McCleod Flat Trail

McCleod Flat Trail picks up where the Willow Creek Trail leaves off, climbing through oak and pine above Bass Lake in Sierra National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service calls the route up from the lake moderate to steep — one of the tougher hikes in this part of the forest — and along the way it passes two waterfalls, Angel Falls and Devils Slide, before continuing to a quiet ridge about two miles northeast of the falls. The trailhead sits just outside Oakhurst, south of Yosemite's entrances, so it works well as a half-day option without driving into the park itself.

Angel Falls and Devils Slide

These two waterfalls are the reason most people make the climb. The Forest Service is direct about the risk around them: the granite gets extremely slippery and the pools below swirl with real current, so stay on the trail and keep back from the edges rather than scrambling onto the rock for a closer look.

Trailhead and Access

Park at the Falls Day Use area off North Shore Road, or at the Willow Creek trailhead off Forest Road 274, both on Bass Lake's north shore. Willow Creek Trail runs 2.7 miles one-way to McLeod Flat Road, where it connects to McCleod Flat Trail for hikers doing the full loop back down. It's hiking only, with no water source along the trail, so check with Sierra National Forest for current conditions before you head out.

Good to Know

• Located in Sierra National Forest's Bass Lake Recreation Area, not inside Yosemite National Park's boundary
• Moderate to steep grade — plan for a real climb, not a stroll
• No water along the trail; carry what you need
• Hiking use only