This was a great hike! I'm a novice hiker, but I'm a distance runner so I have a good base level of…read morefitness. I was definitely out of breath during the initial mile or two of the hike. After that the hike was a little more gradual, but still a bit of a challenge. You see it all from heavy trees to large open fields. Even in mid-July there was a spot still covered in snow! We passed and played leapfrog with others on the trail, but I wouldn't call it crowded at all. We encountered the most people by the water, that is also where we encountered the most mosquitos. They were absolutely insane by both the upper and lower lake. We were basically constantly spraying repellent and it didn't seem to bother them. The mosquito nets look goofy, but I would have preferred one. On our way back down we did get stuck in a thunderstorm, complete with hail. There were a few rattling moments hearing lightning strike near by and being surrounded by dozens of trees that had been struck in previous storms. We all made it down safely, well sort of. I personally found the trail pretty easy to find and follow except in some of the areas right before the lakes. During the storm two members of my group found the trail hard to follow with the run off from the rain and they were lead into the woods. Long story short they eventually kept going downhill and made it to the road to catch a ride to the ranger station. Very stressful situation, they opted to just stay at the campsite the next day. Since there were several reviewers who mentioned the snow, I'd recommend taking this one on later in the summer. Since the trail can be hard enough to follow in some parts after the snow has already melted. Great escape from the valley crowds. We saw the upper and the lower lake and my hike was just over 9miles.

While I was doing JMT, I had a sidetrip to Cathedral lake. Just 0.5 mile from JMT…read more Cathedral Peak is in the back of Cathedral Lake. The scenery was so beautiful.

Superb little picnic and frolic spot near Wawona - ideal for young families…read more Visited a couple of times when we were staying at the Redwoods (vacation rental) nearby. The walk from the parking lot is an easy half-mile through the trees, and then you have to make your way to the swinging bridge and down to the water and the rocks. Walking across the swinging bridge (which we did one at a time) was my favorite experience, followed by swimming in the water below. The early am visit was much more pleasant, later in the day it gets hot and there isn't much shade down near the water. We all had a blast, and will surely return!

Parking is free was lots of empty spot .Hike is like a mile depends on your speed was fun we get…read moreto see the river water flow, bird chipping, butterflies and also lizards the swinging bridge was nice took lots of pictures .Fun for all ages. Must visit place!!

Carlon Falls Trail is one of the most rewarding hikes because at the end, there is a beautiful…read morewaterfall and cold pool of water to swim in. The hike is about 3 miles and starts off in Groveland, in Stanislaus National Forest, and goes into Yosemite National Park. You will have to go on a dirt trail and go up and down a couple of rocky hills so make sure to wear good hiking shoes. There are spots along the river that you can stop at if you don't want to hike all the way to the end. But it's worth it to go to the end. There are waterfalls (not super tall), but very pretty, especially with the surrounding trees and nature. In the summer, when the temperature is hot, the water is very refreshing, but it is very cold. A lot of people enjoy swimming in the waters at Carlon Falls. Not only is this one of the prettiest hikes in Yosemite, it's free to hike this trail. Also, if you park your car up the road, the parking would be free too. I've done this hike 3 times in the past 4 years and have enjoyed it each time.

Really beautiful river trail that ends at a spectacular waterfall, not too far from Hetch Hetchy…read more Carlon falls trail begins outside the Carlon Day Use area with a small roadside lot. If it's full, you can park, for a fee, in the day use area. That's $10, cash only. There was a remarkably clean pit toilet as well as some picnic areas in the day use area. The trail itself is easy to navigate and only goes one direction along the river and to the falls. It's mostly flat and well shaded, until the end when you have to scramble up a rocky hillside. In May 2023, the cascades prior to the falls are running pretty intensely as were the falls. The surrounding forest was a bit gloomy as it's recovering from the Rim Fire. Still, the tall trees, new growth and some pops of wildflowers made for a fun hike. You also get some lovely river views. My fitness tracker put it at almost 3.5 miles. Nice little side trip when in the area and don't want to go from Hetch Hetchy down to Yosemite valley but still want to get some miles in.

We came from Tenaya lake and it was my favorite hike in Yosemite. The trail and the rock…read moreformations were utterly stunning. Summit allows you to have an amazing view of Half Dome. Please come and create your own adventure.

