Vernal Falls © Shutterstock
More than 800 miles of hiking trails crisscross Yosemite National Park. Well-trod paths lead through lush meadows, meander along rivers to thunderous waterfalls, and climb to the crown of bald granite domes. Hiking in Yosemite is highly dependent on when you arrive. Spring is fantastic. Snowpack in the High Sierra is melting and rivers begin to swell and pour over granite cliffs, some plummeting with such force that you can feel the earth shaking beneath your feet. However, it’s not all fun and waterfalls. Mosquitoes can be a bit of a pain and High Sierra trails are often inaccessible without proper equipment. Each year is different, but you can expect mosquitoes to be worst during the three weeks after the snow melts. Muddy trails and treacherous creek crossings are also likely.
Summer is the busiest season. Trails are crowded, but most are open by this time. Still, just because Tioga Road is open doesn’t mean that you should assume all its trails are accessible. Depending on the amount of winter snowfall some in the highest elevations may not be passable until well into July. Check the park website, or ask a ranger about conditions if you think you might encounter a snow-packed trail. Try hiking in September if you’d like pleasant temperatures, smaller crowds, and access to the entire network of trails. However, it’s likely that Yosemite Falls will be bone dry. Hiking in winter without snowshoes or skis is limited to trails in Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valleys.
Yosemite Valley hikes are easily accessed via the free shuttle. Mist Trail has earned the title of most popular trail in the park. The scenery is magnificent as you hike to the top of Vernal Falls (continue to Nevada Falls, or ambitious hikers with a permit follow the trail all the way to the top of Half Dome). This trek begins at Happy Isles (Shuttle Stop #16) at the far eastern end of Yosemite Valley. Depending on water volume Yosemite and Bridalveil Falls are worth a quick look. Wawona has a decent selection of trails that begin near the hotel and Mariposa Grove. The one that should not be skipped here is Grizzly Giant Trail. Most trailheads in Tuolumne Meadows/Crane Flats/White Wolf areas are well-marked and accessed via Tioga Road. Hetch Hetchy has some nice paths and it’s an excellent place to shake the crowds of Yosemite Valley. Favorites are marked with a thumbs up in the table below.
Yosemite Valley
Trail Name | Trailhead (# on map) | Length (Roundtrip distances unless noted otherwise) | Notes
Bridalveil Fall (favorite) | Bridalveil Fall Parking Area (1) | 0.5 mile | Easy paved trail to the base of Bridalveil Falls
Mirror Lake/Meadow | Camp 4/Shuttle Stop #7 (2) | 5.0 miles | 2 miles to the lake and back, 5 miles around the lake (loop around lake was closed at publication)
Valley Floor Loop | Camp 4/Shuttle Stop #7 (2) | 13.0 miles | Follows original trails and wagon roads around the valley
Upper Yosemite | Camp 4/Shuttle Stop #7 (2) | 7.2 miles | Strenuous hike to the top of North America’s tallest waterfall
Four Mile | Camp 4/Shuttle Stop #7 (2) | 9.6 miles | Strenuous hike from Sentinel Rock to Glacier Point
Lower Yosemite Falls (favorite) | Shuttle Stop #6 (3) | 1.0 mile | Paved trail with spectacular views of Yosemite Falls
Cook’s Meadow Loop | Shuttle Stop #5 or #9 (4) | 1.0 mile | Easy loop with views of Half Dome and Glacier Point
Vernal & Nevada Falls (favorite) | Happy Isles/Shuttle Stop #16 (5) | 5.0 miles | 0.7 mile to Vernal, 2.5 miles to Nevada • Popular
Mist Trail (favorite) | Happy Isles/Shuttle Stop #16 (5) | 3.0 miles | Follows Merced River to Vernal Falls • 600 granite steps
Hikers in front of Half Dome © Curt & Kari Marquardt
Half Dome (favorite) | Mist Trail (5) | 14.0 miles | All trails begin at Happy Isles/Shuttle Stop #16 • Mist Trail is shorter, but steeper and much more popular • John Muir Trail is longer, but easier
