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    Mirror Lake

    4.2 (75 reviews)

    Mirror Lake Photos

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    Thaovi T.

    Mirror Lake is best experienced in the fall or winter time, when the water is abundant in the lake. Otherwise, it is very dry during the summer, and you can't see the beautiful reflections of half dome in the lake.

    Mirror Lake
    John D.

    Take the Lake Smallish eight-acre seasonal lake located in Yosemite National Park that's approximately a two mile round-trip hike from the main park area and back. The hike has an easy 100' elevation gain and can be stretched to as much as seven miles if one includes the five mile loop around the lake itself. As stated before, the lake is seasonal, and during the dry season, visitors can hike out to the middle of the lake and take in some glorious views of the surrounding mountains. Highly recommended hike for when visiting Yosemite. The reason this is four and not five stars is the actual hike to get to the lake is a bit boring, but once you arrive it's def #worthit.

    Trail to Mirror Lake
    Brianna L.

    Pros: * Trail is good for beginners. It is tough in a few spots, but manageable. Great for a light challenge * Lots of picture worthy spots * Very shady trail Cons: * You have to hike quite a bit to go around the lake; recommend to the lake and then back. Extra: * Water is cold, but people still like to jump in * Do not recommend strollers

    Dry :(
    Ashley V.

    They should rename this lake to pit lake instead of mirror lake since it's all dried up! Easy 1 mile hike from Curry Village. You can either take the pave trail or the non-paved trail. The hike smells like pines, but was disappointed at the end when all I get to see if a large pit filled with sand and rocks.

    Dani S.

    Beautiful short hike. You can also bike here as well. The lake is situated near the end of the loop not too far from half dome. We went in the middle of the summer, the air temperature was over 100. Yet the water in the lake was freezing. I only put my feet in the water and that was enough to give me a brain freeze headache. The lake was absolutely beautiful and the the risk formations makes for great photos. The hike took as about 2 hours from the parking lot. The trail was very flat, lots of families with children. Definitely recommend.

    Michael B.

    Mirror Lake is an brisk uphill walk from the shuttle stop and mostly on a paved road. You'll likely find yourself stopping at some of the smaller lakes and waterfalls in the way up the trail to Mirror Lake. The Lake itself is somewhat seasonal so don't be surprised if you find it low in summer or fall. A sign will let you know that you reached the main shore of the lake. It's worth going into for a swim or cool down if there's water in it.

    Chethana R.

    Mirror Lake is known for it's reflections of Half Dome and Mount Watkins and is one of the few lakes that are easily accessible in Yosemite National Park. Accessible via the Happy isles trail starting from stop 17. It is around a 3.5 mile round trip hike with little elevation. The trail crosses the Merced River a couple of times then travels though a pine forest with a small portion though granite rocks. The entire time you get views of the valley rimmed by the granite mountains above. I would say afternoon is probably better for the sun and pictures of Half Dome. Private vehicles are not permitted along the Happy Isles Loop unless displaying a disability placard.

    Michael W.

    This is so beautiful and relaxing location in Yosemite National Park. Also, it is one of the easiest visitor points in Yosemite too. The lake is not very far from Curry Village. It is about 45 minutes walking or 15 minutes if you have a bicycle. The lake is not very big, but it looks like a mirror. The mountains' reflection on the lake is very clear. It is a very beautiful view! The National Park is blocked off the road to the lake unless your car has a handicapped license plate or placard. You will find Mirror Lake is very relaxing except on the weekend. The lake became a family paradise on the weekend with so many kids there playing in the water. This is one of the best and famous spots in Yosemite. I have found the best view is in the late afternoon when the sunlight from the west. I hope you will enjoy your visit next time.

    Mirror lake
    Angela C.

    We took the bike from Half Dome village and rode to Mirror lake. We parked the bike nearby, and walked a short distance to mirror lake. The beautiful green lake is in between mountains, and you can walk the loop and bring back to where you started. It is a great place to have lunch before continuing the bike ride to Yosemite village.

