Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park (Day Hikes to Backpacking)

Yosemite packs more world-class hiking into one park than almost anywhere on Earth — thundering waterfalls, granite domes, alpine lakes, and giant sequoias. Whether you’ve got an afternoon or a week, here are the best hikes in the park, sorted by effort, plus the planning details that make or break a Yosemite trip.

Easy Hikes (Big Views, Little Effort)

Glacier Point — The single best view in the park: Half Dome, Nevada and Vernal Falls, and the high country, all from one overlook. Drive up or hike the Four Mile Trail to earn it.

Sentinel Dome & Taft Point — A ~2-mile loop to a 360° granite summit and a heart-stopping cliff edge over the valley. Maximum payoff for minimum effort.

Mariposa Grove — Walk among the largest living things on Earth — giant sequoias including the famous Grizzly Giant. Easy, shaded, and unforgettable.

Mirror Lake — A flat, family-friendly walk to reflections of Half Dome (best in spring when the water’s high).

Moderate Hikes

Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls — The park’s most iconic day hike. Climb the granite staircase right alongside Vernal Fall (you will get misted), then continue to Nevada Fall. Turn around at Vernal (~3 mi round trip) or push to Nevada (~7 mi). Go early — it’s popular for good reason.

Cathedral Lakes — In the high country off Tioga Road, a ~7-mile round trip to a stunning alpine lake beneath Cathedral Peak. Some of the best scenery-per-mile in the park.

Yosemite Falls (Lower) — A short, easy walk to the base of North America’s tallest waterfall. Roaring in spring, often dry by late summer.

Strenuous / Bucket-List Hikes

Half Dome — The park’s legendary summit, up the famous cable route — ~14–16 miles and ~4,800 ft of gain. It requires a permit (lottery) and serious fitness. Read our complete Half Dome hiking guide for permits, route, and gear before you go.

Clouds Rest — Higher than Half Dome, arguably a better view, and (usually) no permit needed for the day hike. A ~14-mile round trip with a thrilling ridge finish.

Upper Yosemite Falls — A relentless ~7.6-mile round trip switchbacking to the top of the falls. Brutal climb, incredible payoff.

Backpacking the high country — For multi-day trips, the Tuolumne Meadows area is the gateway to the High Sierra. Our JMT section: Tuolumne to Reds Meadow trip report covers a classic stretch.

When to Go

• Spring (Apr–Jun): peak waterfall season — falls are thundering. Tioga Road and the high country are usually still closed/snowy.
• Summer (Jul–Sep): the high country opens (Tioga Road), prime backpacking, but the valley is hot and crowded. Falls may run low by late summer.
• Fall (Oct–Nov): fewer crowds, crisp air, golden meadows — a local favorite. Some high-country access closes with the first snows.
• Winter: a quiet, snowy valley; Badger Pass skiing; limited trail access.

Permits & Reservations

• Park entry reservation: Yosemite often requires a timed-entry reservation during peak periods — check the NPS site before your trip.
• Half Dome: requires a permit via lottery (the cables are up roughly late May–mid October).
• Backpacking: requires a wilderness permit (quota system, reservable in advance). Bear canisters are required in the backcountry — see our bear canister guide.

Navigation & Safety

Cell service is spotty to nonexistent in much of the park. Don’t rely on your phone alone:

• Download offline maps and carry a paper Yosemite topo map. See our best backcountry navigation tools.
• For the high country or solo trips, a satellite messenger like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is worth its weight.
• Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the high country in summer — start early and be off exposed summits (Half Dome, Clouds Rest) by early afternoon.
• Carry and treat plenty of water — see how much water to carry.

What to Pack

Even for day hikes, carry the Ten Essentials: water + filter, layers, rain shell, sun protection, headlamp, first aid, and navigation. For Half Dome, gloves for the cables are a must. Sturdy trail runners or hiking shoes handle Yosemite’s granite well.

Bottom Line

• Short on time? Glacier Point + Sentinel Dome/Taft Point for the views, Mist Trail for the falls.
• Want the classics? Mist Trail, Half Dome (with a permit), and Clouds Rest.
• Craving solitude? Head to the Tuolumne high country and backpack.

Plan ahead, start early, respect the permits, and Yosemite will give you some of the best hiking days of your life.

Go Light. Go Far. Live Wild.