10 Best Hiking Trails At Yosemite, USA - Updated 2024

hiking in yosemite
Ryan Joshua
Ryan Joshua 
Updated
| 4 min read

Yosemite National Park is probably the most famous national park in the whole United States. The park surely has something new to check out and marvel at when you visit. It is home to hundreds of miles of trails, 21 waterfalls, and the biggest exposed granite monolith in the whole world. With the thousands of square miles that the national park occupies, it would probably take a lifetime to explore the whole Yosemite National Park. If you are interested to see most of the area, the best thing to do is take a hike. Here are just some of the best hiking trails at Yosemite, USA.

1. Yosemite Valley Loop Trail (from USD 350.0)

Get to explore Yosemite National Park even better during the cold months of winter, where there are lesser crowds and amazing snowfall at almost all of the peaks that surround the valley. Experience Yosemite according to your preferences, which can include hikes, museum tours, and many more. A knowledgeable guide equipped with emergency kits will be with you all throughout the trip for your safety. You will also get to see some winter phenomena like the frazil ice on one of Yosemite’s rivers.

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Yosemite Valley Private Winter Hiking Tour

Duration: 4 to 6 hours

5 reviews

2. Yosemite Falls Trailhead (from USD 205.0)

See the amazing trails of Yosemite National Park on this hiking adventure. Pick out the best trail for you depending on how good you are in hiking, and get to see breathtaking views from Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, El Capitan, Half Dome, and many more. Let yourself be immersed in the natural beauty that surrounds you while breathing in the fresh air. Your guide will lead the way while sharing some facts about the park.

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Guided Yosemite Hiking Excursion

Duration: 5 hours

72 reviews

3. Yosemite’s Mist Trail (from USD 350.0)

Spend the whole day immersing yourself in the beauty of nature on this whole-day hiking tour of Yosemite National Park. See the amazing slopes of Half and North Dome, experience the beauty of Yosemite Falls, and hike several trails to reach Mirror Lake and Spider Caves. You can even have a quick stopover in an old village and cemetery if you’d like. Your guide will bring water purifiers and first aid kits all throughout the trip for your peace of mind.

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Yosemite Valley Private Hiking Tour

Duration: 8 hours

70 reviews

4. Sentinel Dome Trail

Sentinel Dome fallen tree
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user United States Nat... used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Hiking to the summit of Sentinel Dome is probably the easiest way for you to see amazing 360-degree views of the park. You will also get to see the fallen Jeffrey Pine, one of the most popular trees in the world, as you trek to the top of the mountain. Aside from that, you will also get to see some amazing flora and fauna of the park, such as wildflowers, phlox, penstemon, and many more. There are also some old Jeffrey Pine trees along the trail.

Sentinel Dome Trail

Address: CA 95389, United States

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5. Glacier Point Trailhead

Glacier Point Yosemite
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user King of Hearts used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Glacier Point Trail is just a short hike for you to take if you want to see one of the world’s most amazing and breathtaking vistas. You will get to see a very unique view from the top of Glacier Point—even Big Sur and Playboy Mansion can be seen from there. Since this is also known as one of the easiest hikes in the whole Yosemite National Park, you should expect that the trail is always crowded with people and families wanting to see the majestic sight.

Glacier Point Trailhead

Address: 5202 Glacier Point Rd, Yosemite Village, CA 95389, United States

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6. Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead

Yosemite - Lower Falls from Trail
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chris Dunstan used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Yosemite Falls is known to be one of the best highlights in the national park. However, seeing the full beauty of these waterfalls can require a hike that is quite tiring. If you want to see a part of this attraction without trekking hard, then you would want to take Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead. It is the final cascade of the waterfalls and is also the most accessible. The trail offers a short and easy hike for you to see the best views of both upper and lower Yosemite Falls, especially during summer.

Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead

Address: Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, CA 95389, United States

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7. Cathedral Lakes Hike

Cathedral Lakes Trek 10 (4246275496)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ronnie Macdonald used under CC BY 2.0

Cathedral Lakes is known to have one of the best views of the granite-covered High Sierra Lakes in Yosemite National Park. Get to see two picturesque lakes while taking just a single trail—with breathtaking views from any angle. It is also one of the most crowded trails in the Tuolumne Meadows area, so it is suggested that you start your hike early to avoid the large crowds.

Cathedral Lakes Hike

Address: Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, CA, United States

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8. Bridalveil Fall Hike

Bridalveil Fall and valley
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Amadscientist used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Bridalveil Fall Trail is a hiking path in Yosemite National Park that features a waterfall. It is friendly to hikers of any skill level and is primarily used for walking, hiking, nature trips, and even bird-watching. Bridalveil Fall might be nothing compared to Yosemite Falls, but it is still famous for its formed mist resembling a bride’s veil as the water touches the bottom.

Bridalveil Fall Hike

Address: Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, CA, United States

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9. Panorama Trail

Panorama Trail view of Nevada and Vernal Falls with Half Dome - panoramio
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Richard Wood used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Hike through the national park on this whole-day trip, with Glacier Point as your starting point. You will be led by an expert guide that will tell you more of the park’s natural attractions as you get past three amazing waterfalls—namely, Vernal Fall, Illilouette Fall, and Nevada Fall. See amazing views of Half Dome as you ride a shuttle to Glacier Point, where you’ll start your 8.5-mile (13.68-kilometer) trek on foot.

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10. Half Dome Hike (from USD 275.0)

See the best panoramic views of Yosemite Valley from the top of Half Dome on this full-day guided hike to the top of the park’s most well-known landmark. Endure a hike that requires both physical readiness and presence of mind—with a great reward that awaits you at the top. Walk with your guide while you hike through the most rugged paths of the national park, take the cable route, know the history of Sierra Mountains, and conclude your adventure with body pains, amazing photos, and membership in the Half Dome Summit Club.

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Yosemite National Park Half Dome Full-Day Guided Hike

Duration: 12 hours

2 reviews

See the beauty of nature around Yosemite National Park

Vernal Falls. Yosemite National Park, California
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Paxson Woelber used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Yosemite National Park is indeed a great place to hike and explore if you want to appreciate the beauty of nature. Get to see the majestic outdoors at its best while breathing the freshest air as you hike through one of these great hiking trails in Yosemite, USA.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Ryan is a Computer Engineer with a heart for traveling and writing. Born in Pasay City, Philippines, and raised in Melbourne, Australia, he is now based in the Philippines' City of Smiles, Bacolod...Read more

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