Indian Cave

Indian Cave isn't a cave in the geological sense — it's a jumble of massive granite blocks that sheared off the cliffs below Royal Arches and Washington Column and piled up at the mouth of Tenaya Canyon. The gaps and low recesses between those boulders have been used as shelter for a very long time, which is where both the name and the history come from.

A Documented Historic Site

This spot was an Ahwahneechee site recorded as Hol-low, also known by the call Lah-koo-hah ("come out"). Historical accounts describe it as a winter shelter, including a refuge used during conflict with the Mono Lake Paiute. The evidence is still visible: the overhanging rock is blackened by generations of fires, and deep mortar holes ground into the granite mark where acorns — the staple food of Yosemite Valley's first residents — were pounded into meal.

What You'll Find There

Expect uneven granite, tight gaps between boulders, and a few genuinely dark pockets rather than a carved-out cavern. Sturdy shoes and a flashlight make the difference between an interesting scramble and a stubbed toe. There's no official trailhead or signage — it's reached by a short, unmarked spur off the Mirror Lake Trail near The Ahwahnee, at the east end of the Valley, so budget extra time to find the use-path.

Visiting Respectfully

• This is a documented Native American cultural site — leave grinding holes and any artifacts undisturbed.
• Footing is loose talus rock in places; go slow and supervise kids on the boulders.
• Pair it with a walk on the Mirror Lake Trail rather than treating it as a standalone stop.