Best trails in Yosemite National Park
4.6·215,483 reviews·United States: #5 of 60 national parks
Want to find the best trails in Yosemite National Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 307 great trails for hiking, backpacking, and camping and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.
Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 34 easy hiking trails in Yosemite National Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 0 to 18,353 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Yosemite National Park.
Top trails
1
(18671)
•Hard
•6.4 mi
•Est. 4h 10m
Hike to two breathtaking waterfalls along some of Yosemite Valley's most popular hiking trails. 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 traveled in Yosemite National Park. You will hike so close to these two massive waterfalls that you may get wet from the trail. The best time to hike this trail is in Spring or early Summer, while the snow runoff is high and the falls are full...
2
(14565)
•Hard
•6.6 mi
•Est. 5h 21m
Enjoy the incredible views looking down from the top of Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in the continental US. Yosemite Falls, dropping 2,425 feet to the bottom of the valley from the top, is one of the most visited places in Yosemite National Park. The falls consist of three sections: upper falls, middle cascade, and lower falls. While most people only make the short trip to visit lower falls, upper falls is definitely worthy of visiting due to its panoramic views of Yosemite Valley...
3
(13683)
•Hard
•16.5 mi
Half Dome is a serious endurance hike taking you 4,800 feet above the Yosemite Valley to spectacular views of Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, the Yosemite Valley, and the High Sierra. This is one of Yosemite National Park’s most iconic hikes. You must obtain a permit to hike to the summit of Half Dome.
Preparation and safety are key to having a fantastic experience. This is a hike that requires users to be in good shape. Most people take 10 to 12 hours to hike to Half Dome and back,...
4
(9467)
•Hard
•3.1 mi
•Est. 2h 5m
Vernal Falls is one of the most popular destinations in Yosemite and for good reason! This trail follows the Mist Trail up a short but steep paved path. After this climb you will reach a bridge with views up to Vernal Falls. This is followed by a short section of wide dirt trail and finally a steep rock stair set up to the falls themselves. These stairs can extremely slipper due to this mist from the falls, so please exercise caution.
The Mist Trail starts at Happy Isles Trailhead (YARTS...
5
(14514)
•Easy
•1.2 mi
•Est. 24m
A quick stroll to see Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in Northern America and 5th in the world, crash down on the rocks below. Open year-round, this trail is easy but icy in the winter. The trailhead is at the Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead (shuttle stop #6). This short, easy walk provides spectacular views of Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls and even Middle Cascade. Like all waterfalls in Yosemite, this waterfall is often dry from late July or August through October and is best seen in...
6
(6995)
•Hard
•4.5 mi
•Est. 3h 0m
This trail begins at Happy Isles and follows the John Muir Trail to the Mist Trail and Vernal Falls. From there, continue on to Emerald Pool, where you will reach a junction that takes you to Clark Point. Follow the John Muir Trail as it loops back to the trailhead. There are incredible views of waterfalls and the surrounding granite domes along this route.
The upper portion of the John Muir Trail between Clark Point and the top of Nevada Fall is closed in winter due to treacherously icy...
7
(5506)
•Easy
•5.0 mi
•Est. 1h 44m
With a fresh perspective looking up at Half Dome directly from its base, you'll be rewarded with views of Tenaya Canyon, Mount Watkins, and Washington Column. While pleasant at any time of year, Mirror Lake is fullest in spring and early summer. When water is calm, the lake offers beautiful reflections of surrounding cliffs. Mirror Lake is often referred to as Mirror Meadow in late summer due to the lack of water.
The first mile of this trail is a paved service road that leads directly to...
8
(4532)
•Moderate
•2.2 mi
•Est. 1h 42m
This is a short steep hike to Columbia Rock with sweeping views of Yosemite Valley along the Yosemite Upper Falls Trail.
Sharing a trailhead with Upper Yosemite Falls, Columbia Rock Trail is located in the Sunnyside campground (Camp 4). Get off the shuttle at the #7 stop, cross the road, and take short quarter mile walk to the trailhead. This part of the Upper Yosemite Falls trail is full of switchbacks and can be tough on the knees coming back down, hiking poles may be helpful here! The...
