The Best Places for Hiking in Yosemite National Park

If there’s one hike to do before you die, Half Dome is it. Not only is it one of the most photographed natural wonders in the world, but the journey to its summit (8,842 feet) goes by several Yosemite Top 10 destinations, too. You’ll pass waterfalls, rivers, and wildflower-filled meadows on one of the best-maintained trails in the country. This is a trail you’ll never forget and won’t regret hiking. Although you need a permit, Half Dome is worth the hassle of putting in for the lottery. Whenever you see photos of the Valley, you’ll always be able to tell others, “I was there.” 

I recommend starting early as the trail is 14.5 miles round trip with almost 5,000 feet of elevation gain. Parking can be tricky in the Valley, so take advantage of the free shuttle bus stop at the Happy Isles trailhead. I’ve found that the trail can get warm when the sun hits the big climb up the switchbacks, so bring plenty of water and a headlamp just in case it takes longer than you planned to get down.

The views along the way always take my mind off the gradual but persistent climb. You’ll ascend high above the Merced River past two waterfalls with a backdrop of Liberty Cap (another granite dome) as a guiding beacon. The Mist Trail route up Half Dome takes you from the base of Vernal Falls to the top of Nevada Falls. Every time I do this hike, I look forward to cooling off in the mist. I advise taking special care through the wet sections because the steep rock steps can sometimes be slippery. When you reach Little Yosemite Valley, backpackers can camp for a night before tackling Half Dome (wilderness permit required).

Bring shoes with sticky rubber soles and a big dose of courage for ascending the 400 feet up the backside of Half Dome using cables as a guide. It feels like walking up a low-angle ladder. There’s dramatic (albeit, scenic) drops on either side. You’ll want a good camera (with a neck or wrist strap) because this is a hike worth documenting from beginning until end.  

Applications for summer hiking permits open at the end of March. There’s also a short-term lottery for 50 spots available two days before your stated summit day. I’ve found the line for those spots to be intimidating (people line up at 4 am for the 11 am opening), so if you’re traveling from far, put in for the lottery. 

Bridalveil Falls is one of the most prominent waterfalls in Yosemite Valley and (bonus!) also one of the easiest to access. At 620 feet tall, Bridalveil is different than most other Yosemite waterfalls because it doesn’t have a direct drop from a glacier-carved hanging valley. Instead, Bridalveil drops at a curve, looking like a streaming veil (hence the name). It’s often the first waterfall you see as you drive into Yosemite Valley. Unlike many waterfalls in Yosemite Valley, it runs year-round.

On a windy day, the water on Bridalveil appears to not even hit the ground, moving almost horizontally at times. For that reason, the Native American Ahwahneechee who lived in the Valley called it “Pohono,” meaning “Sprit of the Puffing Wind.” This is a neat natural phenomenon, so if it’s windy, it’s well worth seeing. 

It’s a short quarter mile from the parking area to the base of Bridalveil Falls. I like to visit these falls on a hot day because it’s a short walk and the mist of the hike is refreshing. Kids may enjoy playing at the rocks at the bottom and observing pools of water (I certainly did as a youngster). Watch them, though, as the river can be swift and the rocks slippery. This hike can get crowded. Early morning and evening see the fewest visitors. 

At 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America. Yosemite Valley wouldn’t look like it does without these monster falls in the backdrop. On this classic Yosemite hike, you’ll walk from the base of Yosemite Falls to above the Upper Falls. It’s one of two places where you can see all the Valley waterfalls from one viewpoint. It also has some of the best views of Half Dome anywhere. This is my go-to hike for a good workout and to feel like I earned that trip to the Curry Village buffet. 

From the top, you can watch Yosemite Creek drop thousands of feet from a hanging valley in Eagle Creek Meadows. In the spring or early summer, the roaring flow is deafening and I’ll feel cooling mist as I climb the lower switchbacks. But when I’ve been back in the autumn, the flow isn’t as intense and the spray doesn’t reach the trail. In drought years, it can dry up. 

When I first got into hiking as a kid, I found the Yosemite Falls climb challenging. For 10-year me, the scenic guardrail-protected view of the Lower Falls from Columbia Rock (a little more than a mile and 1000 feet of gain from the Yosemite Falls trailhead) was a fine end destination. As I became an intermediate hiker in my twenties, I was thrilled to make it higher to the guardrail-protected Lower Yosemite Falls Overlook. It’s possibly the only safe spot to get the rare view of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls. Now, as an advanced hiker, I enjoy the challenging climb to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. I can’t help but feel alive looking at the point where the falls drop thousands of feet off a cliff.

Tailor your hike to Yosemite Falls based on your party’s energy level. Whether you visit Columbia Rock or the tippy top, it’s an experience you won’t forget. Humans are so small next to that much flowing water. There are plenty of fenced viewpoints along the way, but take care near the water’s edge and near steep drops. 

To avoid the parking hassle and Yosemite Valley traffic (yeah, it’s a thing), I always take the free shuttle bus to the trailhead (either Lower Yosemite Falls or Yosemite Falls Trailhead stops). If you rent or have a bicycle, the Yosemite Valley paved bike trail goes to both trailheads, too. There are even racks to lock up. 

I’ve hiked this trail more than a dozen times and it remains one of my favorite hikes anywhere. Start at the free shuttle bus stop and walk across a meadow with 360° views of glacier-carved granite domes in all directions. One of the most panoramic views in the Sierra, historians say Tuolumne Meadows is the spot where John Muir dreamed up the national park system. 

