Half Dome is the signature landmark of Yosemite National Park. “Average” people can accomplish the approximately 16-mile, 12-hour hike to the top of Yosemite’s signature landmark if they have three...

Yosemite Fall, dropping 2,425 feet to the bottom of the valley from the top, is one of the most visited places in Yosmite National Park. The fall consists of three sections: upper falls, middle...

It's difficult to approach Yosemite's Half Dome without a sense of trepidation.

Perhaps it's the 15½ mile hike and 4,800ft elevation gain? Perhaps it's the worry of the vertigo you might experience...

If you only have time for one hike while in Yosemite look no further: the Mist Trail is the hike for you. It is no wonder why this trail is one of the most popular trails in Yosemite Valley. You...

If you are looking for an easy afternoon walk to explore Wawona consider the Wawona Meadow Loop. Located conveniently next to the Wawona Hotel, the trailhead is just across Highway 41. Compared to...

Many hikers chose to hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley starting at Tenaya lake, but this hike offers a slight different perspective, and allows you to stop at the Merced Lake High Sierra...

Glacier Point is a popular stop for many new visitors to Yosemite National Park on their way down to Yosemite Valley. Although it’s not much of a hike, the view at the end of the paved walkway will...

Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America, and 5th in the world, with a total of 2,425ft of elevation loss from top to bottom. Because the vertical drop is so long, it does not look...

One of the main reasons anyone visits Yosemite is to see the famous waterfalls, and it is no wonder why. Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America, 5th in the world, and the upper...

Yosemite Valley is great to see with hundreds of other tourists atop Glacier Point, but doesn't everyone just like to be exposed alone in the wilderness every once and awhile? Dewey Point is much less...

This 1.5 mile out-and-back hike will take you to a swinging wooden bridge with some great pools to swim in and lay in the afternoon sun. There is also a granite "slide" upriver of the bridge but...

No trip to Wawona is complete without spending a day exploring the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove. This protected grove of trees is home to over 300 giant sequoias, some almost 2,000 years old!...

After spending your morning at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (see the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Guide if you haven’t already), you may still find yourself itching to explore the area a

Few visitors to Yosemite National Park take the time to visit Wawona in the Southwest section of the park, but those who do quickly realize all it has to offer. You can walk around the Yosemite...

If you are looking for an easy hike to escape the larger crowds in Yosemite Valley look no further than the Mirror Lake Hike. It only takes a short while along this 2-mile out-and-back hike, but you...

Glacier Point overlooks the southern rim of Yosemite Valley, directly above Camp Curry. At 7,274 feet (2220m) asl, it commands possibly the best view in the park, overlooking Half Dome, Vernal and...

If you are looking for one of the best hikes in Yosemite to see beautiful wildflowers up close, this is the hike for you. The hike can be as short as 1.5 miles or as long as 4 (or longer if you...

Chilnuala Falls is a well-kept secret in Yosemite, simply because the majority of visitors to Yosemite National Park don’t venture out of the Valley. If you are staying in Wawona, or have entered...

Cloud's Rest, a massive granite formation just northeast of Half Dome in Yosemite Valley, is famous for its very high degree of visual prominence in the valley as well as its razor-sharp ridge near...

This is a 12.4 mile out and back hike to Ostrander Lake with about 1617 ft. of elevation gain, from 7000 ft to over 8600 ft.

The trail head is located off Glacier Point rd. The first 3 miles of the...

Sierra Point is a rocky outcropping across from Glacier Point from which there is a view of four waterfalls: Vernal, Nevada, Illilouette, and Yosemite Falls. It is (barely) accessible via a...

This delightful trip takes you through some of the most accessible and spectacular parts of Yosemite's High Country and its glacier-carved landscapes. It can be done as either an "independent"...

Lember Dome (9,450 ft.), located near the Tuolumne Meadows campground, is one of the best place to enjoy the views of Tuolumne Meadows. To hike Lembert Dome, you start from the Dog Lake parking lot on...

This trip takes you on an eleven mile loop across streams, through fields of ferns, and to a beautiful Sierra lake. On the way to the lake, you take the Kibbie Creek trail. The Kibbie Creek...

