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11 SCENIC HIKES IN
YOSEMITE NATIONAL
PARK YOU CAN’T MISS

California / Hiking / Outdoors / USA / Yosemite -

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Yosemite National Park is one of our favorite

national parks. It was the first national park I
visited as an adult, and the magic of your first
always stays with you. Back then I didn’t even
know what a national park was, and only vaguely
remember childhood road trips. Now we’ve
visited over 30 and hope to visit them all by the
end of the year.

Over the years, Yosemite has become popular

and overcrowded, but one of the best ways to
avoid the bulk of the crowds is by simply getting
onto the trails! To help you plan your trip, we’ve
compiled a list of the best hikes in Yosemite
National Park and then a complete list of hikes
below that.

This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small

commission on sales of the products that are linked at no
additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read
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Last Updated: Jun 24, 2019 // First Published: June 6, 2018

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11 BEST HIKES IN YOSEMITE

NATIONAL PARK
1. HALF DOME

Trailhead Coordinates: 37.7331223,-119.5538239, map

Distance: 15.35 miles, round trip

Elevation Gain: 4,800 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous

There are plenty of day hikes with stunning

views, but this is the bucket list hike everyone
wants to do. Because of its popularity, it’s
difficult to get a permit, but if you get lucky, you
should absolutely go for it. You get amazing
views during the hike and if that’s not enough for
you, you get the thrill of going up the cables from
sub dome to half dome. The sheer sight of it from
sub dome had me paralyzed. It took me half an
hour to muster up the courage, and to this day, I
remember it being scarier than any other hike
we’ve done or even rock climbing.

To plan for the hike, check out our packing

list and photo diary.

More: How to Get Half Dome Permits

2. MIST TRAIL

Distance: 3 miles, round trip

Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead
Coordinates: 37.7331223,-119.5538239

Even if you can’t get a permit for Half Dome, you

should check out Mist Trail, which is the first
portion of the hike on the way to Half Dome.
Although it isn’t a very long hike, you see some of
the best scenery. You also climb stone steps to
see the 317-foot Vernal Falls, which soaks you in
spring and early summer. When the sun is just
right, you also get rainbows in the mist.

3. NEVADA FALL

Distance: 7 miles, round trip

Elevation Gain: 1,900 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead
Coordinates: 37.7331223,-119.5538239

If you’re just getting warmed up when you reach

the top of Vernal Fall, then keep going to the top
of the 594-foot Nevada Fall. You weed out a lot
of the crowds that make it to Mist Trail and you
can even dip your feet in at the top of Nevada
Fall.

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4. FOUR MILE TRAIL

Distance: 9.6 miles, round trip

Elevation Gain: 3,200 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead
Coordinates: 37.7338125,-119.6039596

The Four Mile Trail takes you from the valley

floor to the Glacier Point visitor center. After
you climb above the tree lines about a mile in,
you’ll start to get various viewpoints as you
continue up the switchbacks. As you reach the
top, you get a straight-on shot of Yosemite Falls,
and views of Sentinel Dome, El Capitan, and Half
Dome. You can also make this a one-way hike by
taking the Glacier Point shuttle back down (or
up, and hike down, which is much easier).

5. UPPER YOSEMITE FALLS TRAIL

Distance: 7.2 miles, round trip

Elevation Gain: 2,600 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead
Coordinates: 37.7338334,-119.6105525

This is one of the oldest trails in the park. It was

built in the 1870s, and it takes you to the top of
the continent’s tallest waterfall at 2,425
feet. You can make the hike 8.4 miles and 2,900
feet by continuing onto Yosemite Point, which is
the highest point on the North Rim, to get views
of Half Dome and Eagle Peak. Its been years
since I’ve done this hike, but I still remember
how excited I would get at every viewpoint. It
just got better and better.

6. CATHEDRAL LAKES

Distance: 8 miles, round trip Elevation Gain:

1,300 feet Difficulty: Moderate Trailhead
Coordinates: 37.8732658,-119.3849332

Hike to both Lower and Upper Cathedral Lake

and enjoy views of Cathedral Peak from both.
The hike starts at 8,600-foot elevation, so be
prepared to get some altitude!

photo: Cody Badger / cc

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7. MONO PASS

Distance: 8 miles, round trip

Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead
Coordinates: 37.8910012,-119.2646511

This is a great hike that takes you to the edge of

the park, and even a bit beyond it. Along the way,
see ruins of log cabins from the 1879 gold and
silver boom, Summit Lake and Sardine Lake, and
end the trail with eagle eye views of Mono Lake.

photo: Jim Banh / cc

8. GLEN AULIN TRAIL

Distance: 8 miles, round trip

Elevation Gain: 800 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead
Coordinates: 37.8790432,-119.3693086

Follow the Tuolumne River and eventually come

across Tuolumne Falls and White Cascade,
which is a great place to swim in June and July. If
you haven’t gotten your fill of waterfalls yet,
keep hiking up to 18 miles round trip to see
California Falls, LeConte Falls, and Waterwheel
Falls.

