Bishop Creek Trailhead

Bishop Creek Trail follows an old travel corridor along Wawona Road, the route the Mariposa Battalion likely used in 1851 on its way into Yosemite Valley. There's no trailhead sign — look for a bear box in the paved pullout north of where Wawona Road crosses Alder Creek. The first 1.2 miles sit inside Yosemite National Park; beyond that, the trail continues into Sierra National Forest.

Trail Details

Hiking Project lists the route as a 3.3-mile point-to-point trail rated intermediate to difficult, losing far more elevation than it gains as it works down toward the creek. Expect several unbridged crossings — Bishop Creek itself can run high and fast during spring snowmelt, so time your hike around runoff.

What You'll See

The path winds through old-growth ponderosa pine and one of the largest black oak stands in the Yosemite area. In spring, Upper Bishop Creek Falls runs with snowmelt; by early November the black oaks turn a deep gold that draws fall-color hikers.

Before You Go

• No camping in the first mile; a Yosemite wilderness permit is required to camp beyond it.
• No cell service, restrooms, or maintained facilities anywhere along the route.
• Downed trees and overgrown stretches show up in current trail reports — go ready to scramble over or around obstacles.