How to Hike the Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley
Hiking from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley is an excellent way to see firsthand the awesome scenery that makes up Yosemite National Park. Another bonus of hiking this direction is its start in the park's quieter high country. To complete this hike, you will need to adequately plan for the trip, pack the right gear and ensure you are in the physical shape necessary to hike 20+ miles.
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Things You'll Need
- Hiking gear
- Water bottle
- Water filter or iodine tablets
- Backpack
- Camping gear
- Food
- Bear canister
- Wilderness permit
Instructions
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Trip Preparation
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1
Prepare for your hike. The hike from Tuolumne Meadows to the Yosemite Valley is approximately 21.2 miles via the John Muir Trail (Cathedral Lakes). In order to appreciate the scenery and not have to travel at a break-neck speed, plan to complete the hike over three days.
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Make sure you have the proper gear. You will need sturdy hiking boots (preferably with excellent ankle support given the trail's steep uphill and downhill portions and uneven terrain), hiking socks and proper clothing. Plan to pack layers as it is often rather cold in the high elevations in the morning and evening hours; during your hike you will want to be able to shed layers as you heat up.
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3
Plan to pack food for your trip; you will need food for breakfast, lunch and dinner plus snacks to eat while hiking. If traveling lightly plan to bring foods that do not require cooking, otherwise bring along a lightweight stove. Be sure to bring along a bear canister to store your food in when camping; these are required when backpacking in Yosemite's backcountry.
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Pull together the items you will need to overnight, including a tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag.
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Pack all of your gear into your backpack.
The Hike
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6
Obtain a wilderness permit from the Tuolumne Meadows Ranger Station. Permits can be reserved between 24 hours and two weeks in advance or are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Arrive at the Cathedral Lakes trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows and begin your hike. An ideal stopping point for the evening would be at the Sunrise High Sierra Camp (approximately 7.7 miles).
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8
Begin day two. Today's hike will take you from the Sunrise High Sierra Camp to Little Yosemite Valley (approximately 8.5 miles). At this point, you may opt to hike to the top of Half Dome. It is about 2.5 miles from Little Yosemite Valley to the summit of Half Dome.
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Begin day three. The final day's hike will take you from Little Yosemite Valley to Yosemite Valley. You have two options when descending into the valley; you may opt to either take the Mist Trail or the horse trail. The mist trail is slightly shorter but quite a bit steeper; the longer horse trail descends into the valley via a series of switchbacks.
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Arrive in Yosemite Valley; your hike is complete!
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Tips & Warnings
This hike is suitable for the summer season.
Having plenty of water on hand will ensure you remain hydrated. In addition to bringing a water supply with you, also have on hand a water filter or iodine tablets to purify water you obtain on the trail during your hike.
If your plans include the summit of Half Dome, make sure that the cable route is up for the season. It is also advisable that you make any attempt to hike Half Dome earlier in the day; summer afternoons are prone to thunderstorms, making the summit of Half Dome the last place you would want to be.
