Hiking the Panorama Trail

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Lake Tahoe / Truckee

Side Trip / Hike of the Month

Hiking the Panorama Trail

View of Half Dome, Liberty Cap, Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls from the Panorama Trail!

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Starting at 7200 feet at Glacier Point and dropping to 4000 feet at Curry Village, the Panorama Trail in Yosemite National Park has stunning views that make the hike worth the side trip from Truckee and Lake Tahoe.

The drive from Truckee down 395 south to Lee Vining is just a scant 3 hours. From Lee Vining you head up to Tioga Pass and back down to Yosemite Valley. At Lee Vining the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Tioga Gas Mart has large portions of great food at low prices. At Lee Vining for dinner, the Mono Inn is a must. Owned by Sara Adams, Ansel Adams grand daughter, the food is excellent. The view from the dining area over Mono Lake is superb, especially when the full moon rises over Mono Lake during your dinner (consult sun/moon rise times).

The Panorama Trail hike is best in the late spring or early summer when the snow has melted and the waterfalls are spectacular! The hiking time is 4 hours to 7 hours.

There are very few hikers on the trail. The trail is mostly downhill, however, after you cross the bridge over Illilouette Creek, you'll climb 700 feet in about a mile and a half before descending again to the Mist Trail. There is a short side trail to Panorama Point which is unsigned, so don't miss it. The unmarked trail to Panorama Point veers to the left about half a mile (0.8 km) after you cross the bridge over Illilouette Creek. The trail cuts through a stand of Manzanita brush. There are no guardrails to protect you from the 2,000 foot (600 meter) drop off at Panorama Point.

If you have two cars, leave one at Curry Village and drive to Glacier Point in the other. If you have one car, you can get a one-way bus ticket to Glacier Point for $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, $15 for kids over five years. The bus leaves the Yosemite Lodge at 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 1:30 p.m., and takes a little over an hour to get to Glacier Point. You can buy tickets in advance over the phone at 209-372-1240, or in person at the Yosemite Lodge, the Curry Village check-in desk, or the Tours desk in Yosemite Village next to the market. By parking your car at the Curry Village parking lot and taking the free shuttle to the Yosemite Lodge, you can relax at Curry Village, which is near the end of the hike at Happy Isles.

The Panorama trailhead at Glacier Point is at the southern end of the Glacier Point area, near the amphitheater. When you get to Nevada Falls, taking the Mist Trail down is beautiful and shorter. On a sunny day the mist feels great and no matter how wet you get you’re dry in 10 minutes. The Mist Trail is very steep and can be slippery and hard on the knees. Near the cutoff for Nevada Falls you can also take the John Muir Trail down. This is longer and easier, and you get a beautiful view of Nevada Falls and Liberty Cap.

Enjoy the photos that follow.