Taft Point
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
| Address: | Yosemite National Park, California, USA |
| GPS: |
37°42'45.8"N 119°36'15.9"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 2.20 miles |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| Hike Difficulty: | Beginner |
| Elevation Gain: | 200 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 1.2 mi |
Rivers Waterfalls Trails Rocks National Park
Hike
The hike to Taft Point is often paired with the hike to Sentinel Dome. There is a 5 mile loop that connects the two and offers breathtaking views of the valley along the south rim.
The trailhead takes you first to Sentinel Dome. You will reach a spur trail that will take you straight to the Sentinel Dome's summit after just under a mile of hiking. After enjoying the summit, go back to the spur trail and take the opposite direction to go to Taft Point. From the junction to Taft Point is about 1.5 miles, all while enjoying looking over the valley at an elevation of about 3,000 feet.
This hike offers particularly good views of El Capitan. It's a similar experience to hiking to Glacier Point. The hike up to Taft Point is a typical Yosemite walk through the woods. It's a relatively easy hike, with the elevation gain being around 200 feet.
Another unusual feature about Sentinel Dome and Taft Point are the fissures that line the outside of the cliff. These are large gashes on the edge of the cliff that go straight down and create some amazing scenery.
Because there are no guard rails, be sure to use caution when testing your fear of heights.
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 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(13.2 mi)
There is a trailhead just outside the parking lot
Trails
Distance ?
1.2 milesElevation Gain ?
-534 feetReal Ascent ?
133 feetReal Descent ?
667 feetAvg Grade (-5°)
-8%Grade (-36° to 9°)
-73% to 16%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
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