Hiking

Yosemite National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Glacier Point Area Hiking Map k Flat Road 1. 1.4 mi (2.3 km) 1. 6 m .4 km ) i (5 k ) m) 1. 3 m i( 2. 1k 0.9 m i 1.4 km i 0.6 m 1.0 k m E m p i r e M e a d o w mi ( 1 .4 k m ) i (4 .5 km e • This map should not be used for wilderness trips; use a detailed trail map or topographic map instead. mi (2.1 k • Always be prepared for sudden changes in weather and carry plenty of water. Treat all water obtained from natural sources. i (2.6 km) u • Stay on the trail; taking a shortcut causes trail erosion and can be dangerous. ) tt e Cre ek • Never feed or approach wildlife! Mono Meadow Trailhead 7. 5 m i( Grayling Lake 8692ft 2650m e d g R i 1 m 6k i m 0.6 m k 1.0 ( 9. 41 ) L o s t B e a r M e a d o w i( mi 4 3. 1 Kilometer n z o r i H o W e s t f a l l M e a d o w 5. 7 Wawona 0.9 km) i (3.9 i Ostrander Lake Trailhead km 2. Restrooms ) km .1 12 0.8 Campground Store M o n o M e a d o w Bridalveil Creek Campground Open July−early Sep. m Wa wo 2.4 m d Roa rced Me 2. 5 km) (3.0 mi 1 .9 m Ranger Station Telephone e 0.7 mi 1.1 km Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area Chinquapin 9092ft 2771m .7 2. 8 m 0.5 Parking Area Mt. Starr King km Illilo McGurk Meadow Trailhead Glacier Point Road closed November−May east of the ski area. Trail 1 Mile (4 mi G Road North 1.6 m la M Illilouette Fall o Tr a i l int Ro r Po ad cie m) 0.7 mi 1.1 km ek M c G u r k M e a d o w Bunnell Point c er 6100ft 1859m 0.4 0.6 k mi m 2.9 hon 8k 1.0 m 1.6 k i m i) i (3.5 m 2.2 m Cre 6. 7 m i ( 1 0 . 2. R i d g e se ek ou i km ) Po Gr ve re d al Washburn Point Sentinel Dome & Taft Point Trailhead C Roa na 0 4. i( m 1.1 mi (1.8 km) l 2.1 mi (3 .4 El Portal 140 km) 7385ft 2251m 8122ft 2476m m) .2 k i (4 m m) 4k 3. i( m mi (2 .1 Dewey Point ) km km 1 Crocker Point id 1 .3 Br River Stanford Point Sentinel Dome ) 7503ft 2287m mi m) Little Yosemite Valley Nevada Fall km (2.3 Taft Point Vernal Fall i I l l i l o u e t t e Inspiration Point 3.7 m i (6 .0 ) km El Portal Bridalveil Fall Tunnel View m i 1.4 m Wawona Tunnel 0.8 ) km .6 i (1 m 1.0 Happy Isles Trailhead km 120 0 6 7380ft 2250m Crane Flat m) 1 .3 1. Roosevelt Point 7214ft 2199m 2.6 ak mi (7.7 km ) 4.8 Four Mile Trailhead Big O Glacier Point (3.1 mi 1.9 .0 k r For Yosemite Valley trails and information, please see the Yosemite Valley Hiking Map. 0.5 ve 8836ft 2693m ) km m) 4.8 km) mi ( 3.0 Edson Lake 8145ft 2483m Ostrander Lake 8500ft 2590m Hart Lakes 8717ft 2657m Lower Merced Pass Lake 8820ft 2688m mi it rm d) (pe uire req i (5 m 1.1 k ca 3.1 m 0.7 s ble Half Dome Ri ) m To Clouds Rest 3.8 mi 5.8 km d 2.0 mi (3.2 Yosemite National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Glacier Point Area Hiking Map* Easy Glacier Point 300 yards one way. 5 minutes. Begin at Glacier Point parking area Come for the sunrise or stay for the sunset—the view from Glacier Point is spectacular any time of day. Start at the Glacier Point parking area and enjoy a leisurely wheelchair-accessible stroll to the Glacier Point railing, where you look down on Yosemite Valley (3,200 below!) and east toward Half Dome and the High Sierra. McGurk Meadow 1.6 miles (2.5 km) round-trip. 1–2 hours; 150 ft (50 m) elevation change Begin at McGurk Meadow trailhead The trail leads downhill 0.8 mile (1.3 km) to McGurk Meadow and the site of an old cabin that belonged to shepherd John McGurk. During early summer, look for a tremendous show of wildflowers. You can continue along the trail an additional mile (1.6 km) to reach the Pohono Trail, which runs west to Dewey Point and Tunnel View and east to Bridalveil Creek, Taft Point, and Glacier Point. Moderate Dewey Point 8.2 miles (13.2 km) round-trip. 4–6 hours; 750 ft (225 m) elevation change Begin at McGurk Meadow trailhead Begin by following the McGurk Meadow trail as described above. Continue one mile (1.6 km) past the meadow to reach an intersection with the Pohono Trail. Follow the Pohono Trail west (left) to Dewey Point, 4.1 miles (6.6 km) from the trailhead. Enjoy the unique views of El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks, Half Dome, and the Yosemite high country. Return the same way, or you can continue on the Pohono Trail west to more viewpoints and eventually the Tunnel View parking area 5.5 miles (8.9 km) beyond Dewey Point. 