Yosemite Hiking Trips: Best Trails & Complete Guide
The ultimate Yosemite Valley hiking guide.
Half Dome, the Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls, Mirror Lake, and the Valley Loop, the four Yosemite Valley routes most worth your time, with the shuttle, permit, heat-timing, and timed-entry logistics that make or break the day.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
13 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Yosemite: every stop pinned in order.
Half Dome, the Mist Trail & the Valley Loop · Yosemite Valley, California
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Yosemite in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 4 days in Yosemite, one step at a time
- Through October, the Mist Trail between the Vernal Fall footbridge junction and the top of Vernal Fall (day 2) is open only Friday to Sunday and holidays, plus weekday evenings 3:30 pm to 7 am; at other times take the John Muir Trail detour. Source
- The Valley Loop Trail crossing at El Capitan Bridge (day 4) is closed on weekdays through December for bridge work, and the road there has 15-minute weekday delays. Source
- The Half Dome cables are up and a permit is required to go to the top. Yosemite Falls is dry and Vernal, Nevada and Bridalveil falls are low. Source
- The Dome Fire northeast of Wawona has closed Glacier Point Road and can bring periods of unhealthy smoke into the Valley; check air quality each morning. Source
How 4 days in Yosemite split up
Plan 4 days for Yosemite. Best hikes: 4 Trails. Signature day: 14–16 mi. Permits: Half Dome. Yosemite Valley draws four million visitors a year, but the great hiking starts the moment you leave the road. This guide focuses on the four routes most worth your time on a first-or-second visit, and on the logistical traps (shuttle hours, peak-heat timing, seasonal trail closures) that quietly turn good hikes into bad days. Every detail below reflects what's actually on the ground.
Day 1: The Iconic Half Dome Day Hike
4 stops · Hike one
Day 2: The Mist Trail (Vernal & Nevada Falls Loop)
3 stops · Hike two
Day 3: Mirror Lake Trail
3 stops · Hike three
Day 4: The Valley Loop Trail & El Capitan View
3 stops · Hike four
The Iconic Half Dome Day Hike
The headline hike is the Half Dome Day Hike: 14 to 16 miles depending on route, 4,800 feet of elevation gain, extremely strenuous, and 10 to 14 hours on your feet. The cables require a permit via lottery, and rangers check at the Subdome, so do not start up without one.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Happy Isles TrailheadStart by 4:30 AM · walk in, don't wait for the shuttle · ViewpointThe free Yosemite Valley Shuttle does not begin service until 7:00 AM, so do not wait for it. Park at Curry Village or the Trailhead Parking Lot and walk the extra 0.75 miles to the Happy Isles Trailhead on foot in the dark, starting by about 4:30 AM to stay off the exposed Subdome during peak lightning hours (1:00 PM to 4:00 PM) and the worst afternoon heat.
- Half Dome Day Hike
14 to 16 mi · 4,800 ft · extremely strenuous · cables permit · HikeThe Half Dome Day Hike is 14 to 16 miles depending on route, 4,800 feet of elevation gain, extremely strenuous, and 10 to 14 hours on your feet. The cables require a permit via lottery, and rangers check at the Subdome. Carry a minimum of 4.5 liters of water per person, or a filter to pump from the Merced River below Nevada Fall, since the Vernal Fall Footbridge spigot is seasonal and often shut off.
Guided Half Dome Summit Day HikeLasting Adventures · pulls group permits · book ahead · activityIf the cable-permit lottery is the thing standing between you and the summit, the local guiding outfit pulls group permits ahead of time and supplies harnesses, gloves, hydration support, and a guide on the cables. It is a roughly 14-hour trip and is worth it for first-timers, solo travellers, and anyone who didn't win the daily lottery.
Book this →
Stay at Curry VillageIn-park tent cabins & hotel · near trailheads · lodgeCurry Village (Half Dome Village) sits on the Valley floor near the Half Dome trailheads, with tent cabins and hotel rooms. Basing here means you can park and walk to Happy Isles before dawn. In-park lodging sells out far ahead for prime summer dates, so reserve early or base in El Portal or Groveland and drive in.
The Mist Trail (Vernal & Nevada Falls Loop)
The Mist Trail is the classic Valley waterfall climb: 5.4 miles for the full loop, 2,000 feet of elevation gain, strenuous, 3 to 5 hours, and no permit required. It climbs past Vernal Fall and on up to Nevada Fall.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- The Mist Trail (Vernal & Nevada Falls loop)
5.4 mi loop · 2,000 ft · strenuous · no permit · HikeThe Mist Trail full loop is 5.4 miles, 2,000 feet of elevation gain, strenuous, and 3 to 5 hours, with no permit required. The stone stairs leading up to Vernal Fall are constantly blasted with freezing river spray in spring and early summer, so wear hiking boots with sticky rubber outsoles and bring trekking poles. Running shoes will slip.
