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.

This is a hike I would recommend to friends and you. I was there on a gloomy day when all of the…read morefalls in Yosemite were going like gang busters. This was due to a Snow Melt in May 2019 from a 160 Percent to Average Snow Fall. Take your time and you may notice some special sights like the Moss covered Heart Shaped Rock which is about Four Feet across. The Popcorn look alike I believe is Tree Resin. It did look good enough to eat. Notice the Rock Overhang and be sure you do not hit your head! Be sure to check the trail instructions from Forevermemorable F.. Without them and the pictures he posted I would not have found the trail. I would recommend you use Hiking Poles to help you descend the trail. If you would like to see the upper part of this falls take a ride on "Big Old Flat Road", Location 37.727751,-119.713163. Here you will find a small Parking Lot across the road from the upper falls. Walk on the bridge and check for the cascades. One nice aspect of this spot is that even when the park is packed the are no crowds here. I think it is more interesting to view than Bridal Veil Falls and you can get very close to it. Please check my pictures to see what I mean.

The hike to the waterfall is less than 15 minutes but the trail is hidden. 99% of visitors stop off…read moreand stay in/around the parking lot. I went in the Spring when the waterfall was moving and grooving. Much too fast and powerful to get much closer. Check out the pics of my April visit. This place would be great to visit in the Summer and just chill in the pool just under the waterfall. If you need trailhead info PM me.

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!!

Attending Balanced Rocks "Summer Solstice" 6/22-25, 2017 was an amazing experience…read more Jana and JP were our guides and they are such talented individuals. They shared their knowledge of backpacking and roughing it in the great outdoors, preparing healthy gourmet food (beyond what I expected for a camping trip), practicing mindfulness. We had daily yoga morning and evening, free time to hike, climb, jump in the lake, journal, spend time together as a group. I will treasure the memories I made on this trip forever. Thank you for being such a one of a kind organization

Balanced Rock was everything I was searching for that I didn't know I needed. They created a…read morewonderful and personalized backpacking trip complete with gourmet meals, yoga, meditation, journaling and just the right amount of physical and mental challenge. So grateful to the team and my guide.

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.

Beautiful trail and absolutely beautiful waterfall. This trail is not a long trail but the…read morewaterfall is what we came here for. We went hiking here last August and we will definitely come back to hike it again. Yosemite is one of our favorite places in Cali to go to for adventurous hiking day trips. Just absolutely breathtaking sceneries and Carlon Falls is no exception. It is before the entrance fee to the park, so that is a plus. If you go hiking here during Summer make sure to bring your swimsuit and jump in the water for a cool down. Come early because parking is not the greatest. Minimal parking space...plus the later you come the more crowded it gets. Enjoy!

I didn't swim here, and that's a tragedy. Oh, it was a conscious choice. My hiking partner sure…read moredid, but I had just made the 6-plus mile hike up 1500 feet and was ready for a snack, which turned into a photo stop, which turned into some great shots of the scenery, the lake, the ski hut, and the incredible granite cliffs through the haze of wildfire smoke. So I still had a great visit, but I didn't swim. Not that I didn't swim in any alpine lakes on this trip. Don't worry, I made up for it the next morning. But if I go to Ostrander again, you best believe we're going to stand on the shore, take a deep breath, and jump in those icy waters. It's so so refreshing! It's life! It's living! It's being IN nature and letting the water surround you, and for a brief moment being a part of that ecosystem. There are two trailheads that make the most sense to reach here. Ostrander Lake is the obvious choice, but you could start from Buena Vista and it wouldn't add a ton of distance. But since Glacier Point Road is on a shuttle, it probably doesn't really matter if you just hop on and head up to the Ostrander Lake Trailhead proper. The trail is very lovely. It starts at 7000ft and wanders through some meadowy terrain for a while, and then you get to the little creek and trail fork. From there, you're going to go up. The views are stellar. But let's just talk about this lake some more, shall we? This is not Yosemite Falls. This is not Half Dome, or El Cap. This is very much an off the beaten path adventure, and while I was on the entire hike I only saw maybe a half dozen other parties. At the lake, there was a family there when we arrived, but after a short time, we had the entire thing to ourselves. It was getting a little later in the day (maybe 4pm) and we were pressing on a little to find a place to camp. You can reach the lake as a day hike, but I think it makes a spectacular backpaking destination. Cross-country skiers love this lake, too. In the winter, you can ski in and rent the ski cabin. It's very spartan, but does have a wood fire stove, and fresh water (that needs to be filtered) that comes in from the lake. I don't ski, but I do wonder if you could reach it snow shoeing. They say that it's not for the faint of heart, but just think of that adventure! To come to the snowy, iced over lake and stay in the old stone cabin, look out the windows from the warmth of an historic building, over the vast Yosemite wilderness. Let's put that on the hope and dream list, ya? And then let's take the steps (literally and figuratively) to make it happen! My summer visit, though, was really special. The scenery here is incredible, and you can look up at the massive granite cliffs that surround the back half of the lake and just be boggled at the scale of it all. I'm so glad I took the time to get out of the valley and see this obscure but gorgeous scene. I just wish I would have gone swimming. Let's add it to the list!

Cannot recommend enough! It was a long one and pieces of the hike did require a bit of effort with…read morethe elevation gain but, worth every step. Highly recommend during the late spring or early summer. The flowers are stunning that time of year.

