The massive granite cliffs called Cathedral Rocks across the Yosemite valley floor from El Capitan offer you many ways to appreciate them. John Hittell wrote about Cathedral Rocks three years after the end of the Civil War, noting that the indigenous people called them Large Acorn Cache, or Poosenachucka. Be one of the 3.5 million people who visit each year.
Photography and Art
You will be inspired to capture the beauty of these majestic cliffs. If you enjoy drawing or painting, capturing the three parts of Cathedral Rocks will challenge you as shadows change with the shifting sun. You will also be able to capture them with photography. Watch an introductory 15-minute video on the National Park Service website to help you plan your trip.
Birdwatching
Add to the list of birds you've watched by trying to view and listen to the more than 150 migrating bird species that pass through the Yosemite National Park. You will almost certainly see a blue Stellar's Jay; look for the bobbing Dipper bouncing from rock to rock in the Merced river. If you are new to birding, you'll need a good set of binoculars, a pocket notebook and a field guide to birds to help in their identification.
Rock Climbing
Sierra Club members began rating the difficulty of rock climbs in the 1930s based on their experience climbing cliffs in Yosemite, including Cathedral Rock. Class 1 climbs are easy. Most of the climbs on Cathedral Rocks are Class 5, meaning you are likely to die if you fall on a Grade 5 climb, and will need ropes, clamps, pitons and knowledge of how to use them. You also need to be familiar with Yosemite's rules to protect the ecosystem of the cliffs. You can learn from the of experience of previous climbers by using guide books.
Hiking
Spires Gully trail will get you to the top of Cathedral Rocks on a class 2 route that takes no special equipment, but requires scrambling up some rocks. Climbers also use it as an easy way to get back to the valley floor after using rock climbing to reach the top of Cathedral Rocks. Plan on half a day to make the 2000 foot climb from the valley floor. You may want to stay in the valley floor. Hiking to the base of Bridal Veil falls also puts you at the base of Cathedral Rocks. Follow the hiking trail around the valley floor and view Cathedral Rocks from a variety of angles.
Camping
You have three campgrounds available in the valley floor about a 2-mile walk from the base of Cathedral Rocks. These three campgrounds have 379 campsites that will take RVs of various sizes and can be reserved. Since your elevation is about 4,000 feet, they cannot predict opening date with certainty. It depends on the weather. You will want to make your reservations early. The NPS website provides helpful directions about making reservations. Yosemite also has camp sites that do not require reservations. The Park Service suggests arriving early, since many parks fill up by 9 a.m. daily.
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