Yosemite Peaks

[Hiker Mike]

I am headed to Yosemite next month and I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions for mountain day hikes in the park?

Mike

[Kent McLemore]

Yosemite National Park covers 1200 square miles. There are over 800 miles of trials and 30 peaks exceed 12,000' in elevation. What part of the park will you be visiting?

[dpage]

I read Muir's Yosemite before going to follow his suggestions for "if you have a day in the Park" thinking that if it was good enough for him...

[peter303]

Half Dome is the classic Yosemite Hike. When done as a day hike from the Valley it is similar in effort to Longs Peak- 14 miles, 4600 foot climb, and exciting class 3 part on a slat-and-cable ladder. Not the thin air part however. Plus two beautiful waterfalls during the first part of the hike.

Some people break the long hike into into three days camping in Little Yosemite Valley two nights.

A third way is form Tioga Road, climbing Clouds Rest each way. It is a little shorter but has three subclimbs.

Permits are required until Columbus Day. Some can be obtained in advance and a few on the day before the hike.

[peter303]

There are a couple 13Kers off Tioga Road. Mt Conness is an all day hike starting behind Lambert Dome. Mt Dana starts near the east entrance.
I have used these as acclimitization for Whitney.

[bonehead]

Cathedral Peak was Muir's favorite.

[Monster5]

I thought Conness and North were fantastic, but we did a slightly harder combo. Both have class 2 routes on them; Conness can also be done as a half day trip from the east at class 2-3 with slightly tricky route finding.

[Txhiker42]

In addition to Half Dome, Cloud's Rest is a classic. Making it up there in time for sunrise will be something that you'll never forget.

[Hiker Mike]

Yosemite National Park covers 1200 square miles. There are over 800 miles of trials and 30 peaks exceed 12,000' in elevation. What part of the park will you be visiting?

We will be staying at Half Dome Village and we will have a car although I hope the traffic isn't too bad the week after Labor Day.

Mike

[Monster5]

Cathedral Peak is pretty cool but the backside route is pretty legit 4th class. I'd recommend wrapping all the way around to the saddle with Eichhon Pinnacle prior to traversing back towards the summit.

[Kent McLemore]

We will be staying at Half Dome Village and we will have a car although I hope the traffic isn't too bad the week after Labor Day.

Mike

Post-Labor Day is the time to go.
Explore the Valley. Hike to the base of El Cap. Take a pair of binocs to the meadow and watch the big-wallers do their thing. The Four Mile Trail up to Glacier Point is a gem of a hike.
Half Dome: If you've never done, do it. A sublime expereince in spite of the hoards. A long day. Permit required.
Cloud's Rest: an overnighter for most folks. Unbeatable view.
Tenaya Canyon: A scrambler's paradise with endless lines of clean granite. Class 3 on up.

With a car, escape the chaos...
120/Tioga Road: on the way to Tuolumne Meadows check out Tenaya Peak and Lake, just off the road.
Tuolumne Meadows leads to many wonderful areas.
Unicorn Peak via Elizabeth Lake: Unicorn is part of the Cathedral Range and when viewed from the north resembles its better known spire-like siblings. The crazy exposure of the class 4 move near the summit block has turned me around three times! Yet I've never regretted the attempts. Stunning views of Cathedral Peak, Coxcomb, Mathes Crest, the Meadows and domes to the north and Lyell Canyon to the east and south. One of my favorite peaks anywhere, though I can't seem to summit.
In the history of Yosemite hiking, no one has ever regretted hiking up Lyell Canyon.
Also south of the Meadows, Rafferty Creek Trail leads to more superb high-alpine terrain.

North of the Meadows you'll find more solitude. Numerous trails lead to many domes, walls and valleys all composed of fine Sierra granite. Lembert Dome is the most accessible, just north of 120. Many fine technical routes as well as some super fun scrambling lead to a summit with an incredible vista.

The other suggestions are all great by the way. Have a great trip!