Four Mile Trail Trailhead

The Four Mile Trail starts on the Yosemite Valley floor along Southside Drive, near the base of Sentinel Rock and Valley shuttle stop #11, and climbs 4.8 miles one way up to Glacier Point — despite the name, it's closer to five miles than four. It's one of the steepest, most direct routes out of the Valley, gaining roughly 3,200 feet in elevation, with views that open up more and more the higher you climb.

What You'll See

Switchback after switchback, the trail climbs through forest and open granite, with views back across the Valley of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks, and the Royal Arches. The payoff at the top is Glacier Point itself, one of the best overlooks in the park.

What to Expect

This is a genuinely strenuous climb: a continuous steep grade with no flat stretches to recover on, and stretches of loose sand and pavement that make sprained ankles a common complaint. Most hikers plan on six to eight hours round trip if returning the same way down; some instead descend via the longer Panorama Trail toward Happy Isles. The switchbacks run close to real drop-offs, so cutting them is both illegal in the park and genuinely dangerous.

Season and Logistics

• The trail typically opens in May and closes once heavy winter snow moves in, usually by November or December — check current conditions before heading out.
• Start early: the lower switchbacks get full sun and heat up fast in the afternoon.
• Carry several quarts of water — there's none along the route, and more still if continuing past the summit to Glacier Point.