Four Mile Trail is a moderate hike that offers the best views of some of Yosemite's most famous landmarks, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Clouds Rest, North Dome, El Capitan, and the Royal Arches. The hike connects Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point, making it one of the best ways to see the highlights of the park in just four miles.

There are several switchbacks, making it a little bit more difficult going up than it is going down. While the name of the hike is Four Mile Trail, it's actually 4.7 miles one way and 9.4 miles round trip and takes about 2-5 hours to complete. Just around a mile or so into the hike, you'll be able to see Yosemite Falls completely. This is the only place in the world where the view of this waterfall, the highest in North America, is not obstructed by rocks or trees. Because Yosemite Falls is such a big part of the Four Mile Trail, the best time to visit is in the spring, just after the snow melts, because that's when it's at its biggest.

At the top of the hike, there is a gift shop and cafeteria, allowing visitors some time to stay, rest, grab a bite, and enjoy the scenery.

In just one 3 mile hike, Lundy Canyon provides views of waterfalls, meadows, mountains, and if you're up for it, a trip to the Twenty Lakes Basin.

There is much to take in even after going just .5 miles. The trail first takes you through a grove of trees and past a beaver pond until you reach the lower Lundy Canyon Falls. These twin waterfalls stand at 70 feet high and are easily seen from the trail, although it is isn't an up close and personal look. Once you pass the waterfalls, you enter the Hoover Wilderness.

The trail gets a little less straightforward after this point. Head west for a 2,000 ft climb up to Burro Lake, which sits at an altitude of 10,551 feet, or head east for something slightly more tame. This trail will take you through some of Lundy Canyon's famous wildflower meadows and straight to the base of the second set of falls in the canyon. Mill Creek drops off in four separate cascades that total about 100 feet. Starting from the base of the falls and climbing upward, the trail begins to get more difficult. A series of switchbacks takes you past one more waterfall, out of the canyon and to the Twenty Lakes Basin.

The Valley Loop trail at the heart of Yosemite is one of the best ways to discover the park. The entire loop is 11.5 miles long, and there are several places to enter and exit the trail throughout. However, because the trail avoids most main roads, it is best to take a map along with you.

Starting at Lower Yosemite Falls, the main trail takes hikers along the Merced River to various wildflower meadows and to some of Yosemite's most impressive landforms. The beginning of the hike guides visitors through the Three Brothers rock formation and eventually to El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. From there, those planning on doing the 7.2 mile half loop will cross the Merced River and start heading back to Yosemite Village. Those continuing on will head past El Capitan toward Bridalveil Falls and eventually loop back to the village.

There is almost no elevation gain on this hike, so it is essentially, a walk in the park. However, it is pretty long, even for those opting for the half loop, so make sure you've set aside enough time to complete whichever section of the hike you're planning on doing. The full loop usually takes about 5-7 hours, and the half loop usually takes 2.5-3.5 hours.

Half Dome is the most popular and difficult hike in Yosemite Valley. The trail is about 14 miles long with an elevation gain of 4800 feet. There are cables to help you scale up to the summit once you get within 400 feet of it. It takes about 10-12 hours to complete and is essentially straight up the entire way.

Because it is such a dangerous hike, there are many precautions you should take before attempting Half Dome. Leave around sunrise and have a set time to turn back, even if you don't reach the summit. Make sure everyone in your group has a flashlight in case it gets dark before you return. It is also recommended to bring gloves to help improve your grip on the cables and to keep your hands from burning when touching the cables.

In order to reduce the amount of people on the trail creating a bottleneck at the cables, the park has implemented a permit system. You must have a permit to access the cables.

While the hike to get there is dangerous and difficult, the view along the way and especially from the summit is unmatched, offering sites of Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, the High Sierras, and panoramic views of the entire valley.

The Trail of the Cedars is one of the most popular hikes in the park because of it offers great views without too much exertion. It is a short loop hike around Avalanche Creek in Glacier National Park. The hike is a fairly easy walk through a cedar tree forest and offers gorgeous views of Avalanche Creek which now cascades downstream as glacially melted water. The trees in this forest are some of the tallest and the oldest in the park, reaching up to 100 feet tall and 4 to 7 feet across at around 500 years old. This area has survived fires and avalanches for years, allowing it to flourish. The trail is wheelchair accessible and leads to a footbridge at the creek.

Just past the Avalanche Lake trail junction is an even closer view of the creek and the trailhead to Avalanche Lake, which is another 1.6 miles for those feeling a little more adventurous.

After passing Avalanche Creek, the trail reaches past the Avalanche Creek Campground and loops back out to the road. Parking can get difficult here because it is such a popular hike and there are limited spaces. The trailhead is about 5 and a half miles from Lake McDonald Lodge, along Going to the Sun Road.