Wonders of the world in 3D

Yosemite Valley in 3D

USGS elevation · beneath El Capitan

Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada, California, USA

Yosemite Valley is a glacier-carved valley in California's Sierra Nevada, walled by granite cliffs. This 3D walk is built from US Geological Survey elevation data and starts on the valley floor beneath El Capitan, about 900 m of sheer granite. In 1864 this valley was set aside for public use, the first time land was protected like this in the United States.

Where: Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada, California, USA
When built: Protected since the Yosemite Grant of 1864
Size: El Capitan rises about 900 m from the valley floor
UNESCO World Heritage: 1984

Official site

Walk Yosemite Valley in 3D

A real-time 3D model, built from open elevation data and published measurements. Loads 2.7 MB when you start.

Works in VR on Meta Quest and other WebXR headsets: open this page in the headset's browser, start the 3D walk, then choose View in VR.

Yosemite Valley rendered in real-time 3D

Walk it yourself. Works on this phone.

Part of the Yosemite Valley pack: a one-time unlock in this browser.

Terrain and sky from open data · stones from published measurements · tags as in the app

Hear the guide

The narrator from the app reads each tour stop. Transcripts below.

El Capitan
Known0:10

About 900 m of sheer granite from the valley floor to the top. The valley itself was carved and widened by glaciers.
The Yosemite Grant
Known0:12

In 1864 this valley was set aside for public use, the first time land was protected like this in the United States.

How to visit Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley is open all year; the busiest months are summer and the waterfall season in spring. In some seasons a reservation is needed to drive into the park, so check the National Park Service site for the dates you plan.

Opening times and tickets change: check the official site. Official site

Open Yosemite Valley in Farstep

The full site on your phone: a narrated guided tour, passport stamps, offline, and smoother graphics than a browser can give.

Narrated guided tour, stop by stop, in nine languages
Passport stamps for every hotspot and finished tour
Works offline once installed
Stonehenge free; other sites are one-time packs. No ads, no subscription.

Open in Farstep

Get it onGoogle Play Download on theApp Store

On iPhone the button opens the App Store.

Yosemite Valley: questions and answers

How tall is El Capitan?

About 900 m (3,000 ft) from the valley floor to the top of the cliff.

How was Yosemite Valley formed?

Rivers cut the first canyon, and glaciers during the ice ages widened and deepened it into the U-shaped valley seen today.

Can I walk around Yosemite Valley in 3D?

Yes, in your browser. Everything on this page is free to read. Walking Yosemite Valley in 3D is part of the Yosemite Valley pack: a one-time purchase with no subscription, and signing in with the same account unlocks it in the Farstep app too.

Can I walk Yosemite Valley in VR?

Yes, on a Meta Quest or another WebXR headset: open this page in the headset's browser, start the 3D walk, then choose View in VR. The left stick walks, the right stick turns and the trigger opens the fact cards.