Yosemite Valley Loop Trail
Yosemite Valley Loop Trail
Yosemite Valley Loop Trail
4.5
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4.5
123 reviews
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Dana W
Orange, CA22 contributions
Jun 2023
Yosemite is seriously short on signage within the park--especially on the Valley Loop Trail. Because of all the rain/snow/precipitation this year (2023), much of the trail was washed out, so we ended up trekking across soggy meadows and marshy grasslands covered with fallen trees and branches. The worst part, however, was when we were following the trail near El Capitan. Apparently, when you come out to the road at El Cap, you need to backtrack to get back on the Valley Loop Trail. Because there was no sign telling us that, we kept on going on the road, looking for the trail. We kept walking . . . and walking . . . and walking . . . until we finally realized (when we got to Valley View) that we were miles away from the Loop Trail, and we had to walk several more miles to get back to a point where we could finally board a shuttle. In the meantime, the clouds decided to gather and then dump on us. We tried to hitchhike a ride back to the Village, but got no takers. We finally arrived at Cathedral Beach and waited for the shuttle. The Valley Loop has great promise . . . if they would only put a few signs up!!
Written June 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D11RCD
Palm Desert, CA28 contributions
Apr 2021
Ohhh, the sights! The serenity! The QUIET!. This is so beautiful a place to be in. I could stay here for months! There are several trails throughout the Yosemite Valley and not a one of them in a less than awe inspiring location. This trail is very easy and lets you see Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Mirror lake and several other falls and lots of streams! It's just incredible being here in one of the grandest places on Earth! Do bring your camera! you'll want to take lots of pics & vids of all the wonderfulness around you!
Written April 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cp_0010
Manama, Bahrain1,516 contributions
Jul 2019
Walking in Yosemite valley trail is an enjoyable walk. As you walk through the valley, there are nice views around trees, mountains and static water where people do boating and swimming. As you walk along, you will see many bikers and there is a separate trail for them. We walked for a good time and enjoyed. Good place for family picnic.
Written June 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thezoodude
Cincinnati, OH86 contributions
Apr 2017 • Friends
Did the whole loop on April 12th, 2017. Started at the parking lot near Bridalveil Falls and went toward El Capitan, then onto the Lower Yosemite Falls area where we had lunch at the cafe, then on to the Half Dome village area, then back along the south side of the loop. We spent a lot of time just meandering around the meadows and taking a ton of pics along the Merced River. The park was very busy with Spring Break, but as usual, folks don't like to get their shoes dirty, so 99% stay on the asphalt paths and never venture onto a trail.....so it was actually quiet and peaceful. We really took our time and our gps showed that we actually walked a touch over 13 miles thanks to all the meandering. We left the car at 8:30 that morning and got back at 5:00. That included an hour for lunch. We had no issues getting a parking spot at 8:30, but I have no doubt that the lot is full by 10:00. The weather was 60 and sunny with a light breeze. Just perfect. This hike is extremely flat and just has a few areas where you need to watch your footing. The other nice thing with this loop hike is that you can break it off in many places if you get tired or start running out of day light. There are many shorter versions of the loop hike if you decide to not do the full length. The meadows, the waterfalls, El Cap, nice views of Half Dome and Sentinel, and Cathedral. This hike really is spectacular.
Written April 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KclRN
Albuquerque, NM25 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
My husband and I did this hike in February (off season in park). Before you embark, beware many of the restaurants are closed for the winter. We parked at Brideveil Falls and did the entire loop (visiting Curry and Yosemite Villages. It was a total of 16 miles and we were super tired at the end. If we were doing it again, I would have packed more food and bypassed Curry Village as most of it was shut down. I would recommend 2L of water per person at the least, more in hotter months.
In terms of hiking it was easy for us, and mostly flat, but we live at 6000 ft. If you are coming from sea level understand that Yosemite is in the Sierra Nevada Mt. Range and you will have difficulty with breathing and fatigue if you are not used to the elevation (we witnessed a near emergency of altitude sickness on one hike).