    Where's the water?
    Tracy L.

    We hiked up the Mirror Lake trail from the base of the trail. We parked near the kennels since they are closed, and found the trail head where it forks off from Happy Isles. Some people bike or walk up the paved road to Mirror Lake, and we could see them from the trail (the road is to the left of the water, the trail to the right). I'm glad we took the trail since it's mostly shaded. You are constantly headed uphill - it's not steep, but it's dirt or rocks and you are moving up for 1 mile. We found some great beachy entrances where my husband and son played in the water, and I easily found shade for myself. After they played in the water we hiked a bit further and found the Mirror Lake sign - with a meadow behind it - the water level must be low because it's July?

    The water was freezing in June but the lake (this is the lower part) was still beautiful
    Tracey A.

    What are people reviewing here: the lake or the hike to get to the lake? How about a bit of both? The "hiking Yosemite Valley map", obtained from the Visitor Center (or information station), described the hike to Mirror Lake as "easy (flat and short)" and "2 miles round trip... about 1 hour". The devil is in the details, the things the "hiking Yosemite Valley" map fails to explain. You can thank me later. Many trails will get you to Mirror Lake. Some are longer and more difficult than others. A paved trail can be reached via the free park shuttle but if you're near the Visitor Center you're already quite close. The hike from there is easy and impossible to lose, culminating in a manageable hill near the end that leads you to the lower part of the lake. The Valley Loop Trail provides an alternate, longer and harder (though not "hard") hike there but first you have to find and follow the Valley Loop Trail and that can be a challenge. You can bike the entirety of the paved path to the lake though rental bikes are supposed to be left at the bottom of that hill. Cars can also get up here though the available parking may have only been for those with disabilities (I'm uncertain). The lake itself is ice cold (in June) but fun to wade through nonetheless. The lower section is shallow, enabling one to wade across for a place in the shade. Want to see the whole lake? I didn't, but you can: the map says the loop around the lake is 5 miles, takes 2 hours, and is moderately difficult, flat, and long. Mirror Lake is a good destination for those looking to do a relatively short and easy hike. Unlike Bridalveil or Lower Yosemite Falls, this one will actually require you to walk though not for too long or far. It's a good introduction to Yosemite Valley and a good place to enjoy for an hour or so once you get there.

    Start of the path
    Jeanette Y.

    Coming here 4th of July weekend - there wasn't much lake to the Mirror Lake. We were able to cross to the other side of the lake. We entered through the forest pathway but since we were able to cross over, we ended it going back on the smooth road pavement. We parked near a campsite & walked towards the signs. From the campsite, the total hike is about 1.2 miles one way. There is no way you can park at the 1 mile start mark. But the entire hike was pretty easy. Children & pets could hike this easily. But be sure to put on bug spray! I got bit almost 5 times on my legs :( The water was refreshing & we saw ducks! It was beautiful but I'd recommend coming here in the spring when there is more water in the lake. It was a bit underwhelming when we got to the spot but luckily since it was only 1 mile, it wasn't too much work.

    Mirror Lake
    Kimberley H.

    Stunning, the water is so clear and still. We were lucky to be there on a nice clear day! Would like to go back and hike around. It's a pretty long walk, but paved all the way. The only vehicle access is for cars with handicap tags.

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    Review Highlights - Mirror Lake

    We stopped here for a little swim in the cool waters under the shadow of Half Dome.

