Yosemite Park’s 10 Best Hikes
Picture alpine meadows, high altitude lakes, and granite domes; this is Yosemite National Park, the second oldest national park in the U.S and one of the most beautiful places on our planet. Nearly four million people visit this park a year and although many come to see the most popular attractions such as Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, there is so much more to discover. Hiking through the park is the only way to discover the magic of it, and here are the park’s best hikes.
10. Gaylor Lakes
It is one of the most overlooked hikes in Yosemite and easy enough for both beginners and families to hike, something hard to come by in this incredible national park. It takes anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on how much exploring you do and only has one real steep climb at the beginning. From the trailhead, hikers will climb steadily to a ridge with views of the high Sierra including Mt. Dana and Dana Meadows with its scattered ponds, offering some of the best high-country views off of Tioga Road.
The Gaylor Lakes valley actually contains five picturesque lakes and lends the feeling of a prehistoric time and one almost expects to see dinosaurs roaming through it. Hikers won’t have to contend with crowds here either as even during the busy season hikers are spread out.
2
9. Cathedral Lakes
The Cathedral Lakes trail is one of the most popular hikes along Tioga Road although compared to Yosemite Valley, it is serene and uncrowded. It is a 7 or 8-mile round trip depending on whether you want to visit both the lower and upper lake. The trek is a hard 8 miles as the hike starts at 8,600ft, offering some serious altitude and climbs over a 1,000ft in the first mile.
What hikers will be rewarded with though are stunning views, shimmering waters backdropped by the iconic spire of Cathedral Peak. Hikers can explore the granite slopes, meadows, and peaks that surround the lakes. Make sure to look at the lower lake’s southwest side as the granite drops steeply away and offers views of Tenaya Lake, with its bright blue water shimmering in the distance.
ADVERTISEMENT
More on EscapeHere
-
DestinationChoosing where to retire in the US can be very overwhelming – so many great options and factors to consider! Regardless of whether you’re seeking an action-packed retirement or looking
-
Travel TipsTraveling for business or pleasure can easily derail your health and fitness regime.
-
CanadaThe beautiful island of Price Edward Island is just a small speck in Canada, but offers much in the way for visitors.
-
DestinationSpain at times can be absolutely overwhelming, offering a ton of different landscapes, activities and cities to explore.
-
DestinationAntarctica; a place where only 40,000 people visit each year, a landscape so strikingly beautiful it’s hard to believe it’s real, a continent so isolated it takes two days of
-
DestinationPeople often think that in order to see castles they have to travel across the pond, but in fact the very opposite is true.
-
InspirationThrow everything you ever thought about honeymoons out the window. Forget the typical all-inclusive resorts, cruises or cottage getaways.
-
CanadaCanada is blessed from coast to coast with incredibly beautiful and unique university campuses.
-
DestinationIndia and street food truly go hand in hand with streets in every city lined with vendors looking to fill your belly with delicious eats.
-
AdventureCave’s are truly among Mother Nature’s most fascinating creations. They are worlds of their own, shaped by geological processes over thousands of years.
-
BeachesWho says you have to leave the kids at home to enjoy a magical Hawaiian vacation? Nowadays it is incredible easy to pack up the whole family and whisk them
-
DestinationWe have all wondered where those photographers get those stunning postcard prefect pictures of Italy, but wonder no more.
-
InspirationSo you want to learn how to surf? Let us be the first to tell you that it probably isn’t going to be easy, especially if you make the rookie
-
CanadaIf you combine luxury accommodations, fine dining and an incredible spa with epic views, you will be looking at some of the most luxurious spa resorts in Canada.
-
Africa & Middle EastItaly. Australia. Thailand. These popular destinations are on most everyone’s travel bucket list, and for good reason. They’re rich with history, vibrant culture and sensational food.
-
DestinationItaly is truly one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces, offering a geography boasting incredible landscapes- from the icy Alps to the volcanic craters to the turquoise waters.
-
DestinationIt is a curious, almost inexplicable sociological phenomenon, uniquely American. The fanatical devotion and big business of college and university sport is unmatched elsewhere in the world.
-
More from EscapeHere
-
We Recommend
EscapeHere.com is part of the Concourse Media network.
Comments