You can see Yosemite’s waterfalls, giant sequoias, meadows, and high-country lakes on trails that leave time for the rest of the day. Some of these easy Yosemite hikes have pavement. Others are short enough that the…
Items 15 The creator’s order
1 Yosemite Falls Follow the 1-mile Lower Yosemite Fall loop for a view from the footbridge below the last drop. The eastern side has the gentler approach. Take it slow on the western side near the bridge, which can be icy in winter, and expect mist when the falls are flowing hard. 0 2 Cook’s Meadow Loop Walk a flat 1-mile loop on a mix of paths and boardwalk. Start near Yosemite Village or the lower falls and look for Half Dome and Yosemite Falls across the open meadow. Stay on the boardwalk where it crosses wet ground. 0 3 Glacier Point Take the paved path from the Glacier Point parking area for a high view across Yosemite Valley and toward Half Dome. It’s about 300 yards one way with a gentle incline. Use this short walk when Glacier Point Road is open and you want a big view without a long climb. 0 4 Mariposa Grove Take the 0.3-mile Big Trees Loop from the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area for a flat mix of pavement, packed dirt and boardwalk past the Fallen Monarch. Check the shuttle before leaving. When it does not run, the approach from the public parking area adds about 2 miles each way. 0 5 Bridalveil Fall The walk from the parking area to the base is about half a mile round trip on a paved trail with a short incline. You get close enough to feel the spray at high water. View it from the path, especially when mist leaves rocks slick. 0 6 Yosemite Valley Swinging Bridge Take the mostly flat, paved walkway from the Swinging Bridge Picnic Area to the fixed footbridge in Yosemite Valley. Look up the Merced River toward Yosemite Falls. Parking is limited, but the same paved path connects to Yosemite Valley Lodge and Cook’s Meadow. 0 7 Mirror Lake (California) From the Mirror Lake trailhead, follow the paved road to the lake and back for about 2 miles round trip. The far end of the road climbs more sharply. The longer trail around the lake uses rougher and unpaved ground. When the water is low, the route still gives you views up Tenaya Canyon. 0 8 Happy Isles From the Happy Isles shuttle stop, take the accessible path and fen boardwalk into a quiet wetland near the nature center. The boardwalk gets you close to ferns and sedges. Return the same way if you want a short walk away from the busier trailheads. 0 9 McGurk Meadow Walk downhill from the McGurk Meadow trailhead for the old cabin and open meadow. The route is about 1.6 miles round trip with roughly 150 feet of climbing on the way back. There can be wildflowers in early summer, and you can turn around at the cabin if you prefer. 0 10 Wawona Meadow Loop Use the paved approach from the Wawona Hotel area and turn onto the old fire road. Try a short out-and-back around the first part of the meadow. The full loop is 3.5 miles on uneven ground, so go only as far as feels easy if you are saving time for the grove. 0 
Yosemite FallsFollow the 1-mile Lower Yosemite Fall loop for a view from the footbridge below the last drop. The eastern side has the gentler approach. Take it slow on the western side near the bridge, which can be icy in winter, and expect mist when the falls are flowing hard.0
Cook’s Meadow LoopWalk a flat 1-mile loop on a mix of paths and boardwalk. Start near Yosemite Village or the lower falls and look for Half Dome and Yosemite Falls across the open meadow. Stay on the boardwalk where it crosses wet ground.0
Glacier PointTake the paved path from the Glacier Point parking area for a high view across Yosemite Valley and toward Half Dome. It’s about 300 yards one way with a gentle incline. Use this short walk when Glacier Point Road is open and you want a big view without a long climb.0
Mariposa GroveTake the 0.3-mile Big Trees Loop from the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area for a flat mix of pavement, packed dirt and boardwalk past the Fallen Monarch. Check the shuttle before leaving. When it does not run, the approach from the public parking area adds about 2 miles each way.0
Bridalveil FallThe walk from the parking area to the base is about half a mile round trip on a paved trail with a short incline. You get close enough to feel the spray at high water. View it from the path, especially when mist leaves rocks slick.0
Yosemite Valley Swinging BridgeTake the mostly flat, paved walkway from the Swinging Bridge Picnic Area to the fixed footbridge in Yosemite Valley. Look up the Merced River toward Yosemite Falls. Parking is limited, but the same paved path connects to Yosemite Valley Lodge and Cook’s Meadow.0
Mirror Lake (California)From the Mirror Lake trailhead, follow the paved road to the lake and back for about 2 miles round trip. The far end of the road climbs more sharply. The longer trail around the lake uses rougher and unpaved ground. When the water is low, the route still gives you views up Tenaya Canyon.0
Happy IslesFrom the Happy Isles shuttle stop, take the accessible path and fen boardwalk into a quiet wetland near the nature center. The boardwalk gets you close to ferns and sedges. Return the same way if you want a short walk away from the busier trailheads.0
McGurk MeadowWalk downhill from the McGurk Meadow trailhead for the old cabin and open meadow. The route is about 1.6 miles round trip with roughly 150 feet of climbing on the way back. There can be wildflowers in early summer, and you can turn around at the cabin if you prefer.0
Wawona Meadow LoopUse the paved approach from the Wawona Hotel area and turn onto the old fire road. Try a short out-and-back around the first part of the meadow. The full loop is 3.5 miles on uneven ground, so go only as far as feels easy if you are saving time for the grove.0