We went to Yosemite in mid March when Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road were still closed for the…read moresnow season. Tuolumne Grove is located right before the closed section of Tiago Road. The trail was wide which was great for social distancing. The entire path was covered in snow so it was more workout for our 2.5 mile in-and-out trek with 400 feet elevation change. Our experience was rather secluded compared to the crowd factor in the Valley. It was great to admire the enormous size of the trees by ourselves, it made the experience more special and enjoyable.

The Mariposa Grove is currently under construction so we decided to visit Tuolumne. It is about a…read more1.5 hours drive from the south entrance of Yosemite. Parking is limited at the Grove. There are restrooms located at the entrance. The paved trail takes you about 1 mile downhill to the Grove entrance. The trail turns into dirt but is is a very easy hike. The Grove circle is less than 1 mile in length. There are several giant sequoias to view but my favorite was the sequoia with the large tunnel cut out. Short hike and not too many trees to view but it was a fun stop.

We had an excellent day with David. We booked a private tour for my wife and me. We are not so…read moreyoung so David tailored it to our pace and abilities (still made it to the top of Sentinel Dome- well worth the effort!). Literally went from the valley floor to the peak of sentinel dome. His knowledge of the park is outstanding. He picked us up at our lodge and dropped us there at the end of the day- even gave us the picnic we couldn't eat during the trip because clouds blocked the astrophotography portion. He even apologized for the clouds! An all day adventure; we were happily exhausted when we got back to Evergreen Lodge. Highly recommend.

Dave is AMAZING! We had the best day with him on our private tour of Yosemite. He is so fun,…read moreknowledgeable, a great conversationalist and made the day fabulous. I had the best time and felt like we got to really see Yosemite and get to know the park. I would 100% recommend booking with him and his company. Hands down the BEST!!

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.

2025 Apr 29: Chilnualna Falls Trailhead, Yosemite National Park (5 of 5)…read more Description: Chilnualna Falls is a series of waterfalls totaling 690 feet (210 m), located on Chilnualna Creek in the southern section of Yosemite National Park. Chilnualna Falls consists of five tiers ranging from 30 to 300 feet (9-91 m) in height. The first tier is 90-120 feet (27-36 m) high. The second is a 30-foot (9 m) high cascade. The third and largest is 300 feet (91 m) high. The fourth is 60 feet (18 m) high. The final tier is a 180-210 foot (54-64 m) high cascade. The trailhead elevation is approximately 4,000 feet (1,200 m), and the trail reaches the main portion of the waterfall at 6,200 feet (1,900 m). The trailhead to the falls is in the northeastern portion of Wawona, at the end of the paved portion of Chilnualna Falls Road. *public info Chilnualna Falls 5 large cascades slide through and over large granite formations above the Wawona basin - water here is fullest in spring and early summer. This strenuous trail allows for you to view the Chilnualna Falls cascades in many locations along the hike and also rewards you with expansive views overlooking Wawona Dome during your uphill climb. It is a strenuous hike, but well worth it - for its views of the falls and Wawona Dome. Directions: From the South Entrance, drive towards the roundabout - continue at 12 o'clock. Take Wawona Road. Drive Past Wawona Hotel. You'll soon come to a bridge. After the bridge - turn right onto Chilnualna Falls Road. Keep driving past houses, school, library & market. There is parking right before you reach the Chilnualna sign. A public toilet is further down the road from the parking area. Hiking Distance: 9.65-miles round trip (CalTopo mileage) I think the links online show 'where the crows fly', so the distance is shorter, plus they may not include the multiple switchbacks. Length-of-Time: 5 to 6 hours if you're not stopping to rest or enjoy the views Elevation Gain: 2,400 ft (732 m) Difficulty: Challenging. This is not for the faint-of-heart. Because of the steep mountainside - there are many switchbacks. You definitely cannot climb straight up the mountain. The paths can be as narrow as one-foot wide on the rugged terrain. A misstep could see someone tumbling down the mountain into the waterfall. Along your hike, you'll go past several sections - man-made steps (some steep and narrow), through the forest, over several streams, and switchbacks (some steep and slippery). Highlights: Stunning waterfalls, beautiful scenery, and peaceful sections. The sounds of the first waterfall can be heard even before you reach the sign to the trail. As you hike up the mountain, some of the waterfalls may sound muffled - but don't give up. The waterfalls are your reward - the sounds of the waterfalls nudge you on. The views are exhilarating. The highlights also include the trees that stood majestic over hundreds of years, and the wonderful smoky cedar scent of Yosemite. Tips: 1) Start early. Preferably before 6:30 am. 2) Wear layered clothing so you can peel off a layer or two on your way up. 3) Bring plenty of water. Dehydration sets in pretty quickly. 4) Pack emergency items just in case. 5) Pack a light lunch. 6) Wear hiking shoes, not walking shoes. Yes, they're different. I wish I could share the sounds and sights of the rushing waterfall with you, but trust me when I say you need to make this hike up Chilnualna Falls - at least once in your life. It's been worth every pain in my muscles to do it at least once a year. Cheers!

This review is for Chilnualna Falls Trail which was a ~7.7 miles round trip that took ~6 hours to…read morecomplete in the snow. Chilnualna Falls Trail was located near the south entrance of Yosemite National Park; away from the busy Yosemite Valley. Lower Chilnualna Fall was a short ~0.2 miles and gets crowded at this particular spot. For the most part, the trail was a steady incline on dirt and rock with snow at higher elevations. In addition, there were a few downed trees over the trail. Overall, stunning views throughout this hike! There was a ~3 minute walk from the parking to the trailhead. Restrooms available at the parking area. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/jACscCHBcOg