5 Best Hiking Trails in Yosemite National Park
Last Updated: 10/17/2024
Yosemite National Park is a truly amazing place that makes lists every year for its resplendent natural beauty. Hiking is the perfect way to get outdoors and experience this beauty for yourself, and Yosemite has some of the most amazing hikes in North America. But which hiking trail to choose can be tricky, but we’ve got you covered with this list of 5 of the best hikes in Yosemite National Park. So if you’re unsure how to spend your precious time in the park, keep reading to see what 5 trails you absolutely cannot miss!
Coming down the Mist Trail in Yosemite Valley.
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A sneak peak of Half Dome from along the trail up.
1. Half Dome
If you’re up for a vertical challenge, Half Dome may just be the hike for you. Half Dome is a rock formation in Yosemite Valley that can bee seen throughout the park, and is a truly unique and stunning natural landmark. One half of this giant granite boulder is curved, and the other half is flat- thus making it half of a dome- Half Dome.
A few lucky souls are lucky enough to be able to stand on the top of that dome, but only after they’ve climbed up straight up the side of the dome using steel cables that have been placed in the rock’s face. It is a truly amazing hike, unlike anything that I’ve ever experienced before.
The view is truly spectacular, the hiking trail filled with scenic vistas, waterfalls, and a high alpine forest. There is a lot to hiking this trail however- you will need to win a permit, which is on a lottery system, before being allowed up those steel cables. The hike itself is also very hard and long, so you will need to come prepared and do your research.
Despite all of the preparation involved, this hike is so worth it! Hiking up those cables is a once in a lifetime experience, and that’s why we think it’s the best hike in the park.
More Information on hiking Half Dome:
A stunning view of Vernal Falls and the pool below.
2. The Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls
If you want to experience some truly thrilling waterfalls up close and personal, you may consider hiking the mist trail up to Vernal and Nevada Falls. The Mist Trail follows the Merced River as it cascades down two impressive waterfalls, one right after the other. Following a trail hewn into the rocks, you follow along the side of Vernal Falls.
During the summer the mist is so intense, you will get wet hiking along the side of the Merced River. Keep in mind that all that mist makes the stairs wet and slippery, and there are plenty of stairs! But it’s worth it to keep powering through as you continue the trail past Vernal Falls and right up to the top of Nevada Falls.
Here, you will get a show as well as you cross a bridge and follow up some stairs and switchbacks with a direct view of the falls all the way up to the top. And on your way back down, don’t forget to stop at the large viewing area at the top of Vernal Falls! This trail is one of our absolute favorites in Yosemite, and in our opinion it’s a m(i)st do!
3. Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
All throughout Yosemite National Park are giant sequoia trees, scattered about the Valley, Tioga Pass Road, and at lower elevations. When they all grow close together in a grove however, you can truly understand the impressive size of them.
Mariposa Grove is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias. If you’ve never seen giant sequoia trees, or even if you have, this trail is not to be missed! Following along an easy and enjoyable path, you can look out at the meadow that is home to these ancient trees and learn about their ecology from signs as you go along.
You can make this adventure short by turning around at the Grizzly Giant tree less than 2 miles in, or you can extend the journey by hiking to the Wawona Tree, which is famous for having a tunnel cut into it. If you’re interested in seeing more unique areas of Yosemite, you may consider adding the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias to your itinerary.
A view of the falls along the hike to the top.
4. Yosemite Falls
It seems like no matter where you are in Yosemite Valley, you can see Yosemite Falls. Cascading down below with a drama that only Yosemite can pull off, this hike up to the top of Yosemite Falls can’t be missed.
At the top there is a viewing area that will make your heart jump into your throat by the sheer proximity of the falls.
And if that isn’t reason enough to add this hike to the top of your list, the way up offers truly stunning views of the Valley far below, and a unique perspective of Half Dome far in the distance.
Between the views, the bragging rights to stand at the top of a waterfall, and the enjoyable and moderate hike, this trail has it all.
The trailhead to the Tuolumne Grove!
5. Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
If you can’t make it to the southern portion of Yosemite National Park to see the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, then we highly suggest stopping at the Tuolumne Grove off of Tioga Pass Road. Only open during the summer due to snow conditions, the Tuolumne Grove is a unique opportunity to step off trails that go up, and try a trail that goes down and around.
The hiking trail down to Tuolumne Grove follows Old Big Flat Road, one of the first roads to be built in Yosemite Valley, and drops 500 feet in one mile. Once you make it to the bottom, you’ll be rewarded by a short and mostly flat hike through a forest of sugar pines and white firs as you enjoy the almost 2 dozen mature sequoia trees.
Remember to save your energy for the way back up however, as you will need to ascend that mostly straight downhill you just enjoyed. We suggest this hike as a great way to start a day gently but pleasantly, and to set the scene for the rest of your day in the amazing Yosemite National Park.
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