photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Gary Robertshaw | profile | all galleries >> The Yosemite Collection >> Finding Yosemite's Sierra Point tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Snowy winter morning in Yosemite Valley | Autumn spectacular in Yosemite Valley | Rivers Alive! | October 2007 in Yosemite Valley | Yosemite Winter | Half Dome! Our trek to the top. | Yosemite's Panorama Trail | An Early Yosemite Summer | Yosemite Valley Autumn | Summer in Yosemite Valley | April in Yosemite Valley | Yosemite Valley; Another April Visit | Yosemite Early Spring Favorites | Yosemite Valley Spring - 2005 | Visit to Mariposa Grove | Old Big Oak Flat Road | New Additions | Upper Yosemite Falls Trail | Finding Yosemite's Sierra Point

Finding Yosemite's Sierra Point

Sierra Point is a rocky point near Grizzly Peak and above Yosemite's Merced River, near the beginning of the John Muir trail from Happy Isles.
The trail was abandoned years ago, and has become somewhat difficult to find.
A unique aspect of this point is that you can see 4 major waterfalls...Vernal and Nevada Falls, Illilouette Fall, and Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls at the same time.
Not to mention the John Muir trail, Merced river, Liberty Cap, Washington Column, North Dome, Glacier point, and more.
On my first trip, I couldn't locate any part of the trail, using descriptions I found on the web.
With the second trip, I finally did locate the trail, and was able to reach the first of two rockfalls before I ran out of time.
Finally, the day after a Half Dome trip in May 2007, I made it all the way and found Sierra point.
Hopefully the descriptions and pictures will help others who want to find this great spot on their own.
Bearings are included for GPS users, and remember, this is an abandoned, hands-on scramble trail, not a walk in the park 8^).
Click on a photo to see it larger, then use your "back" button (or click on the large pic) to get back to the page you were on.

comment | share
Randy 16-Apr-2017 16:19
I visited SP several times when I worked in the park in the seventies and visited in the eighties. If I recall correctly, along the paved trail (trail?)from happy Isles toward Vernal Fall, there is a big flat rock (6-8 eet diameter) on the water side of the trail. That was my landmark to turn uphill and scramble over the rocks to the point.
Guest 12-Aug-2015 17:22
You must go over that rock section where you show that root. There is another trail at the base of those rocks that goes off to the right. People have covered this with branches and rocks to create a barrier. That IS NOT the trail. If you take that you will get to rock that is much worse than this spot and you are off route. You must go over this Rock Section and get to that root. It might look scary but it is easy with tons of holds. Once over it, the trial is right in front of you again.
Jared 19-Aug-2013 17:59
Thanks for the info, Gary. My wife and I took my 9 year old son and his friend up there yesterday and used a combination of your instructions, rock cairns and obvious signs of foot traffic to find the route. It was somewhat more strenuous than we expected, but everyone made it safely to the railing and back! It was a very fun adventure for us and the boys. Every time the boys found a cairn they would get very excited. We definitely had to be incredibly careful, especially on a couple of the rockfall areas, but the whole adventure was worth it.
Milton 28-Oct-2012 08:10
Climbed most of the way today, past the 2nd rock fall and up some stairs, then turned back because the sun was setting. Great exercise. From the Rock Pile sign, my iPhone says the trail sets out at 74 degrees NE. If you are not following cairns thru the big rocks (every 50-100 feet), there is probably an easier way. I scrambled up a bunch of loose rocks and earth on a 50 degree slope, came upon a cable, briefly, but this was way harder than needed to be. Follow the cairns for easier trail.
RCL 15-Jul-2012 11:15
Trying to find what is left of the old trail and then doing the switchbacks etc could take you all day.
You do not have to follow the old trail!
All you need to do is bushwhack it straight east from the Happy Isles foot bridge until you can't go east anymore then head south.
Bushwhack that area is just as safe as following the so called trail.
Tom 16-Jun-2012 06:54
I went there two weeks ago, for about the tenth time. It was easy to find (I wound up heading to Grizzly Peak last time). It's always amazing. How in the heck did Ansel Adams get a mule and all his camera gear there ? Take lots of water . . .
Roger 07-Jun-2012 18:05
A friend and I just hiked up to Sierra Point this past weekend. We had the trail to ourselves. What an amazing "secret."
Roger
Loren 23-Aug-2011 19:19
I have hiked up the trail a dozen times in the 80's and early 90's. I trying to show my kids where the trail starts up the rock slide just 2 weeks ago, but all the ducks had been removed, and I could only guess as to where to start. It used to be in the 80's that there were several ducks visible from the falls trail making starting very easy. I suspect the Park Service actively removes these when seen to discourage adventurers. I hiked it the first time after reading a description in John Muir's book 'The Yosemite.' It took much wandering around to find the path, and I don't think I ever completed it twice the same way. I even hiked up one night with a full moon. My favorite place in the whole valley as one can imagine you are the only one in the valley with the crowds left far behind.
Bob 05-Aug-2011 04:46
I read about this trail in the 1970s in the Illustrated Guide to Yosemite, by Virginia and Ansel Adams. The view was spectacular, and I planned to return in the future; but the rockslide damaged the trail less than a year later, and I never went back to Sierra Point. As one of the previous people mentioned, there was one particularly steep section that had a chain/cable to help you get past ti.
CT 19-Apr-2011 20:56
did the trail Sat and could not get through the first rock fall - snow filed now. Went back Sunday and made it. three snow fields and the one rock scramble was pretty hairy...well a couple of spots were but it was worth every step.
We missed the trail up the first day. We went too far right. Go more straight up to a very flat large boulder. I added ducks when we came down at the beginning of the trail from the big boulder field. It's spectacular!
CT 19-Apr-2011 20:56
did the trail Sat and could not get through the first rock fall - snow filed now. Went back Sunday and made it. three snow fields and the one rock scramble was pretty hairy...well a couple of spots were but it was worth every step.
We missed the trail up the first day. We went too far right. Go more straight up to a very flat large boulder. I added ducks when we came down at the beginning of the trail from the big boulder field. It's spectacular!
Rowland 17-Mar-2011 16:07
This place hold some special memories. My mom hiked up this when she was in college in the mid 1930s with her sister. I hiked it in 1964 with high school friends, and later on Easter break of 1967 I presented my wife with engagement ring, part way up the snow buried trail, sitting in the snow with a view of Yosemite Falls in the distance with its snow cone. Thanks for the pics. I'll be working with wife as a volunteer docent for the Yosemite Conservancy this May, 2011, and will use your photos and explanation to once again make my way to Sierra Point. Thanks for the excellent description.
Errol 02-Feb-2011 22:35
I'm gonna try climbing to SP again this weekend if conditions allow. I was there one other time following a family with two young kids that had been there 8 times. What a panoramic view. Thanks for the detailed description, I'd forgotton the starting point. Errol (68 years young).
Anthony 13-Oct-2010 17:06
I found the Sierra Point Trail in the late 1970's. I followed a trail of sorts and stayed to left side of the first rock fall and crossed the second rock fall horizontally. It was really excellent. There was an iron failing, and, looking over, we could look down on the Vernal Falls trail, about 300 feet below.
Guest 20-Mar-2010 22:00
I hiked this trail as well, circa 1978 or so...I somehow recall some STEEL CABLES which we had to hoist ourselves up with?..along a rock face?...am not sure if those cables are still there??

