Guide’s Picks for the Best Yosemite Day Hikes
About 5 million people visit Yosemite a year. They’re attracted by the promise of blasting waterfalls, towering granite walls, massive trees, and more. But with so much to see (and usually not enough time!), how do you guarantee you’re seeing the best? After 25+ years of guiding in the park, we’ve done the work for you and narrowed the 800 miles of trails to the ten best day hikes in Yosemite.
- Mist Trail – Vernal and Nevada Fall Loop
- Half Dome
- Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
- Clouds Rest
- Sentinel Dome and Taft Point
- North Dome
- Mt. Hoffmann
- Wapama Falls
- Lembert Dome
- Sequoia Groves
Vernal and Nevada Falls Loop
Out of the millions of visitors to Yosemite every year, most have hiked on the Mist Trail. This trail takes hikers alongside the Merced River through the canyon of the same name. As the trail becomes steeper, the sights of waterfalls start to appear. The Mist Trail goes right past Vernal Fall and to the top of Nevada Fall, with lookout points for the pour-overs. In the Spring, you will want to wear a rain jacket for the massive amount of mist you will get from Vernal Fall, the reason this trail got its name. After a well-deserved lunch at the top, this hike can be made into a loop by taking the John Muir Trail down. This section of trail offers spectacular views of Nevada Fall, with Mt. Broderick, Liberty Cap, and Half Dome standing tall behind. You can also capture an awe-inspiring view of Vernal Fall from above.
- Level of Difficulty: Hard
- Miles: 6.2
- Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
Half Dome in a Day
There is Half Dome in a Day for those hikers wanting the ultimate bucket-list challenge. This hike also goes along the Mist Trail, but it keeps going…and going and going. At 18 miles round trip and 5000 feet of elevation gain, this is a hike that you’ll want to take plenty of time training for. After passing Nevada Fall it’s onward to Little Yosemite Valley. After LYV the trail continues upwards for several miles through a coniferous forest before reaching sub dome. Sub dome is one of the more challenging parts of the hike. The trail goes steeply up the rock face, with 500 stairs to the base of the cables. The last 400 feet are on the famous cable route that looks vertical. When you gather the guts to attack the cables, you’ll see what the hype was for. Once you’ve soaked in the views and the feeling of accomplishment, about-face and return the way you came. This iconic journey belongs on any list of the best day hikes in Yosemite!
- Level of Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous
- Miles: 18
- Elevation Gain: 4800 feet
Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
If you’re a fan of waterfalls, this is definitely one of the best day hikes in Yosemite. Hiking to the top of one of the tallest waterfalls in North America is challenging, but it’s well worth it. On this 7-mile roundtrip hike, you’ll start tackling switchbacks in the forest cover until you reach Columbia Rock, a magnificent viewpoint across the Valley. The trail will then have a downhill section where you will think about how you have to gain all that elevation back again. And then, you round a corner and get your first glimpse of the Falls. Gasp. For the next mile, the trail opens up, and views of Upper Yosemite Falls are around every corner. When you start to wonder if you’re there yet, you’ll get to the trail junction leading you to the top of the falls. Not only is there a spectacular viewpoint where you’ll want to take many photos, but the trail continues down some stairs to an overlook where you can see the falls plunging over the side of the cliff! At this point, you can return the way you came or add a little over a mile to your itinerary and go up to Yosemite Point. You’ll see more of Half Dome from this viewpoint and fewer people.
-
- Level of Difficulty: Hard
- Miles: 7
- Elevation Gain: 3,254 feet
Clouds Rest
Clouds Rest can be approached from different trailheads, but Sunrise Lakes Trailhead is the most popular. This approach offers a more gentle hike in elevation gain and positions you right by Tenaya Lake for a well-earned dip after the hike. Although not as popular as Half Dome, many people argue that the view from Clouds Rest is superior. At 9,931 feet in elevation, the summit of Clouds Rest towers over Half Dome and almost everything else around it. What makes this hike even more unique is the spine-tingling final approach to the summit via the ‘backbone’. Once at the top, relax and soak in the 360-degree views of Yosemite’s famous granite peaks. You’ve earned it.
-
- Level of Difficulty: Hard
- Miles: 14
- Elevation Gain: 1775 feet
Sentinel Dome and Taft Point
On this five-mile lollipop loop, you get two destinations for the price of one, making it a staple on any top ten Yosemite day hike list. Starting from the Sentinel Dome trailhead off Glacier Point Road, it’s only a short jaunt before Sentinel Dome. The last stretch departs the dirt and heads up on the rock until you are perched on one of the best viewpoints in the park. Backtrack slightly and take the trail to Taft Point. This trail meanders along the cliff’s edge, giving grand views of the Valley. Don’t forget to check out the fissures before you get to Taft Point. The fissures are fractures in the granite called joints, and you can peek 2,000 feet down through some of them! The official Taft Point has a great view and guardrail; you can’t miss it! Savor this vista before returning the way you came and taking a right at the trail junction to return to your car.
