yosemite national park: hikes and sights
Yosemite’s incredible beauty, along with conservationist John Muir’s prolific writing about and passion for the park, helped it to become the first piece of land protected by the federal government, inspiring the national parks system. The park is massive, spanning over 1,000 square miles, and includes everything from the iconic Half Dome and El Capitan, to towering sequoias and lush meadows. We recently visited and saw only a small portion of what Yosemite has to offer.
Yosemite Valley
Given that we visited at the end of August, our hikes focused less on the waterfalls and more on exploring throughout the park. The waterfalls are at their peak in the spring; by late summer, they are more of a trickle than an impressive flow. If you visit in the spring, I’d recommend doing the Mist trail to Vernal and Nevada falls (7 miles round trip) and walk to the Lower Yosemite Viewpoints (0.5 mile paved and accessible trail).
Cathedral Lakes
Cathedral Lakes: Hands down my favorite hike of the trip, the trail leads up to a pair of alpine lakes. Less crowded than other trails in the valley, this 7-8 mile hike is steep in the beginning with moderate incline for the rest of the trail. The trailhead starts at 8,500 feet of elevation with about 1,000 feet in elevation gain. The lakes are incredibly beautiful and peaceful. Highly recommend!
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne Meadows: off of Tioga Road, these meadows are located at 8,000 feet of elevation and surrounded by vast granite ridges. This is a great spot to pause for lunch and grab some panoramic views.
Tenaya Lake
Tenaya Lake: Located right off of Tioga Road, Tenaya Lake is a stunning alpine lake that you can walk around, swim or kayak in, or just take in the views. If you’re headed out toward Tuolumne Meadows, it’s worth a stop.
Olmstead Point
Olmstead Point is a viewpoint off of Tioga Road. An easy pull off from the road, you can view Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon.
El Capitan from Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley in the early morning
Yosemite Valley: The valley itself gives visitors great views at every turn. You can easily walk, bike, or drive around the valley and I’d suggest a combo of all three to get the full experience. From the main loop, you can view El Capitan’s towering presence and see Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge.
From the top of Upper Yosemite Falls trail
Pools at the top of Upper Yosemite Falls
Upper Yosemite Falls Trail: This trail is a little over 7 miles round trip with 2,600 feet of elevation gain. Think lots of stairs. The trail is well maintained and easy to follow. If you’re going in the summer, I’d suggest heading out early as much of the trail does receive sun and it gets HOT. From the top, you can see the Upper Yosemite Falls and look out over Yosemite Valley. It’s a solid hike with some great views at the end.
Glacier Point views
Glacier Point is a viewpoint that overlooks Yosemite Valley. From here you can see Half Dome, Yosemite Falls (on a clear, non-wildfire smoke day), and other rock formations, such as the liberty cap. The road is a bit winding and it takes about 30 minutes to drive up to the viewpoint. I’d suggest going on your way out for a magnificent last view of the park. The viewpoint is a short walk from the parking lot and fully accessible. If we had more time in Yosemite, I would have done the Four Mile Trail that leads up from the valley to the viewpoint.
Note: Tioga Road is not accessible year round and typically closed from November to May. Any viewpoints or trails off Tioga Road will not be accessible during that time.