Half Dome (favorite) | John Muir Trail (5) | 16.3 miles | All trails begin at Happy Isles/Shuttle Stop #16 • Mist Trail is shorter, but steeper and much more popular • John Muir Trail is longer, but easier
Half Dome (favorite) | Mist up, John Muir down 15.2 miles | All trails begin at Happy Isles/Shuttle Stop #16 • Mist Trail is shorter, but steeper and much more popular • John Muir Trail is longer, but easier
Panorama | Panorama Trailhead/Happy Isles (5, 6) | 8.5 miles | One-way, strenuous trail that joins John Muir and Mist Trails
Wawona
Grizzly Giant (favorite) | Mariposa Grove Parking Area (7) | 1.6 miles | The biggest giant of them all
Wawona Point | Mariposa Grove Parking Area (7) | 6.0 miles | Beyond Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree
Outer Loop | Mariposa Grove Parking Area (7) | 6.9 miles | Moderate trail that loops around Mariposa Grove
Wawona Meadow | Wawona Hotel/Store Parking Area (8) | 3.5 miles | Loop trail that follows a fire road around the meadow
Swinging Bridge | Wawona Hotel/Store Parking Area (8) | 4.8 miles | An easy loop trail along an old dirt road
Wawona to Mariposa Grove | Wawona Hotel/Store Parking Area (8) | 6.0 miles | One-way trail follows horse ride route
Alder Creek | Chilnualna Falls Road (9) | 12.0 miles | Strenuous trail through open pine forest
Inspiration Point | Wawona Tunnel Overlook (10) | 2.6 miles | Classic photo-op of Yosemite Valley
Crane Flat & White Wolf
Merced Grove | Merced Grove Parking Area (11) | 3.0 miles | Smallest and most secluded of the three sequoia groves
Tuolumne Grove | Tuolumne Grove/Crane Flat (12) | 2.5 miles | Nature Trail through grove of Giant Sequoias
Harden Lake | White Wolf Lodge (13) | 5.8 miles | Moderate hike to boulder-lined lake • Can loop (8.4 mile) to Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and Lukens Lake
Lukens Lake | Lukens Lake Trailhead (14) | 1.6 miles | Easy trail to a small lake (5.4 miles from White Wolf Lodge)
North Dome | Porcupine Creek Trailhead (15) | 10.4 miles | Fantastic views of Half Dome from atop North Dome
Ten Lakes (favorite) | Ten Lakes Trailhead (16) | 12.6 miles | Strenuous with creek crossings to beautiful lakes
May Lake | May Lake Parking Area (17) | 2.4 miles | Short easy hike with views of Half Dome along the way
Tuolumne Meadows
Glen Aulin (favorite) | Soda Springs (18) | 11.0 miles | Follows Tuolumne River to Glen Aulin (“Beautiful Valley”)
Tuolumne Meadows | Lembert Dome/Dog Lake Parking Areas (19, 20) | 1.5 miles | Easy hike to Soda Springs and Parsons Lodge
Lyell Canyon | Lembert Dome/Dog Lake Parking Areas (19, 20) | 8.0 miles | Easy hike through canyon with several creek crossings
Dog Lake/Lembert Dome (favorite) | Lembert Dome/Dog Lake Parking Areas (19, 20) | 2.8 miles | Begins with a steep grade, but flattens (4 miles to see both)
Elizabeth Lake | Tuolumne Meadows Camp (21) | 4.8 miles | Moderate climb to a glacially carved lake
Vogelsang Area | John Muir Trailhead (21) | 13.8 miles | Follows John Muir Tr to Vogelsang Camp and Lake
Cathedral Lakes (favorite) | Cathedral Lakes Trailhead (21) | 7.0 miles | One of the most popular trails in the area
Mono Pass (favorite) | Mono Pass Trailhead (22) | 8.0 miles | Views of Mono Lake from the pass
Gaylor Lakes (favorite) | Tioga Pass Entrance (23) | 2.0 miles | Wonderful high country views for a short hike
Hetch Hetchy
Lookout Point (favorite) | Hetch Hetchy Entrance (24) | 2.0 miles | Moderate hike to viewpoint overlooking Hetch Hetchy
Smith Peak | Hetch Hetchy Entrance (24) | 13.5 miles | Through forest and meadow to peak for great views
Poopenaut Valley | Hetch Hetchy Entrance (24) | 3.0 miles | Strenuous trail drops down to the Tuolumne River
Wapama Falls | O’Shaughnessy Dam (25) | 5.0 miles | Leads to the base of Wapama Falls, wildflowers in spring
Rancheria Falls | O’Shaughnessy Dam (25) | 13.4 miles | Continues past Wapama Falls to Rancheria Falls