First look at Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. - photo by Joe Alexander
Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. – photo by Joe Alexander
My first view of Half Dome way off in the distance while driving into Yosemite National Park on the Tioga Pass road.

Both photos are from the same spot – first zoomed in and then zoomed all the way out to give you a feel for the distance.

Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.

Official site: National Park Service: Yosemite

Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. - photo by Joe Alexander

The road to Yosemite National Park

The drive to Yosemite National Park via the Tioga Pass road. - photo by Joe Alexander
The drive to Yosemite National Park via the Tioga Pass road. – photo by Joe Alexander
I flew into Reno, Nevada to start my trip. From there I drove south into California and then west through the Yosemite National Park on the Tioga Pass road.

On the way I saw a little bit of last winter’s snow still on the mountains and got my first glimpse of Half Dome looming over the Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite National Park is in eastern California, almost straight east across the state from San Francisco, and south of Reno, Nevada.

Official site: National Park Service: Yosemite

Driving through eastern California

The drive south on Highway 395 in eastern California in late October looks like the setting from an old western movie. The highway rolls from the Nevada border near Lake Tahoe down to Mono Lake and crosses the road leading into Yosemite National Park. – photo by Joe Alexander
The drive south on Highway 395 in eastern California in late October looks like the setting from an old western movie. The highway rolls from the Nevada border near Lake Tahoe down to Mono Lake and crosses the road leading into Yosemite National Park. – photo by Joe Alexander

Cleveland National Forest in California

The Cleveland National Forest is made up of 460,000 acres in Southern California northeast of San Diego. This is the road to Mount Laguna. From the southern end of this area, you can see into Mexico. – photo by Joe Alexander
The Cleveland National Forest is made up of 460,000 acres in Southern California northeast of San Diego. This is the road to Mount Laguna. From the southern end of this area, you can see into Mexico. – photo by Joe Alexander
Official site: www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland/

Pacific Beach in San Diego

Pacific Beach is north of the inlets of San Diego Bay and Mission Bay. It has long been a haven for Southern California vacationers and surfers. – photos by Joe Alexander
Pacific Beach is north of the inlets of San Diego Bay and Mission Bay. It has long been a haven for Southern California vacationers and surfers. – photos by Joe Alexander

Mission San Luis Rey in California

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is the largest of the Spanish missions in California. It is located near Oceanside, California, north of San Diego. – photos by Joe Alexander
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is the largest of the Spanish missions in California. It is located near Oceanside, California, north of San Diego. – photo by Joe Alexander
Official website: Mission San Luis Rey

Website: California Missions Foundation

Mission San Diego de Alcala

Mission San Diego de Alcala was founded in 1769 and is the oldest and southernmost of the historic Spanish missions in California. – photo by Joe Alexander
Mission San Diego de Alcala was founded in 1769 and is the oldest and southernmost of the historic Spanish missions in California. – photo by Joe Alexander

Official website: Mission San Diego de Alcala

Website: California Missions Foundation

Joshua Tree National Park in California

The Joshua Tree only blooms in the area in and around Joshua Tree National Park in the high desert of California. – photo by Joe Alexander
The Joshua Tree only blooms in the area in and around Joshua Tree National Park in the high desert of California. – photo by Joe Alexander
Official site: Park Service, Joshua Tree National Park