Famous for its giant sequoia trees and towering granite cliffs, Yosemite National Park is like a mecca for hikers. While trails to iconic landmarks like Half Dome and Yosemite Falls are reserved for more experienced hikers, there’s still plenty of ways to see the best of Yosemite if you’re looking for a casual adventure. These seven easy hikes in Yosemite are perfect for hikers of all skill levels and even families with kids. With these easygoing trails, everybody can experience the grand beauty of this stunning national park in Northern California.
- Sentinel Meadow & Cook’s Meadow Loop
Heather Park/AllTrails An easygoing jaunt through two gorgeous meadows, this loop trail is just 2.25-miles-long and doesn’t have any elevation gain. Enjoy views of various Yosemite landmarks like Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and the historic Yosemite chapel. Check out the trail here.
- Lower Yosemite Falls Trail
Steve Oswald/AllTrails You’ll have an awesome view of part of North America’s tallest waterfall from the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail. Just a mile long, this paved loop trail takes you to several vantage points of Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Creek. Spring and summer is the best time to catch the waterfall in full force, but it’s a beautiful walk any time of year. Check out the trail here.
- Glacier Point Trail
Jack Straw/AllTrails Glacier Point is truly the slam dunk of easy hikes in Yosemite. Totaling a mile round-trip, the short and easy hike to this breathtaking view point is almost too good to be true. Much of the trail is even wheelchair accessible. For this reason, Glacier Point is a popular spot during the park’s busy season. Check out the trail here.
- Taft Point Trail
Bobby W/AllTrails At just over two miles, this is another short hike in Yosemite that boasts views that seem like they should be reserved for a much harder trail. Although easy, you’ll want to be sure to use caution if you explore this trail with kids. The steep drop-offs at Taft Point make for some awesome photos, but can be dangerous as there are no guard rails. Check out the trail here.
- Mirror Lake Loop
Peter Carey/AllTrails The Mirror Lake Trail is an easy-moderate hike that leads directly to the lake while treating hikers to outstanding views. It’s two miles round-trip to the lake, and five miles if you take the loop around the lake. Named for its brilliant reflections of the surrounding cliffs, Mirror Lake is definitely worth seeking out! Check out the trail here.
- Tenaya Lake Trail
Paul Remmenga/AllTrails Tenaya Lake is perhaps one of Yosemite’s most stunning lakes and you can experience its full glory with a brief, 2.2-mile loop trail. Taking you completely around the lake, you’ll enjoy picturesque views of the lake and surrounding scenery on this simple little hike. Check out the trail here.
- Wawona Meadow Loop
Michelle Yu/AllTrails Wawona Meadow is a beautiful destination that doesn’t see a lot of the crowds that are typically found in Yosemite. The once-paved 3.5-mile trail is nice and wide with very little elevation gain. The meadow is beautiful, although there’s a 9-hole golf course located in the middle of it, and makes for one of the most serene destinations in Yosemite. Check out the trail here.
We think a visit to Yosemite National Park is in your future! Have you visited this incredible national park in Northern California before? Share your experiences with us in the comments! Need more of our amazing parks in your life? Check out this list of 19 amazing ones.
Heather Park/AllTrails
An easygoing jaunt through two gorgeous meadows, this loop trail is just 2.25-miles-long and doesn’t have any elevation gain. Enjoy views of various Yosemite landmarks like Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and the historic Yosemite chapel. Check out the trail here.
Steve Oswald/AllTrails
You’ll have an awesome view of part of North America’s tallest waterfall from the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail. Just a mile long, this paved loop trail takes you to several vantage points of Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Creek. Spring and summer is the best time to catch the waterfall in full force, but it’s a beautiful walk any time of year. Check out the trail here.
Jack Straw/AllTrails
Glacier Point is truly the slam dunk of easy hikes in Yosemite. Totaling a mile round-trip, the short and easy hike to this breathtaking view point is almost too good to be true. Much of the trail is even wheelchair accessible. For this reason, Glacier Point is a popular spot during the park’s busy season. Check out the trail here.
Bobby W/AllTrails
At just over two miles, this is another short hike in Yosemite that boasts views that seem like they should be reserved for a much harder trail. Although easy, you’ll want to be sure to use caution if you explore this trail with kids. The steep drop-offs at Taft Point make for some awesome photos, but can be dangerous as there are no guard rails. Check out the trail here.
Peter Carey/AllTrails
The Mirror Lake Trail is an easy-moderate hike that leads directly to the lake while treating hikers to outstanding views. It’s two miles round-trip to the lake, and five miles if you take the loop around the lake. Named for its brilliant reflections of the surrounding cliffs, Mirror Lake is definitely worth seeking out! Check out the trail here.
Paul Remmenga/AllTrails
Tenaya Lake is perhaps one of Yosemite’s most stunning lakes and you can experience its full glory with a brief, 2.2-mile loop trail. Taking you completely around the lake, you’ll enjoy picturesque views of the lake and surrounding scenery on this simple little hike. Check out the trail here.