This is a great trail if you a) have several hours, b) like walking and c) want to see many of the sites from a variety of angles. We were able to see Brideveil falls, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, the 3 Brothers, Cathedral Rock, Half Dome, and El Capitan. There are also many bus stops (free) on or close to the trail, so if you need to bail or take a break it's easy to.
In terms of hiking it was easy for us, and mostly flat, but we live at 6000 ft. If you are coming from sea level understand that Yosemite is in the Sierra Nevada Mt. Range and you will have difficulty with breathing and fatigue if you are not used to the elevation (we witnessed a near emergency of altitude sickness on one hike).
This is a great trail if you a) have several hours, b) like walking and c) want to see many of the sites from a variety of angles. We were able to see Brideveil falls, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, the 3 Brothers, Cathedral Rock, Half Dome, and El Capitan. There are also many bus stops (free) on or close to the trail, so if you need to bail or take a break it's easy to.
Written February 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GreatToBeGary
Pennsylvania1,779 contributions
Jun 2015
I thought the Valley Loop Trail was very underrated, based on some of the reviews I read before visiting Yosemite in June 2015. There is so much beauty in Yosemite, and the Valley Trail takes you through the heart of it. The wildlife, the gently flowing river, the forests and meadows, the spectacular views ... the Valley Trail allows you to step away from the tourists and simply take it all in. If you have any free time at all, this is an easy, must-see hike.
Written October 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christina K
Wien113 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
for time reasons, we did the half loop. directions provided are unnecessarily poor. if you continue from the lower yosemite fall in the direction of el capitan, we would recommend not to take the actual half loop, but to walk the same road back. it is much prettier offering open views of meadows and the river than the walk back, where you cross the river close to el capitan. one should see the valley and its beauty, so this walk is 100% recommended with our suggestion.
The park administration could do SO much better if it gave better directions for hikers. the half-loop should be clearly visible (where you depart from the full loop).
The park administration could do SO much better if it gave better directions for hikers. the half-loop should be clearly visible (where you depart from the full loop).
Written July 2, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BruinDan
Fullerton, CA3,317 contributions
Mar 2014 • Family
It is said that while Yosemite Valley makes up less than 10% of Yosemite National Park, it is the destination for about 90% of park visitors. It’s certainly with good reason as it is truly a magnificent setting with its thundering waterfalls, soaring granite walls, rivers, meadows and iconic granite features such as El Capitan and Half Dome. However, for hikers this means that the trails can be quite busy. In addition, due to the topography here there are many strenuous trails and easy trails, but there aren’t a lot of choices for those looking for a moderate-level hike. One good choice to address both dilemmas would be the Valley Floor Loop Trail.
The trail is relatively flat but long – either 6.5 or 13 miles, depending on the route you take. NOTE: Before hiking this trail, be sure to get a trail map at the visitor center as there is very little signage along this trail and there are a few points along the trail where it is unclear which direction you’re supposed to proceed.
One of the great features about this trail is that it is relatively uncrowded, plus you get a much better feel for the valley than you do when simply driving through. The recommended starting point is at the Camp Four tram stop. From there head toward the Upper Yosemite Falls trailhead until you get to the trailhead sign. Instead of heading up the trail, turn left and follow the trail along the shadow of the granite cliffs. Eventually, you will cross the road and continue your trek along the river. Another nice feature of this trail is that, unlike many of Yosemite’s trails, this trail isn’t totally exposed; there will be many areas where you will walk under a canopy of trees.
Due to time constraints, we opted for the shorter version of the trail, which meant we crossed a bridge near El Capitan to reach the other side of the valley and the return portion of the loop. To experience the full 13 miles, you would hike past El Capitan all the way to Bridalveil Falls and back. Either way, after completing the Valley Floor Loop Trail, you can say with all confidence that you truly saw Yosemite Valley.
The trail is relatively flat but long – either 6.5 or 13 miles, depending on the route you take. NOTE: Before hiking this trail, be sure to get a trail map at the visitor center as there is very little signage along this trail and there are a few points along the trail where it is unclear which direction you’re supposed to proceed.
