Cook's Meadow Loop
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Black bears are active throughout Yosemite Valley, including Cook's Meadow — do not approach or feed them, and keep food sealed in a bear canister or your car's trunk, never a tent or backpack left unattended.
Deer graze the meadow year-round and appear tame but are wild animals; during fall rut, bucks can be unpredictable — give them space and never position yourself between a doe and her fawn.
Trail Details
- 1
Arrive before 8am to catch soft morning light on Half Dome and Yosemite Falls before tour buses fill the Yosemite Village parking lots — the meadow reads completely differently in that first hour of light.
- 2
The loop connects directly to the Mirror Lake trail and the Valley Loop Trail, so if you have more time, you can extend this into a half-day walk without backtracking; grab a paper trail map from the Valley Visitor Center before you set out.
- 3
For the classic Half Dome reflection shot, position yourself near the wooden footbridge on the eastern side of the meadow where the Merced River curves — early spring snowmelt keeps the water high and glassy, and there are no crowds jostling for the same frame until about 9am.
Photos
NPS
