Top Places To Hike In Yosemite National Park
The Yosemite National Park is a dream for those who love mountains. Given the multitude of hiking options in the park for all types of hikers, it is nowhere short of adventure. The alpine trees, its waterfalls and lakes, the rocky terrains and majestic mountains are sure to make you want to revisit.
Let us take a look at some of the best hikes in Yosemite National Park for your next hiking adventure.
Four Mile Trail
The four mile hike may sound easy but it is entirely uphill, right from the start of the trailhead till you reach the Glacier Point at the top. You could do the hike either from the top to bottom or vice versa. But you get the best views of the Yosemite Valley as you hike up your way, some of the best landmarks being Clouds Rest, Tenaya Canyon, North Dome, Half Dome and the ever refreshing Yosemite falls. The views only get better as you hike your way up!
After reaching the Glacier point, you could either return back through the Yosemite valley the way you started, or take the Panorama Trail that joins the Happy Isles Trailhead shortly, or have a vehicle arranged from there if you need help.
Distance: 4.7 miles one way
Difficulty level: Easy to Intermediate
Time Taken: 3 – 5 hours one way
Pohono Trail
Pohono Trail is the one you should be taking if you want to enjoy the beauty and magnitude of the Yosemite Valley and its waterfalls. Most of the hike is along the rim of the valley. There are two trailheads you can begin the hike from – the Tunnel View trailhead and Glacier Point trailhead, though starting from the Glacier point is relatively easy. The first mile from the GLacier Point trailhead would be a strenuous hike, after which it levels out.
Throughout the hike, you get views of Half Dome, Nevada falls, Vernal Falls, Yosemite falls, Tunnel View, Inspiration Point, etc. so you won’t be short of any inspiration to carry on with the hike.
Distance: 13 miles one way
Difficulty level: Difficult
Time Taken: 5 – 10 hours
Mono Pass
The Mono Pass trailhead is a fairly easy hike that starts from the Mono Pass trailhead and continues mostly along the Tioga Road. In the first section of the hike, you make your way up to the Mono Pass on the Tioga Road with stunning sceneries of meadows, woods and lakes around you. After you reach the Mono Pass, you can either choose to return back or go ahead of the western Sierras you hiked till then, to face the other side of the pass to the eastern part of the Sierras where you get to see the Mono Lake and the beautiful Mono Valley.
Distance: 7.4 miles round trip
Difficulty level: Easy to Intermediate
Time Taken: 3 – 5 hours
Glen Aulin Trail
The Glen Aulin hike is a very pretty hike that begins at the Tuolumne Meadows. The first three miles are through the meadows, with the Tuolumne river accompanying you in the hike. Shortly after that comes the High Sierra camp and the backpacker’s campground. From there, the ascent begins. You will have to hike up to reach Glen Aulin, which then paves the way to the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Distance: 13 miles roundtrip
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Time Taken: 7-10 hours
Clouds Rest
Cloud’s rest gets its name because of the low flying clouds that surround its peak. The breathtaking panoramic views and scenery from the summit is all this hike is about, you can spot almost all the major hiking destinations in Yosemite National Park ( the Nevada and Vernal, Half Dome, North Dome, etc ). However, if you are unlucky, you might also miss out on the views because of the clouds flying too low.
It is not open all year round, and it is recommended not to go for this hike in the winter or when it snows.
Distance: 14.5 miles round trip
Difficulty level: Difficult
Time Taken: 8 – 11 hours
Half Dome
This is one of the most difficult hikes in the park, and also the most sought after one because of the thrill and adventure it brings. Hikers usually start the hike early morning through the Mist trail, and pass through two gorgeous waterfalls, the Nevada and Vernal, after which you shortly arrive at the sub dome.
From the sub dome, there are cables that run up to the half dome, and this is the challenging part of the hike. The cables are not open all year round because of the weather, and you would also need permits to hike from the sub dome to the half dome. After you hike up to the peak of half dome, the exquisite views around you make you feel the hike was worth it, despite the hardship.
Make sure you are equipped with proper backpacks, water, hiking shoes and gloves, especially for this hike.
Distance: 14.5 miles
Difficulty level: Difficult
Trail: Mist Trail
TIme Taken: 9 – 10 hours
Mirror Lake
The Mirror Lake is an easy level hike that is best done in the spring and early summer because the lake tends to dry up during the other seasons. The Mirror Lake is filled with the ice melting down from the Tenaya Creek.
The trailhead begins at the shuttle stop 17 from where you walk around 2 miles to reach the lake and back. If you wish to do a full loop, after crossing the lake, you pass through the Tenaya Creek, followed by crossing two bridges to arrive at the Snow Creek Trail junction, from where you complete the loop in a short while. The loop ends when you reach the Mirror Lake to the south of the Tenaya Canyon.
Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty level: Easy to Moderate
Time Taken: 1 hour
So, that’s it guys. Let me know in the comments if you hiked any of these trails in Yosemite National Park. I would love to hear your experiences of it.
Have fun and most importantly stay safe as bears are common in Yosemite National Park, make sure to check this bear safety guide and be educated on it before you plan a trek. Also, carry enough water to stay hydrated throughout the hike.
Author’s Bio:
Mark Bennett is an American writer and traveler, whose major inspiration has been camping with his father ever since his childhood. He aims to visit 75 countries before he’s 30. You can also follow his adventures on his site Outdoorily.