Hiking Trails

The Lewis Creek Trail takes hikers on a journey to a couple of different waterfalls, the Corlieu and Red Rock waterfalls, and its closest town is Oakhurst. Lasting nearly 4 miles, it ranks at a moderate on the difficulty scale, and in the spring, the flora that you will pass by and through never fails to amaze. There are no services, so hikers must pack out what they bring in, and dogs are allowed but they must be leashed.

The Willow Creek Trail also leads to two different falls, Angel Falls and Devil’s Slide, and although it is less than 3 miles long, it is rated as difficult or challenging, so those with mobility issues should look elsewhere when seeking a trail to hike. Beginning at Bass Lake and ending at Mcleod Flat Road, it runs along Willow Creek, providing an additional thrill for hikers.

The next trail on our list, the Wawona Meadow Loop, is an easy one, earning just a 2 on a difficulty scale of 1 to 10, and although there isn’t much of an elevation gain, the Wawona Meadow itself is what makes this 3.5-mile hike one of our favorites, especially in the summertime. Lush, verdant, and offering proximity to the Wawona Golf Course (also known as Big Trees Golf Course), this is a great spot for hiking in Yosemite for hikers of all experience levels.

Of course, you are going to want to see the giant sequoias during your Yellowstone adventures, and hiking through the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias will give you a greater appreciation of these trees’ ancient beauty. There are a few loops in this area, including the Big Tree Loop, Grizzly Giant Loop, Guardian’s Loop, and the Mariposa Grove Trail, ranging in distance from .3 miles to 7 miles long.

If you are really into hiking or are just unsure about hiking in unfamiliar territory alone, there are plenty of companies in the area that will offer Yosemite hiking guides, including Yosemite Mountain School, offering both half-day and all-day hiking adventures.