Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point Trail Poster

Albert Bierstadt’s Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point Trail (circa 1873) is a luminous oil on canvas painting that captures the breathtaking grandeur of Yosemite Valley from the vantage point of the Glacier Point Trail. Painted during Bierstadt’s second trip to Yosemite, this work portrays a golden sunset illuminating the vast valley and the winding Merced River below, enveloped in a warm, atmospheric glow. In the lower left foreground, a mountain guide gestures toward the vista, accompanied by companions on horseback, adding scale and human presence to the sublime natural scene. Created shortly after Yosemite was designated a state park in 1864, the painting reflects the romanticized vision of the American West as a land of infinite promise and divine blessing. Bierstadt’s monumental panoramic views helped shape national identity and inspired both conservation and westward expansion during the late 19th century. This masterpiece is part of the Yale University Art Gallery collection and remains a celebrated example of Hudson River School and Rocky Mountain School art.