9
(3912)
•Hard
•5.7 mi
•Est. 3h 53m
This hike takes you on one of the most popular trails in Yosemite National Park - the Mist Trail. The trail begins from Happy Isles and follows the paved Mist Trail to the Vernal Falls Footbridge. Here there are restrooms and water fountains, making it a great spot to take a break before the real climbing begins. From here, the trail turns into rocky steps, up to the top of Vernal Falls. This section is what gives the trail its name - in the spring, the trail gets hit with mist from the...
10
(2969)
•Moderate
•4.4 mi
•Est. 1h 34m
The Mirror Lake via Valley Loop Trail is an easy loop in Yosemite National Park, with the pathway around Mirror Lake being a must-see for its beautiful reflections of Half Dome and its abundance of wildflowers during the early summer months. Mirror Lake is a seasonal calm lake located on Tenaya Creek and situated in Tenaya Canyon directly between North Dome and Half Dome. It is the last remnant of a large glacial lake that once filled the entire Yosemite Valley.
This is a well-marked trail...
Showing results 1–10 of 307
Guides
Trail reviews for Yosemite National Park
Beautiful winter hike. No snow shoes needed yet but soon! Easy hike just watch the ice. Not super crowded early but as we were leaving quite a few people showed up. Great way to see Yosemite without having to travel too far.
Difficulty: Easy
Tuolumne Grove Trail
Such a beautiful hike. I wish I had the time to hike up to glacier point. Would recommend this hike over upper Yosemite falls.
The Four Mile Trail From Glacier Point Trailhead
We took the Mist trail on the way up. Quite a few stairs and a good workout on the last part of the way to Vernal falls. We then walked up towards Nevada falls but the trail was pretty icy so we stopped and turned around at the bridge. On the return trip we took the John Muir trail. It was very icy and we wished we had Ice Trax on our shoes. The nice part was it was beautiful and the crowds were small. On the John Muir trail we literally saw 4 people! We walked for over 30 minutes without seeing another hiker at Yosemite!!
Perfect trail to explore the Yosemite valley. No bugs at all. Some areas with ice and snow.
Difficulty: Hard
Yosemite Grand Tour
Glacier point of Yosemite. It is a beautiful place and more beautiful, it was having climbed, it was a great challenge for me personally we were able to reach the top, Irma Cruz
Very cool hike. Took my kids on a Sunday. Overall completed 11 miles, we took the loop towards Yosemite falls on our way back to trailhead. Great views from North Dome.
North Dome
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to hike in Yosemite National Park?
According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Yosemite National Park is Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail, which has a 4.9 star rating from 18,671 reviews. This trail is 6.4 mi long with an elevation gain of 2,208 ft.
What is the longest trail in Yosemite National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Yosemite National Park is Hetch Hechy Reservoir to Sierra Crest Backpacking Loop. This trail is estimated to be 87.6 mi long.
How many trails are in Yosemite National Park?
There are 307 trails in Yosemite National Park. These trails have an average 4.6-star rating from 215,483 AllTrails community reviews.
Which trail has the most elevation gain in Yosemite National Park?
If you're looking for elevation gain, Yosemite National Park has you covered. Hetch Hechy Reservoir to Sierra Crest Backpacking Loop boasts the most elevation gain with 18,353 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Big Oak Flat Road to Tuloumne Meadows, which will get you 15,908 ft of elevation gain.
Are there camping trails available in Yosemite National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there are 73 camping trails in Yosemite National Park and the most popular is Upper Yosemite Falls Trail with an average 4.8 star rating from 14,565 community reviews.
Are there running trails available in Yosemite National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there are 191 running trails in Yosemite National Park and the most popular is Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail with an average 4.9 star rating from 18,671 community reviews.
Are there biking trails available in Yosemite National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, there are 2 biking trails in Yosemite National Park and the most popular is Mirror Lake Paved Trail with an average 4.5 star rating from 4,581 community reviews.