Glen Aulin
Wawona, California
| Address: | Yosemite National Park, California, USA |
| GPS: |
37°54'33.5"N 119°25'8.7"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 11.00 miles |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| Hike Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Elevation Gain: | 800 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 6.0 mi |
Lakes Rivers Waterfalls Streams Trails Rocks Wildflowers National Park
Backpack, Camp, and Hike
This is an 11 mile hike along the Tuolumne River to Glen Aulin. There is a view to take in at every turn on this hike, whether it's the Tuolumne River, Tuolumne Fall, Soda Springs, Parsons Memorial Lodge, or White Cascade. There are also several wildflower meadows along the way, especially towards the beginning of the hike.
The total elevation gain is 800 feet, which is pretty low considering the distance, which is upwards of 11 miles. If you can last the 6-8 miles it will take to reach Glen Aulin, then you'll be able to soak in some of the best parts of Yosemite's backcountry without doing too much climbing.
Once you reach Glen Aulin, there are several places to camp, including the Backpackers Campground, which provides tents, or the High Sierra Camp. If you plan on staying in Glen Aulin for a few days, you might consider hiking to to Waterwheel Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, two popular attractions in the Tuolumne Meadows area.
The hike is available as long as Tioga Road is open, which is typically June to November, but it would be more enjoyable the earlier in the season you go due to the snow melting and feeding into the waterfalls.
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 Wawona, California
- Head south on Chowchilla Mountain Rd toward Wawona RdToll road(377 ft)
- Turn right onto Wawona RdToll road(21.6 mi)
- Slight right onto Southside DrPartial toll road(1.4 mi)
- Turn left onto El Capitan DrToll road(0.4 mi)
- Merge onto Northside DrToll road(2.0 mi)
- Continue onto El Portal RdToll road(0.9 mi)
- Turn right onto Big Oak Flat Road (signs for CA-120/Tioga Rd/Manteca)Toll road(9.5 mi)
- Continue onto Old Yosemite Coulterville RdToll road(344 ft)
- Turn right onto CA-120 EToll roadMay be closed at certain times or days(36.6 mi)
You will have to park along the road
Trails
Distance ?
6.0 milesElevation Gain ?
-726 feetReal Ascent ?
553 feetReal Descent ?
1,279 feetAvg Grade (-1°)
-2%Grade (-17° to 13°)
-31% to 23%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
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