Mono Meadow
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
| Address: | Yosemite National Park, California, USA |
| GPS: |
37°40'17.1"N 119°35'4.2"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 3.00 miles |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easiest |
| Elevation Gain: | 300 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 1.7 mi |
Streams Trails Rocks Wildflowers Ponds National Park
Hike
The hike through Mono Meadow is the best way to get a view of Mt. Starr King, Clarke Range, and Half Dome all at once. It's about a three mile round trip hike towards Yosemite backcountry. It tends to stay really wet throughout the year, so it's typical for visitors to see a lot of mud and log crossings over creeks.
Three miles through Mono Meadow leads hikers to several options of things to do next, whether it's Half Dome, the High Sierras, or the more secluded Illiouette Creek. The Mono Meadow area is still recovering from some wild fires that have occurred, making a lot of burned trees and snags in the path pretty typical for those who visit to encounter.
Most people hiking through Mono Meadow are on their way to something else; few are rarely there just for the meadow itself. The trail is pretty lightly trafficked, making it a good place to look for wildlife.
It's a short, easy hike that leads to awesome views of the park. The elevation gain is 300 feet, making it more of a walk than a hike. The meadow is only open June to November, and the it's usually greener earlier in the season, so if you're interested in seeing the wildflowers at their peak, be sure to come early.
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 West, Yosemite National Park
- Head southwest on Northside Dr toward Cook's Meadow LoopToll road(2.9 mi)
- Keep right to stay on Northside DrToll road(2.1 mi)
- Turn left onto Southside DrToll road(0.9 mi)
- Slight right onto CA-41 S/Wawona RdContinue to follow Wawona RdToll road(9.2 mi)
- Turn left onto Glacier Point RdToll roadParts of this road may be closed at certain times or days(10.3 mi)
- Turn rightToll road(89 ft)
There is a parking lot outside the trailhead.
Trails
Distance ?
1.7 milesElevation Gain ?
-317 feetReal Ascent ?
171 feetReal Descent ?
488 feetAvg Grade (-2°)
-4%Grade (-14° to 7°)
-25% to 12%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
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