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    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - 2025 May 12: Mariposa Grove Perimeter Trail and Biledo Meadow Trail

    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

    4.4(125 reviews)
    39.5 km

    The Wawona entrance to Yosemite and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias was a new to me area of…read morethe park, when I visited in Mid-June 2026. Without the reservation system this year, even a weekday brings lines at the entrance kiosk. It was about a 45 minute wait. But, once entering the park, the Mariposa Welcome Center parking area had ample parking. The grove's gateway is just a couple of minutes from the Wawona entrance where there's a gift shop, restrooms and the shuttle bus to the grove (only runs seasonally.) I found the shuttles to run efficiently, albeit crowded. However, unless you want to hike up a steep paved road and add 2 miles to your hike, they're the only way up to the grove, as private vehicles are not allowed to drive or park there (those with disabilty tags are the exception.) The lower grove was packed and features the popular and iconic trees such as the Grizzly Giant and Tunnel Tree. It was too chaotic to really enjoy fully, but I was on my way to Wawona Point and the upper grove, so didn't linger in the main area too long. Once past the Grizzly Giant loop, the crowds exponentially thinned out and the forest became peaceful. It's a beautiful area and has a decent length hike to the upper grove, where the Guardians Loop trail was the standout along with Wawona Point (featuring a scenic overlook of the Wawona area.) The upper trails reminded me of a shorter version of Sequoia National Park's "giant forest loop." The trails were well kept and featured an array of wildflowers, green meadows and of course the iconic sequoias. You can make a longer loop or out and back and see most of the area in a longer day hike. It's a quieter and beautiful area of Yosemite that gets overlooked in comparison to the touristy lower grove and the valley. It is about a 45-50 minute drive to connect back down to the valley so you can visit both in one day, but I decided to linger and take my time in the beautiful upper grove areas. Either way, Mariposa Grove is a worthwhile stop in your Yosemite itinerary

    Half day at Mariposa Grove. Parked at the visitor center and took a shutter. This will be the only…read morelocation for parking and shuttle ride. 6mins and you will reach the groves. We did the grizzly giant loop trail. Very easy and we took our time and enjoyed the trees. The trail is nicely kept and very easy to walk on. The end of the loop has a slight incline and it is all down hill from there and it peas straight out to the shutter.

    Photos
    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - 2025 May 12: Mariposa Grove Perimeter Trail and Biledo Meadow Trail

    2025 May 12: Mariposa Grove Perimeter Trail and Biledo Meadow Trail

    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

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    Mist Trail - On the John Muir part of the trail - lots of stuff in the way, this trail was technically closed but I went through since many others did

    Mist Trail

    4.8(116 reviews)
    14.9 km

    One of my favorite hikes I've ever had the privilege of doing. We started in the morning, passed by…read moreVernal Fall, and went all the way to Nevada Fall. It was a scorchingly hot day when we hiked, so we took many breaks throughout. Luckily, there are plenty of shady, comfortable resting spots. The view from the top of Vernal Fall was already lovely, but I would highly recommend the trek all the way to Nevada Fall. The scenery from the top of Nevada Fall was breathtaking, and it was so lovely to see the beautiful rainbows at Vernal Fall. Keep in mind that there are slippery, steep steps on the way to Vernal Fall. It was a pretty steep hike up to Nevada Fall as well, with many loose rocks - we saw quite a few individuals slipping around. I'd recommend taking your time and going slow for the steepier sections.

    We hiked From the beginning of Mist trail to base of Vernal fall. Parked at curry village and took…read morea shutter #14 to #16. It's a paved path with immediate incline. Like many people, we stopped a few times to catch our breath. Took our time and enjoyed the views and took lots of pictures on the way. When you get to the flight of stone stairs, you do have to climb up the stairs to reach the bottom of Vernal fall to get the whole experience of the mist. NO PONCHO or Raincoat needed at this point. Nice refreshing mist. You will not get soak or wet. After this point you will need it. We turn around and took the same route back down. Hope this help for people that does not want to hike the whole way up but still able to enjoy the view and experience the mist from the spectacular Vernal fall.

