5 Best Yosemite Hikes You Can Do in One Day

Yosemite National Park, California Yosemite National Park is a great travel destination both for the backpacker and the entire family. Weather you love to backpack for days or you just enjoy day hikes with your family, Yosemite National Park has something for everyone. I have visited Yosemite many times and each time I have done something completely different and fun. However, if you’re visiting for the first time there are a few Yosemite hikes you simply must do.

Finding the Best Yosemite Day Hikes

Yosemite is a hiker’s paradise! There are so many trails in the Yosemite area that it would take you at least 10 days to do most of them.

How do you pick the best Yosemite hikes then?

I have visited Yosemite many times and I have brought many friends here for the first time. Over the years I have found the best combination between hiking time, difficulty and enjoyment. Put your good hiking boots on and come along with me on my favorite Yosemite hikes.

1. The Mist Trail with return on the John Muir Trail

Yosemite National Park, California – Nevada Falls seen from the John Muir Trail
See my photos from Yosemite

The Mist Trail is by far the most popular of Yosemite hikes. This is for good reason, because you get to see two of the most spectacular Yosemite waterfalls (Vernal and Nevada), a beautiful lake (Emerald Pool) and some of the most spectacular scenery in Yosemite. I bring everyone here if they come for the first time in Yosemite.

If you’re hitting Yosemite trails in early Spring (April, May) make sure you take some rain gear for this particular hike. Bring at least a large trash bag that can cover you head to toe. This is why they call it the Mist Trail…because there is a constant mist from the waterfalls. Believe it or not, you will get soaked especially until you reach the top of Vernal Fall. Hiking to the Vernal Fall bridge lookout would take about 1 hour and then another hour to get to the top of Vernal Fall. It takes another hour to the top of Nevada falls.

You can take small kids to the Vernal Fall bridge overlook, but not further. If your kids are older they will definitely enjoy to hike further, but they’ll be very tired once they get to the top of Vernal Fall. If you decide to hike to the top of Nevada Falls, make sure you cross the bridge over Nevada Fall and return on the John Muir trail instead of taking the Mist trail back. This is my favorite way to enjoy this amazing Yosemite Hike.

2. Upper Yosemite Falls Trail

Hiking the upper Yosemite Falls trail in Yosemite National Park, California.
See my photos from Yosemite

Upper Yosemite Falls trail is the most strenuous of my favorite Yosemite hikes. Even though tougher, Upper Yosemite Falls hiking trail is the second most popular trail in Yosemite.
The hiker zig-zags parallel with the waterfall itself all the way to the top. It takes a good 3 hours to reach the top but like most hiking trails in Yosemite, you will definitely be impressed once you see the views from the top. Once at the top, there is a ledge that was built so that people can walk right next to the point where the water starts dropping down. If you’re there in the spring, the sound of the water going down is deafening.

This is a very hard hiking trail for children, period. I would say that children would have to be 10 to 12 years old at least to be able to do it. Make sure you bring plenty of food and water with you.

3. Half Dome Trail

Yosemite National Park, California – Half Dome and Yosemite Valley seen from upper Yosemite Falls
See my pictures from Yosemite

Half Dome trail is the longest and most challenging of my favorite Yosemite hikes. Hiking Half Dome requires lots of physical strength and endurance. In addition, hiking past the base of the subdome, requires a hiking permit. You can hike to the top of Nevada Falls without a permit but no further than the base of the subdome. Even camping in Little Yosemite Valley requires a permit.

The total hiking time can vary, but the round trip can be done easily in one day if you are in good shape and ready to hike very early in the morning.

I have hiked Half Dome twice, once coming from the Yosemite Valley floor (left at 6:30am and made the top around 1pm), and another time coming from Tuolumne Meadows.

The shortest way to Half Dome is to take the Mist Trail all the way up as it connects with the Half Dome Trail and John Muir Trail. On the way down, right before Nevada falls, I love taking the John Muir trail to the valley floor as it gives you beautiful views of the waterfalls.

Even though it is the longest of the day hikes in Yosemite, Half Dome trail is the third most popular of Yosemite hikes and my favorite.

4. Lower Yosemite Falls Loop Trail

Yosemite National Park, California – Lower Yosemite Fall in early spring
See my photos from Yosemite

The Lower Yosemite Loop Trail is one of the easiest Yosemite hikes. Starting right at the bus stop, the Lower Yosemite Falls hike is short, easy and excellent for families with small children. In the spring especially, lower Yosemite Falls is filled with water and it is very noisy and exciting to hear and watch.

Arriving at the base of the falls in late spring, the water is very powerful and you feel as if you’re close to a jet engine taking off. Along with Mirror Lake trail, the walk to Lower Yosemite Falls is the easiest of all the trails in Yosemite.

5. Mirror Lake Loop Trail

Yosemite mountain peaks are seen reflected in the still waters of Mirror Lake.
See my photos from Yosemite

Mirror Lake trail is the easiest of Yosemite hikes. I wouldn’t even call it a hike…it’s a nice stroll mostly on a paved road. This trail is great for small children as well, but might be a bit boring for older children. The lake is not that exciting but on a sunny day you can see the mountains being reflected in the face of the lake. It is a mirror indeed ! This hike would take about 1 hour at the most.

Mirror Lake loop trail is best to hike in early summer because the lake would be filled with water. During early winter and late fall, the lake can be almost dry and not very interesting.

Directions to Yosemite National Park

It is very easy to find directions to Yosemite. Just a simple search in Google Maps or a visit to the park’s official website. It takes about 5 to 6 hours from Southern California…well depending where you’re coming from.

Holidays are very, very, very busy and if you can avoid holidays it’s well worth going another time.

The main attractions of Yosemite National Park are the many amazing waterfalls. So, the best times to visit Yosemite are when there is plenty of water in the waterfalls. Water is plentiful in the early spring, and early summer. However, if you visit in the middle of summer or early fall you might be surprised to find many of the waterfalls dry as a rock.

Plan your Trip to Yosemite National Park

Finding good places to stay close to Yosemite is becoming more and more difficult as the park keeps getting busier.

The best budget place close enough is Yosemite Bug which is located in Midpines.

If I want to be closest to the park’s entrance I prefer Yosemite View Lodge. Another good option is Cedar Lodge in nearby El Portal.

If you are planning to spend more time in Yosemite, check out one amazing week in Yosemite National Park.

Hiking Half Dome? Read all the information about getting a hiking permit to the top.
For a list of day hikes check out the park’s website at: Yosemite Day Hikes.

This article is part of my series about California National Parks.

5 best day hikes in Yosemite National Park
1 amazing week in Yosemite National Park
Local expert recommends best attractions in Yosemite National Park
Backpacking in Sequoia National Park
Backpacking in King’s Canyon National Park
7 places to see the Redwoods National & State Park
2 great family hikes in Pinnacles National Park

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