As a child, my family found the half mile hike to the bridge over the Tuolumne River to be the perfect length. When the river is gentle, it’s fun to play on the sandy beaches or fish from the banks (fishing permit required). Continue to the wooden shed that protects Soda Springs, a naturally occuring sodium carbonate source that bubbles from the red earth. Nearby is Parson’s Lodge, a stone cabin built by the Sierra Club in 1915. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

As an adult, I now continue past the wilderness signs to Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. I’ve done it as a day hike and as a backpacking trip to the camp. While you’ll pass many trail junctions along the way to Glen Aulin, they’re all marked by rusty folksy-looking signs. Admittedly, the mileage on the signs is notoriously off. My GPS shows it’s 5.6 miles and about 800 feet of elevation loss to Glen Aulin (that means 800 feet gain on the return). 

Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp is part of a system of camps across the Sierra that can best be described as “glamping before it was cool.” It’s a car-free backcountry campground of canvas tents and cots, situated under a waterfall. I’ve been told that it’s serviced by a chef who will make you a steak if you have a reservation (though I’ve had no such luck myself!). For normal backpackers bringing in their own tent and food, the camp still offers potable water, a small store with lemonade and snacks, and clean outhouses.

On the way to Glen Aulin, you’ll follow the Tuolumne River over the skirts of glacier-polished domes. The hike offers incredible views of the jagged Cathedral Peak, which rises so high that the glaciers couldn’t smooth its ragged edges. You may get your feet wet crossing a few creeks after the snowmelt, but there are often log “bridges.” As you descend the upper reaches of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, you reach roaring Tuolumne Falls tumbling down white granite. The last bridge over the Tuolumne River has you staring at White Cascade, a waterfall that tumbles into a chilly pool that’s swimmable for the brave. 

Cathedral Peak and Cathedral Lakes is a place for alpine lovers with views you just can’t get in the Valley. In addition to Glen Aulin, Cathedral Lakes was one of my go-to spots for taking out-of-town guests when I lived just outside the Park. You’ll cruise through alpine meadows to alpine lakes at almost 10,000 feet of elevation. Summer wildflowers are at their prime in wet meadows and the forest floor from late June to late August.

Cathedral Peak gets its name because it looks like a Gothic place of worship, with Eichorn Pinnacle towering over it like a belfry. Cathedral Basin was carved by glaciers, but the towers remain because they rose above the ice. Cathedral Peak remains jagged along with Echo and Tesidder Peaks, which also dominate the upper lake’s south shore.

John Muir has the first documented ascent of Cathedral Peak in 1869. He did it in heavy, leather boots without a rope. I’ve climbed the peak several times and think of him often. The hike to Cathedral Lake is mostly on a trail named after him, the John Muir Trail. It’s a famous distance trail I’ve hiked several times that runs from Yosemite Valley to the top of Mt. Whitney. Cathedral Lakes is one of my favorite spots along the whole 214-mile hike.

You have the option to go to the Upper Lake or the busier Lower Cathedral Lake (0.5 mile off the main trail, but shorter in distance and less climbing). I’ve noticed my body feels the altitude on this hike. After all, it begins at 8,500 feet. The first mile has the bulk of the ascent and feels strenuous. You can decide which lake to visit based on how you feel when you reach the signed intersection for the Lower Lake. Whichever lake you visit, I suggest taking the climb slowly, staying well hydrated, and readjusting expectations about your speed. Either lake has flat, granite spots for picnicking and jaw-dropping views.

Mariposa Grove is home to Yosemite’s most famous living attraction: 1,000-year old Giant Sequoias, the largest living things in the world. This grove of Sequoiadendron giganteum is the place that inspired Abraham Lincoln’s protection of Yosemite National Park. Even if you aren’t a tree nerd, after visiting, you’ll feel inspired, too.

On this hike, you’ll walk through groves of trees that tower above like characters out of Tolkein. If you see no other Giant Sequoia, make sure you see the 1,800 year-old Grizzly Tree, the oldest tree in the Park (that we know of). You can literally walk through the California Tunnel Tree, a living tree whose center has been bored out. My family has a photo there and yours will want one, too. The Bachelor & Three Graces are four giant trees who are so close to one another, their roots are twisted together. The Fallen Monarch is a downed sequoia trunk that ecologists suspect has been there for centuries.

Depending on the energy of your party, you can visit the Mariposa Grove as a 0.3 mile loop, a 2 mile loop, or a 7.6 mile hike. The elevation change on the 0.3 is negligible, but the 2 mile hike to the Grizzly Giant has 300 feet of gain. As a more advanced hiker, I enjoyed the 1,200 feet of climbing on the longer out-and-back to Wawona Point. It has killer views of Wawona Valley. My sister lived and worked as an ecologist in Wawona and says long Guardians Loop or Mariposa Grove Trail are the place to go to get away from the crowds in the rest of the grove.

The Mariposa Grove area was recently renovated to better protect the trees and manage visitors, so expect shiny, new amenities. I think the best option for parking is just inside the Southern Entrance of the Park at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza. The reason is that the gate to Mariposa Grove Road is closed at 7:30am and most of the other parking areas are limited to cars with disability placards. If you visit in the winter, the road to the grove is closed, but you can snowshoe there (it’s fun).

Wawona feels more like a community than other built-up areas in the park. There’s permanent residents, a school, and even live music and barn dances during the summer. Come for the trees, stay to experience a less hectic Yosemite than what you’ll find in the Valley.