Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park 2026

The best hikes in Yosemite National Park are Half Dome (23 km, permit required), Clouds Rest (23 km from Tenaya Lake), the Mist Trail to Nevada Fall (10.5 km), Upper Yosemite Falls (11.6 km), Cathedral Lakes (12.8 km) and the Four Mile Trail (15.5 km return). Together they cover every level from half-day walk to 12-hour epic.

Yosemite compresses more world-class walking into one valley and its high country than anywhere else in the United States. The catch in 2026 is access: summer entry has required day-use reservations in recent peak seasons, the park's most famous hike runs a permit lottery, and trailhead parking fills before 8:00 from June through September. Check current entry rules on the official Yosemite NPS site before you build plans around any hike below — then build them anyway, because nothing here disappoints.

How do Yosemite's classic hikes compare?

1. Half Dome — the one worth planning a year around

The Half Dome Trail is America's most famous day hike for a reason: 23 km round trip from Happy Isles, 1,460 m of gain past two huge waterfalls, finishing up 120 m of steel cables bolted to a 45-degree granite dome at 2,694 m. Permits are mandatory whenever the cables are up (roughly late May to mid-October) and are issued by lottery — 225 day-use spots a day via Recreation.gov, applied for in March or two days ahead. Start before 6:00, carry 3–4 litres of water, and treat afternoon thunderclouds as a turnaround order: wet cables are no place to be. How it stacks against America's other famous scary hike is a question we settle in Angels Landing vs Half Dome.

2. Clouds Rest — the better summit, no lottery

Here's the quiet local consensus: the view from Clouds Rest (3,025 m) beats the view from Half Dome, because Half Dome itself is in it, 350 m below you across Tenaya Canyon. From the Sunrise Lakes trailhead at Tenaya Lake the round trip is about 23 km with 800 m of gain, no permit needed for day hikers, and the final ridge — a narrow fin of granite blocks with big drops on both sides — delivers the exposure thrill without cables. If you miss the Half Dome lottery, this is not a consolation prize; it might be the better day.

3. Mist Trail and Nevada Fall — Yosemite's essential half day

The Mist Trail's granite staircase climbs within spray-distance of 97 m Vernal Fall, then continues to the lip of 181 m Nevada Fall — a 10.5 km loop returning via the John Muir Trail's panoramic switchbacks. In May and June the "mist" is a drenching; pack a shell or accept the soaking. Go before 8:00 or after 15:00 in summer, because this is the busiest trail in the park.

4. Upper Yosemite Falls — the relentless classic

North America's tallest waterfall (739 m in three tiers) gets a trail to match: 11.6 km round trip and 825 m of unshaded switchbacks from Camp 4 to the brink. It is hard, hot work by 10:00 in summer — start at dawn — and best in May, when snowmelt puts the falls at full thunder. By late August the falls can dwindle to a trickle; check conditions before committing the legs.

5. Cathedral Lakes — the gentle Tuolumne masterpiece

From Tuolumne Meadows at 2,600 m, this 12.8 km out-and-back gains only 300 m to two alpine lakes under the impossible spire of Cathedral Peak. It follows a stretch of the John Muir Trail that is contiguous with the Pacific Crest Trail corridor — you will meet thru-hikers here in July — and it is the best easy-to-moderate high-country day in the park. Tioga Road access typically opens late May to June depending on snowpack.

6. Four Mile Trail — the valley's best workout view

From the valley floor to Glacier Point: 15.5 km round trip, 980 m up, with the panorama improving at every switchback until Half Dome, both falls and the whole valley spread below the railing. Many hikers ascend on foot and descend by tour bus (when running) — check schedules in the valley.

How would we stack these into one week?

A seven-day Yosemite hiking trip works best as a pyramid: short, low and famous first; long, high and hard once your legs and lungs have adjusted to sleeping at 1,200–2,600 m. Our sequence: day one, arrive and walk the valley loop flat-and-easy while sorting permits and food. Day two, Mist Trail–Nevada Fall loop (10.5 km) — the classic warm-up. Day three, Upper Yosemite Falls (11.6 km, 825 m) or Four Mile Trail, your first four-figure-gain day. Day four, drive Tioga Road up to Tuolumne and stroll Cathedral Lakes (12.8 km at 2,600–2,900 m) — modest effort, real altitude, which is the point. Day five, rest, swim in the Merced, eat enormously. Day six, the big one: Half Dome with your lottery permit, or Clouds Rest without one. Day seven, drive out via Olmsted Point and feel smug. Sense-check each day against your own pace in the hiking time calculator before committing the order — if the Upper Falls day projects past 8 hours, swap it for Four Mile and bank the energy. Two logistics notes make or break this plan: valley trailhead parking fills by 7:30 in summer, so use the free shuttle system rather than re-parking between hikes, and book in-park lodging or Pines campgrounds months ahead — staying outside the park adds a 60–90 minute drive to every start, which is fatal to the dawn discipline the big days demand.

Beyond the park: where Yosemite fitness goes next

Yosemite's big days are the natural training ground for the Sierra's other giants. The Mount Whitney Trail — 35 km and 1,900 m of gain to the highest point in the contiguous US at 4,421 m — is the classic graduation; we compare the two directly in Mount Whitney vs Half Dome, and our roundup of the best alpine hikes in the American West maps the wider field. For any of these, gear is day-hike simple: a 20–35 litre pack such as the Patagonia Ascensionist 35L for shoulder-season loads, the ~300 g Zpacks Bagger Ultra 25L for summer, or a Salomon ADV Skin 12 vest for fast parties — plus 3–4 litres of water capacity, because Sierra granite gives nothing back between sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need reservations to enter Yosemite in 2026?

Expect peak-season day-use entry reservations: in recent years Yosemite has required them for driving in during summer daytime hours, with exemptions for in-park lodging, camping and Half Dome permit holders. Rules are announced on nps.gov ahead of each season — check before booking flights for summer 2026.

Which Yosemite hike is best without a permit?

Clouds Rest is the best permit-free hike in Yosemite: 23 km round trip from Tenaya Lake to a 3,025 m summit whose view includes Half Dome itself. For a shorter option, the 10.5 km Mist Trail–Nevada Fall loop packs two major waterfalls into half a day.

How hard is the Half Dome hike?

Very hard for a day hike: 23–26 km round trip, about 1,460 m of elevation gain, 10–14 hours on trail, finishing with 120 m of steel cables up 45-degree granite. Fit, prepared hikers complete it routinely; the National Park Service performs dozens of rescues on the route each season.

When is the best time to hike in Yosemite?

Late May through June for waterfalls and full rivers; September for stable weather, thinner crowds and open high country. July and August work but bring heat, daily trailhead congestion and afternoon thunderstorm risk in the high country. Tioga Road hikes are only accessible roughly June to October.

Can you hike to Glacier Point instead of driving?

Yes — the Four Mile Trail climbs from the valley floor to Glacier Point in 7.7 km one way with 980 m of gain. Strong walkers do the round trip in 6–8 hours, and the Panorama Trail (13.7 km via Nevada Fall) makes a superb one-way descent alternative.