See the trail → - Nevada Fall via the John Muir Trail
Descent route · Liberty Cap & Half Dome views · ViewpointMid-summer through fall, the section from the top of Vernal Fall to Nevada Fall is often closed to downhill traffic during the day, so you hike up the Mist Trail steps but descend via the John Muir Trail. The alternative route adds time and distance but offers phenomenal panoramic views of Liberty Cap and the back of Half Dome.
Rennett Stowe from USA / CC BY 2.0Stay at Yosemite Valley LodgeIn-park hotel · Valley floor location · lodgeAnother night on the Valley floor keeps you close to the trailheads. In-park options like Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village sell out far ahead for prime summer dates, so reserve early or base in El Portal or Groveland and drive in.
Mirror Lake Trail
The Mirror Lake Trail is the easy one: 2 miles to the lake and back, or 5 miles for the full meadow loop, with only 200 to 300 feet of (flat) elevation gain, easy, 1 to 3 hours, and no permit required.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Mirror Lake Trail
2 to 5 mi · flat · easy · no permit · HikeThe Mirror Lake Trail is 2 miles to the lake and back, or 5 miles for the full meadow loop, with only 200 to 300 feet of (flat) elevation gain, easy, and 1 to 3 hours, with no permit required. The loop hugs the floor of Tenaya Canyon and stays nearly flat, so ignore online logs that list a 900-foot gain. It is a gentle walk, not a mountain climb.
See the trail → 
Mirror Lake (seasonal pool)Full April to June · dry meadow by late summer · ViewpointDo not expect a pristine lake year-round. Mirror Lake is a seasonal pool filled by snowmelt, spectacularly full from April through June. By late July, August, and September it completely evaporates, turning into a dry, sandy meadow, so adjust your expectations based on the month you visit.
- Rennett Stowe from USA / CC BY 2.0Stay at Yosemite Valley Lodge
In-park hotel · Valley floor location · lodgeAnother night on the Valley floor keeps you close to the trailheads. In-park options like Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village sell out far ahead for prime summer dates, so reserve early or base in El Portal or Groveland and drive in.
The Valley Loop Trail & El Capitan View
The Valley Loop Trail is the flat, scenic alternative: 6.5 miles for the half loop or 13 miles for the full loop, mostly flat, moderate (due to distance, not steepness), about 3 to 4 hours for the half loop, and no permit required.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- The Valley Loop Trail
6.5 mi half · 13 mi full · flat · moderate by distance · HikeThe Valley Loop Trail is 6.5 miles for the half loop or 13 miles for the full loop, mostly flat, moderate due to distance rather than steepness, and about 3 to 4 hours for the half loop, with no permit required. It is a low-impact, scenic alternative to the steep granite stairs of the canyon walls, with unparalleled views looking up at El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks. It can easily be done in a morning.
See the trail → 
El Capitan & Cathedral RocksUnparalleled Valley-floor views · ViewpointThe Valley Loop offers unparalleled views looking up at El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks from the Valley floor. Do not confuse this flat trail with the grueling El Capitan Summit Hike, which leaves from Tamarack Flat or Upper Yosemite Falls and takes 8 to 10 hours of intense vertical climbing.
Fallback beds in El Portal & GrovelandIf the Valley is full · 30 to 45 min out · lodgeIf the in-park lodges are full, base in a gateway town. El Portal and Groveland sit roughly 30 to 45 minutes from the Valley floor and give you a fallback when Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village sell out. Yosemite is not requiring a timed-entry reservation in 2026, but it has on peak summer weekends in past years, so check before you go and pass the gates before 5:00 AM or after 4:00 PM regardless.
Book the 3 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookHalf Dome Cables (Yosemite) opens on its own calendar
Cables-route day-hike lottery for Half Dome.
| Permit | Required: Half Dome Cables (Yosemite) Official page |
|---|---|
| Application window | the month of March (preseason lottery) |
| Odds of drawing | Moderate (~20–30% preseason) |
| If your application is denied | Daily lottery 2 days before your hike, or stop at the sub-dome viewpoint (no permit needed). |
| Trip starts from | Yosemite Valley, CA, flying into Fresno Yosemite (FAT) |
What to pack for Yosemite
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
What actually makes or breaks a Yosemite hiking day.
No timed entry reservation in 2026
Yosemite is not operating a Timed Entry Reservation system in 2026. It has run one on peak summer weekends and holidays in recent years, with entrance lines stretching up to two hours long, so confirm the current status on nps.gov/yose before you go.