Not sure if I would try this trail now, being a bit older and stiffer in the knees but was great back then!!:)
Frank 05-Oct-2009 02:30
We just took this tough little trail last Saturday afternoon. Amazing!
Jim Newgren 03-May-2009 06:38
Last time I hiked this trail was August 1968. I'm surprised the trail is visible at all. I did take a picture of the railing from the JM trail just last week. Thanks for the info, I'll have to hike it one more time.
Guest 27-Apr-2009 22:44
This is my new favorit hike in the park. The views are amazing, and when you reach the top you feel as though you are in a secret place. No one can see you but you can see all of them. Enjoy and be careful, and take your time.
John Rogers 13-Oct-2008 04:22
Thanks for the pics and info. In the summer of '63 my older brother took me camping in the valley. I was 15. We hiked up Half Dome, the Ledge Trail, & Sierra Point that week. It was a most wonderfully memorable time for me. In the summer of '07 I tried to find the bottom of the ledge trail but wasn't in the mood to fight the brush. I think I'll be satisfied with the memories I have of that trail after reading the condition it is in nowdays. The same day I made an attempt at the Sierra Point trail. I couldn't figure out the route when I got to the rockfall. With your help I think I'll try again next year. I've been there several times since '63, the last being July of '78. Perhaps I'll take my grandson on an adventure. Thanks again. John
Kelly 25-Jul-2008 02:01
Thanks so much for the pictures and description of the hike. Five of us made it to Sierra Point on Sunday and were very grateful to your post. Beautiful spot, great views and much solitude.
Guest 04-Jul-2008 16:24
Ive taken this trail a few times 25 years ago. I tried to find it again but gave up. I wnder if you have heard of the Ledge trail (closed trail) to Glacier Pt. It is the most spectacular short hikes in the valley. It starts in the back of Curry and goes up to staircase falls then makes a left turn over cascades to the top.
Laurie 19-May-2008 22:00
Gary,
Thanks so much for the detailed and picturesque information on the old Sierra Point trail. I lived in Yosemite in the 70's and went up on a couple of occasions. I thought after the big slide, a few years back, the trail was obliterated. I was in the Valley this weekend with my grown son for a little hiking. I told him of this spot and pointed out the railing from the Vernal trail (bridle side). He found your site when he returned home, so it looks like we'll be taking another trip back soon. Thanks, once again.
Happy trails,
Laurie
Sandra 11-May-2008 02:06
Wow, thank you for this great info! Do you by any chance have similiar info on the trail to the Diving Board?
John 02-May-2008 17:50
5/2/08
Thank you for this great website! I remember seeing Sierra Pt as the closest hike (0.7 miles) at at Happy Isles HIGH SIERRA LOOP TRAIL sign when I was a kid (1970's).....I am going to Yosemite this summer and will give it a try as long as my legs will let me... Thanks again.......John
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
click on thumbnails for full image