Best trails in Yosemite National Park
With over 3.5 million yearly visitors from throughout the world, the iconic Yosemite National Park is known for some of the most beautiful hikes and landscapes in the United States. There are over 800 miles of trails to explore through Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, and Wawona. Yosemite has so much to see including the sequoias, the flower-filled meadows and valleys left behind from the glaciers, the highest waterfall in the United States, and the spectacular Half Dome and El Capitan.
Top trails
Visitor info
A reservation will be required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park Saturday, May 24, through Monday, May 26, from 6 am to 2 pm.
A reservation will be required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park every day from 6 am to 2 pm from June 15 through August 15.
A reservation will be required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park Saturday, August 30, through Monday, September 1, from 6 am to 2 pm.
An educational fee waiver is available for educational and scientific groups that are accredited or tax-exempt for educational purposes planning a trip for educational or scientific purposes related to Yosemite that is not primarily recreational.
This fee is valid for three consecutive days for a non-commercial motorcycle (cost is per motorcycle, not person).
The per-person fee is $20 to a maximum of $300 per vehicle. People 15 years and younger are free
This fee is valid for three consecutive days for people entering on foot, a bicycle, a horse, or a non-commercial bus or van. People 15 years and younger are free.
This fee is valid for three consecutive days for a non-commercial car, pickup truck, RV, or van with 15 or fewer passenger seats. This fee covers the vehicle and everyone inside of it.
Annual pass providing free entrance to Yosemite for 12 months from the date of purchase.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Yosemite Valley Visitor Center is accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and has wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Orientation films include closed captioning.
Loaner wheelchairs, electric scooters, a tandem bicycle, and a hand-cranked bicycle are available at Yosemite Valley Lodge. Assistive listening devices, telecoil neck loop couplers, audio descriptions, tactile exhibits, and Braille and text materials are available.
Many ranger-led programs have ASL interpreters available by reservation. To make a reservation, please call 209-379-5250 (voice/text) or email yose_deaf_services@nps.gov at least two weeks in advance.
Additional information about accessibility at Yosemite National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
Reservations are required for all cars entering the park, including Access Pass holders.
All shuttle buses in the park are wheelchair accessible and can fit chairs under 46 inches long and 24 inches wide. The YARTS bus service from Merced or Mariposa is equipped with lifts, but advanced notice is required. Please call 1‐877‐989‐2787 at least 48 hours in advance to make a reservation for the YARTS bus.
Temporary disabled parking placards are available at the park entrance stations or visitor centers for those without a state-issued permit or who do not have one with them.
Other-Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) such as Segways are allowed in the park only for those with a mobility disability.
The Yosemite Valley Visitor Center is accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and has wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Orientation films include closed captioning.
Food service facilities in the park are wheelchair accessible except for partial accessibility in the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, which has stairs.
The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village, White Wolf Lodge, and Wawona Hotel have wheelchair accessible rooms.
The Lower Yosemite Fall, El Capitan, Sentinel Beach, Swinging Bridge, Church Bowl, the Cascades and Arch Rock, Yosemite History Center, and Soldier Flat Picnic Areas are wheelchair accessible with packed, level paths and surfaces and accessible restrooms or vault toilets.
There are accessible restrooms at the following trailheads: Yosemite Village Parking, Lower Yosemite Fall, Camp 4, Housekeeping Camp, Happy Isles, and Bridalveil Fall.
The Lower Pines, Upper Pines, and North Pines Campgrounds have individual wheelchair accessible camping sites and accessible restrooms.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Trail reviews for Yosemite National Park
One of our favorite hikes. Not easy, but for a hike rated ‘hard’, it was less difficult than expected. Nice places to stop for snacks / lunch by the river. Also if you do the loop the little lake on the way down was a fun place to stop and swim. The initial steeper descent on the loop is a bit tricky, but very doable. Falls were still flowing but of course much less intense then early season. Highly recommend if you do only one hike in Yosemite.
This hike is extremely difficult. We did it as a overnight. Hiked the Midt trail to the JMT and stayed the night in Little Yosemite Campground. You need permits. We fell asleep early and woke up in the middle of the night to hike up to Half Dome. We made it just in time for sunrise. We climbed with the cables down. We used harnesses and prusik knots to climb. We did it the safest way we could think and it was. We had no injuries. This hike is extremely amazing. Feels like a dream being up on the summit and watching the sunrise. I couldnt have asked for a much better backpacking trip. Even though is beautiful it is also dangerous. One week after I completed this hike a girl slipped and fell down Half Dome and passed away from her injuries. She was hiking with her dad. It's extremely dangerous and slippery. We stayed at the summit for about 40 minutes. We climbed down and no one other than our group was on Half Dome that entire morning. We tried hiking down the JMT to the parking lot but that section was closed. We had to backtrack and hike down the Mist trail. I would highly recommend this hike to the more experienced. For videos and photos Follow my IG @natureisthefocus
Our favorite hike in Yosemite! Amazing views of the valley and half dome! Definitely wear bug spray and maybe a mosquito net hat as they were pretty bad in some places. So worth it though!
Had to park at Glacier Point and hike an extra 2 miles round trip to connect to the Loop. Overall great views from the Dome and the Point. Hike is in and out of different eco- systems, dry, lush and rocky. About 7.3 miles round trip with elevation gains in aggregate of 1,400 ft. The Done is at 8,200 ft! Might be the best hike we have done at Yosemite !
Great trail. Not for the feeble-minded. Magnificent views of the Yosemite valley, surrounding scenery and the famous half dome. *Note* The falls are totally dry right now