Cook's Meadow Trail

Cook's Meadow Loop is an easy, flat mile through the open grassland at the center of Yosemite Valley, and it packs in some of the park's most photographed views without any climbing at all. The boardwalk and paved path circle past open sightlines to Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, and Royal Arches, with essentially no elevation gain. Most people finish in about 30 minutes.

Where to start

Pick it up at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center (shuttle stop 5) or the Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead (shuttle stop 6). From the visitor center, the route follows the bike path west toward Lower Yosemite Fall, crosses at stop 6, and bears onto the boardwalk that runs out into the meadow. The loop passes Sentinel Bridge, where stepping out onto the bridge itself gives the classic straight-on view of Half Dome reflected in the Merced River, before the boardwalk carries you back across the meadow to the visitor center.

Good to know

• Mostly boardwalk and paved path — flat enough for strollers, and wheelchair accessible when it isn't covered in snow.
• Dogs are welcome on leash.
• Open year-round; the meadow turns gold in fall, and waterfall views are strongest in spring.

The meadow also marks the site of Yosemite's earliest village, which once held a jail, a Wells Fargo office, and a small chapel. The chapel is the only building still standing, just off the meadow's edge.