There are hundreds of Yosemite hiking trails that lead to stunning panoramas and secret mountain lakes inside the park’s 1,200 square miles. Below we have provided the top 9 gorgeous Yosemite trails you have to hike before you die.
The Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls
If you visit Yosemite National Park, you must trek the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls. The journey to Vernal Falls is 3 miles roundtrip and 7 miles overall if you wish to visit Nevada Falls. Vernal Falls is a 1,000-foot climb, with another 900 feet to the top of Nevada Falls.
Because these waterfalls are active all year, expect to see a lot of other hikers on this Yosemite hiking trail. To avoid the crowds, visit early in the morning or late in the evening, and plan on spending 2 to 5 hours on this trail.
Cathedral Lakes
The Cathedral Lakes trek is the greatest day trek in the region if you’re heading out of the valley to visit Tuolumne Meadows or anything along Tioga Road. Lower and Upper Cathedral Lakes may be seen during an 8-mile roundtrip trek. This Yosemite hiking trail should take 3 to 5 hours to accomplish. It’s never a bad idea to have a picnic by one of the lakes!
Panorama Trail
The Panorama Trail, which is flanked by the extremely renowned Mist Trail and Glacier Point, provides lesser-known but equally breathtaking sites including Illilouette Falls and Panorama Point. If you enjoy climbing, begin in the valley and begin your hike from Glacier Point if you like going downhill in a hike.
This is an 8.5-mile round-trip trek. You may return to your starting place by using the park shuttle. Allow 4.5 to 7 hours for the uphill route, with the latter taking a shorter time.
Lower Yosemite Falls
Between May and July, this is a fantastic Yosemite hiking trail to see the foot of Yosemite Falls. It’s only 0.5 miles roundtrip or 1.5 miles from Yosemite Village from the trailhead. Allow 15 to 1 hour, according to how mesmerized you are by magnificent waterfalls.
Mariposa Grove
This is certainly the best out of the three big sequoia groves, and it is a must-see. There are multiple loops ranging in length from 0.3 to 7.0 miles. The elevation gain/loss in the Mariposa Grove can range from 0 to 1,200 feet depending on the loop you take. Allow 1 to 4 hours because even the smallest loop of this Yosemite hiking trail will take a long time to complete.
Taft Point and Sentinel Dome via Pohono Trail
This trek is Yosemite’s greatest easy to moderate walk. What is the reason behind this? Because it attracts the fewest visitors. From Glacier Point, you can obtain a bird’s eye perspective of Yosemite Valley.
Starting at 7,700 feet elevation at the trailhead, the trek descends 200 feet to Taft Point, gains 800 feet to the summit of Sentinel Dome, and then descends 600 feet to the beginning. Because of the spectacular views of Yosemite Valley from above, you’ll need 3 to 4 hours.
Glacier Point via Four-Mile Trail
The hike to Glacier Point is 4.7 miles one way or 9.4 miles altogether, with a 3,200-foot elevation gain. Use the park shuttle system to trek it one way! Allow 2 to 5 hours one-way, based on your uphill pace, and combine this Yosemite hiking trail with the Panorama Trail for an added challenge and more breathtaking vistas!
Upper Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls may be viewed from below, or you may trek to the top and gaze down at the crowds! The climb to the top of the falls is 7.6 miles round-trip with a 2,559-foot elevation gain. Allow for a full day (6 to 10 hours) to accomplish this Yosemite hiking trail. Continue another 0.9 miles and 1.8-mile roundtrip for a special view. The whole trekking distance is 9.4 miles, with a 2,969-foot elevation gain to Yosemite Point, one of the greatest vistas in the park.
Half Dome via Mist Trail
If you want to hike Half Dome, acquire your permit, verify the season (the cables are normally open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but this changes depending on weather), and keep an eye on the weather (people have died due to wind, rain, or lightning on Half Dome). Finally, if you’re thinking about staying the night, Little Yosemite Valley is ideal for camping, however, bears are a possibility.
There is no single perfect approach to seeing and doing everything the Yosemite National Park has to offer, but these Yosemite hiking trails will get you started. If you are planning to travel here, do not forget to plan in detail and buy all the necessary items before starting. Discount codes on Couponxoo.com are things you should not miss because they can help you save more money on your hiking trips.
