🥾 Top Hiking Trails in Yosemite National Park 🌄

#hikingtrails

Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, summiting granite peaks, or wandering through ancient forests, Yosemite offers hikes for every kind of explorer. Here are the top trails that showcase the best of this iconic national park:

🌊 Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls
Distance: 7 miles round trip (to Nevada Fall)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
💧 Get up close to the spray of Vernal Fall and climb granite steps alongside cascading waters to Nevada Fall. One of Yosemite’s most thrilling and popular hikes!

🪨 Half Dome via Mist Trail
Distance: 14–16 miles round trip
Difficulty: Very Strenuous (Permit Required for Cables)
🌄 This bucket-list hike ends at the summit of Half Dome, with cable-assisted climbing in the final stretch. Unreal 360° views make every step worth it.

🌲 Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Distance: 2–7 miles (varies by route)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
🌳 Walk among ancient giants like the Grizzly Giant and Faithful Couple. Ideal for a peaceful, awe-inspiring forest.

🌉 Four-Mile Trail
Distance: 9.6 miles round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
📸 Connect Yosemite Valley with Glacier Point. The climb is tough, but the panoramic views of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome are unforgettable.

🏞️ Cathedral Lakes (via John Muir Trail)
Distance: 7–8 miles round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
🪞 Escape to alpine serenity. Reflection views of Cathedral Peak over shimmering lakes make this a favorite for solitude seekers and photographers.

🌅 Taft Point & Sentinel Dome Loop
Distance: 5.1 miles loop
Difficulty: Moderate
🧗♂️ Incredible views over Yosemite Valley and the Fissures at Taft Point, plus 360° panoramas from Sentinel Dome. A perfect sunset hike!

📌 Hiking Tips:
Start early to avoid crowds and heat
Bring water, layers, and a trail map
Always practice Leave No Trace