Lace up your hiking boots as Yosemite National Park is bursting with bucket list-worthy walking adventures that will leave you California dreaming! Famed for its waterfalls and granite walls, Yosemite National Park is home to some of the most iconic natural wonders in America. A hikers paradise, this World Heritage Site gives unparalleled proportion and perfect for all levels of ability. The park has over 800 miles of trails, 21 waterfalls and the largest exposed granite monolith in the world! From a family-friendly day hike to one that will challenge you, Yosemite is a world-class destination that will leave you wanting more.
Here are the best (and our favourite) hikes in Yosemite National Park that will give you a good starting point to plan your hiking adventure. Read more: Best of Yosemite Walk (Half Dome, El Capitan & Yosemite Falls).
Bridalveil Falls
Grade: Easy
Distance: 0.8km (0.5miles) round trip
Bridalveil Falls is one of the most iconic waterfalls in Yosemite Valley and also one of the easiest to access which is why it’s one of the popular hikes in Yosemite. At 189metres (620 feet) tall, what makes Bridalveil unique from most other Yosemite waterfalls is not having a direct drop from a glacier-carved hanging valley. Instead, Bridalveil drops at a curve, looking like a streaming veil hence its name.
Tuolumne Meadow to Glen Aulin High Sierra
Grade: Easy
Distance: 18.7km (11.6 miles) round trip
This trail will give you one of the most panoramic views in the Sierra of granite domes, jagged peaks, and alpine meadows. You’ll walk through some of the best scenery of the high-country wilderness. It makes a favourable trail as it follows a river past several waterfalls making it ideal to swim, wade or fish for adventure. Tuolomne Meadows is located on Tioga Road, a fairly long scenic drive away from Yosemite Valley.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Grade: Easy
Distance: 25.4km (15.8 miles) for whole trail
Mariposa Grove is home to the iconic 1000-year-old Giant Sequoias, the largest living things in the world. Get up close and be inspired by these giants with an array of hiking options from short day hikes to the more challenging. We recommend the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail which lets you experience famous behemoths like the Bachelor and Three Graces, the Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree where you can walk through it!
Taft Point
Grade: Easy
Distance: 3.5km (2.2 miles) return
Taft Point offers commanding views up and down the valley and to El Capitan. There are no guardrails here, giving you a feel of the deep drop from the cliff edge. The hike is 3.5km (2.2 miles) return and is fairly easy, with very little elevation gain. Along the trail, you'll pass by a section known as The Fissures. Marvel at these spectacular geologic features made up of deep gashes in the rock leading right out to the valley below.
Mist Trail to Vernall Fall and Nevada Fall
Grade: Moderate
Distance: 12.9km (8 miles) one way
The Mist Trail follows the top of the spectacular Vernal Fall and is one of the most popular hikes in the park. You can combine a series of hikes that include a short hike to the Vernal Fall Footbridge, followed by the Mist Trail, and beyond to Nevada Fall. A trail that offers hikers a chance to turn back whenever they choose, while still reaching some maginifient views along the way. This is an 12.9km (8 mile) one way hike to the Vernal Fall Footbridge, with 122 metres (400 feet) of elevation gain. Hit this trail early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the crowds, and expect to take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours.
Half Dome via Mist Trail
Grade: Difficult
Distance: 23.3km (14.5 miles) round trip
The hike up Half Dome, Yosemite’s most famous icon, is a bucket-list hike and best suited to adventurous hikers. Not only is it one of the most photographed natural wonders in the world, but the journey to its summit is a challenging 2695 metres (8,842 feet). You’ll pass waterfalls, rivers, and wildflower-filled meadows. Start early as the trail is 23.3km (14.5 miles) round trip with almost 5,000 feet of elevation gain. The trail starts out following the route of some of the other popular hikes in the park, beginning on the Mist Trail, up to Vernal Fall, and beyond to Nevada Fall. The final section of the hike up the backside of Half Dome is so steep and exposed, there are installed cables to make the climb possible.
Cathedral Lakes
Grade: Moderate
Distance: 11.3 km (7 miles) roundtrip
The iconic Cathedral Peak and Cathedral Lakes is a place for alpine lovers and is one of the most spectacular rock formations in Yosemite. A journey that traverses high alpine lakes and passes through wildflower-filled alpine meadows and sub-alpine forests at almost 3,048 metres (10,000 feet) of elevation. Summer wildflowers are at their prime in wet meadows and the forest floor from late June to late August. You can hike to both Upper and Lower Cathedral Lake, for an eight-mile round-trip hike, or just hike to either one for a seven-mile return hike. Expect to take 3 to 5 hours to complete this hike. A picnic at one of the lakes is always a good idea!
Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls
Grade: Difficult
Distance: 11.6 km (7.2 miles) roundtrip
On this classic Yosemite hike, you’ll walk from the base of Yosemite Falls to above the Upper Falls. A trail that gives the best waterfall views and where you’ll climb the tallest waterfall, at 739 metres (2425 feet), in North America from its base to the top. You can hike 11.6 km (7.2 miles) round-trip to the top of Yosemite Falls or opt for a two-mile round-trip hike to Columbia Rock. The hike to the top of Yosemite Falls involves a heart-pounding, 823 metres (2,700 foot) elevation gain over a series of switchbacks, to a spectacular lookout, where you can also view the falls from above. It’s one of two places where you can see all the valley waterfalls from one viewpoint. Enjoy the opportunity of walking through the waterfall spray of Yosemite Falls and the chance to photograph both Half Dome and Yosemite Falls in the same shot.
Planning Your Visit to Yosemite
For the first timers, a stay in Yosemite Valley is ideal as it is home to an array of trailheads. No matter where you stay, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of granite cliffs and domes. The Valley also has a wide range of restaurants, grocery stores and frequent shuttle bus systems. Accommodation here are from camping to luxury hotels. Tenaya Lodge and The Ahwahnee offer a luxury in the wild stay offering complete relaxation after a day’s of adventure. Visitors can park at Half Dome Village or Yosemite Village and access the shuttle to reach trailheads and sites.
