The best day hikes in Yosemite

Yosemite packs an unusual amount of drama into short distances. From the floor of Yosemite Valley you can climb beside thundering falls in a morning, and from the rim along Glacier Point Road you can reach huge viewpoints in about an hour. Below are the day hikes we think every first visit should consider, with distances and elevation gain as the National Park Service lists them.

Good news for 2026: the park announced it will not use a timed entry reservation system this year. Instead it is managing traffic and parking in real time, and it encourages weekday visits. Popular trailheads still fill early, so plan to start your day early or use the free Valley shuttles.

1. Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls

This is Yosemite's signature waterfall hike. It starts at Happy Isles (shuttle stop #16). You can turn around at the Vernal Fall footbridge (1.6 miles round trip, 400 feet of gain, moderate) or continue up the Mist Trail's steep granite stairway to the top of Vernal Fall (2.4 miles round trip, 1,000 feet of gain, strenuous, about 3 hours). Strong hikers can keep going to the top of Nevada Fall (5.4 miles round trip via the Mist Trail, 2,000 feet of gain, 5–6 hours).

In spring and early summer the spray soaks the steps, which can be slick, so wear shoes with good grip and a light rain layer. Drinking water is available at the trailhead and at the Vernal Fall footbridge from May to October. The lower Mist Trail closes in winter because of falling ice and rock; the John Muir Trail is the alternate route to the top of Vernal Fall.

Heads-up for this fall: through October (subject to change), the section of the Mist Trail from the John Muir Trail junction to the top of Vernal Fall is only open Fridays through Sundays and on holidays because of repair work.

2. Upper Yosemite Fall

One of the oldest trails in the park, and one of the toughest day hikes in the Valley. It begins near Camp 4 (shuttle stop #7). Columbia Rock makes a good shorter goal at 2 miles round trip and 2–3 hours. The full climb to the top of Yosemite Falls is 7.2 miles round trip with 2,700 feet of gain and takes 6–8 hours.

Start early: the NPS warns this trail gets very hot at midday in summer, and the upper section has no shade until late afternoon. There is no drinking water along the trail, and the park suggests carrying about 4 quarts (liters) for the full hike. Stay on the trail; there are steep drop-offs and ledges off-trail. Go in spring for the biggest flow. By August the fall may be only a trickle, and in winter the upper trail can be icy or buried in snow.

3. Mirror Lake

An easy-to-moderate walk below Half Dome, and a good choice for families or a rest day. It starts at shuttle stop #17. The out-and-back to the lake is 2 miles with about 100 feet of gain and takes about an hour. The full 5-mile loop takes 2–3 hours. The lake is fullest in spring and early summer, when Tenaya Creek runs with snowmelt. By late summer it turns into what the park calls Mirror Meadow. The trail is open all year, but sections can be icy in winter.

4. Sentinel Dome and 5. Taft Point

These two short hikes share the Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Trailhead on Glacier Point Road, and they deliver some of the biggest views in the park for very little effort. Sentinel Dome is 2 miles round trip with 400 feet of gain (1–2 hours) and ends with a walk up open granite to a 360-degree view. Taft Point is 2.2 miles round trip with about 200 feet of gain on the way back (1–2 hours) and ends at a sheer viewpoint on the rim of Yosemite Valley.

Glacier Point Road is usually open from May to November, depending on conditions. Stay off the domes during thunderstorms, and bring all the water you need, since there's little available out there. At the time of writing in early October 2026, the road was temporarily closed because of smoke and firefighting operations from the Dome Fire, with no estimated reopening date. Check before you drive up.

6. Half Dome: the permit lottery

Half Dome is the bucket-list day hike: 14 to 16 miles round trip, about 4,800 feet of gain, and 10 to 12 hours for most hikers, ending with the cables up the final granite slope. While the cables are up, roughly from the Friday before Memorial Day until mid-October, you need a permit to go to the top.

Most permits go out in a preseason lottery on Recreation.gov. You apply March 1–31, and results arrive in mid-April. During the season, a daily lottery opens two days before the hike date for any remaining permits. There is a $10 non-refundable application fee, plus $10 per person if you win. The park says nearly all fatal falls from the cables have happened when the rock was wet, so don't go up in wet conditions. Set a firm turnaround time, and stay off the summit when storms build.

“Pick your hike by season: waterfalls in spring, the high rim roads in summer and early fall, and always an early start.”

— Great Hikes team

Staying safe on Yosemite trails

Rivers and waterfalls cause many of the park's emergencies. Do not swim or wade above waterfalls or in fast water near the Mist Trail, because the current can be deadly. Carry plenty of water (the park suggests at least 1 quart every 2 hours), a headlamp even on short hikes, and sturdy shoes with good traction. Tell someone your plan and when you expect to be back.

Yosemite is black bear country. Store all food in bear-proof lockers or containers, since bears will break into cars for food, and stay at least 50 yards from any bear you see on the trail.

Trail closures, road status, waterfall flow and fire conditions change often. Always check current conditions and regulations with the National Park Service at nps.gov/yose before you go.