Hiking in Yosemite National Park

This section contains information on day hikes and backpacking trips in Yosemite.  Since conditions change from season to season and year to year, it is meant to be only a general guide for each trail reviewed.  The weather and snow conditions vary dramatically at all times of the year in the Sierras and hikers are advised to always check with the nearest Yosemite National Park Wilderness Permit station for current weather and trail conditions.    Feel free to send your questions to me via e-mail concerning hiking and trip planning and I will do my best to help you and give you the most current information I have available on park conditions.

If you would like to add your own stories or experiences to this section, please e-mail them to me for posting.  

Springtime Hikes In Yosemite Valley are described below.  Hikes in other parts of the park will be added to this web site in the future.  
All times are Round Trip estimates from the trailhead.  Allow extra time in the winter and early spring due to slippery conditions.  Always carry water, extra food, jacket or windbreaker, hat and gloves for any hike over 1 hour in duration.  It can rain or snow every month of the year in Yosemite!

Mirror Lake - Easy (1 to 3 hours depending on whether you continue past Mirror Lake and do the entire loop) - Mirror Lake Trailhead and Bus Stop
Take the Shuttle Bus to the Mirror Lake stop.  Walk up the road to Mirror Lake and in about 20 minutes you will enjoy the reflections of Mt. Watson and Half Dome when there is sufficient water in the gradually disappearing lake.  Continue past the left side of Mirror Lake and follow the trail to the junction of the Snow Creek Falls trail.  Go left up this trail and hike 15 to 20 minutes until you get to a break in the trees with a spectacular view of the face of Half Dome.  If you're lucky and time it right in April or May, you may see several waterfalls cascading off the Quarter Domes to the left of Half Dome.  Retrace your steps and turn left at the junction to continue a loop around the north and east sides of Mirror Lake.  Follow the trail back to the road along the south side of the outlet creek to the Shuttle Bus stop.

The Mist Trail and John Muir Trail to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls - Moderate ( 1 to 2 hours for Vernal Falls; 3 to 5 hours for Nevada Falls) - Happy Isles T'head
These are the most heavily trafficked and crowded trails in the entire National Parks system and for obvious reasons.  In only 8/10ths of a mile you get to the Vernal Falls bridge and have a great view of this majestic waterfall all year long.  The trail is paved so even little kids and grandmothers can make it to see this sight.  

Take the Shuttle Bus to the Happy Isles trailhead and follow the crowd upstream along the Merced River to the sign marking the beginning of the trail.  It will take you 20 to 30 minutes to get to the Vernal Falls bridge.  Once you cross the bridge and go uphill a few minutes you reach a junction where the John Muir Trail goes to the right and the Mist Trail continues straight ahead.  In Spring it can be more like the Torrential Downpour Trail, so backpackers are advised to take the John Muir Trail if you want to keep your gear dry.  The John Muir trail switchbacks up for a mile to a great view of Nevada Falls at the junction to the Clark Point Trail.  Stop here for a picture or two before continuing up the trail to the top of Nevada Falls.  Snow conditions will dictate whether you have to go through Clark Point (which adds 30 minutes to the trip), or can remain on the John Muir Trail all the way to the top of Nevada Falls.  At the top, cross the bridge and go straight ahead and slightly left until you find the stone steps and railing that will lead you down to the overlook.  

You don't need to go all the way to the top of the Mist Trail to experience the roar and thunder of Vernal Falls in the Spring, but I highly recommend that you walk 10 or 15 minutes up to where the granite steps and the waterfall almost meet as one.  The effect of having the whole giant waterfall coming straight at you as it plunges into the Merced River canyon is unforgettable.  Continuing up the granite steps will take you to the top of Vernal Falls and then follow the trail along the river to the beautiful Emerald Pool.  Don't swim here unless it's late in the summer and others are able to do it safely, too many people have lost their lives being careless above this waterfall.

Above Emerald Pool is a bridge that crosses a narrow spot in the gorge, then the trail goes through the woods for a short level distance until you start a series of steps and switchbacks for the final mile or so up to the junction near Nevada Falls.  When you hit the junction at the top, turn right to go to the overlook at the top of Nevada Falls, or turn left to go to Little Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, or Merced Lake.

Half Dome - Very strenuous (6 to 10 hours) - Happy Isles Trailhead
The granddaddy of day hikes in Yosemite, every year thousands of people drop out along the route due to the exhausting and arduous 4500+ vertical foot hike that is 8.5+ miles one-way.  If you're not used to doing 20 mile hikes and gaining lots of altitude, then plan to be sore for a few days after this one or pick a different trip.  I recommend that you start no later than 6 a.m., which means you will not be able to take the Shuttle Bus to begin your journey.  If you don't start that early, then take the Shuttle Bus to the Happy Isles Trailhead and follow the directions above to Nevada Falls, (and be prepared to bake in the hot sun).  Continue past Nevada Falls toward Little Yosemite Valley and bear left toward Half Dome.  Keep ascending to another junction with the Sunrise Creek Trail and go left again.  Eventually you will reach the granite steps that take you up the shoulder to the cables.  From the cables to the top takes about 15 minutes; those with a fear of heights should remain at the base of the cables where you get 75% of the view that you would see from the top of Half Dome.   

