Yosemite National Park, located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, is a natural wonderland that has captured the hearts of adventurers, nature enthusiasts, and photographers for generations. With its awe-inspiring waterfalls, towering granite cliffs, pristine meadows, and diverse wildlife, Yosemite is a haven for hikers.
Yosemite is known for some of the most challenging hikes, like Half Dome and El Capitan, but there are also plenty of stunning hikes for other skill levels! In this post, I will give you some of the top hikes you can’t miss when visiting Yosemite National Park.
Easy
Glacier Point
0.6 miles | 137 ft. of elevation gain | Easy | Hike info
For a hike that offers panoramic views without an arduous trek, the Glacier Point Trail is ideal. It takes you to Glacier Point, where you’ll have a jaw-dropping view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the High Sierra peaks. It’s especially stunning during sunset or sunrise. This trail is accessed from Glacier Point Rd which is typically only open from about June – October or November, so make sure to check the road status before heading there.
Lower Yosemite Falls
1.2 miles | 55 ft. of elevation gain | Easy | Hike info
Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America. Take this short, flat route to see the beautiful waterfall from the base. For the strongest water, it’s best to see this in the spring or early summer. I saw it in mid-May and it was so powerful!
Mirror Lake Loop
5 miles | 301 ft. of elevation gain | Easy | Hike info
This is a nice and easy trails in Yosemite Valley that takes you back between North Dome and Half Dome. You can either stop at Mirror Lake and turn back, or do a bit longer of a loop and travel further back into the valley. It’s flat and very family friendly!
Moderate
Nevada Falls
7.3 miles | 2,375 ft. of elevation gain | Moderate | Hike info
This is another very popular waterfall in Yosemite. At 594 feet tall, it’s an impressive one! There are multiple ways to reach this waterfall, but this trail provides a moderately challenging way. You’ll start on Mist Trail then continue onto John Muir Trail. There are many beautiful viewpoints along the way, so make sure to get some good stops in!
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
6.7 miles | 1,217 ft. of elevation gain | Moderate | Hike info
Yosemite is not only home to towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls but also to some of the largest trees on Earth. Take a short drive outside of Yosemite Valley to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. The Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree are among the famous giants in this grove. Hiking this trail allows you to appreciate the enormity and beauty of these ancient trees.
Artist Point
2 miles | 761 ft. of elevation gain | Moderate | Hike info
This trail is a great way to get the iconic “Tunnel View” without the large crowds. It’s a short, moderately strenuous hike to a great viewpoint into Yosemite Valley. It’s especially beautiful at sunset. You can also combine this with Inspiration Point for a total of about 3 miles.
Hard
Upper Yosemite Falls
6.6 miles | 3,254 ft. of elevation gain | Hard | Hike info
This is a doozy of a trail with a lot of elevation gain in a short amount of time, but boy is it worth it! You begin at Camp 4 and ascend up some switchbacks until you reach a spot overlooking the falls. This is a good chance to put on a rain jacket, as you might get a little wet in the next part. You’ll get much closer to the waterfall and ascend some more switchbacks in a rainforest-type setting. After that, you’ll ascend some more switchbacks (I did say it was a lot of elevation gain!) in the sun until you reach the top of the falls. You’ll come to an absolutely beautiful view point overlooking the falls and the valley. There’s a lot of spots to hang out and maybe eat a snack while you enjoy the scenery.
Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail
6.4 miles | 2,208 ft. of elevation gain | Hard | Hike info
If you are looking for a rewarding waterfall hike, but want something a tad bit easier than Upper Yosemite Falls, this is a great hike for you! Vernal and Nevada Falls are another two stunning waterfalls in the park. The Mist Trail is the first half of the hike, and is where the Hard rating comes in, in my opinion. This trail has some steep parts including a stair section next to the falls. Be prepared to get a little wet from the mist, especially during the spring and early summer. You’ll then come to the high-point of the hike, which is at the top of Nevada Falls where you can lookout to the valley below. You may also catch a rainbow from the mist!
You’ll then continue onto John Muir Trail to get even more fantastic views of Nevada Falls and the valley. If you hike in the spring or early Summer, you might run into another wet spot! There’s a much smaller waterfall that at times falls down onto the trail itself. A rain jacket will definitely be helpful for this hike!
Four-Mile Trail
9.7 miles | 3,418 ft. of elevation gain | Hard | Hike info
The Four-Mile Trail is a strenuous route that climbs from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point. This challenging hike rewards you with captivating vistas of the valley, El Capitan, and Half Dome. The hike is a pretty steady incline the entire time, including three sections of switchbacks. It’s an excellent alternative to the crowded shuttle ride up to Glacier Point, and if the road to Glacier Point is ever closed!
Half Dome via the John Muir Trail
16.5 miles | 5,305 ft. of elevation gain | Hard & Technical | Hike info
One of the most iconic hikes in Yosemite, the Half Dome hike is a challenging adventure that rewards hikers with breathtaking views of the park. The trail takes you past Nevada Falls and ultimately leads to the towering granite formation known as Half Dome. The final ascent involves using cables to climb the last 400 feet to the summit, making it a thrilling and unforgettable experience. I cannot stress enough the importance of having good hiking shoes with traction on this part of the trail!
The Half Dome part of this hike requires a permit. There’s only 300 hikers allowed per day and the permits are given via a lottery, so they are tough to get! There’s one lottery that happens preseason with applications accepted in March, then daily lotteries are held thereafter. The preseason lottery is your best chance at getting a permit, if you can plan enough in advance I would recommend this.
El Capitan from Yosemite Valley
13.6 miles | 4,799 ft. of elevation gain | Hard | Hike info
This is another classic Yosemite hike! The granite wall know as “El Cap” is one of the most famous sites to see in the country, and definitely in Yosemite National Park. The hike itself is quite strenuous, especially the first 3-3.5 miles where you go uphill on switchbacks pretty constantly. After that, the trail evens out a bit more, but it is still a long distance to go.
Many hikers opt to do this as a backpacking hike. If you plan to do this, you’ll need a permit. Most of these are released 24 weeks in advance, but they do hold back some for release 2 weeks in advance. Bear boxes are also required if doing this as a backpacking trip.
Conclusion
Yosemite National Park is a paradise for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering a diverse range of trails and experiences. Whether you’re seeking a challenging ascent to the top of Half Dome or a leisurely stroll through a grove of ancient sequoias, Yosemite has something for everyone. The park’s iconic natural features, diverse ecosystems, and breathtaking landscapes make it a destination that should be on every adventurer’s bucket list.