South Yosemite
Day Hike, Backpack,
Horse, Run,
Child-Friendly
12.5 miles,
Out-and-Back
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Ostrander Lake, one of Yosemite’s most easily reached high-elevation lakes at which camping is permitted, is a popular destination for backpackers. It is a similarly popular day hike objective because it is achievable as a long day’s excursion for the many people staying in Yosemite Valley. It is also popular in winter and spring with cross-country skiers due to the ski hut at the lake.
Day Hike, Child-Friendly
5.8 miles, Balloon
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Mariposa Grove is Yosemite’s largest grove of giant sequoias, or Wawona, as the American Indians called them, and this loop winds past all the grove’s highlights. In the past, hikers kept crossing paths with a road carrying ubiquitous green trams that ferried the majority of visitors around on guided tours. The tours were discontinued in 2015, so all visitors now admire these majestic giants on foot, providing a quieter ambience to absorb the trees’ grandeur. This loop follows a trail that is in part the route of the old tram road (pavement now removed for more pleasant walking) and elsewhere the so-called perimeter loop. Signs at the start describe many other variants of this loop, if you’d prefer a longer or shorter alternative.
All cars, save those with a handicap placard, now park in a large lot near Yosemite’s south entrance station, the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza. From there a free shuttle bus ferries visitors to the Grove Arrival Area, near the location of the old tram departure kiosk and parking.
Backpack, Horse
44.1 miles,
Point-to-Point
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Isberg–Red Peak–Fernandez Passes Loop
Crossing four passes over 44 miles, this loop introduces you to many of southern Yosemite’s highlights. Though well traveled during the summer months, these trails will never be crowded because they are a long drive up a small road and are not part of any of the popular long-distance trails running the length of the Sierra; everyone you will see on the trail has planned a trip explicitly to visit this location. With permits relatively easy to come by, endless lakes for swimming or relaxing, superb views from the passes, and some beautiful rocks, this is a perfect loop for someone wishing to delve a little deeper into Yosemite’s backcountry.
Day Hike, Backpack,
Horse, Run,
Child-Friendly
12.2 miles, Loop
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Vanderburgh–Lillian Lakes Loop
If you are in shape, you could hike this entire circuit in one day without overexerting yourself. However, it is so scenic that three days are recommended—sufficient time to visit the lakes not lying on the main circuit, Lady and Chittenden Lakes. Visiting both of these desirable lakes and exploring the trailside gems, Vanderburgh, Staniford, and Lillian, lengthens your route to about 16 miles, adds about 700 feet of ascent and descent, and changes its classification to a moderate three-day hike. Alternatively, for some folks a trip just to Vanderburgh Lake—the first lake you’ll encounter—is a worthy goal in itself, ideal for novice backpackers, day hikers, or those with children.