One of the great features about this trail is that it is relatively uncrowded, plus you get a much better feel for the valley than you do when simply driving through. The recommended starting point is at the Camp Four tram stop. From there head toward the Upper Yosemite Falls trailhead until you get to the trailhead sign. Instead of heading up the trail, turn left and follow the trail along the shadow of the granite cliffs. Eventually, you will cross the road and continue your trek along the river. Another nice feature of this trail is that, unlike many of Yosemite’s trails, this trail isn’t totally exposed; there will be many areas where you will walk under a canopy of trees.
Due to time constraints, we opted for the shorter version of the trail, which meant we crossed a bridge near El Capitan to reach the other side of the valley and the return portion of the loop. To experience the full 13 miles, you would hike past El Capitan all the way to Bridalveil Falls and back. Either way, after completing the Valley Floor Loop Trail, you can say with all confidence that you truly saw Yosemite Valley.
Written May 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mou2
Victorville, CA181 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
I actually did not think that we would finish our hike without jumping on a shuttle to return to the hotel. We took the El Capitan shuttle to the Bridalveil Fall stop. From there we walked over to see the fall and had planed to head eat toward the main part of the valley. At the last minute we chose to head east to start the valley loop trail. This would give us a view of some meadows and the Pohono Bridge. The bridge was no big deal but the trail itself was wonderful. Along the way we made stops at El Capitan to see climbers, Merced River to get our feet wet, and the most wonderful view of the Half Dome that I have only seen in pictures. Most people never see this part of the valley and the best part was that there were very few people along the trail. It was a great escape from the busyness of Yosemite. We complete our part of the hike and believe that we did 8 to 10 miles total. It was not hard but too about 6 hour for us. Understand, we took our time to enjoy the hike and sights. In short...it was a walk in the park.
Written June 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SeniorTravelerTF
Fort Atkinson1,249 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
An interesting hike that passes many of the valley’s highlights. Not too difficult other than the length. Note that it can be cut in half if you tire. However, the trail is, in at least three places, not marked. Definitely carry a map with you to find your way around the valley because when you come to the unmarked areas it is a coin flip. Luckily the toad is there and you can by default follow it, but without shoulders and drivers not paying attention to walkers it is quite dangerous. Obviously no one from the park service has walked the trail because they would see these unmarked areas, or maybe they are so familiar with the trail and area signs are superfluous to them.
Written April 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beste lezers,
Eind mei 2018 gaan we naar het Yosemite park, we zoeken eigenlijk wat minder moeilijke. Wandelingen die de moeite waard zijn.
Ons gezelschap bestaat uit oa. 2 personen met een beperking en de routes mogen dus niet te lang of moeilijk begaanbaar zijn. Enkele obstakels is geen probleem en afstand van 5 km overbruggen we wel, wie heeft tips
Written March 1, 2018
Hi
I highly recommend that you post on the TripAdvisor Yosemite forum page page. We can share the link to the accessibility information from the NPS. We can tell you about flatter hikes.
I really hope you are not visiting over the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend. It's incredibly busy!
Written March 11, 2018
I am planning on doing the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail the Last weekend in January. Where is the easiest place to park in order to get to the trail? I have been looking, but haven't been able to find a parking location.
Written January 19, 2018
You can park at Yosemite Village and either walk the half mile to lower Yosemite Falls where the trail begins, or you can hop on the shuttle (it runs year round) and get off at Stop #6 at Lower Yosemite Falls and begin your hike there. I have no idea what the trails are like in winter because we were there in September. If you stay at Yosemite Village Lodge, you will be right there by the Falls and you can park your car at the lodge, which is a great place to stay.
Written January 19, 2018
We are staying at Evergreen Lodge in Yosemite this July. Is that anywhere near the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail? Is bike rental available near Evergreen Lodge?
Written May 22, 2017
Evergreen Lodge is OUTSIDE of Yosemite National Park. It's about an hour drive to Yosemite Valley.
Ask your questions on the Yosemite forum where many folks will be able to reply.
Written May 27, 2017
Yes. The trail currently has some deep puddles.
Written May 27, 2017
Hi i am planning to hike this in feb. Is the trail easy to navigate in winter? I am concerned that snow could make the trail difficult to identify
Written January 24, 2017
We were there in August not really sure about winter but there has bee much snow and rain this winter in Yosemite. Good luck
Written February 12, 2017
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