There are a few places to get a great view of the glacier-created Yosemite Valley. One prime spot is from Tunnel View, which shows the valley from above. Want to get a ground view of the valley? Look no further than a small spot (only room for about twelve cars) on Northside Drive known as Gates of the Valley (also known as Valley View). From this spot you can get a great view of El Capitan on the left while standing next to the banks of the Merced River. This ground-level view gives you a sense of scale that you don't get from Tunnel View. This location is special to photographers, as they would be walking in the footsteps of one of the most famous photographers, Ansel Adams, who created so many striking images from there.