    Photos
    Mist Trail - Me at the same spot as an adult

    Me at the same spot as an adult

    Mist Trail
    Mist Trail - Via the John Muir Trail

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    Via the John Muir Trail

    Wapama Falls

    Wapama Falls

    5.0(8 reviews)
    0.4 km

    This review is for Wapama Falls Trail which was a ~4.7 miles round trip that took ~2.5 hours to…read morecomplete. Located away from the busy and crowded hikes of Yosemite; this trail was worth the stop. Beautiful views of the reservoir and waterfall! Rocky at some parts of the trail with annoying flies. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/Xy-VTDD_Zpg

    Wapama Falls is the second most powerful waterfall in CA! Definitely worth a visit if you're in the…read moreHetch Hetchy/Yosemite area. The hike is around 5 miles round trip, not bad at all. It's pretty hilly and not completely uphill which is great for beginners and intermediates alike! My coworkers and I finished the hike in around an hour and a half. The hike back to the O'Shaughnessy dam was a little less than an hour. You start at the dam and then walk through the tunnel. The trail is pretty well marked and clear, just note that when you get to the fork in the road with multiple signs, stay to the right! There's a bunch of picturesque places on this hike so remember to bring a camera! When you get to the falls, the bridge may or may not be covered in water! Keep in mind that it is very dangerous to cross the bridge if the waterfall is flowing over it... That should be a given, right?? Haha but thankfully it was open when I went, and I got to see so many views of Wapama Falls! The waterfall is so tall and majestic and absolutely beautiful! Surrounded by the beauty of Hetch Hetchy reservoir, you can't help but be amazed!

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    Wapama Falls
    Wapama Falls
    Wapama Falls

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    Yosemite National Park South Side

    Yosemite National Park South Side

    4.7(28 reviews)
    0.0 km

    Yosemite was breathtakingly beautiful! Recent visit with my family was a nice time to unplug, get…read moreaway and spend some quality time together. We had a blast hanging all over the park a doing a few easier hikes since we had our little one with us. It was pretty hot for the kids, but we're more conditioned with the heat. We'll have to come back and hike without our kids. We were able to cool by the river and get lunch in Curry village. We did a bit of shopping there before heading back out to the South gate of Yosemite. I'm am looking forward to planning a camping trip with some family or lodging in the park for the upcoming year when the falls are fuller. Thank you Yosemite for the good memories.

    Reservation is required to drive into or through the park on some dates/times through Oct 27. Check…read morethe website for more information. You can enter the park without a reservation before 5 am or after 4 pm. Reservations are required at any time in between. The YNP South Side is amazing! Breath breathtaking views, beautiful waterfalls (Vernal & Nevada Falls), and much to explore. It takes about 45mins-1hr to get from the South Entrance to Yosemite Valley. We stayed about 25 minutes from the South Side Entrance and arrived at YNP around 4:30 am. We did not have to pay entrance fees and could experience the beautiful sunrise. If you can do that, please don't hesitate; it's so worth it. Plus, if you start early, you avoid the crowds and see more of YNP!

    Photos
    Yosemite National Park South Side - :)

    :)

    Yosemite National Park South Side
    Yosemite National Park South Side

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    Yosemite Falls - Mar 8, 2026

    Yosemite Falls

    4.7(192 reviews)
    13.8 km

    Upper Yosemite Falls trail was definitely the hardest hike I've done. It was about 7.2 miles…read moreroundtrip, took exactly 7 hours starting at 10:40am and finally making it down at 5:40pm (5 hours going up, 2 going down), and was 2,700 ft of elevation gain. The terrain is mostly rocks and goes up most of the way, so it's an insane leg workout that left me sore for a couple days after. Going up was exhausting, but there's plenty of spots to sit down and take breaks. About halfway through, we stopped and ate snacks. Going down felt more difficult on my knees, but it was a lot faster. It also started to rain so we had to be careful about slipping. The views were absolutely beautiful and worth it every step of the way. I constantly stopped and took photos and admired it all. Once you get up to the top, you can get really close to upper yosemite falls on a narrow path along some rocks. If you're afraid of heights, you might be a bit scared. It was super chilly when we got up there. Almost everyone we encountered on the trail was super friendly, and it was fun to see familiar faces when we got up to the top and overhear people exclaiming how proud they are of themselves. Going in May when the weather was still cold (about 40° when we were here) was definitely helpful. I don't know if I would have been able to do it if it were hot outside. I get lightheaded pretty easily and there were times I felt like I was going to pass out, but I did it!! Definitely take breaks, don't rush yourself, drink plenty of water, and bring snacks. Make sure you have hiking boots!!! If I didn't have hiking boots I probably wouldn't have been able to do it.

