Valley Loop Trail
Hike distance: 13 miles, with options
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 3966 feet, minimal gain and loss on hike
Best time to go: Fall for colors, spring for water
Directions:
Walking along the Valley floor is the best way to see Yosemite Valley . The Yosemite Valley Loop Trail circumnavigates the entire Valley Floor, covering 13 miles of moderate terrain, with varied landscape and stunning views of the Valley's spectacular rock features. Bridges that cross over the Merced River and Tenaya Creek provide multiple hiking options, depending on your ambition.
Happy hiking!
Some advice: Have patience and ask questions if you feel uncertain of the trail. Road crossings, multiple and degraded trails, inconsistent maps and poor directional signs all make finding your way along the Valley Loop challenging. The good news is you are never too far from the Valley floor, where you can reorient yourself. As part of the Fund's Campaign for Yosemite Trails , this trail will be restored with clearly signed and defined trails.
Here are two of several hiking options along the Valley Loop Trail:
Option 1: East Valley Loop . Begin at Curry Village and walk east toward Half Dome to the Happy Isles Nature Center . Here the trail begins to loop around, then parallels Northside Drive, passing Mirror Lake and Yosemite Village before arriving at Yosemite Falls . A Fund project, the Lower Yosemite Falls Loop Trail, is a nice side walk before stopping for lunch at picnic tables that provide clear views of the falls. For a lunch with fewer people, continue along the trail to picnic areas near El Capitan Bridge or walk down to El Capitan Meadow and enjoy watching El Cap climbers in a peaceful setting. Cross the El Capitan Bridge and loop back along the trail, which parallels Southside Drive through talus slopes along the road's south side and behind the chapel before returning to Curry Village .
Option 2: West Valley Loop . This hike provides much more solitude than the east loop as well as views of spectacular rock features. A note of caution: the trail crosses the road several times and is difficult to follow at points because of poor directional signs and degraded trail surface. (as part of the Fund's Campaign for Yosemite Trails, this trail will be restored with clearly signed and defined trails). Begin at The Lodge at Yosemite Falls and walk west toward El Capitan . The trail here runs along rocky slopes and after looping back over the Pohono Bridge leads to Fern Spring and a peaceful walk in the woods before crossing the road near Bridalveil Falls , then continuing on talus slopes. Cross back over at the El Capitan Bridge to enjoy the leisurely walk back to Lower Yosemite Falls .