Brings some food and make sure you have at least 2 quarts of water when you turn left at the junction just before reaching Little Yosemite Valley.  The Merced River is your last reliable water supply year 'round.  In the Spring and early summer you might be able to get water from Sunrise Creek, but don't count on it after mid-June.  It's all uphill to Half Dome, you will not have many level spots on the trail, so be prepared for the toughest day hike of your life.  The views are worth it!

Lower Yosemite Falls - Easy (15 to 30 minutes) - Shuttle Bus stop across the street from Yosemite Lodge
Take the Shuttle Bus to the Lower Yosemite Falls stop and enjoy this short 1/4 mile walk to the base of the lower falls.  Don't forget your camera, the view from the walkway frames the entire waterfall from top to bottom.  Bring a poncho or rain jacket in the spring so you can enjoy getting hit with the spray as you watch the from the bridge crossing the creek just below the base of the waterfall.  Wheelchair accessible.  

Upper Yosemite Falls - Very Strenuous (4 to 6 hours) - Camp 4 / Sunnyside Campground 
If you've got 1/2 a day or more and are in great shape, the hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls will reward you with spectacular views and few people.  While thousands cram the floor of Yosemite Valley, you can share this hike with just a few dozen hearty souls on any given summer weekend.  In the Spring water is abundant on this trail, but in Summer make sure you always have 2 quarts with you on the hike up.  

The trail begins behind the Sunnyside Campground (aka Camp 4), almost directly across the street from Yosemite Lodge.  Take the Shuttle Bus to Yosemite Lodge, walk across the street, go through the parking lot at the Campground and you'll find the trail head.  Start no later than 8 am to enjoy a cooler ascent and in 2 to 3 hours of steep hiking you will rise almost 3000 vertical feet to a spectacular overlook right where Yosemite Falls plunges over the cliff.  Bring a hiking stick to help with the descent as it's steep and rocky in places.  Views of Half Dome, Buena Vista Ridge, Sentinel Dome, Rock and Falls, Cathedral Spires and too many other places to name.

If you have the time and energy, there are two excellent viewpoints within day hiking distance.  Crossing over the bridge above Yosemite Falls will take you in about 1 mile of uphill grinding to Yosemite Point.  These slabs of granite jutting out over the rim of Yosemite Valley provide a spectacular vantage point from which to see up and down the great valley carved by the Merced River.

Eagle Peak is another 1 or 2 hours of moderate uphill hiking to the west of Upper Yosemite Falls.  You can't really do both Yosemite Point and Eagle Peak in one day, so you'll have to pick one or the other.  If you go to Eagle Peak, you will be treated to a very unique and incredible view of Nevada Falls, plus all of the other features mentioned that you can see from Yosemite Point.  Both Eagle Peak and Yosemite Point are exposed and have no shade, so make sure you wear a hat and sunscreen.

Columbia Rock - Moderate ( 1 to 2 hours) - Upper Yosemite Falls Trailhead
The best way to get a bird's eye view of Yosemite Valley without hang gliding is to do the 1 mile hike up to Columbia Rock. You gain 900 feet in what is the first quarter of the hike on the trail to Upper Yosemite Falls.  You'll know when you reach this spot due to the big granite rock overhanging the valley with the metal railing around the edge.  Best time of day to do this hike is in the late afternoon so the sun will light up all of the features of the park.  This is a great hike to do anytime of the year since the trail faces south and is normally free of snow up to Columbia Rock, unless Yosemite has been hit with a recent snow storm.   

Glacier Point via 4 Mile Trail - Very strenuous ( 4 to 8 hours) 
This misnamed trail is really 4.8 miles of steep uphill hiking that will bring you to what is arguably the most spectacular view on planet earth; Glacier Point.  Unless you're a masochist, just take the bus to Glacier Point and hike the even more incredible Panorama Trail around and down to Yosemite Valley.  Having done this trail, I can't recommend it unless you're just trying to prove to something to your friends.

Inspiration Point - Strenuous ( 3 to 5 hours) - Tunnel View Trailhead
If you want to improve on the view from the parking lot at Tunnel View, located a couple of miles south and west of Bridalveil Falls on Hwy 41, then make your way up to Inspiration Point.  You'll leave the crowds behind on this steep, rocky trail that quickly rises above the valley floor to what legend says is the first place that the white man viewed the grandeur of Yosemite Valley.   

Bridalveil Falls - Easy - (20 to 40 minutes) - Bridalveil Falls Parking Lot
A pleasant stroll on a paved path will take you along a tumbling creek to a viewpoint under the lovely waterfall.  Bring a poncho in Spring or run the risk of getting drenched.  Best time of day to do this is in the late afternoon combined with a trip to Tunnel View when the sun lights up Half Dome and the other valley features from the best angle.