Chilnualna Falls Trailhead, Yosemite National Park: 2026 Jul 29 (4.75 of 5)…read more Chilnualna Falls: Strenuous but Worth the Pain Chilnualna Falls is my favourite hike in Yosemite. Even before you begin your hike, the sounds of rushing water welcome you. Stay awhile and enjoy the mist before you climb the rock steps. The climb up Chilnualna Falls is strenuous and steep, with continuous uphill climbing and several switchbacks. In some areas you'll hear the waterfall but not see one. If you feel like challenging yourself, continue climbing to the top. Every time I reach the top, I want to stay awhile -- maybe because I'm too tired to climb back down... but also because reaching the top of Chilnualna Falls is not mere accomplishment, it's an exhilarating feeling. You'd want to stay and enjoy the sounds of water rushing below you. The water sliding over granite drops 240-feet down and is a sight to behold. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and cotton socks. Dress in layers. Wear a hat and sunglasses. Tips and What to Bring: 1) Start early. Preferably before 6:30 am. 2) Bring plenty of water: More than you think you need. Dehydration sets in pretty quickly. 3) Pack emergency items just in case. 4) Pack a light lunch. 5) Rubbish bags (take out what you bring in) 6) Horn (to scare wild animals away) 7) Sunscreen

This review is for Chilnualna Falls Trail which was a ~7.7 miles round trip that took ~6 hours to…read morecomplete in the snow. Chilnualna Falls Trail was located near the south entrance of Yosemite National Park; away from the busy Yosemite Valley. Lower Chilnualna Fall was a short ~0.2 miles and gets crowded at this particular spot. For the most part, the trail was a steady incline on dirt and rock with snow at higher elevations. In addition, there were a few downed trees over the trail. Overall, stunning views throughout this hike! There was a ~3 minute walk from the parking to the trailhead. Restrooms available at the parking area. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/jACscCHBcOg

I wanted to leave a review because the beginning of this trail can be tricky. At least it was for…read moremy friend and I. I hiked this trail about 2 weeks ago (December 2025). You will park at a designated parking lot. The lot says you have to pay $10. There is an envelope and you write your license place number and name on it. It says to drop thr payment at a local store. I don't know if they check if you have paid or not. The trail head is not far from the parking lot. It will be to the left of you if you are facing away from the road. The trail is beautiful you start off along the river. You will hike along the trail for a short while then it dead ends and opens up to the road. You will cross the road and there is a sign that says trail, follow that trail. There is somewhat of a fork go to the left, you will cross a wooden "foot bridge". There is also a sign telling you to be careful on the slippery rocks. Then you follow the trail, it is easy to miss the turn off where the trail continues and goes up the mountain. At a point it goes up to the right and there will be another sign that says "trail". We missed it, and could not figure out where to go. Because the trail continues a long the river but then dead ends. We back tracked and realized there is another trail where we were supposed to turn and go up the mountain. It gets steep after you go up, but you get amazing views. It's worth the climb. This trail eventually dips back down and you are along the river again and get river access again.

This experience was definitely one for the books. We took a dip in the natural spring water which…read morewas quite COLD. I'd say this hike was medium to difficult, but we were able to get over rocks, stumps, and loose gravel with sneakers. The temperature and the time of day were just too much to bare and we stopped whenever we'd come across a small body of water. The water streams were quite peaceful. The wind brushing again the trees and birds chirping was just magical.

Perfect location for an impromptu photoshoot/nature time! The parking lot is located at the end of…read morea semi sketchy "share the road" road but is definitely worth the drive. There are a variety of trees here, large and small and there are several trails that you can enjoy. I really wouldn't consider this a hiking location but its great for taking a walk and pictures. NOTE: - the bathrooms here are sick... and also bring your own toilet paper (BYOTP). - No entrance/parking fee!

I wish I'd visited without snow. This is not a great snowy hike…read more My 15-year-old and I visited during snow season. Parked on the corner of 6S47Y and 6S90. Nice walk along the fire roads, but a bit long for the reward. By the time we reached the Shadow of the Giants National Recreational Trail the kid was bored. The recreational trail is hard to following with deep snow, and there's no real indication as to what you're going to see, except for tall trees of course. There's an outhouse bathroom a the beginning of the scenic loop, and I think I saw a picnic table. This would have been a lot more fun if we'd been able to drive to the scenic loop.

