Hike Stats
Trail type: Out and Back
Length: 28.6 miles (round trip)
Elevation Gain: ~ 7,400 ft over 3 days
Days Backpacking: 3 days, 2 nights
Trail Signs: Easy to navigate with plenty of trail signs — we used the map linked below
Level: Strenuous/Difficult (strenuous hike with extra backpack weight made this very challenging)
VLOG time
Tips & Reminders
Bring Hiking Poles! Hiking poles helped a lot for the switchbacks and downhills, they provided more balance with the heavy backpacks we were carrying.
Bring sun protection & insect repellent! Hats and sunscreen are definitely recommended especially on hot summer days. Mosquitoes are also full fledged at this time and can be a real bother without insect spray!
Use a backpacking checklist! Before you leave for your trip, check off all the things you need with a list online or your own list.
Don’t overpack! We packed too many wet wipes and some other items that we did not use at all! Any extra weight will weigh you down, so make sure you are being very mindful while you are packing.
Take a map! The ranger at the entrance gave us a map, but it was not as detailed as the map we printed out for ourselves. Make sure you have a paper map easily accessible, in case your phone dies or doesn’t have service.
Check out the water sources in the area before you go. On the Pohono trail, Bridalveil Creek was the only water source for us along the 28 miles we hiked.
The Pohono Trail
For my very first backpacking trip, I got wilderness permits for the Pohono Trail from Tunnel View to
Glacier Point over three days' time. This trail stretches 13.7 miles across the Southern Rim of
Yosemite, winding through thick forests, unreal vista points, and overlooking El Capitan, Half Dome,
North Dome, Yosemite Falls, and the high country.
The Trip
After picking up our bear canisters from Wawona Visitor Center, we made our way to our entry trailhead at Tunnel View, where we parked our car, geared up and started our trip! The first 1.3 miles to Inspiration Point consisted purely of switchbacks and rocky terrain, gaining elevation swiftly in a short distance. Despite this being a challenging stretch on a hot day, we were greeted by beautiful views of Yosemite Valley and Tunnel View.
After roughly 3.7 miles of hiking uphill, we reached Stanford Point, sitting at 6,659 feet. We stopped here for lunch, admiring the unreal views of the Valley and other granite structures in the background. Here, we stood face to face with El Capitan, a hike we had just completed two weeks ago when the views were obstructed by smoke; this time the day was crystal clear. After our lunch break, we hiked another 0.7 miles to Crocker Point (7,100’), then 0.6 miles to Dewey Point (7,385’). Both, insane views of the Valley down below. I loved hiking this portion of the Pohono Trail, we hiked through dense forests and beautiful vista points — every time we came across a new point I was in awe of the scenery and thousands of miles of granite structures. It was a nice surprise that each viewpoint only grew more and more beautiful!
As we approached our first night’s camp site, we saw a bear a few hundred feet down the trail! After waiting a few moments, we made a lot of noise, stuck together and continued down the path to the creek. After a difficult 7 miles of hiking, we reached Bridalveil Creek, where we set up camp for the night. We set up our tents, filtered water from the creek, enjoyed a hot dinner, and packed up our bear canisters. After settling down, we looked up to see a sky full of stars. It was surreal to see so many stars — you can never see more than a few in the city. The sight was so fascinating, I could barely get myself to look back down!
The next morning, it was soo cold! Since we had to fill up our hydration packs for that day’s hike, my hands got super cold from the water in the creek and we ended up boiling water just to use it as a hand warmer. After having breakfast and packing up everything, we started our hike, taking only our day packs. The Day 2 terrain was a lot more relaxed and gradual than the day before. After hiking roughly 2.5 miles through dense forest, we reached Taft Point (7,503’). Since there is a parking lot about a mile away from Taft Point, we saw many day trippers hike down here to enjoy the view! Here, we were entertained by a group of slackliners, the fissures, and the stunning views! Standing by the railing I looked down to see a straight 3,000 foot drop into the valley.
After hiking about a mile away from Taft Point, there is a split in the trail. We took the slightly longer trail that parted to the left, as it snaked by the side of the mountain, providing unobstructed views of the Valley. This trail led us past Roosevelt Point (7,380’) and to the Sentinel Dome trailhead. We decided to hike up to Sentinel Dome, which I personally think was one of the best points of our trip. Due to the smoke, one side of our view looked like a normal day with blue skies, while the other side had a dark orange hue, and the sun was red. We joked that we were in an Apocalypse.
Next, we headed to Glacier Point! We made it to our main destination! The view here looked as though someone had edited the picture to add an orange filter. Nonetheless, it was a unique experience with the sky in colors I had never seen before. Here, there were many tourists as expected, but we got to buy some snacks and use a restroom for a change! After taking a few pictures and resting, we headed back down to Bridalveil Creek. On our descent, we went down the other trail that didn’t pass through Roosevelt Point, but instead was shorter and led us by the side of Sentinel Dome.
When we got back to camp,, we got water for our dinners, and filtered water into our hydration packs that evening, as we knew it would be cold and take a long time the next morning. Filling up our 5 hydration packs took almost an hour, even with our one gallon Sawyer water filter! The next morning, we had breakfast, packed up our tents and bags and started as early as we could, so we could make it down to the Valley in time for lunch!
The third day hike was very smooth and easy compared to the first day, hiking mostly downhill and passing by the same vista points once again. We saw a few more backpackers and day hikers on the way down, but the trail was generally very empty till we neared Tunnel View. After 3 amazing, adventure filled days we made it down, smelly and hungry but with a sense of contentment that only camping out in the wilderness could give. My first backpacking trip was one of a kind, and I can’t wait to do it again!
Great video and article Trisha and Family. You guys are adventurous family. Stay safe.