There is no better hike in Yosemite National Park which offers the amazing views of Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, Illilouette Fall, Yosemite Fall, and the entire Valley than the Panorama Trail....

This trip starts out of Yosemite Valley floor and is about 9.4 miles round trip and 3300ft elevation change. This is a difficult hike. The GPS trail on this hike is off on the trip up, but accurate on...

These two trails are located in the Red Mountain Lakes Area, which consists of five lakes: Mirror Lake, West Lake, Strawberry Lake, Red Lake and Coyote Lake. You’ll pass West Lake on the way to...

Yosemite Valley is by far the most popular area of the park, attracting visitors from every corner of the workd. It is home to the most famous sights as we well as the largest crowds. The valley is...

This hike will only take about 30 minutes round trip and will bring you to a beautiful waterfall with a great swimming hole at the base. You can climb up the trail further and scramble up a few rocks...

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This track was taken on a Labor Day 2010 climb of Mount Conness. The approach via class 2 pass between Conness and White. Descent via convoluted 2nd-3rd class east ridge route.

This route starts from...

A ski trip out to the Ostrander Hut in Yosemite National Park is a exciting winter adventure in the middle of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The hut sits on the edge of Ostrander Lake - frozen solid in...

Elizabeth Lake (9,487 feet) is located at the base of Unicorn Peak (10,823 feet) and easily accesible from the Tuolumne Meadows campgroud. The Elizabeth Lake trail begins in the B loop of the...

Spend several days circling Yosemite's Clark Range, and the source of the Merced River, enjoying big mountains, open spaces, and cold blue lakes without the crowds normally associated with the words...

If the Tunnel View crowds are getting between you and one of Yosemite's most famous viewpoints, consider the short hike up to Inspiration Point where you can admire this signature Yosemite Valley...

Yosemite is the 3rd oldest national park in the United States (Established October 1, 1890), and one of the favorite parks in the world. It covers 1,189 square miles in the western Sierra Nevada...

An easy peak for those looking for a beginner's introduction to cross-country travel in the Sierra. 

If you follow the northwestern ridge you will find a nice use trail. If you decide to continue on...

Contrary to what its name implies, Swamp Lake Trail is a high-elevation mountain route climbing to 9,600 feet at one point. Although much of the trail is heavily forested, the scenery is very...

An easy, short hike up an access road to a nice viewpoint of Yosemite Valley below in the distance.

From the top of Turtleback Dome you are treated to views of Half Dome and the Valley below. It’s a...

Yosemite Point (6,939 ft.), a mountain cliff stands right to Yosemite Fall , provides great and unobstructed views on the Yosemite Valley area. To get there, you need to hike the Upper Yosmetite Fall...

Lukens Lake is a short walk to a lake that explodes into fields of wildflowers in-season. It's the perfect length for a quick leg-stretch after, or before, a long time in the car and is a great...

This route could be done in two or three days, or you can keep it easy by hiking four easy days.

This route starts at Tenaya Lake and ends where 120 crosses Yosemite Creek, so it may be best to leave...

Mt. Dana is relatively easily accessible 13000+ ft peak and is the second highest in Yosemite National Park (Mt. Lyell is the highest one). The trail head is located right next to the East entrance of...

The hike to May Lake is a bit of the essence of Yosemite -- expansive views over granite peaks, a sparkling blue lake set below 10,000' Mount Hoffmann, a subalpine forest, and, well, other people....

This is a great springtime hike to the "Little Yosemite" section of Sunol Regional Wilderness, so named because its rock formations and rushing waters are a little bit like Yosemite.

A challenging...

This is a great hike right off the Tioga Road in Yosemite that takes you through some great meadows, past a rare granite arch called Indian Arch, and onto the granite of North Dome. North Dome is on...

If you were paying attention when you drove into Yosemite Valley (and I hope you were), you likely would have noticed Bridalveil Fall on the right side. The waterfall is appropriately named: when...

Old Big Oak Flat road used to be the access road to the valley until it was deemed to be too unsafe and eventually destroyed by rockfall. Today it is an interesting hike (partially on the old...

This is a classic Sierra Nevada high country trek, complete with subalpine forests, exposed granite outcroppings, and pristine glacial cirque lakes.

Start the hike from the Lembert Dome parking lot....