Looking for the best hikes in Yosemite National Park? You’ve come to the right place. Beloved for its natural beauty and stunning trails, Yosemite ranks among the top hiking destinations in the United States. The park is America’s second oldest, and its many miles of trails, spread over one thousand miles of California wild, makes backpacking Yosemite a treat for hikers of every stripe.
Millions of tourists flock to Yosemite every year, eager to discover the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountains’ natural beauty for themselves. But most Yosemite hikers venture no further than Yosemite Valley, home to iconic sites like El Capitan, Sentinel Dome and Half Dome. Beyond the valley floor lies a wilderness wonderland jam-packed with hundreds of lesser-known trails perfect for more adventurous backpackers. Even so, if you’re looking to hike the world-famous Yosemite Valley, plan your trip for the off-season to avoid long lines and packed trails.
Tip #1: Stage your trip in Mariposa County, home to the iconic national park and a hiking destination and multisport paradise in its own right
“Conditions are amazing right now,” says Cory Goehring, lead naturalist for the Yosemite Conservancy, the park’s nonprofit partner. “Yosemite has transformed into a winter wonderland.”
Yosemite is beautiful in the fall and winter. Download this playlist and get after it.
Whether you have a day or a week, these hikes will bring you to some of the best of this iconic national park.
Get up close and personal with North America’s tallest waterfall and Yosemite Valley’s greatest hits on this 20.6-mile loop.
When the Americans with Disabilities Act required better trail access for all, Yosemite saw an opportunity.
In the early days of Yosemite, a woman could be anything—including herself
Some people fall for the parks so hard, they can’t bring themselves to leave.
For backpackers, there’s nothing better in the entire park system. How much of it can one hiker see in a week?
Why visit iconic Glacier Point with the rest of the tourists when you can ski there—and have it all to yourself?
One great thing about being out on the trail is allowing your schedule to be ruled by the rising and setting sun. Here are the best sunrises and sunsets you photographed and submitted to our photo contest this year.
Camp under sharp peaks and sharper stars on this 4-day, 20-mile tour along the eastern edge of Yosemite National Park. Summits, swimming holes, and trout abound.
Enjoy the quiet trails and scenic views of Yosemite Valley's less-traveled twin on this 28.7-mile overnighter. Early season is marked by waterfalls surging with spring meltoff.
Hike 5.5 miles into Ansel Adams country to the top of Sentinel Dome and around to Taft Point for fisheye panoramas of Yosemite Valley.
Escape Yosemite Valley crowds on this 21.2-mile, multiday trek to glacial cirques and turquoise lakes deep in the wilds of the Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Welcome to the map portion of Steve Howe's solo thru-hike of the Sierra High Route. Steve is BACKPACKER's Rocky Mountain editor, and he started this 37-day, 280-mile route on Saturday, August 26, 2006. He's podcasting once a day from his evening camp, and we'll be updating this map daily with a new waypoint showing where he's pitching his tent.
This 6.2-mile loop leads into a land of rainbows and big waterfalls among the granite faces of Yosemite Valley.
Climb 4,800 feet on this classic 15.7-mile route to the top of the park’s most-iconic peak towering above the Valley floor.
This 7.2-mile snowshoe to Dewey Point tops out at one of Yosemite Valley's most spectacular views--a panorama stretching from El Capitan to Half Dome.
A short 3-mile out-and-back full of rainbows, waterfalls, and sprawling mountainside views, this Yosemite classic isn't called the Mist Trail for nothing.
Check out some of the oldest trees in the world--1,000 year-old sequoias--on this 4-mile loop through southern Yosemite's Mariposa Grove.
Looking to tag a life-list summit without queuing up? Pass on Half Dome, and opt for the 12-mile climb to Yosemite's unsung granite peak.
Climb from Yosemite Valley's forested floor to the cloud-scraping South Rim on this 18-miler featuring trips to Taft Point, Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point.
Notch inimitable panoramas of Yosemite Valley from the soaring Glacier Point before tackling a steep descent from the South Wall on this staggeringly scenic 4.6-miler.
On this four-day trip through the Clark Range, push deep into Yosemite's backcountry to discover a wonderland of slickrock waterfalls, pristine alpine lakes and jagged peaks.
Climb through deep lodgepole forest toward the foot of the Cathedral Range on this 4-mile out-and-back to the peaceful Elizabeth Lake.
Big on views and short on distance, this out-and-back climbs to the granite-topped Lembert Dome: sprawling panoramas of Tuolumne Meadows and the surrounding mountain country await.
On this 15-mile overnighter in Yosemite National Park, climb through wildflower-dotted meadows and whitebark pine forest en route to three remote lakes circled by towering granite peaks.
Visit some of the world's oldest and largest trees on this peaceful stroll to Yosemite's most remote giant sequoia grove.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll to the postcard-like May Lake before taking on the rugged ascent to the 10,850-foot Mount Hoffmann, which serves up a 360-degree display of every major peak in the park.
Wander along Yosemite's towering South Rim for unbeatable Valley panoramas from a series of high-country, cliff-edge vantage points.
Attain deep-forest tranquility on this leisurely amble to Yosemite's Tuolumne Grove of giant sequoias, home to some of the largest living organisms on Earth.
Savor can't-miss Yosemite panoramas from the Valley's second-highest vantage point on this easy hike to the legendary Sentinel Dome.
Score some of the John Muir Trail's most classic views on this 31-mile section hike in Yosemite National Park that starts less than two hours from Bishop.
Walk a scary-narrow rock fin to an airy summit.
This weeklong loop in the Cathedral Range is the epitome of Yosemite high country hikes: you'll climb past craggy granite, listen to babbling streams, and gaze at vibrant summer wildflowers.
David Howard investigates the mystery of 61 black-and-white negatives that are stirring up a hornet's nest of accusations, threats, and lawsuits.
Escape front-country crowds on a trek to the park's idyllic interior.
Discover the rewards of winter camping on this easy snowshoe trek.
With these top day, weekend, and week-long hikes, you'll see more than your fair share of Yosemite's wonders.
Yosemite Valley may be popular–rightfully so–but it still holds secrets. Hike this long-forgotten trail on the North Rim, and you'll have the granite icons to yourself.
The Ice Age left its mark from Acadia to Yosemite. Here's scenic evidence.
Once a guide and counselor near Yosemite, up-and-coming musician Brett Dennen is now taking his backcountry jams to the masses.