Four Mile Trail

9.6 miles/15.5 km round-trip. 6 to 8 hours; 3,200 feet/975 m elevation gain

Begin at the Four Mile Trailhead along Southside Drive in Yosemite Valley

In summer months, take the El Capitan Shuttle to the trailhead. You can also reach the trail from year-round Valley Visitor Shuttle Stop #7, adding about ½ mile to the total distance. This trail begins near the base of Sentinel Rock and climbs to the top of Yosemite Valley at Glacier Point. Although many hikers do this trail as a round-trip hike, an alternative in the summer is to purchase a bus ticket to Glacier Point ($) and hike down. Reservations are required; visit a DNC tour desk for details. You can also make a longer hike by following the Panorama Trail (below) back to the Valley. This trail closed in winter due to extremely hazardous conditions.