My first hike in Yosemite, and it happened to be this one...I didn't know what I was getting myself…read moreinto. Cloud's Rest is a strenuous and challenging hike that will exhaust you for a couple days or more! This hike isn't for beginners, if you want to attempt this, you will have to actually enjoy hiking. Cloud's Rest takes around 6-8 hours to complete and is a 14 miles hike with an elevation gain of 2,700 ft. Parking - We arrived around 9:30 AM and found parking at the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead. The earlier you arrive, the better, to avoid crowds and get a good spot to park. There is one pit toilet at the trailhead and would be my first stop after arriving because you're going to be consuming plenty of water during this hike, including many more bathroom breaks in nature. Don't be afraid to take plenty of breaks during the hike, rest stops are great to enjoy some snacks and water. After crossing the wooden bridge, follow the signs pointed towards Cloud's Rest and you'll be right on your way! What I like about this hike is the changes in scenery throughout the hike. It was like a different hike every couple of miles! The first part takes you through a forest-like scenery and then the incline switchbacks, which were extremely tiring and difficult. After conquering that part, the trail takes you through a well-deserved flat area with a nice view of a lake. The final stretch includes a steep, straight incline and then finally the granite steps, which requires a bit of climbing to reach the summit. The views are spectacular at the summit, you will be able to see Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley. We arrived at the top around 1 PM and took a lunch break as well as many pictures. The descent was just as challenging as the ascent, if not more, because you're already pretty tired. Take your time and pace yourself, I think we took ever longer breaks on the way down. Overall, if you're looking for a challenging hike in Yosemite, Cloud's Rest is that hike! Great views at the summit and changing sceneries makes this hike a great one to reflect back on and tell stories.

Beautiful trail just outside of Yosemite off of Highway 140 in El Portal. My husband and I hiked…read moreabout 2.5 miles of the trail mid June. The whole trail is 4.5 miles one way- about 9 miles round trip if you want to go all the way to Hite Cove. We wanted to go all the way to the end, however temperatures in the canyon rise fast during the summer and it was easily 100 degrees by noon. The trail follows up above the Merced River. There were a few times when you can get right down to the river. About 1.5-2 miles in, there is a section with rocks that looks like it is made for jumping in the river. The trail is entirely single track with some areas with steep drop offs. Make sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and bug spray. There is very little shade and the trail is almost completely exposed. To find the trail, just look for the Red Bud Lodge and park right across the street. There is a sign that points just to the trailhead next to the lodge. I would recommend to come as early as possible if you are coming in the summertime.

Considering that everything else in El Portal is some pee stained remnant from the Sears catalog,…read morewe didn't have high hopes for the 'trail' that came recommended. It's not that encouraging as you drive up either. Seems very average and nondescript. As it was our first night in the greater Yosemite area, we definitely wanted to get out and so we went for it. In retrospect, I would say it was one of the nicer hikes we went on. You walk high above the Merced River on a narrow trail amongst wild flowers and with a beautiful view of the mountains. The power of the river and the beauty of the land impressed all of us. It and easy/intermediate hike. One drawback is that it's not a loop. So you can go as long as you want (to the end even) and come back. We went and hour and turned around. Recommend.

We did the Sentinel Dam hike for the first time and wow have been we missing out. This is a very…read moreeasy trail with a surprisingly grippy steady walk to the top of the dome. Love the woods and birds on the start of the trail and then the views on top of the dome are just insane. Take binoculars and take your time to enjoy the views.

When you enter into Yosemite be prepared because it's a really huge national park. To get to…read moreSentinel Dome and Taft point it takes about 40 minutes once you get inside the park however, Yosemite in general, especially this hike is worth the drive. This has to be one of the most scenic hikes that I've been on. You have full view of the Yosemite Valley, and all the peaks that come with it the hike itself is medium in terms of challenging. There is some uphill which will push you but worth it when you get to the top if you feel like cheating, you can actually park in the parking lot hike about a mile and you're already at Sentinel Dome. If you go the back way, which I did the whole trip is just under 6 miles.

One of my favorite "hikes" in the Sierras and the most impactful. This is what I call a parking…read morelot hike as it isnt really a hike at all. Maybe 1/2mile to the loop. 3 beautiful little lakes on this small loop but what made this impactful and different than the rest was the education I got. Small flat interpretive trail with no elevation gain at the top of Tioga Pass just before heading down into Yosemite. This explained so much to me about the area around and the valley coming up and the existence of Mono Lake. Exceptionally informative the way the signs were placed highlighting the specific mountains, animals and nature you see in front of you. If you're traveling up here it is more than worth it. For me, I drove all the way here just for this small trail. The drive is as beautiful as it gets.

Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK…read moreLength: 13 total miles Elevation Gain: 3700 Trail Type: Out n Back Skill Level: Moderately Strenuous Duration: 3.5-4.0 Season: Year-round Smith Peak is the highest point in the area and offers outstanding views. It has two trail head options. One route begins 6 miles beyond the entrance station. This trail is 13 miles round trip with 3700 feet elevation gain. Patches of snow the week of Thanksgiving day was everywhere. This is a very much less visited area of Hetch Hetchy. The trail to go up the peak itself is not very clear so a GPS is highly recommended. The beginning of the hike starts on an almost vertical switch back from the start. The trail head is the last one on your right as you're driving in before you reach the reservoir. The top boasts of an expansive view of the Hetch Hetchy area. The sun was shining and it was warm when we got to the top. A "seal" that was placed there in the 1940's was at the very highest point. Rocks to sit and enjoy the view was everywhere. Definitely a vertical fall if one is not careful. This is definitely a place to visit and to enjoy solitude. NO ONE was on the trail except us. The other route begins at the entrance station is 16 miles round trip with 3300 feet gain. The Smith Peak trails can be used to access the high country.