Beautiful trail just outside of Yosemite off of Highway 140 in El Portal. My husband and I hiked…read moreabout 2.5 miles of the trail mid June. The whole trail is 4.5 miles one way- about 9 miles round trip if you want to go all the way to Hite Cove. We wanted to go all the way to the end, however temperatures in the canyon rise fast during the summer and it was easily 100 degrees by noon. The trail follows up above the Merced River. There were a few times when you can get right down to the river. About 1.5-2 miles in, there is a section with rocks that looks like it is made for jumping in the river. The trail is entirely single track with some areas with steep drop offs. Make sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and bug spray. There is very little shade and the trail is almost completely exposed. To find the trail, just look for the Red Bud Lodge and park right across the street. There is a sign that points just to the trailhead next to the lodge. I would recommend to come as early as possible if you are coming in the summertime.

Considering that everything else in El Portal is some pee stained remnant from the Sears catalog,…read morewe didn't have high hopes for the 'trail' that came recommended. It's not that encouraging as you drive up either. Seems very average and nondescript. As it was our first night in the greater Yosemite area, we definitely wanted to get out and so we went for it. In retrospect, I would say it was one of the nicer hikes we went on. You walk high above the Merced River on a narrow trail amongst wild flowers and with a beautiful view of the mountains. The power of the river and the beauty of the land impressed all of us. It and easy/intermediate hike. One drawback is that it's not a loop. So you can go as long as you want (to the end even) and come back. We went and hour and turned around. Recommend.

I entered the Ansel Adams Wilderness to reach 1000 Island Lake…read more Start the 16-mile roundtrip hike with almost 4000' elevation gain at the Silver Lake Campground on the June Lake Loop. Take the trail towards Agnew and Gem Lakes that transverses a cable-pulled rail line. Just before reaching the dam at Agnew Lake, follow signs to Clark Lakes by diverting left to the toughest part of the hike that goes up a rock scree. Enjoy the Clark Lakes and then follow the signs to 1000 Island Lake where the terrain rolls up and down. When approaching 1000 Island from the east, a climatic build up occurs as the trail skirts along a cascading river to one of best lakes imaginable. It's impossible to oversell the beauty of this large mountain lake dotted with vegetated islands and backed by towering granite crags. Although a long hike, plenty of stuff to see along the way maintains interest. Not monotonous (like hikes with only dense forest where every tree stump looks the same), the beginning has great views of Silver Lake followed by the industrial dams and rail tracks, and then the lushly green Clark Lakes - a worthwhile visit of their own. The busiest area was near 1000 Island Lake despite being the furthest from civilization. Consequently, my day-hiker self was in the minority amid the overnight backpackers and the trailhead parking lot was only half full. In late June 2022 during a drought, the lakes were full of water and patches of snow existed but never across the trail.

Activity type: Backpacking Elevation gain at start: 7280…read moreLength: 36 miles total Trail type: out and back Skill level: moderate to strenuous Duration: 3 nights/4 days Top Elevation: 11,500 Total elevation gain: 7882 This hike will start you at the Rush Creek Trail at 7,280. Having climbed this trail so many times It still doesn't get old. It's the Labor Day w/e so the campground was packed with RV's . Although there were a couple of spots left for us backpackers. It was the perfect weather to hike in at 78 degrees. First Man made lake you will encounter will be Gem Lake at 9058 ft. The condition for this lake was appalling. The water level was low and the shore around it was dry. Expect to gain 1778 ft in 5 miles to get to Gem Lake. Alger Lakes is 7.5 miles from the intersection of Gem/Waugh/1000 Island. You start at 9160 ft and expect to gain 1840 ft the the very last of the three lakes. To get to the third Alger Lake you traverse a very scenic and relatively easy narrow trail surrounded by Donohue Peak at 11000 and Koip Peak at 12000. We scrambled up a class 2 nameless pass to get to a lake just below Koip Peak. It was merely a bowl of alpine lake not as big as the first Alger Lake but it was beautiful with dark rocks and nobody but us. No sign of snow since it's facing north. Although there's plenty of sign that the lake was once big and full. Rocks were exposed. Shores were much bigger. On the climb up we saw a not so visible waterfall form the lower lakes and followed it all the way up. At 11,500 the three Alger Lakes were fully exposed. What a scene! Alger Lakes are considered one of the most beautiful area to backpack. It boasts of one of the most beautiful canyon. Colors of green, blue, purple, red and yellow will play a trick on youR mind. I could swear I was in the Grand Canyon. Between the two canyons you will be able to get a glimpse of June lake resort. This is a very difficult hike with a lot of steep switchback climbs for miles and miles. Although the reward in the end and on the way in is worth it's weight in whatever precious metal you can think of. This is a very windy area. It may run 78-80 degrees during the day but the wind is chilled ice at 15-20 miles an hour. You. Will. Get. Cold! At night the wind is even worse. So pack some warm but light clothing and secure your tent. But this is one of my most rewarding trip. Awesome! #backpacking rocks # getoffyourbutt #getoffmybutt #11500 #koip peak12000.