2.2 miles (3.5 km) round-trip. 2 hours (200 ft (60 m) elevation change) Taft Point & The Fissures Begin at Sentinel Dome/Taft Point trailhead Begin with an easy walk through the forest past a wildflower-filled meadow (seasonal), the trail leads to an expanse on the south rim of Yosemite Valley. Taft Point is marked by a small railing at the cliff’s edge. Enjoy magnificent views of Yosemite Valley, including El Capitan and Yosemite Falls. Near Taft Point, you’ll see the Fissures—narrow fractures in the granite called joints. Watch out for drops near these fractures of up to 2,000 feet! Sentinel Dome 1.8 miles (2.9 km) round-trip. 2 hours; 400 ft (125 m) elevation change Begin at Sentinel Dome/Taft Point trailhead This wide trail leads mostly across open granite with little shade. The trail meets an old road near the base of Sentinel Dome. Follow the road to the northeast side of the dome where the incline is less imposing. From here, scramble up the granite slope to the top of the dome. Enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of the park. Consider taking this hike at sunset or during a full moon, but remember to bring a flashlight with fresh batteries! Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Loop 4.9 miles (7.9 km) loop. 3–4 hours; 1,000 ft (300 m) elevation change. Begin at Sentinel Dome/Taft Point trailhead The Sentinel Dome and Taft Point trails can be combined into a loop hike. For a counterclockwise loop, start by hiking Sentinel Dome’s northeast side as described previously. After descending the same northeast slope, follow the trail north to the Pohono Trail junction. Take the Pohono Trail southwest, descending to Sentinel Creek before climbing to the Taft Point trail junction. From here, Taft Point sits a half mile downhill to the west (right), while the trailhead is a half mile to the east (left). For a clockwise loop, begin with Taft Point and follow the Pohono Trail to Sentinel Dome, returning to the trailhead via the Sentinel Dome trail. Strenuous Four Mile Trail* 4.8 miles (7.7 km) one way. 3–4 hours; 3,200 ft (975 m) elevation change Begin at Glacier Point parking area The Four Mile Trail follows a series of switchbacks down the south wall of Yosemite Valley. Although lacking shade during the heat of summer, this trail has no lack of views—El Capitan and the Cathedral Rocks tower to the west, while Yosemite Falls plummets in the north and Half Dome looms eastward. The trail ends about a mile west of Yosemite Village, which is accessible by riding the El Capitan Shuttle (summer only) or by crossing the Merced River on Swinging Bridge. Panorama Trail* 8.3 miles (13.4 km) one way. 6–8 hours; 4,000 ft (1,200 m) total elevation change Begin at Glacier Point parking area This longer route to Yosemite Valley brings hikers past Illilouette, Nevada, and Vernal Falls. After descending 1,300 ft (400 m) to Illilouette Fall during the first 2.0 miles (3.2 km), the trail climbs nearly 800 ft (240 m) to gain the Panorama Cliff ridgeline. Next, a 600 ft (175 m) descent leads you to the intersection with the John Muir Trail above the top of Nevada Fall. You now have two choices to reach Yosemite Valley: a left turn follows the John Muir Trail downhill for the remaining 3.3 miles (5.3 km), while a right turn crosses the brink of Nevada Fall before passing Vernal Fall enroute to Yosemite Valley over 2.9 miles (4.7 km). Consider combining this trail with the Four Mile Trail for a long, strenuous loop! Mt. Starr King View 3 miles (4.8 km) round-trip. 2–3 hours; 900 ft (275 m) elevation change Begin at Mono Meadow trailhead The trail descends steeply to Mono Meadow—an area that is very wet throughout the summer. Expect log crossings over creeks and lots of mud. Follow the trail from the east end of the meadow for a half mile (0.8 km) to an unmarked clearing. Enjoy magnificent views of the Clark Range, Mt. Starr King, and Half Dome. Adventurous hikers can continue another 1.5 miles (2.4 km) downhill to Illilouette Creek (no footbridge). A turn left (north) at the junction brings hikers an additional 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to Glacier Point, climbing 1,000 ft (240 m). Ostrander Lake 11.4 miles (20.0 km) round-trip. 8–10 hours; 1,500 ft (450 m) elevation change Begin at Ostrander Lake trailhead The first half of this hike gently inclines through forest and meadow where you can observe severe scars and regrowth from a 1987 lodgepole pine forest fire. A steep 1,500 foot (450 m) elevation gain opens up to views of granite domes, Mt. Starr King, and the Clark Range just prior to arriving at Ostrander Lake. Pohono Trail 12.9 miles (20.8 km) one way. 8–10 hours; 2,800 ft (850 m) elevation change Begin at Glacier Point parking area or Tunnel View parking area on Wawona Road Most commonly hiked one-way (downhill) from Glacier Point, the Pohono Trail rewards hikers with several viewpoints of Yosemite Valley from the south rim. East to west, these views include Taft Point, Dewey Point, Crocker Point, and Stanford Point. An optional 0.5 mile (0.8 km) side trail gains the summit of Sentinel Dome. *The Four Mile Trail and Panorama Trail can be hiked one-way during the summer by purchasing a one-way bus tour ticket between Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. Do not start this hike without making prior arrangements. Visit any tour and activity desk for details. 06/2018