Cook's Meadow Loop
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
| Address: | Sentinel/Cook's Meadow Loop, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389, USA |
| GPS: |
37°44'44.1"N 119°35'37.0"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 1.00 miles |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easiest |
| Trails/Routes: | 0.7 mi |
Restrooms Rivers Waterfalls Streams Glaciers Trails Wildflowers Pet Friendly Bicycles National Park
Hike
Cook's Meadow Loop is a shorter, smaller hike inside Sentinel Meadow. Cook's Meadow Loop is just under a mile and takes about 45 minutes to complete, depending on how long you stop at each viewpoint.
Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point and Sentinel Rock are just a quick walk along Cook's Meadow Loop. There is almost no elevation gain, making it one of the easiest trails in the park with multiple views of some of Yosemite's most well-known attractions. It's a great place for first-time visitors to start their Yosemite exploration.
The trail takes you directly past Sentinel Bridge, which is one of the most popular viewpoints to see Half Dome and is often crowded with photographers once sunset hits.
Cook's Meadow is right around the corner from the Lower Yosemite Falls trailhead, which is just an extra .5 mile and offers an even closer look at Lower Yosemite Fall.
Bathrooms and a variety of food options are available at Yosemite Lodge, just past the trailhead. Once you've finished the hike, you can grab a bite to eat at its food court, Coffee Corner or The Mountain Room, their full-service restaurant.
Cook's Meadow offers some of the greatest views in the park without having to take a very strenuous hike, making it enjoyable for everyone who visits.
More Information
Yosemite National Park Itinerary
This Yosemite National Park Itinerary will help you get started as you plan your vacation to Yosemite National Park.
https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/yosemite-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diinCook’s Meadow Loop - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Walk through the heart of it all! Enjoy views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, and Royal Arches from the center of Yosemite Valley as you saunter through this large open meadow.
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/cooksmeadowtrail.htmYosemite Hikes: The Sentinel/Cook’s Meadow Loop
The Sentinel/Cook’s Meadow Loop, a flat, easy hike that includes many of the highlights of Yosemite Valley
https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/sentinel-cook-meadow/sentinel-cook-meadow.htmBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
- Head on Northside DrToll road(1 ft)
Walk along the bike path from the visitors center, crossing the street at shuttle stop #6. Stay along the bike path until you reach Sentinel Bridge, giving a stunning view of half dome. Follow the boardwalk across the meadow to return to the visitors center.
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Lower Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
0.2 miles WA short, flat walk to the base of a 3,967-foot waterfall — twice the height of the Empire State Building and one of North America's tallest, best visited in spring or early summer before it dries.
Hike 2.9 mi
Upper Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
0.9 miles NEThe tallest waterfall in North America at 2,425 feet — a 7.2-mile, 2,600-ft-gain hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls with stunning valley views along the way.
Hike 4.6 mi
Four Mile Trail
Yosemite National Park
0.9 miles SA 4.7-mile one-way hike connecting Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point with views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, and the Royal Arches — best visited in spring when the falls run full.
Hike 15.9 mi
Valley Loop Trail
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
1.0 miles SWAn 11.5-mile loop trail through the heart of Yosemite Valley following the Merced River past wildflower meadows, the Three Brothers, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Falls — with nearly no elevation gain.
Hike 0.3 mi
Glacier Point
Yosemite National Park
1.6 miles SEPerched at 7,214 feet above Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point delivers bird's-eye views of Half Dome, El Capitan, and multiple waterfalls — accessible by car or a 4.7-mile hike.
Hike 4.1 mi
North Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.0 miles NEA strenuous 10.4-mile hike through Yosemite forest to North Dome, rewarding hikers with the best straight-on view of Half Dome from 7,450 feet — plus a 0.6-mile detour to a 15-foot granite arch.
Backpack, Hike 1.9-2.9 mi
Mist Trail
Yosemite National Park
2.1 miles SEA steep, mist-soaked Yosemite staircase hike climbing 639 stone steps past Vernal and Nevada Falls — with Half Dome, Whitecap, and Mt. Broderick views from the switchbacks above.
Backpack, Hike
Horsetail Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.2 miles SWFor a few weeks in mid-to-late February, Horsetail Falls glows orange with reflected sunset light — a rare 'firefall' phenomenon requiring clear skies and a parking permit.
Hike 1.2 mi
Taft Point
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.3 miles SA 5-mile Yosemite loop pairing Sentinel Dome with Taft Point, offering El Capitan views, dramatic cliff fissures, and 3,000-foot valley vistas — no guard rails, so watch your footing.
Hike
Mirror Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.4 miles EA paved, car-free trail winds to this seasonal lake at the base of Half Dome, offering a still mirror reflection and a popular summer swimming hole.
Backpack, Hike, Swim 0.4-2.1 mi
Illilouette Falls
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
2.8 miles SEA 4-mile hike starting downhill from Glacier Point to a footbridge view of Illilouette Falls — with a side trip on the quieter Panorama Trail adding Half Dome and Nevada Falls views.
