Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Winter Access Forum Snowshoe/hike in Yosemite suggestions

I'm going to be spending a few days at Tenaya Lodge next week for a conference (I know, tough assignment, but somebody's gotta do it) and will have Friday free before I head home. I'd like to do a snowshoe day hike in the area of the Valley or south Yosemite. Any suggestions for a moderate hike (under 10 miles/ 2K elevation change)? (I badly sprained an ankle about 6 weeks ago and am getting back into condition.)

From the Inspiration Point trailhead parking at Tunnel View (by the food storage lockers at the upper parking lot)head up and east toward Inspiration Point, Stanford point, Crocker Point, and Dewey Point. The trip from the trailhead to Dewey is about 4.5 miles with an elevation gain of about 2700 feet if you went all the way to Dewey Point. You could turn around anywhere of course. The views of the valley can be spectacular.
There are a lot of trails out of Badger Pass.
Go up 120 from the gate at Crane Flat.

To name a few.

Starting from Inspiration Point sounds good. Thanks, Mike.

The name of that trail is Pohono and it goes all the way from Tunnel View to Glacier Point.

Yeah, I did some research about it and it sounds like a great choice...pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, guys.

If you go to Inspiration Point you will have to go a hundred yards or so off trail to get to the edge of the valley rim. There is a bit of traffic to Inspiration point so it will probably have some evidence of having been hiked.

Which "Inspiration Point" are you referring to? I can think of 3 places that have been called that.

1) Tunnel View at the end of the long tunnel on Hw41 has been called Inspiration Point as well as Discovery View. Tunnel View / Inspiration Point / Discovery View
2) A mile or so up Pohono Trail you get to a vista point on the old road that was also called Inspiration Point. The trees have grown up and covered part of the view. Up Pohono Trail to Inspiration Point on old HW41
3) Another couple of miles up Pohono trail you get to a point where you've been going straight as you've been lateraling up a slope for quite a while. You get to a hairpin turn in the trail. At this point you can bushwack to the north to the rim to a place on some maps called "Old Inspiration Point". You have a wonderful view of Silver Strand Fall from here.Old Inspiration Point / Silver Strand Fall

The "Old Inspiration Point" that is 1.3 miles up from the trail head and that lies between Artist Creek and Meadow Brook.

Looking at the map I see that that's my #3.

I guess I have my distances messed up.

I don't remember any sign of a usage trail out to the point. But then I was only out there once 5-10 years ago. Things could have changed.

I guess I should have said snowshoe trod or post holed. There was almost two feet of snow up there last weekend. I'm thinking there is a trail sign too.

I picked up a book at REI several years ago " Snowshoe Hikes in Yosemite " great trail discriptions and info about where to park.

Too bad you're not up here today, 02-26-10.

Winter storm warning

And looking west from my vantage point in Coarsegold, we are in for another whopper!

Looking east towards Shuteye, the mountaintops are getting a good dusting right now.

As of 02-26-10 4:35pm PT, we are getting the rain in Coarsegold and Oakhurst/Bass Lake/Fish Camp are getting snowed on.

You should have plenty of snow to snowshoe next week.




Yes, great book! My wife and I have "post it" noted almost every page!

Have fun.

Going by REI tomorrow; I'll take a look for the book.

Thanks for all the input, everybody. I can't wait to get up there, especially since we're just getting hammered where I work (Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego) and I need a nice getaway.

The author is Michael C. White (paperback).

A getaway awaits you.

Have fun.

My wife and I snowshoed at Mariposa Grove on 02-28-10. There is plenty of snow (knee-deep) in many places.

We wanted to start at Wawona to Mariposa Grove, but there was no snow on the golf course or the hotel, so we decided to head back to the park entrance.

If you plan to start hiking pre-dawn, I advise you carry tire chains/cables. Certain areas on the 41 and in the park have black ice. Roads are free and clear of snow and debris. Numerous fallen trees and mud/rock slides have been cleared by CalTrans on the 41 between Coarsegold and the park entrance.

The Park Rangers situate themselves just before you approach the golf course and the Wawona Hotel. Watch your speed.

If you are at Tenaya Lodge now, March 3, 2010 at 4:11 p.m., you are getting a deluge with a Winter Weather Advisory!

Have fun on FRIDAY!