Yosemite National Park: The North Rim | Backpacking in California

Yosemite National Park: The North Rim

Author:	alacontrabasse
Date:	23 Mar 2009 9:13:02 PM
Activity:	Backpacking ActivitySearchBackpacking
State:	California (CA)
Distance:	30.36 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 10149 ft Total Loss: 10142 ft Net Change: 7 ft
Difficulty:	5 / 10
Tags:	California, Mariposa
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

This 31-mile shuttle hike pieces together several trails and spurs for the best views and remote campsites in and above Yosemite Valley.

From Rockslides Trailhead, follow the now-defunct roadbed of Old Big Oak Flat Road Trail (OBOFRT). In the first few minutes, you'll see the shaved granite wall of El Capitan piercing the skyline. At mile 1.7, where a massive rockslide blocks the road, follow cairns uphill to the next intact section of roadbed. The upcoming 2.5 miles pass through dense manzanita; peek out at Bridalveil Fall, and end at a campsite near Cascade Creek.

Top off water bottles and backtrack .6 mile the next morning to the North Rim trail. Turn left and climb through sugar pines, contour around El Cap Gully, and take the .3-mile spur trail to the 7,569-foot granite prow of El Capitan. Backtrack and head northeast for 1.8 miles to another spur up 7,779-foot Eagle Peak. Swing north, then east to Yosemite Falls Trail. Turn right and hike south to end this big 12-mile day at your second campsite. Catch the sunset glow at a nearby overlook of Yosemite Falls, a high-decibel whitewater ribbon falling almost 2,400 feet.

On day three, see the sunrise from Yosemite Point (6,936 feet), then continue east for four miles to North Dome for a front-row view of the cleaved granite face of Half Dome. Hike north for 3.5 miles, passing a side trail to Indian Rock, a rare granite arch. In 3.8 miles, turn right onto Snow Creek Trail and camp on a gravel bench with oh-my-God views of Half Dome.

The last day, descend 100-plus switchbacks over 2,500 feet into Tenaya Canyon. Follow the north side of Tenaya Creek, pass Mirror Lake, and pick up the free park shuttle back to your car.

PERMITS: Required backcountry permits are issued based on your originating trailhead, and a quota system limits the number of permits issued each day. Sixty percent of each trailhead's daily permits can be reserved up to 24 weeks in advance and cost $5, plus $5 per hiker. Download the application at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm, then fax to (209) 372-0739. Walk-in permits are free and available the day of or the day before your hike at any of the five Wilderness Permit Stations. Park entrance fee: $20 per vehicle.

MORE INFO: Yosemite National Park, (209) 372-0200; nps.gov/yose

-Mapped by Kelly Bastone

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

NRT01

Dist: 30.36 mi	Points: 1744	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

North Rim Track

Points of Interest

NRT001

Location: 37.723776°, -119.644858°
Hike north from the Rockslides Trailhead.

NRT002

Location: 37.726055°, -119.646541°
Junction: Stay on Old Big Oak Flat Road Trail (OBOFRT), heading west onto faint roadbed.

NRT003

Location: 37.725096°, -119.650578°
Good view over Yosemite Valley.

NRT004

Location: 37.724037°, -119.654550°
Fantastic view over Yosemite Valley, El Cap, and Half Dome.

NRT005

Location: 37.722934°, -119.669493°
Scramble uphill and northwest, over rockslide debris, following occasional cairns.

NRT006

Location: 37.723309°, -119.670843°
Resume hiking on OBOFRT.

NRT007

Location: 37.722659°, -119.674172°
Rainbow View. Great vista over Yosemite Valley. This is where photogs come to take pictures of Bridalveil Fall, since the angle here produces rainbows.

NRT008

Location: 37.734272°, -119.703684°
Trail junction. Continue north.

NRT009

Location: 37.742078°, -119.702954°
Campsite at end of Day 1, near Cascade Creek. The next day, backtrack to Waypoint 8 and turn left.

NRT010

Location: 37.741031°, -119.694391°
Continue east.

NRT011

Location: 37.737700°, -119.636908°
Trail junction: Spur trail to top of El Capitan.

NRT012

Location: 37.734069°, -119.637551°
Top of El Cap

NRT013

Location: 37.752665°, -119.616308°
Take spur trail to Eagle Peak.

NRT014

Location: 37.746060°, -119.614806°
Eagle Peak

NRT015

Location: 37.766474°, -119.603090°
Trail Junction. Turn south toward Yosemite Falls.

NRT016

Location: 37.759655°, -119.599013°
Trail junction, and end of Day 2. On Day 3, hike east from here.

NRT017

Location: 37.759078°, -119.597597°
Day 2 campsite

NRT018

Location: 37.757348°, -119.596868°
Spur to Yosemite Fall overlook. Lots of hikers miss this, the descent carved out of the cliff's rock is hard to see unless you're looking for it.

NRT019

Location: 37.756432°, -119.593134°
Yosemite Point: Catch the morning sun on Day 3. Backtrack to main trail.

NRT020

Location: 37.771970°, -119.581032°
Indian Canyon Creek. Continue southeast.

NRT021

Location: 37.769413°, -119.574627°
Trail junction. Follow the maintained trail southeast.

NRT022

Location: 37.761317°, -119.560432°
Trail junction: Take spur trail to North Dome.

NRT023

Location: 37.755617°, -119.560261°
Top of North Dome; backtrack and head north.

NRT024

Location: 37.775522°, -119.556527°
Junction: Spur trail leads to Indian Rock, a granite arch. Continue on North Dome Trail.

NRT025

Location: 37.786724°, -119.559027°
Turn right.

NRT026

Location: 37.791337°, -119.541292°
Pretty little cascades; swing south along Snow Creek.

NRT027

Location: 37.773191°, -119.540091°
Trail junction, footbridge to Tuolumne Meadows; head south.

NRT028

Location: 37.770850°, -119.540606°
Hit Snow Creek trail, head southeast to campsite.

NRT029

Location: 37.769731°, -119.538717°
Campsite Day 3: Amazing, oh-my-God views of Half Dome and Cloud's Rest. The next day, backtrack to main trail and turn left to switchback down into valley.