-
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Miles: 5
- Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
North Dome
If you’re a fan of hidden gems, this is one of the best day hikes in Yosemite for you! The adventure begins at the Porcupine Creek trailhead on Tioga Road. The trail starts in a dense forest of pine and fir trees, which provide nice shade. The path is well-maintained and you’ll quickly reach Porcupine Creek, your last reliable water source for the day. One more mile and you begin your ascent up the mountain. At the top of the first big hill, you’ll have the option to explore Indian Rock, a massive natural granite arch. The trail will continue mostly downhill to the saddle beneath North Dome. One more hill and you will be rewarded with an unobstructed view of Half Dome. It’s a fantastic spot for photos and taking in the awe-inspiring beauty of Yosemite Valley. Follow your path back, enjoying a cool splash of water from the creek before your final ascent to the car.
-
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Miles: 10.5
- Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet
Mount Hoffmann
John Muir said in The Yosemite when discussing a two-day excursion in the park, “For a two-day trip I would go straight to Mount Hoffmann, spend the night on the summit.” That plan seems a little windy for our taste, but a day hike to the top is one of the best in Yosemite. It offers a good challenge with a wealthy reward. Placed geographically in the center of Yosemite and at a height of 10,850 ft., Mount Hoffmann offers vast views without a car in sight. The first part of the trail climbs a gentle 500 feet over a mile to May Lake, a popular backcountry camping destination and the location of a High Sierra Camp. After May Lake, the trail is ‘unofficial’ although relatively easy to follow. This is where you gain major elevation and follow the cairns until the final summit push over boulders requiring attention along with your hands and feet. At the summit, you share the space with a weather station and most likely a few marmots (watch your food!). Carefully return the way you came, stopping for a dip in May Lake if you aren’t afraid of cold water!
-
- Level of Difficulty: Strenuous
- Miles: 5
- Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet
Wapama Falls
If you want to get away from the crowds and still see awe-inspiring waterfalls, head to Hetch Hetchy. This part of the park has its own entrance off the 120 Highway. The drive into Hetch Hetchy itself is entertaining. The roads twist and turn narrowly (long vehicles not permitted) as you descend into Hetch Hetchy Valley, catching glimpses of the waterfalls along the way. The trail starts at the O’Shaughnessy Dam, where you walk on top of a massive controversial dam. The trail stays along the water, gaining minimal elevation. Beware of poison oak around here! In the Spring, you’ll be greeted by Tueeulala Falls before seeing your final destination: Wapama Falls. At 1,100 feet tall, this waterfall is quite a wonder! Exercise caution as you return the way you came.
-
- Level of Difficulty: Easy
- Miles: 5
- Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Lembert Dome
Lembert Dome, situated right in the heart of Tuolumne Meadows, is the perfect example of a roche moutonnée. This fancy French term describes a mountain with a long gradual slope on one side with a sharp dropoff on the other and translates to ‘sheepback.’ It is possible to climb to the top of this sheepback from a couple of trailheads. One is at the Lembert Dome parking area, and the other is Dog Lake. Many people extend their hike to visit Dog Lake but be warned, dogs are not allowed there! Whichever way you choose, the trail will be steep as you climb the dome itself. Once on the granite, it’s a short walk with a little careful scrambling to the top. If you still have any breath left it will get taken away by the view. Return the way you came or make it a loop. This challenging but rewarding journey is definitely one of the best day hikes in Yosemite!
-
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Miles: 3 miles out & back (from Dog Lake parking), or 4 miles for the loop, 5 miles if you add Dog Lake
- Elevation Gain: 900 feet
Sequoia Groves
There are three groves of giant sequoias in Yosemite to choose from, but we recommend the Tuolumne Grove. At a little less than 3 miles round-trip, it delivers a big bang for your buck. It takes a mile of downhill travel (don’t forget you have to go back up!) until you spy the first sequoia, and it does not disappoint. This starts the figure eight loop through the grove that includes a fallen tree that you can crawl through and one that was carved out so carriages could travel through.
-
- Level of Difficulty: Easy
- Miles: 3
- Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Let Us Help You Choose the Best Day Hikes in Yosemite for You!
There are so many magnificent sights to see in Yosemite, but the great thing is you don’t have to figure it all out yourself! Let us start off your time in Yosemite with a Valley Tour, or you can book a Classic Camping or Lodging Package where you can pretty much hike it all! The most challenging choice you’ll have to make is when you have to leave and how soon you can return.