I remember my mom taking me through the Indian Village of Ahwahnee here in Yosemite National Park…read moreas a kid. Now I take my family here and pass down the legacy. This is a nice walk through area located in back of the visitor center. There was a deer just hanging out here while we were visiting...go figure. Exact location is as follows: Latitude: 37.750111 Longitude: -119.587606

One of my favorite hikes I've ever had the privilege of doing. We started in the morning, passed by…read moreVernal Fall, and went all the way to Nevada Fall. It was a scorchingly hot day when we hiked, so we took many breaks throughout. Luckily, there are plenty of shady, comfortable resting spots. The view from the top of Vernal Fall was already lovely, but I would highly recommend the trek all the way to Nevada Fall. The scenery from the top of Nevada Fall was breathtaking, and it was so lovely to see the beautiful rainbows at Vernal Fall. Keep in mind that there are slippery, steep steps on the way to Vernal Fall. It was a pretty steep hike up to Nevada Fall as well, with many loose rocks - we saw quite a few individuals slipping around. I'd recommend taking your time and going slow for the steepier sections.

We hiked From the beginning of Mist trail to base of Vernal fall. Parked at curry village and took…read morea shutter #14 to #16. It's a paved path with immediate incline. Like many people, we stopped a few times to catch our breath. Took our time and enjoyed the views and took lots of pictures on the way. When you get to the flight of stone stairs, you do have to climb up the stairs to reach the bottom of Vernal fall to get the whole experience of the mist. NO PONCHO or Raincoat needed at this point. Nice refreshing mist. You will not get soak or wet. After this point you will need it. We turn around and took the same route back down. Hope this help for people that does not want to hike the whole way up but still able to enjoy the view and experience the mist from the spectacular Vernal fall.

Miami Mountain Road: 4 Feb 2022…read more Location: Off Highway 41 Parking: Depending on how far you want to hike. You can either park at the entrance to Miami Mountain Road or drive further in. Description: The dirt road turns into partially paved road Distance: 4.78 Miles (you can go longer but we stopped due to sleek ice on the trail) Difficulty: Easy at the starting point but turned to moderate on our return trip History (taken from Sierra News): In the 1800's, old stage coaches used that trail as a short cut to Raymond. It was said that two men died and was buried on one plot across from each other. The two men - John Ruffin O'Neal and John Eldridge LaTouche were neighbours. Ruff ONeal: O'Neal's leg was pinned underneath a tree - it was pinned in such a way that he could not free himself. He was buried him where he was found. John LaTouche: LaTouche had a cabin near O'Neal. Loggers told him to leave his house where they were chopping down the trees. He owned the land and wouldn't leave. The loggers cut a huge tree which fell through the cabin and killed him. There was a large tree trunk that lay facing the gravesite - it may be possible that's the tree that struck LaTouche. We may never know. We first hiked Miami Mountain Road a month ago - after a heavy snowfall. The scenery around us was magnificent - white powder all around us. This could be a great place to snowshoe. Today, the place looked totally different from a month ago. The snow had melted - though splotches of snow can still be found. If you go around this time of the year, be aware of sleek ice. There are several trails - but we kept our hike to the left (6S14). About a mile from where we parked our car, to our right is the gravesite where the two men were buried. We continued down the trail but noticed signs posted to deter visitors. Braving ourselves, we continued a little further where several houses were situated on either side of the trail. The surrounding areas looked like something out of a horror movie - trees with roots struggling to entrap and pull you in... Perhaps John Ruffin O'Neal and John Eldridge LaTouche are continually stacking their claim on this land.