California’s ‘Most Dramatic Drive’ Within Yosemite Valley Looks Straight Out of Middle Earth
From the coastline-hugging Highway 1 in Big Sur to the redwood-lined Avenue of the Giants through Humboldt County, California is one of the best states in the nation for some truly epic drives. With a wealth of scenery from beaches to deserts to mountains and more, it's genuinely hard to pick the best of the best- there's so many worthy contenders!
However, one stunning drive within Yosemite National Park might win the claim of California's "Most Dramatic Drive," at the very least. On October 10, one San Fran-based travel guide shared an epic POV of this amazing drive to prove her point. It's hard to remember that this just a highway, not a portal to another dimension!
"I found Middle Earth," @eagertravele briefly boasts in her on-screen title card, and for a moment I believed it. Look up past the highway and the parked cars, and the scenery looks like something straight out of Lord of the Rings. California's Most Dramatic Drive? I'd buy that!
Within the vast, scenic borders of Yosemite National Park, this otherworldly tunnel view offers a one-of-a-kind vista of Yosemite Valley's staggering scenery. The question is, if an intrepid roadtripper wants to make this epic drive for themselves, how do they get there? You can find the directions by punching "Tunnel View Yosemite" into Google Maps- or, you could just follow the detailed "how-to" guide that @eagertravele included in her video's caption:
"From Yosemite Valley head south on Hwy 41, climbing up from the the valley for 1.5 mi. The larger parking area is on the right side of the road just before the tunnel. From the south entrance of the park, drive 24 miles north on Hwy 41. Tip: get here for sunrise to avoid crowds."
Even with its popularity among Yosemite tourists, this jawdropping drive is worth the price of gasoline. Others who'd passed through this tunnel before shared how the experience moved them.
"That moment for me was like the Jurassic Park gate," claimed @trust_should_not_rust.
"When I first saw it, I felt like I was in a dream within a dream," @maayemii reminisced.
"One of the most magical moments coming through that tunnel to reveal the splendor. It’s top shelf," @bjincali sung the drive's praises.
Out of all of California's most incredible drives, the Yosemite Tunnel View easily deserves a spot in the top ten at the very least. If you want to feel like you've driven into a fantasy realm, put this drive at the top of your road trip bucket list!
For more WanderWisdom updates, be sure to follow us on Google News!
Have you had a funny, interesting, or just highly memorable experience while traveling? We'd love for you to submit a video of your travels for a chance to be featured on WanderWisdom and our social channels! Click here to upload your clip and share your adventures with the world.
