39 Hiking Trails in Yosemite National Park, California
first prev 1 2 next lastShowing Hiking Trails in Yosemite National Park, California, USA City, Zip, or Address
Mist Trail
Yosemite National Park
9.2 miles S of Yosemite National ParkA 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 1.7 mi
Mono Meadow
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
5.1 miles S of Yosemite West, Yosemite National ParkA 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 4.6 mi
Four Mile Trail
Yosemite National Park
9.5 miles S of Yosemite National ParkA 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 1.9 mi
Half Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
4.4 miles E of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National ParkA 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
Harden Lake
Big Oak Flat, Yosemite National Park
13.2 miles E of Big Oak Flat, Yosemite National ParkA long but gentle 5.8-mile walk down old Tioga Road through granite domes and red fir forest to a serene lake ringed by wildflowers — with optional extension to the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Backpack, Hike 0.7 mi
Lukens Lake
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
13.9 miles W of Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National ParkA 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 1.3-1.6 mi
May Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
8.9 miles NE of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National ParkA 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, Swim 4.1 mi
North Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.0 miles NE of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National ParkA 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 5.7 mi
Ten Lakes
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
8.8 miles W of Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National ParkA 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 0.5 mi
McGurk Meadow
Yosemite National Park
14.3 miles S of Yosemite National ParkA 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 1.2 mi
Taft Point
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.3 miles S of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National ParkA 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 2.1 mi
Snow Creek Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
3.5 miles NE of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National ParkA 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 5.5 mi
Ostrander Lake
Wawona, California
8.4 miles NE of Wawona, CaliforniaAn 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 3.6 mi
Lyell Canyon
Wawona, California
29.8 miles NE of Wawona, CaliforniaAn 8-mile, nearly flat hike through Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows along the Lyell Fork river, with creek crossings, Kuna Creek cascades, and backcountry quiet far from the crowds.
Hike
Elizabeth Lake
Wawona, California
26.4 miles NE of Wawona, CaliforniaA 4.8-mile hike with a 1,000-foot gain to a quiet alpine lake tucked between Cockscomb, Unicorn Peak, and Johnson's Peak in Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows backcountry.
Hike, Swim 1.8 mi
Gaylor Lakes
Yosemite Valley, CA
21.2 miles NE of Yosemite Valley, CAA 2-mile Yosemite hike with views the entire way — Dana Meadows, mountain peaks, and a high valley holding five separate lakes, with a mostly flat valley to wander once you top the pass.
Hike, Swim 0.9-3.2 mi
Cathedral Lakes
Wawona, California
24.8 miles NE of Wawona, CaliforniaA gorgeous 7-mile High Sierra hike along the John Muir Trail to twin lakes at 10,000 feet, framed by Cathedral, Echo, and Tressider Peaks with sweeping views of Tenaya Lake from a rock shelf.
Hike, Swim 4.0 mi
Mono Pass
Yosemite Valley, CA
20.7 miles NE of Yosemite Valley, CAAn 8-mile high-Sierra hike at 10,600 feet crossing meadows and several lakes, climbing through Bloody Canyon to sweeping views of Mono Valley and Mono Lake.
Hike, Swim 6.1 mi
Glen Aulin
Wawona, California
28.8 miles NE of Wawona, CaliforniaAn 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 0.8-4.1 mi
Dog Lake and Lembert Dome
Yosemite Valley, CA
17.2 miles NE of Yosemite Valley, CAA 4-mile round-trip hike through Tuolumne Meadows wildflowers to a serene evergreen lake and a granite dome with sweeping views — doable in 1.5 to 3 hours.
Hike, Swim
