Valley Loop Trail
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
| Address: | Northside Dr, Yosemite Village, CA 95389, USA |
| GPS: |
37°44'13.7"N 119°36'29.4"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 11.50 miles |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Hike Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Trails/Routes: | 15.9 mi |
Restrooms Lakes Rivers Waterfalls Streams Trails Rocks Wildflowers National Park
Hike
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.
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 roadDestination will be on the left(1.1 mi)
Parking is available at Yosemite Village. From there, the shuttle will take you to Lower Yosemite Falls (shuttle stop #6), and there will be signage to guide you to the trailhead.
Trails
Distance ?
15.9 milesElevation Gain ?
2 feetReal Ascent ?
1,047 feetReal Descent ?
1,045 feetAvg Grade (0°)
0%Grade (-15° to 13°)
-26% 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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