The Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Loop combines two underrated hikes into one spectacular experience. Getting there: Trailhead begins at Lembert Dome parking area on Tioga Road just past the Tuolumne Meadows visitor center. After you make it to the top, he suggests sneaking around the back side of the mountain to have a picnic lunch at Dog Lake, which is another spot that not too many people know about. “You’re right above Tuolumne Meadows, looking at the Cathedral Range and two of the tallest peaks in Yosemite-Mt. Many people notice the distinct feature of Tuolumne Meadows known as Lembert Dome as they drive by or stroll through the meadow, but fewer know of the rewarding views on top. Getting there: Located near the Big Oak Flat park entrance, the trailhead is just a few miles west of Crane Flat, where the Tioga Pass Road begins.

It may be home to only 20 mature trees, but having them all to yourself is well worth the trade. To experience these giant beauties in complete solitude, however, opt for the Merced Grove Trail instead. The obvious choice for those interested in seeing Yosemite’s giant sequoias-some of the largest and oldest trees on the planet-is the popular Mariposa Grove near the park’s south entrance which has more than 500 mature giant sequoias. Getting there: Trailhead begins just west of the El Capitan Bridge near the center of Yosemite Valley.

Don’t let the mileage scare you off, this is an easy stroll that you can spend 2-3 hours doing, or the whole day if you want to bring a picnic and enjoy your own riverside nook. But John says you can hike the western valley floor loop along the Merced River for classic views of Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks, Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan and Yosemite Falls. Most people will hike the eastern section of the Valley Loop Trail toward Mirror Lake. Here are his picks… 1) West Valley Loop Trail We talked to John DeGrazio from YExplore-which offers custom guided Yosemite adventures-to find out which off-the-beaten-path Yosemite hikes he recommends for every type of hiker. If you’ve been there, done that, or want to get away from the masses without missing out on some of Yosemite National Park’s best views, we’ve got a few suggestions. But that also means you have to share these amazing spots with the crowds.

After all, these trails offer up some of the most iconic national park experiences and views anywhere. Other formations visible in the 360-degree panorama are Tenaya Lake, North Dome, Sentinel Dome, and many distant peaks of the Sierra Nevada.Yosemite’s classic hikes like Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and the Mist Trail are not to be missed. With binoculars, you can even see people climbing the cables route. Yosemite Valley unfolds before you, including Half Dome in perfect profile. This section is safe with careful foot placements, but probably unnerving for those afraid of heights.Īt the summit (9,926 feet elevation), the ridge widens significantly, and any fears are blown away by the huge view that appears. As you climb, slopes become steeper on either side, and soon the trail threads an airy ridge less than 20 feet wide, with serious drop-offs on either side. Straight ahead is the narrow ridgeline of Clouds Rest, and the only way to proceed is up. A mountainside of bare rock falls away to the right of the trail, into the depths of Tenaya Canyon below. This changes abruptly when the trail breaks from the trees and emerges on a clifftop. The climb is casual at first, with rolling ups and downs through the same rocky forests as before. The pleasant downhill soon ends, and the climb up Clouds Rest begins. Beyond the junction, the trail turns downhill, passing in and out of shady glades with rocky clearings in between. You can take a side trip here if you want to visit the lakes, but south is the way to Clouds Rest. At the top of this ascent, a trail junction leads east to Sunrise Lakes and a backcountry camp. The grade is gentle at first, but after a few miles climbs steeply on a bouldery, forested mountainside. Tenaya Canyon opens up to the west, and you can peer over the rim to see natural water slides as the creek tumbles into its granite gorge. From the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead at Tenaya Lake, you’ll cross the outflow stream and marshy terrain among many trees, but in less than a mile move into more open, rocky terrain.

Clouds rest hike distance