    Went mid-March valley floor hardly any traffic early 8 am. Got busy after 10am. Rode bikes Yosemite…read morevalley loop El Capitan, Half Dome, Horsetail, Bridal veil, and Vernal falls. Tried singletrack that paralleled then the crowds at Yosemite village slowed our pace to a crawl. A family of four walking side by side blocking the path completely. Even oncoming hikers gave them dirty looks. Selfish people have zero consideration or self awareness. If you go biking, go early to avoid crowds.

    Photos
    Yosemite Falls - The view from the top Yosemite Falls YNP June 2023

    The view from the top Yosemite Falls YNP June 2023

    Yosemite Falls - Phenomenal view of Yosemite Falls from Cook's Meadow below! Early June 2025

    Phenomenal view of Yosemite Falls from Cook's Meadow below! Early June 2025

    Yosemite Falls - Trail Information

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    Trail Information

    Snow Creek Trail - A petrified UFO!!

    Snow Creek Trail

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.0 km

    When you pick five stars the rating shows 'Woohoo! As good as it gets!' Uh well it should be 'damm…read moreit's as hard as it gets'. Don't believe the 'several dozen' switchback nonsense that the NPS will tell you. I think that means like 36. HA! I counted 113 on the way down. Erin S and I went on a backpacking trip up this trail last week-end. Our winter trip in summery conditions. Our packs were heavy because of the 4 season tent, bear can, and warm clothes. I was wearing a Suunto Ambit that said we had only gone a mile. How the 'H' is that possible when we had been climbing for almost two hours? This dang thing must be broken. The switchbacks are never ending and steep. Imagine this. For every tenth of a mile you will climb 100 ft. Can you visualize this? We set off from our car at the Happy Isle TH parking and made it to the TH cutoff for Snow Creek by 12:15. Hey we only have to climb 2.7 miles right? We should be at the top in camp by 4:00. At 4:00 I had readjusted my expectations to just get there in time to climb into my bag. A couple of day hikers passed us, and at the same time passed judgement, based on me laying on the ground gasping and crying for air. My pack was lying in the middle of the trail blocking any forward progress; I don't think they had much confidence in our (my) success. We finally made it to the footbridge as dusk was fading to full dark. Fortunately we had two days to recover and not think about having to go back down the evil switchbacks. I guess I should mention that the views are amazing of Half Dome, Quarter Domes, and all other manner of memorable granite objects. Take a moment from staring in misery at the ground as you trudge ever upward and take in the scenery. Makes it all worthwhile! BTW....the Suunto was correct. Ow...I need to take some more Advil and soak in some Epsom salt now. After I crawl out of my bed.

    I bought all my shit to go backpacking and to become a mountain man. I've done a few day-hikes and…read morefelt I was ready for a big one, according to me. This is about a six mile hike, two miles through Mirror Lake and about four going up about 2,800 ft. in 99 switch backs. This hike beat me the F-ck up! It took me six hours to get up to the top, had dinner, good dinner and when we woke up we just decided to pack it up and get the hell out of Dodge! Coming down presented a new world of pain, I got a blister and my big toe nail turned purple??? This hike was way out of my league, I would not recommend it unless your are in shape, oh and by the way I was carrying 30+ lbs. of shit on my back! Incredible waterfalls through the hike and spectacular views once we got to the top including an incredible view of Half Dome from an angle I have never seen before! This is a great hike!

    Photos
    Snow Creek Trail
    Snow Creek Trail
    Snow Creek Trail - Best campsite.

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    Best campsite.

    Mirror Lake - hiking - Updated July 2026

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