Exactly why you should (and shouldn't) elope at Taft Point

Taft Point in Yosemite is one of the most epic vistas along the Glacier Point Road. The ~2 mile round trip trail out to the point rewards you with dramatic views of El Capitan, the Merced River, and the Yosemite Valley all from 3500 feet up. Best yet, Taft Point is one of the best places in all of Yosemite to view the sunset. All of these reasons have made Taft Point one of the most popular locations for Yosemite elopements. You might be thinking this all sounds great, why would anyone say no to Taft Point? Well, it’s popularity comes with increased crowds. Additionally, on good weather days in peak season you could be sharing Taft Point with 2-10 other eloping couples plus other hikers. So here are a few pros and cons on exactly why you should and shouldn’t elope at Taft Point.

bride and groom on the edge of the cliff at sunset at taft point yosemite with el capitan in the background

bride and groom kissing at sunset at taft point in yosemite

Why you should elope at Taft Point

Taft Point provides soaring views of El Capitan, the Merced River, and Yosemite Valley. These vistas are iconic for a reason and make for some of the most dramatic and epic elopement backdrops.

Taft Point is one of the best places for sunset in all of Yosemite! I’ve really experienced God’s majesty, creativity, and love through the sunsets at Taft Point. They are STUNNING.

The area around Taft Point is actually fairly large. There are plenty of areas where privacy can be found. I’ve also found that other hikers and eloping couples are very courteous of each other allowing everyone use of popular areas. Meeting other eloping couples who eloped on the same day as you can be such a fun experience!

The hike is fairly easy (~2 miles round trip) with plenty of parking and bathrooms at the trailhead. The trail is gorgeous in and of itself with lush pines and seasonal creeks lining the trail the whole way down. It’s a lovely hike, especially in the hours towards sunset when the sun sparkles through the foliage.

Bride and groom sitting on boulders during sunset at taft point yosemite

bride and groom walking down the trail in the forest to taft point yosemite with a taft point trail sign on the right

bride and groom at golden hour in yosemite at taft point

Bride and groom holding hands at sunset at taft point yosemite

Why you shouldn’t elope at Taft Point

Taft Point is one of the most popular elopement locations in all of Yosemite. Even if couples have had their ceremony elsewhere in the park, many couples choose to spend sunset at Taft Point. You can encounter 2-10 other eloping couples on any given day during sunset at Taft Point. I have never been out to Taft Point when there weren’t other hikers or eloping couples. If you’re looking for something totally to yourselves and secluded, Taft Point is not the location for you.

This area is only accessible by car ~6-8 months of the year. The Glacier Point Road closes mid to late November and reopens mid to late May. The timing on this road closure is totally dependent on yearly snowfall. Check here for current road conditions. Planning around a nebulous opening/closing date of the road can be tricky and pushes all couples wanting to elope at Taft Point into the same time period. You might have to seriously consider alternate locations if your date is on the edges of the season.

If you’re someone who has sensitivity to heights or the dark, Taft Point is not the best option. Taft Point is situated on the edge cliff face with a 3500 foot drop off and those sensitive to heights may find this location more stressful than enjoyable. Staying out for sunset at Taft Point typically also means hiking back in the dark. So if being in the forest at night is not your jam, Taft Point at sunset is not the best option – but it could work at other times of the day.

bride and groom looking over the cliff face at taft point yosemite with the yosemite valley in the background

bride and groom snuggling while looking over the cliff at taft point yosemite

bride and groom walking down a dusty forest trail in yosemite

groom kissing bride's cheek at sunset in yosemite at taft point

bride and groom sitting down and snuggling on the edge of the cliff at taft point in yosemite at sunset

groom picking bride up at sunset at taft point in yosemite with sun rays filtering in behind them

groom tipping bride into a dramatic kiss at sunset at taft point yosemite

bride swishing her wedding dress while groom holds her on the edge of the cliff at taft point in yosemite at sunset

When you should and shouldn’t elope at Taft Point

Sunset is the most popular time to elope at Taft Point. The setting sun creates a gorgeous golden glow over Taft Point that is unlike anywhere else in the park. You’ll be able to see alpenglow on El Capitan and, depending on the time of year, light rays from the setting sun filtering through the valley. Sunrise from Taft Point is beautiful, but just not as cinematic. Sunrise does give you more chance to have the area to yourselves, but lighting isn’t as ideal.

To minimize encountering other hikers or eloping couples, I would choose an early season elopement date in mid-late May or early June. Most couples choose to elope at Taft Point later in the summer or early fall (most popular) for more comfortable weather. This leads to many couples being out at Taft Point all on the same day. So choosing an early season date gives more possibility of seclusion but also more unpredictable weather conditions.

There’s one pretty sure way to guarantee Taft Point to yourselves but it requires backpacking in cold weather. When the Glacier Point Road is closed 99.999% of all visitors to Taft Point cease. If total seclusion at Taft Point is your vibe, you can hike from the Yosemite Valley up to Glacier Point during this annual road closure. The Pohono Trail is 8.5 miles one way climbing over 5000 feet. Most of the time conditions during the road closure would require snowshoeing or at least ice crampons. The best time to attempt this is in October/November before any major snow storms or in April when the park is actively starting to clear the road and the snow is melting.

bride and groom kissing just after sunset at taft point

bride and groom slow dancing at sunset at taft point with el capitan in the background

bride and groom snuggling on the trail to taft point while her skirt blows in the wind

bride and groom running at taft point yosemite

bride and groom kissing at taft point at sunset while wind blows the brides dress

bride and groom kissing on the edge of the cliff at taft point yosemite

bride and groom at taft point at night with lots of stars in the sky

The final verdict

I’ll never say you absolutely shouldn’t elope at Taft Point. I love it out there despite the increasing popularity/crowds. These are just things you must consider when planning a Taft Point elopement. I don’t want you coming in with an expectation of complete privacy only to be annoyed when you see other eloping couples or hikers.

The nice thing is that there are some other locations that can give you similar vibes and views without the crowds. I love introducing my couples to these hidden gems and creating the elopement of their dreams. Want to start planning your Yosemite elopement and hear about all my secret spots? Start here by filling out my contact form to get the ball rolling!