"When in making our way through a forest we hear the loud boom of a waterfall, we know that the stream is descending a precipice. If a heavy rumble and roar, then we know it is passing over a craggy incline. But not only are the existence and size of these larger characters of its channel proclaimed, but all the others. Go to the fountain-canyons of the Merced. Some portions of its channel will appear smooth, others rough, here a slope, there a vertical wall, here a sandy meadow, there a lake-bowl, and the young river speaks and sings all the smaller characters of the smooth slope and downy hush of meadow as faithfully as it sings the great precipices and rapid inclines, so that anyone who has learned the language of running water will see its character in the dark." ~ John Muir, Mountain Thoughts

The “Portal View” along Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) near the tunnels provides great views of El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral Rock, and the Yosemite Valley. Far below is the Merced River leading to Yosemite Valley with Bridalveil Falls in the distance pouring out of Cathedral Rock and its spires to feed the Merced.