OUTDOORS & ADVENTURE | YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

A ranger's guide to Yosemite National Park's best day hikes

By Vani Rangachar, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
03:18 PM PDT, June 21, 2007

One of the best ways to see Yosemite is on two legs, so we asked an expert to come up with a list of good hikes. Adrienne Parks, a ranger at Yosemite National Park since 2003, offers her Top 5 day hikes.


Click on the map thumbnail below at left to download a PDF version of the Park Service's Yosemite Valley Hiking map.

1. Gaylor Lakes

Details: Moderate. Elevations above 9,000 feet. Two miles round-trip; two hours. 500-foot elevation gain.

Trailhead: Tioga Pass Entrance Station. Rewarding views.

Why: "A glorious way to see the true high country," Parks said.

2. Mariposa Grove

Details: Moderate. Six miles to the Grizzly Giant (in the Mariposa Grove).

Trailhead: Behind the Wawona Hotel's Moore Cottage. Trailhead marked by the sign "Two Hour Trail Ride." Free Wawona-Mariposa Grove shuttle bus back to Wawona.

Why: "Walking through the giant sequoias is the perfect way to see them," Parks said.

3. Wawona Meadow

Details: Easy. 3.5 mile-loop; two hours.

Trailhead: At the Wawona Hotel.

Why: "One of my favorites, because you can take [leashed] dogs on it."

4. Mist Trail

Details: Strenuous. Three miles to Vernal Fall; 7 miles to Nevada Falls, with about a 1,000- to 2,000-foot elevation gain along the Merced River canyon.

Trailhead: Happy Isles. Accessible only by shuttle bus, Stop 16.

Why: "It's the classic waterfalls; it's the classic river slot canyon."

5. Wapama at Hetch Hetchy

Details: Moderate. Five miles round-trip; two hours.

Trailhead: O'Shaughnessy Dam to the base of Wapama Falls, passing two smaller waterfalls (during spring) on the way.

Why: It's an area that's becoming popular, but it's still not as popular as the Valley. "It's a great one for early season or late season."

Where am I?

This city got its name in the 1860s. The operation shown here has been under the same management since 1987.


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