Tamarack Flat Trail

Tamarack Flat Trail is a long, point-to-point route that leaves a quiet campground on Tioga Road, follows the old bed of Big Oak Flat Road along Yosemite's north rim, and descends past El Capitan, Eagle Peak, and the top of Yosemite Falls before ending at the Valley floor near Camp 4. It's one of the longest and least crowded backcountry routes into Yosemite Valley — you won't find the trailhead traffic of the Mist Trail or Four Mile Trail here.

Distance and Difficulty

Trail-tracking sites put the one-way distance at roughly 16 to 17.5 miles, with about 3,600 to 3,700 feet of elevation loss on the way down. Both AllTrails and 10Adventures rate it hard to very hard, and a realistic pace runs 9 to 11.5 hours — long enough that many hikers treat it as an overnight backpack rather than a single push. The route starts along the historic Old Big Oak Flat Road bed before splitting onto the El Capitan Trail for the descent into the Valley.

Planning the Hike

• This is one-way, not a loop or out-and-back — arrange a shuttle or a second car between the Tamarack Flat trailhead, off Tioga Road near Crane Flat, and the Yosemite Valley end near Camp 4.
• Wilderness permits are required for overnight backcountry camping; check current permit rules before you go if you're splitting this into a multi-day trip.
• Tamarack Creek, near the start, is a water source but must be filtered or treated. Plan your carry for the rest of the route.
• Most guides recommend hiking it May through October, once the north rim is clear of snow.