59 Things to do near El Portal, CA 95318
first prev 1 2 3 next lastShowing results within 50 miles Distance miles of El Portal, CA 95318, USA City, Zip, or Address
Crane Flat
Big Oak Flat, Yosemite National Park
5.1 miles NFramed 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
Hite Cove Trail
El Portal, California
5.8 miles WOne of Yosemite's earliest wildflower blooms lights up the Hite Cove Trail in spring, with the added bonus of watching the South and Central Fork Merced rivers merge.
Hike, Swim 0.2 mi
Bridalveil Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
8.1 miles EA 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 0.5 mi
McGurk Meadow
Yosemite National Park
8.5 miles EA 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 0.2 mi
Ribbon Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
8.6 miles NEThe 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
Horsetail Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
9.3 miles NEFor 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
10.2 miles EA 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 15.9 mi
Valley Loop Trail
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
10.5 miles NEAn 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 1.7 mi
Mono Meadow
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
10.9 miles EA 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 0.8 mi
Lower Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
11.4 miles NEA 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 4.6 mi
Four Mile Trail
Yosemite National Park
11.5 miles EA 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 0.7 mi
Cook's Meadow Loop
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
11.5 miles NEA nearly 1-mile, nearly flat loop in Sentinel Meadow with close-up views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Sentinel Rock — Yosemite's best easy walk.
Hike 2.5 mi
Chilnualna Falls
Wowana, Yosemite National Park
11.7 miles SEAn 8-mile round-trip hike in Yosemite to a lesser-known waterfall that passes through several forests and offers spring mist and creek crossings — horses and hikers share the trail.
Hike
Merced River
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
11.9 miles NEThe 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 0.3 mi
Glacier Point
Yosemite National Park
12.1 miles EPerched 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
Briceburg Recreation Area
Midpines, California
12.2 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 2.9 mi
Upper Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
12.3 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 0.4-2.1 mi
Illilouette Falls
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
12.5 miles EA 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
Devil's Bathtub
Yosemite Valley, California
12.6 miles NEA warm, off-the-beaten-path pool fed by the Royal Arches Cascade just above Yosemite's Ahwanhee Hotel — great for families or a picnic near world-class climbing walls.
Swim 1.9-2.9 mi
Mist Trail
Yosemite National Park
13.0 miles EA 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
