Four Mile Trail

Despite the name, Four Mile Trail is actually closer to five miles each way — thanks to trail reroutes over the decades, so plan accordingly. You'll start near the base of Sentinel Rock and immediately begin climbing through a relentless series of switchbacks carved into the granite cliffs above the Valley floor. The trail is exposed and sun-baked for long stretches, with loose gravel underfoot that keeps you honest on the descent. As you grind upward through more than 3,000 feet of elevation gain — roughly the equivalent of climbing a 300-story building — the Valley opens up behind you in increasingly jaw-dropping panoramas. El Capitan's sheer face dominates the western view, Half Dome commands the east, and Yosemite Falls roars across the canyon in spring. The payoff at Glacier Point is one of the finest viewpoints in all of North America, full stop. This trail rewards fit hikers who earn their views the hard way.