Michelle Yu/AllTrails
Wawona Meadow is a beautiful destination that doesn’t see a lot of the crowds that are typically found in Yosemite. The once-paved 3.5-mile trail is nice and wide with very little elevation gain. The meadow is beautiful, although there’s a 9-hole golf course located in the middle of it, and makes for one of the most serene destinations in Yosemite. Check out the trail here.
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Address: Yosemite National Park Road, Yosemite National Park Rd, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
National Parks to Visit in Northern California January 15, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the best long hiking trails in Northern California? Northern California is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of hikes. With so many to choose from, you can essentially choose any difficulty level or length you want. There are plenty of short and sweet hikes, and there are also plenty of longer hikes, too! In this case, a “long” hike means anything more than five miles in length; some of our favorite long hiking trails in Northern California include the Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail hike, which is six miles long and 150% scenic through and through. The Half-Dome via the John Muir Trail is super long, coming in at 15 challenging miles, but it’s also got some of the most ridiculously amazing views and landscapes you’ll ever see in your life. It’s literally worth getting fit enough to do one of these hikes to actually do them, we promise! The Upper Yosemite Falls Trail is also long and wonderful (it’s 7.6 miles long). Need something a little shorter? Check out this list of 13 short and scenic hiking trails in Northern California. What are the best parks in Northern California for nature hikes? The best answer to this is obviously our ridiculously amazing state and national parks! Of course, local parks are awesome, too, and there are some that tend to poke out above the others in terms of awesome natural beauty. Then, there are the other spots that aren’t quite state or national parks but are still pretty special, like the amazing Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Preserve, near Guerneville, where you can see incredible redwood trees without the hustle and bustle of the crowds at the more popular national parks. Hiking among these giants is a truly humbling experience! It makes you realize how tiny you are in the scope of all things. Hidden Falls Regional Park near Auburn is also home to some amazing views and some excellent hikes, as well as the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. No matter where you go, honestly, the hiking will be wonderful – this is Northern California, after all.
The OIYS Visitor Center
National Parks to Visit in Northern California
January 15, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the best long hiking trails in Northern California? Northern California is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of hikes. With so many to choose from, you can essentially choose any difficulty level or length you want. There are plenty of short and sweet hikes, and there are also plenty of longer hikes, too! In this case, a “long” hike means anything more than five miles in length; some of our favorite long hiking trails in Northern California include the Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail hike, which is six miles long and 150% scenic through and through. The Half-Dome via the John Muir Trail is super long, coming in at 15 challenging miles, but it’s also got some of the most ridiculously amazing views and landscapes you’ll ever see in your life. It’s literally worth getting fit enough to do one of these hikes to actually do them, we promise! The Upper Yosemite Falls Trail is also long and wonderful (it’s 7.6 miles long). Need something a little shorter? Check out this list of 13 short and scenic hiking trails in Northern California. What are the best parks in Northern California for nature hikes? The best answer to this is obviously our ridiculously amazing state and national parks! Of course, local parks are awesome, too, and there are some that tend to poke out above the others in terms of awesome natural beauty. Then, there are the other spots that aren’t quite state or national parks but are still pretty special, like the amazing Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Preserve, near Guerneville, where you can see incredible redwood trees without the hustle and bustle of the crowds at the more popular national parks. Hiking among these giants is a truly humbling experience! It makes you realize how tiny you are in the scope of all things. Hidden Falls Regional Park near Auburn is also home to some amazing views and some excellent hikes, as well as the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. No matter where you go, honestly, the hiking will be wonderful – this is Northern California, after all.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Northern California is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of hikes. With so many to choose from, you can essentially choose any difficulty level or length you want. There are plenty of short and sweet hikes, and there are also plenty of longer hikes, too! In this case, a “long” hike means anything more than five miles in length; some of our favorite long hiking trails in Northern California include the Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail hike, which is six miles long and 150% scenic through and through. The Half-Dome via the John Muir Trail is super long, coming in at 15 challenging miles, but it’s also got some of the most ridiculously amazing views and landscapes you’ll ever see in your life. It’s literally worth getting fit enough to do one of these hikes to actually do them, we promise! The Upper Yosemite Falls Trail is also long and wonderful (it’s 7.6 miles long). Need something a little shorter? Check out this list of 13 short and scenic hiking trails in Northern California.
What are the best parks in Northern California for nature hikes?
The best answer to this is obviously our ridiculously amazing state and national parks! Of course, local parks are awesome, too, and there are some that tend to poke out above the others in terms of awesome natural beauty. Then, there are the other spots that aren’t quite state or national parks but are still pretty special, like the amazing Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Preserve, near Guerneville, where you can see incredible redwood trees without the hustle and bustle of the crowds at the more popular national parks. Hiking among these giants is a truly humbling experience! It makes you realize how tiny you are in the scope of all things. Hidden Falls Regional Park near Auburn is also home to some amazing views and some excellent hikes, as well as the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. No matter where you go, honestly, the hiking will be wonderful – this is Northern California, after all.