Hike 0.2 mi
Ribbon Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
3.0 miles SWThe longest single-drop waterfall in North America at 1,612 feet — seasonal and best seen in late morning when the sun hits it directly, visible from El Capitan Road as you enter Yosemite Valley.
Hike 2.1 mi
Snow Creek Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
3.5 miles NEA 2,140-foot, seven-drop cascade tucked deep in Tenaya Canyon — best spotted from the Mirror Lake Loop, where you can also take a swim before hunting for the falls from the Snow Creek Trail junction.
Backpack, Hike 0.2 mi
Bridalveil Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
3.5 miles SWA 620-foot waterfall that flows year-round and soaks onlookers with mist — Bridalveil Falls is just a quick half-mile paved walk from the trailhead, wheelchair accessible and pet friendly.
Hike 1.9 mi
Half Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
4.4 miles EA grueling 14-mile round-trip hike with 4,800 feet of gain to the summit of Half Dome, including a cable section in the final 400 feet — a permit is required and a sunrise start is essential.
Hike 1.7 mi
Mono Meadow
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
5.1 miles SA short, lightly trafficked 3-mile round-trip hike through a wildflower meadow recovering from wildfire, offering simultaneous views of Mt. Starr King, Clarke Range, and Half Dome.
Hike 0.5 mi
McGurk Meadow
Yosemite National Park
5.5 miles SA flat, 0.8-mile walk through one of Yosemite's most secluded wildflower meadows, complete with a brook and a historic 1800s cabin — few visitors, pure charm.
Hike 0.7 mi
Lukens Lake
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
7.3 miles NA short 1.6-mile forest walk to a secluded lake famous for the luminescent shooting stars visible while you swim, plus a wildflower meadow that peaks in July.
Hike, Swim 5.5 mi
Ostrander Lake
Wawona, California
8.7 miles SAn 11.4-mile Yosemite hike to a semi-secluded swim lake surrounded by granite mountains — wildflowers, streams, and meadows in summer; open for cross-country skiing in winter via Ostrander Lodge.
Hike, Swim 1.3-1.6 mi
May Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
8.9 miles NEA 2.5-mile roundtrip hike to a scenic 9,270-foot lake at the base of Mt. Hoffmann — with views of Clouds Rest, Half Dome, and Teyana Lake, plus the option to summit the peak for even grander panoramas.
Hike, SwimNearby Campsites
Merced River
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
0.6 miles SEThe Merced River circles Yosemite Valley with whitewater, swimming holes, gold-panning spots, and unbeatable views of Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point at every bend.
Camp, Swim, Whitewater
Crane Flat
Big Oak Flat, Yosemite National Park
11.3 miles WFramed between two giant sequoia groves, Crane Flat meadow is a quiet Yosemite base camp for birding, stargazing, and seasonal hikes to Lukens and Harden Lake.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Snowshoe 5.7 mi
Ten Lakes
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
11.5 miles NA 6.4-mile hike from Yosemite Creek to three of the Ten Lakes Basin's seven lakes, through wildflower meadows, forests, and past the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, gaining 2,200 feet.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 6.1 mi
Glen Aulin
Wawona, California
14.8 miles NEAn 11-mile hike along the Tuolumne River to Glen Aulin with 800 feet of gain, passing Tuolumne Falls, Soda Springs, wildflower meadows, and the stunning White Cascade.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Glen Aulin
Glen Aulin, California
14.8 miles NEA popular introductory Yosemite High Country backcountry hike following the Tuolumne River to a High Sierra Camp beside the White Cascade waterfall, with further options to Waterwheel Falls.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Swim
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne County, California
16.3 miles NEA stunning alpine meadow in the high Sierra with granite domes and mountain views, the meandering Tuolumne River, and access to Yosemite backcountry — open summer only when the park road is clear.
Camp, Hike 4.0 mi
Saddlebag Lake
Lee Vining, California
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Camp, Canoe, Hike
Briceburg Recreation Area
Midpines, California
23.7 miles SWBriceburg is where State Route 140 drops out of the Sierra foothills and meets the Wild and Scenic Merced River, twelve miles east of Mariposa on the road to Yosemite, and it's one of the best public...
Camp, Kayak, Swim
Crystal Lake
Mammoth Lakes, California
33.4 miles EA 3.2-mile roundtrip Sierra day hike past Lake George, Lake Marie, and Lake Mamie, ending at Crystal Lake beneath the monolith Crystal Crag — shaded trail with room to swim, fish, or picnic lakeside.
Camp, Hike
Standish Hickey Area
Lakeshore, California
42.9 miles SEA two-mile stretch of the south fork of the Eel River inside a redwood canyon 180 miles from San Francisco — swim, kayak, fish, or hike, then camp near the 1,200-year-old Captain Miles Standish Tree.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Wild Willy's Hot Spring
Mammoth Lakes, California
45.4 miles EA soaking hot spring in Long Valley's open sagebrush plain — pools range from 95°F to 105°F, with a larger deeper pool and smaller, hotter pools, reached by a 0.2-mile wooden boardwalk from the parking area.
Camp, Hot Springs
Crowley Lake Campground
Crowley Lake, California
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Camp
