Cook's Meadow Loop
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
| Address: | Sentinel/Cook's Meadow Loop, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389, USA |
| GPS: |
37°44'44.1"N 119°35'37.0"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 1.00 miles |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easiest |
| Trails/Routes: | 0.7 mi |
Restrooms Rivers Waterfalls Streams Glaciers Trails Wildflowers Pet Friendly Bicycles National Park
Hike
Cook's Meadow Loop is a shorter, smaller hike inside Sentinel Meadow. Cook's Meadow Loop is just under a mile and takes about 45 minutes to complete, depending on how long you stop at each viewpoint.
Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point and Sentinel Rock are just a quick walk along Cook's Meadow Loop. There is almost no elevation gain, making it one of the easiest trails in the park with multiple views of some of Yosemite's most well-known attractions. It's a great place for first-time visitors to start their Yosemite exploration.
The trail takes you directly past Sentinel Bridge, which is one of the most popular viewpoints to see Half Dome and is often crowded with photographers once sunset hits.
Cook's Meadow is right around the corner from the Lower Yosemite Falls trailhead, which is just an extra .5 mile and offers an even closer look at Lower Yosemite Fall.
Bathrooms and a variety of food options are available at Yosemite Lodge, just past the trailhead. Once you've finished the hike, you can grab a bite to eat at its food court, Coffee Corner or The Mountain Room, their full-service restaurant.
Cook's Meadow offers some of the greatest views in the park without having to take a very strenuous hike, making it enjoyable for everyone who visits.
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
- Head on Northside DrToll road(1 ft)
Walk along the bike path from the visitors center, crossing the street at shuttle stop #6. Stay along the bike path until you reach Sentinel Bridge, giving a stunning view of half dome. Follow the boardwalk across the meadow to return to the visitors center.
Trails
Distance ?
0.7 milesElevation Gain ?
0 feetReal Ascent ?
53 feetReal Descent ?
53 feetAvg Grade (0°)
0%Grade (-7° to 7°)
-13% to 13%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
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