Day hiking

Hiking is a popular activity in Yosemite, and is a great way to see the park.

(For information on overnight hiking, visit the wilderness section .)

A few things to remember while hiking:

Stay on trails: taking shortcuts is dangerous and causes trail erosion. Carry (and drink) plenty of water: a leading cause of injuries on the trail is dehydration. Be sure to treat river, stream, lake, or spring water. Bookstore

Hiking books

Yosemite: a natural history guide to its trails (Schaffer) Easy Day Hikes in Yosemite (Durkee) Yosemite Trails (Clark) See all books

Hiking maps

Yosemite National Park (Trails Illustrated) Yosemite Valley Topo (Harrison) All 7.5 topos (USGS) See all maps Pets and bicycles are only permitted on paved trails. Smoking while traveling on trails is prohibited, though you may smoke while stopped. (Crush out and dispose of cigarette butts in a trash receptacle.) Horses and mules have the right of way on trails. Pack out what you pack in. Trails are not maintained nor are they regularly patrolled: travel carefully and at your own risk.

A brief--and by no means complete--list of walks and hikes below is divided into five areas of the park: Yosemite Valley Glacier Point Road Wawona Mariposa Grove Hetch Hetchy Crane Flat White Wolf Tuolumne Meadows