When it comes to Day Hikes, there’ s nothing like the epic and expansive nature of hiking Yosemite National Park. Earlier this summer, I traveled with two of my favorite littles in tow and we shared every little bit of the trip. (You can find other previous posts here, here, and here.) With this in mind, I wanted to share a few of my favorite hikes in Yosemite, perfect for anyone, big or small.
Tunnel View Road
It’s iconic and packed for a reason. However, there’s a quick and easy way to bypass the crowd for some phenomenal images. When entering the park and exiting the tunnel, park in the lot furthest away from the view. You’ll notice a path that will take you above the parking lot, crowd, and cars. Here you can get stunning shots without all the hustle below and a unique vantage point.
Glacier Point
With a bit of walking, you’ll be able to discover epic views of the Valley and take the hike a bit further. This is one spot that can’t be missed on any Yosemite trip, hands down.
Mariposa Grove
On the opposite side of the park, you’ll find the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite’s Avenue of the Sequoias. If you’re pairing this trip with a visit to Sequoia National Park, you can bypass this trail. However, the Sequoia trees are stunning with a variety of species and moments within the life cycle.
Mirror Lake
This hike was by far one of my favorites. Situated in the valley floor, the trail is a misnomer as it’s far from a lake. However, these glacier melt off puddles cause for beautiful reflections of El Capitan and Half Dome and the falls. It’s truly stunning from regardless of where you are on the trail.
Wawona Falls
Past Wawona Village and situated among a residential area, you’ll find Wawona Falls, while it is smaller than some others throughout the park, it made the list as it’s largely untouched. When arriving to the falls at sunset and a brisk walk, we were surprised by the beauty of these falls that were largely vacant. There’s nothing like the solace found in nature when encountering a spot that remains stunning throughout the test of time. Wawona Falls remains one of these places.
Taft Point
It’s the spot of every elopement photo, video, and photography session in Yosemite. (Trust me it’s stunning.) Wake up in the wee hours of the morning and head here for the most stunning views you can imagine. This hike is slightly longer in length and endurance, but the views wildly payoff.
Yosemite Falls
The crowning glory of the Valley floor, make sure to visit these amazing waterfalls. As a child, my mother loved waterfalls and each national park trip included seeing many.
Tell me, what are you favorite spots to hike in Yosemite?
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