YOSEMITE HIKE PICKER

Tell us your group size and ages — get the Yosemite hikes that actually fit, linked to full trail details. Free, no sign-up.

Your group

Adults (16–64)
Young kids (0–7)
Steers toward easy, short, kid-friendly
Older kids (8–15)
Seniors (65+)
Include strenuous / exposed hikes?
e.g. Half Dome (heights + permit)
Bringing a dog?
Most Yosemite trails don't allow dogs

No exact matches — here's the closest

Suggestions are based on our trail database and grow as we add more hikes. Browse all Yosemite hikes →

Yosemite Hiking FAQ

What is the easiest hike in Yosemite National Park?

Short, flat, paved or near-paved trails in Yosemite Valley — like Cook's Meadow Loop, the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, and Mirror Lake — are the easiest options. Use the picker above with young kids in your group to see the gentlest hikes that fit, with full trail details.

What is the best Yosemite hike for families with young kids?

Look for trails rated easy, marked kid-friendly, under ~2 miles, with little elevation gain and no permit. The Hike Picker filters to exactly those when you add young kids to your group.

What is the hardest hike in Yosemite?

Half Dome via the cables is the marquee strenuous hike — roughly 14-16 miles round trip from Yosemite Valley with 4,800+ ft of gain, steep exposure on the cables, and a permit required by lottery during cables season (roughly late May through early/mid-October). Only include it if your group is fit and comfortable with heights, and check the permit helper first.

Which Yosemite hikes require a permit?

Half Dome's cables require a Recreation.gov lottery permit, but only during cables season (roughly late May–October). Overnight backcountry trips need a separate wilderness permit. Day hikes everywhere else in Yosemite need no permit. The picker flags any suggested hike that needs one.