Beat the gates anyway
Pass through the physical park entrance gates before 5:00 AM or after 4:00 PM to guarantee a spot in the Valley parking lots, which are completely full by 7:30 AM regardless of any reservation system.
High Country vs. Valley microclimates
If your trip takes you from Yosemite Valley (4,000 ft) up to Glacier Point or Tuolumne Meadows (8,000 to 9,000 ft), pack for two completely different seasons. The High Country can be 20 to 30°F cooler than the Valley.
Pack for sudden alpine storms
A sudden afternoon alpine thunderstorm can drop temperatures rapidly. Always carry a windproof/waterproof jacket and an insulating layer in your daypack, even when the Valley reads sunny and 85°F at sunrise.
Yosemite: questions before you go
Yosemite hiking trips: the questions people ask most.
Yes. The Half Dome cables require a permit via a daily lottery, and rangers check permits at the Subdome. The Half Dome Day Hike is 14 to 16 miles round trip with 4,800 feet of elevation gain, extremely strenuous, and takes 10 to 14 hours. If you do not win the lottery, a local guiding outfit pulls group permits ahead of time and supplies harnesses, gloves, hydration support, and a guide on the cables.
Start by about 4:30 AM and do not wait for the shuttle, which does not begin service until 7:00 AM. Waiting for it puts you on the exposed Subdome during peak lightning-hazard hours (1:00 PM to 4:00 PM) and through the worst of the afternoon heat. Park at Curry Village or the Trailhead Parking Lot and walk the extra 0.75 miles to the Happy Isles Trailhead in the dark.
The four routes most worth your time are the Half Dome Day Hike (14 to 16 miles, extremely strenuous, permit required), the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls (5.4 miles, strenuous, no permit), the easy Mirror Lake Trail (2 to 5 miles, flat), and the flat Valley Loop Trail (6.5 to 13 miles, moderate by distance) with its views up at El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks.
It depends on the month. Mirror Lake is a seasonal pool filled by snowmelt and is spectacularly full from April through June. By late July, August, and September the lake completely evaporates into a dry, sandy meadow. The trail itself is easy and nearly flat (2 miles to the lake and back, or a 5-mile meadow loop), hugging the floor of Tenaya Canyon.
Because of severe afternoon congestion and safety hazards, rangers frequently implement a mandatory one-way downward flow on the Mist Trail between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM, typically July through October. You hike up the Mist Trail steps but descend via the longer, more exposed John Muir Trail, which adds roughly 1.5 miles but offers phenomenal panoramic views of Liberty Cap and the back of Half Dome.
Not in 2026. Yosemite is not running a Timed Entry Reservation system this year, after running one on peak summer weekends and holidays in recent years with entrance lines stretching up to two hours long. Either way, passing through the physical park entrance gates before 5:00 AM or after 4:00 PM guarantees a spot in the Valley parking lots, which are completely full by 7:30 AM.
On the Half Dome day hike, carry a minimum of 4.5 liters of water per person, or bring a reliable water filter so you can pump from the Merced River below Nevada Fall. Do not rely on the water spigot at the Vernal Fall Footbridge, which is seasonal and frequently shut off due to freezing or infrastructure issues.
You cannot climb the cables on a whim, so plan well ahead. The main preseason lottery generally runs during an application window in March on recreation.gov, with results in April, covering most cable dates across the summer season. A limited number of daily permits are also drawn roughly two days out. If you win, pack sticky rubber approach shoes for grip on the polished granite and a pair of grippy gloves for the cables. If you strike out, a licensed guiding outfit can pull group permits ahead of time.
Application window: the month of March (preseason lottery).
Moderate (~20–30% preseason)
Daily lottery 2 days before your hike, or stop at the sub-dome viewpoint (no permit needed).
Yosemite Valley, CA is the gateway town, flying into Fresno Yosemite (FAT).
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 4-day route. Same 9 stops.
- 3 nights, a campsite near Yosemite Valley
- $72
- Guided Half Dome Summit Day Hike
- Priced when you book
- 3 nights, a room in Yosemite Valley
- from $414
- Guided Half Dome Summit Day Hike
- Priced when you book
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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Guides for this tripHalf Dome CablesThe Diving Board and the Death Slabs on Half DomeHalf Dome HikeHalf Dome Lottery
What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
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You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
The WaveCoyote Buttes North · Arizona / UtahPermitLotterybrutal odds
Half Dome CablesYosemite NP · CaliforniaPermitOpens Mar 1fair odds
Mt. WhitneyInyo NF · CaliforniaPermitOpens Feb 1tough odds
Angels LandingZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
The SubwayZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
Mount St. Helens Summit ClimbGifford Pinchot NF · WashingtonPermitReservationtough odds
How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.