour, you can look forward to:

• Seeing Bridal Veil Fall which Muir said “seems infinitely gentle and fine; but the hymns it sings tell the solemn fateful power”
• Hearing how Yosemite was formed by ancient glaciers
• Finding out about the Merced River which the author referred to as River of Mercy
• Learning about the different types of flora and fauna that Yosemite is home to
• Taking in the impressive Yosemite Falls which, according to the author, have “the richest, as well as the most powerful, voice of all the falls of the Valley”
• Admiring, from the Tunnel View parking, the Sierra Nevada mountains which Muir described as a “range of light”

John Muir and Yosemite National Park are synonymous, and this tour allows you to immerse yourself in both at the same time. Whether it’s your first time in the park or you’re a regular visitor, this drive is a unique way to experience this incredible landscape. So buckle up, tune in, and enjoy Muir’s writing in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

As mentioned in the tour, the Yosemite Valley is the land of the indigenous Ahwahneechee people, part of the Southern Sierra Miwuk Tribe. They’re currently fighting for Federal Recognition. More info here and if you'd like to donate to their cause, you can do so here

Additional photos & production by Eleanor Tullock.