9. CLOUDS REST

Distance: 14.5 miles, round trip

Elevation Gain: 3,113 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead Coordinates: 37.82585, -119.47046

Half Dome is definitely a bucket list hike, but it’s

crowded and not always the best view. The best
views have Half Dome in them, and Clouds Rest
has an amazing view of Half Dome along with
North Dome, El Cap, and Glacier Point. Plus, it’s
more enjoyable with fewer hikers.

photo: Josh from ThroughMyLens

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10. NORTH DOME

Distance: 9.1 miles, round trip

Elevation Gain: 1,742 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead
Coordinates: 37.8065968,-119.5474975

This hike takes you right across Half Dome,

making it one of the best views in the park.
Along the way, you will see amazing meadows
and even a rare granite arch called Indian Arch. If
you’re hoping to enjoy the views during sunrise
or sunset, there are even campsites right near
the dome.

photo: Josh from ThroughMyLens

11. MIRROR LAKE

Distance: 2.3 miles, loop

Elevation Gain: 147 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead
Coordinates: 37.739343,-119.5619597

This easy and popular trail takes you to a lake

with beautiful reflections. If you visit early in the
summer, there are also tons of wildflowers.

photo: Nietnagel / cc

MORE HIKES IN THE PARK FROM

EASY TO DIFFICULT

YOSEMITE VALLEY AREA

Happy Isles (0.5 miles, 10 feet, easy)

Bridalveil Falls (1.2 miles, 200 feet, easy)
Lower Yosemite Falls (0.5 miles, 50 feet, easy)
Mirror Lake & Tenaya Canyon (2.4 miles, 147 feet,
easy)
Sentinel / Cook’s Meadow Loop (2.25 miles, 10
feet, easy)
Turtleback Dome (1.2 miles, 360 feet, easy)
Artists Point (2 miles, 500 feet, easy)
Vernal Fall Footbridge (2 miles, 300 feet,
moderate)
Inspiration Point (2.6 miles, 1,000 feet, moderate)
Columbia Rock (3 miles, 1,000 feet, moderate)
The Mist Trail (3 miles, 1,000 feet, moderate)
4-Mile Trail (4.7 miles, 3,200 feet, strenuous)
Pohono Trail (13 miles, 3,700 feet, strenuous)
Snow Creek Trail (7.2 miles, 2,700 feet,
strenuous)
Upper Yosemite Falls (7.6 miles, 2,600 feet,
strenuous)
Half Dome (15.35 miles, 4,800 feet, strenuous)

SOUTHERN YOSEMITE AREA

Wawona Swinging Bridge (0.75 miles, 50 feet,

easy)
Wawona Meadow Loop (3.5 miles, 50 feet, easy)
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (2.2 miles,
1,200 feet, easy)
Chilnualna Falls (8.4 miles, 2,300 feet, strenuous)

GLACIER POINT ROAD AREA

Washburn Point (0.1 miles, 15 feet, easy)

McGurk Meadow (1.8 miles, 100 feet, easy)
Glacier Point (1 miles, 50 feet, easy)
Westfall Meadow (2.8 miles, 100 feet, easy)
Mono Meadow (1.2 miles, 300 feet, easy)
Sentinel Dome (2.2 miles, 400 feet, easy)
Taft Point and the Fissures (2.2 miles, 200 feet,
easy)
Bridalveil Creek (5.5 miles, 100 feet, moderate)
Illilouette Falls (4 miles, 1,400 feet, moderate)
Panorama Trail (8.5 miles, 3,200 feet, moderate)
4-Mile Trail (4.7 miles, 3,200 feet, strenuous)
Dewey, Crocker, & Stanford Points (7.8 miles, 300
feet, strenuous)
Ostrander Lake (12.4 miles, 1,600 feet,
strenuous)
Pohono Trail (813 miles, 3,700 feet, strenuous)

TIOGA ROAD AREA

Tuolumne Meadows (2 miles, 0 feet, easy)

Olmsted Point (0.25 miles, 100 feet, easy)
Pothole Dome & Tuolumne River (2.5 miles, 250
feet, easy)
Lyell Canyon (1.4 miles, 100 feet, easy)
Lower Gaylor Lake (4.6 miles, 800 feet, easy)
Lukens Lake (1.6 miles, 200 feet, easy)
Tenaya Lake (2.5 miles, 0 feet, easy)
Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias (2.5 miles, 400
feet, easy)
Dog Lake (2.8 miles, 750 feet, moderate)
Elizabeth Lake (4.6 miles, 900 feet, moderate)
Gaylor Lakes (3 miles, 600 feet, moderate)
Harden Lake (5.8 miles, 300 feet, moderate)
Lembert Dome (2.8 miles, 900 feet, moderate)
Mono Pass (8 miles, 1,300 feet, moderate)
Cathedral Lakes (8 miles, 1,300 feet, moderate)
Spillway Lake (8 miles, 800 feet, moderate)
Sunrise Lakes (8.8 miles, 1,300 feet, moderate)
Snow Creek Trail (10 miles, 1,700 feet, strenuous)
May Lake & Mt. Hoffmann (2.5 miles, 500 feet,
strenuous)
Glen Aulin (8 miles, 800 feet, strenuous)
North Dome (9.1 miles, 1,742 feet, strenuous)
Clouds Rest (14.5 miles, 3,113 feet, strenuous)

HETCH HETCHY & BIG OAK FLAT AREA

Foresta Falls (2 miles, 200 feet, easy)

Carlon Falls (3.8 miles, 200 feet, easy)
Lookout Point (2.8 miles, 500 feet, easy)
Little Nellie Falls (5.6 miles, 320 feet, moderate)
Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias (3 miles, 600
feet, moderate)
Wapama Falls (5.5 miles, 200 feet, moderate)
Rancheria Falls (13 miles, 800 feet, strenuous)

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WHAT TO PACK FOR HIKING

YOSEMITE

Your gear will definitely depend on which hike

you’re doing and the time of year, but here is a
list of what you should consider bringing.

Solid Hiking Boots (Hers + His)

Convertible Pants (Hers + His)
Lightweight Rain Jacket (Hers + His)