Hiking Yosemite's Dewey Point Trail

Friends, I greet you from Yosemite

Today...the mountains shouted with glee;  and the clouds from the heavens smiled upon Dewey Point.... and upon the views surrounding her.  Today...nature is rejoicing;  and one can feel the joy of Nature in one's own heart.  

Spending a good hour at Dewey Point was the whole point of this hike for me.  I had a most enjoyable time hiking this trail to McGurk Meadow... and to scenic Dewey Point...today.

When asked, most of the other hikers along the trail, said...they loved everything about this hike.  One lady liked the spectacular views.  A wilderness guide was leading a couple on this wonderful hike to celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary.  The guide liked the feeling of thefreedom of the hills...and, as he was a climber, he knew Dean Potter.  He said there was a small rock memorial erected at Taft Point for Dean and Graham.  He was the first to notice the white-throated swift who flew swiftly...and every so close to him.  Another couple, their daughter, and future son in law were hiking...as a warm up for their hike up the Half Dome cables...tomorrow. They were happy and acting like they had just won won the lottery!!!

For me..........

• A beautiful mountain meadow with wonderful wildflowers...abounding with the gorgeous flowers of the corn lily.
• A red fir forest with many snow plants....and a single deer.  Meeting such wonderful Park visitors.
• Photographing the blue butterfly pollinating the pretty wildflower bistort.
• Photographing the flowers of the corn lily with the gentle honey bees dancing about them.Knowing I
• would sleep well after a good hike.

Best of all....the terrific views from Dewey Point and spending a good hour there....immersed in Nature.  Today this spot was brightened from on high and all of us felt our spirits lifted up.

The hike to scenic Dewey Point is 7.8 mile roundtrip.   It is a moderate half-day hike. The view at Dewey Point is spectacular.  el capitan is very close.  The Clark Range View is wonderful.  A good view of Half Dome.  The 0.8 mile section of the trail gently descends through a most pleasant lodgepole pine forest with plenty of wildflowers along the trail...and includes a 0.25 mile section with a moderate elevation drop to reach McGurk Meadow.  There is a small cabin at the south edge of the meadow;  and soon there is a small footbridge.

If the meadow is your final destination, take the few extra minutes to continue along the trail to the far end of the meadow....to see more beautiful wildflowers and the overall beauty of the meadow from a different perspective.  Today on this hike, there were plenty of buttercups, shooting stars, bistort, strawberry, clover, white violet, yellow violet, Indian paintbrush, cinquefoil.......corn lily....and more!!!  Sit in the meadow...it is an idyllic mountain meadow....sit and enjoy the wildflowers....look up at the Ostrander Rocks off in the distance...to the east.

At mile 1.9, there is a sign and a junction.   The trail to the right...leads to a nice spot along Bridalveil Creek and to Taft Point.  However, take the trail that goes to the left...toward Dewey Point.  Soon after this junction, the trail goes across a sandy area....which is memorable for its carpet of scarlet gilia.  I'll have to return in a few weeks.....as none were in bloom today.  I'll take a picture of the flowers for you when I do. The beautiful pussy paws and some low growing lupine are in bloom there now.

Going through more forest....of white and red fir trees,  you'll spot some snow plants....and beautiful phlox.  Just before reaching Dewey Point,  you'll see a view of Half Dome through the trees.  Again, before reaching the destination...breathtaking views will open up before your eyes.  Stay on the trail...to precipitous Dewey Point !!!

A view of el capitan is just ahead....it looks so different and so close.  Half Dome looks so different....sandwiched between Cloud's Rest and Sentinel Dome.  A view of the Clark Range......Taft Point!!! Dana C. Morgenson's book,  Yosemite Wildflower Trails  has the best description of Dewey Point that I have ever come across.

"Dewey Point is on overlook where the hiker is tempted to linger indefinitely.  The trail sign announces that this platform in the sky is  7,316 feet in elevation...about 3,300 feet above Yosemite Valley's floor.  Directly across the great chasm looms the famous cliff of el Capitan, its entire facade and vast sloping crest.... in full view.

The lower canyon of Bridalveil Creek, terminating in the waterfall, slashes into the south rim of Yosemite directly to the east, while the summit peaks of the High Sierra lift jagged edges against the farthest eastern horizon.  At Dewey Point, one feels alone with the sky and the wind, almost a fellow creature with the white-throated swifts that dart constantly from the rim far out over the canyon like tiny feathered projectiles."

Steve Medley's book, The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park has a good description of the hike.  "One of the most interesting perspectives on Bridalveil Fall and el Capitan is afforded by this commanding view point (7,385 feet).  The trail meanders through forest and meadows, intersects with the Pohono Trail (go left), then extends to tlhe Valley rim.  While there's not much elevation gain or loss, the round trip is 7.8 miles.  Allow 4 to 6 for the out and back hike."

FYI...

1. Admiral George Dewey commanded the American fleet in the one-sided victory over the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay,  May1, 1898.   The name appeared on the first edition of the Yosemite Valley map, 1907.
2. John J. McGurk was the third owner of the property, built a cabin, and was forced off the land by the US Army in 1897, due to a mistake in the county records from the original owner of the property.
3. Park at the McGurk Meadow trailhead just 0.2 miles before the Bridalveil Campground Junction on the Glacier Point Road....it is on the opposite side of the road from the campground.

The two nordic ski trails to Dewey Point begin across the Glacier Point Road from Summit Meadow and are marked with old yellow license plates.....high up in the trees.  I've lost count on how many times I've skied to Dewey Point.....beautiful with the snow covered trails and landscape...but hiking this longer and different trail is wonderful because of the wildflowers, honey bees, and song birds.

Photographing the plentiful corn lily who were out standing tall in McGurk Meadow, standing near the Valley rim at Dewey Point, standing in awe of the views at Dewey Point, and enjoying my time at this special spot....with Nature in my heart....were just some of the highlights of this most pleasant and highly recommended hike.

Again...singing a refrain...

Today the mountains shouted with glee and the clouds from the heavens smiled upon Dewey Point and upon the views surrounding her.  Today nature is rejoicing... and one can feel the joy of Nature in his heart.  

I hope you experience what Dana felt in her heart, "At Dewey Point, one feels alone with the sky and the wind, almost a fellow creature with the white-throated swifts....Dewey Point is on overlook where the hiker is tempted to linger indefinitely."

Spending a good hour...with Nature in my heart....at Dewey Point was the whole point of this hike for me. 

Stay in a beautiful Scenic Wonders' cabin...in Yosemite West, the closest lodging in all of the Park....to the Glacier Point Road with all its wonderful hiking trails...and to Glacier Point itself.