Last Updated: October 13, 2021

Best Hikes In Yosemite

best hikes in yosemite
Yosemite national park is a hiking wonderland with over 800 miles of trails to explore. It’s one of the most popular National Parks in the US and receives over 3.5 million visitors a year. The hikes are spread across the Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Tuolumne meadows. 
 
You can hike amongst the sequoias and flower-filled meadows, follow rivers and streams, see the highest waterfall in the US, walk amongst old glacial valleys and check out the summits of Half Dome and El Capitan. The list is truly endless and once you’ve been there you’ll have a yearning to return year after year. 
 
It’s not just landscapes you’ll see but also some amazing wildlife. The park is home to black bears, mule deer, bobcats, mountain lions, foxes, and bighorn sheep plus over 250 species of birds. So if you’re into bird watching then don’t forget to take your binoculars along. 
 
There are entrance fees to pay for your vehicle and they range from $35 to $20 for a week pass. Pretty much all the gates are manned 24 hours a day and if there is no one there when you arrive, you can go in and pay on your way out. 
 
With so much to do in Yosemite, it’s hard to know where to start, and you definitely can’t do it all. Luckily we have made this handy list of the Best Hikes In Yosemite, so you can be sure to see the best of it. 

Mirror Lake via Valley Loop Hike

mirror lake yosemite

Hike Details

  • Trail length: 6.1 miles
  • Elevation Change: 337 feet
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Starting Point: Lower Pines Camp Ground
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Transportation: Shuttle, Car

The Mirror Lake via Valley Loop Hike is a great one for the whole family. It’s pretty easy without much elevation change and the path is well looked after. It’s not ideal for strollers or wheelchairs though as there are some inclines where you’ll struggle with them.

The trail runs through the Yosemite Valley and follows a route around Mirror Lake which sits between Half Dome and North Dome in the Tenaya Canyon. You can see beautiful reflections of Half Dome in the lake (hence the name Mirror Lake) and a huge amount of wildflowers if you’re there in early summer.

The hike is just over 6 miles long and should take around 4-5 hours depending on your speed. The path begins just next to Lower Pines Camp Ground and you can either opt to drive or get the shuttle bus. There is a large parking area and drinking water available so you can refill your bottles before you begin.

The trail is best done between March and November due to the weather and it’s also one of the less crowded hikes in Yosemite, so if you need a break for business, this is the hike to head to.

Sentinel Dome Hike

sentinel dome yosemite

Hike Details

  • Trail length: 2.1 miles
  • Elevation Change: 455 ft
  • Hiking Time: 1 hour
  • Starting Point: Glacier Pt Road
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Transportation: Car, Shuttle

The Sentinel Dome Hike is a quick and easy hike that offers some of the most spectacular views of the Yosemite Valley and its features.

Once you’ve climbed the dome, you’ll be able to see right down the Yosemite Valley with El Capitan and Yosemite Falls to the north and if you look east, then Half Dome Clouds Rest and Nevada Falls are waiting for you to take their picture.

Getting to the spectacular view is not hard at all and the whole hike there and back is just a 2.1-miles with an elevation change of 455 ft. You can do it in an hour but it’s worth spending as much time as you can at the top to take it all in.

It’s best to do this hike between April and November so you don’t experience any bad weather. The trail begins on Galcier PT road and is well signed. You can park your car there or take the shuttle.

The first part of the hike takes you over a stream and up through some lovely pine trees. Eventually, you’ll arrive at the base of the dome and go up on top of it to see the magical views.

Glacier Point Hike