This 31-mile shuttle hike pieces together several trails and spurs for the best views and remote campsites in and above Yosemite Valley.
From Rockslides Trailhead, follow the now-defunct roadbed of Old Big Oak Flat Road Trail (OBOFRT). In the first few minutes, you'll see the shaved granite wall of El Capitan piercing the skyline. At mile 1.7, where a massive rockslide blocks the road, follow cairns uphill to the next intact section of roadbed. The upcoming 2.5 miles pass through dense manzanita; peek out at Bridalveil Fall, and end at a campsite near Cascade Creek.
Top off water bottles and backtrack .6 mile the next morning to the North Rim trail. Turn left and climb through sugar pines, contour around El Cap Gully, and take the .3-mile spur trail to the 7,569-foot granite prow of El Capitan. Backtrack and head northeast for 1.8 miles to another spur up 7,779-foot Eagle Peak. Swing north, then east to Yosemite Falls Trail. Turn right and hike south to end this big 12-mile day at your second campsite. Catch the sunset glow at a nearby overlook of Yosemite Falls, a high-decibel whitewater ribbon falling almost 2,400 feet.
On day three, see the sunrise from Yosemite Point (6,936 feet), then continue east for four miles to North Dome for a front-row view of the cleaved granite face of Half Dome. Hike north for 3.5 miles, passing a side trail to Indian Rock, a rare granite arch. In 3.8 miles, turn right onto Snow Creek Trail and camp on a gravel bench with oh-my-God views of Half Dome.
The last day, descend 100-plus switchbacks over 2,500 feet into Tenaya Canyon. Follow the north side of Tenaya Creek, pass Mirror Lake, and pick up the free park shuttle back to your car.
PERMITS: Required backcountry permits are issued based on your originating trailhead, and a quota system limits the number of permits issued each day. Sixty percent of each trailhead's daily permits can be reserved up to 24 weeks in advance and cost $5, plus $5 per hiker. Download the application at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm, then fax to (209) 372-0739. Walk-in permits are free and available the day of or the day before your hike at any of the five Wilderness Permit Stations. Park entrance fee: $20 per vehicle.
MORE INFO: Yosemite National Park, (209) 372-0200; nps.gov/yose
-Mapped by Kelly Bastone
TO TRAILHEAD: To reach the unsigned Rockslides trailhead from Yosemite Village, take the Valley Loop road west to milepost 9 and park on the right, by the metal gate.
Position Format:
Datum:
Tracks
NRT01
Distance: 30.36 mi
Points: 1744
Calories: none
Total Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
North Rim Track
Points of Interest
NRT001
Location: 37.723776, -119.644858
Hike north from the Rockslides Trailhead.
NRT002
Location: 37.726055, -119.646541
Junction: Stay on Old Big Oak Flat Road Trail (OBOFRT), heading west onto faint roadbed.
NRT003
Location: 37.725096, -119.650578
Good view over Yosemite Valley.
NRT004
Location: 37.724037, -119.654550
Fantastic view over Yosemite Valley, El Cap, and Half Dome.
NRT005
Location: 37.722934, -119.669493
Scramble uphill and northwest, over rockslide debris, following occasional cairns.
NRT006
Location: 37.723309, -119.670843
Resume hiking on OBOFRT.
NRT007
Location: 37.722659, -119.674172
Rainbow View. Great vista over Yosemite Valley. This is where photogs come to take pictures of Bridalveil Fall, since the angle here produces rainbows.
Location: 37.742078, -119.702954
Campsite at end of Day 1, near Cascade Creek. The next day, backtrack to Waypoint 8 and turn left.
NRT010
Location: 37.741031, -119.694391
Continue east.
NRT011
Location: 37.737700, -119.636908
Trail junction: Spur trail to top of El Capitan.
NRT012
Location: 37.734069, -119.637551
Top of El Cap
NRT013
Location: 37.752665, -119.616308
Take spur trail to Eagle Peak.
NRT014
Location: 37.746060, -119.614806
Eagle Peak
NRT015
Location: 37.766474, -119.603090
Trail Junction. Turn south toward Yosemite Falls.
NRT016
Location: 37.759655, -119.599013
Trail junction, and end of Day 2. On Day 3, hike east from here.
NRT017
Location: 37.759078, -119.597597
Day 2 campsite
NRT018
Location: 37.757348, -119.596868
Spur to Yosemite Fall overlook. Lots of hikers miss this, the descent carved out of the cliff's rock is hard to see unless you're looking for it.
NRT019
Location: 37.756432, -119.593134
Yosemite Point: Catch the morning sun on Day 3. Backtrack to main trail.
NRT020
Location: 37.771970, -119.581032
Indian Canyon Creek. Continue southeast.
NRT021
Location: 37.769413, -119.574627
Trail junction. Follow the maintained trail southeast.
NRT022
Location: 37.761317, -119.560432
Trail junction: Take spur trail to North Dome.
NRT023
Location: 37.755617, -119.560261
Top of North Dome; backtrack and head north.
NRT024
Location: 37.775522, -119.556527
Junction: Spur trail leads to Indian Rock, a granite arch. Continue on North Dome Trail.
NRT025
Location: 37.786724, -119.559027
Turn right.
NRT026
Location: 37.791337, -119.541292
Pretty little cascades; swing south along Snow Creek.
NRT027
Location: 37.773191, -119.540091
Trail junction, footbridge to Tuolumne Meadows; head south.
NRT028
Location: 37.770850, -119.540606
Hit Snow Creek trail, head southeast to campsite.
NRT029
Location: 37.769731, -119.538717
Campsite Day 3: Amazing, oh-my-God views of Half Dome and Cloud's Rest. The next day, backtrack to main trail and turn left to switchback down into valley.
NRT030
Location: 37.759214, -119.539383
Junction with Tenaya Loop Trail. Descend on north side of Tenaya Creek and follow trail west.
NRT031
Location: 37.741569, -119.560003
Hike ends at shuttle stop.
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